Tire Kicking for an LED solution for my Tent

Hi All,
Newish here, and new to growing...currently doing my first. Looking to bolster my lighting for my next grow. Currently 3rd week of flower for a handful of autos to get me off the ground.

My current setup is:
- Tent that's an odd size (fits my space though): 5' wide x 2.75' deep x 6.5' tall
- HLG 225 currently mounted in the center.
- AC Infinity T6 above with Terrabloom Carbon filter (venting outside) & S6 intake fan below.

With ventilation it's maintaining temps that are 4-8f degrees above ambient room temps (so, 72f in the room, 76-79 in the tent at canopy level).

Looking for my best move while keeping the 225 (3' veg,2 or 2.5' flower). That means either two lights, one on either side of the 225, or maybe a second matching 225 and run then left/right? With Autos running 18/6 I have plenty of DLI/PPFD range under the 225 (can net 800-1100ish PPFD,DLI at 18/6 is up to lower 60's tops, though I'm keeping it 45-50ish).... But once I buy some photoperiod seeds and run 12/12 It's do-able but not optimal (lower down to about 14"etc. DLI would be closer to low 40's for DLI).

Not looking to be super-cheap (would like to have peace of mind for fire hazards), was considering a pair of HLG100 rspecs or another 225, or now I'm thinking a pair of decent quantums in the 150w range and maybe something in the 300$-400$ cost? Due to the shape of the tent the depth isn't a problem just enough to get some additional lovin' to the edges and/or bolster the middle-brightness a little for 12/12.

Also not looking to have to add A/C along the way with huge amounts of heat so efficiency is good too.

Sooo...a second 225 (at $300), are 2x 100rspec (at 300) enough? Or is there a good choice for something reasonable in the 150w range that would be a good fit and good quality? Maybe Vipar's XS1500?

Thoughts or felines, everyone?

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Hi All,
Newish here, and new to growing...currently doing my first. Looking to bolster my lighting for my next grow. Currently 3rd week of flower for a handful of autos to get me off the ground.

My current setup is:
- Tent that's an odd size (fits my space though): 5' wide x 2.75' deep x 6.5' tall
- HLG 225 currently mounted in the center.
- AC Infinity T6 above with Terrabloom Carbon filter (venting outside) & S6 intake fan below.

With ventilation it's maintaining temps that are 4-8f degrees above ambient room temps (so, 72f in the room, 76-79 in the tent at canopy level).

Looking for my best move while keeping the 225 (3' veg,2 or 2.5' flower). That means either two lights, one on either side of the 225, or maybe a second matching 225 and run then left/right? With Autos running 18/6 I have plenty of DLI/PPFD range under the 225 (can net 800-1100ish PPFD,DLI at 18/6 is up to lower 60's tops, though I'm keeping it 45-50ish).... But once I buy some photoperiod seeds and run 12/12 It's do-able but not optimal (lower down to about 14"etc. DLI would be closer to low 40's for DLI).

Not looking to be super-cheap (would like to have peace of mind for fire hazards), was considering a pair of HLG100 rspecs or another 225, or now I'm thinking a pair of decent quantums in the 150w range and maybe something in the 300$-400$ cost? Due to the shape of the tent the depth isn't a problem just enough to get some additional lovin' to the edges and/or bolster the middle-brightness a little for 12/12.

Also not looking to have to add A/C along the way with huge amounts of heat so efficiency is good too.

Sooo...a second 225 (at $300), are 2x 100rspec (at 300) enough? Or is there a good choice for something reasonable in the 150w range that would be a good fit and good quality? Maybe Vipar's XS1500?

Thoughts or felines, everyone?

Click to expand...

Personally, I'd add another HLG 225 if it will fit. HLG is a fantastic company, I highly recommend them.

Syntax747 said:

Personally, I'd add another HLG 225 if it will fit. HLG is a fantastic company, I highly recommend them.

Click to expand...

seconded.

HLG 225 is basically a suped-up QB96. It just has a bigger heat sink that what the QB96 comes with, and they add a reflector. For the cost of a single HLG 225, you can buy 3 QB96's, and a 320watt driver to power them. More power, better spread, better efficiency. Same LED engines.

PJ Diaz said:

HLG 225 is basically a suped-up QB96. It just has a bigger heat sink that what the QB96 comes with, and they add a reflector. For the cost of a single HLG 225, you can buy 3 QB96's, and a 320watt driver to power them. More power, better spread, better efficiency. Same LED engines.

Click to expand...

HLG comes with a 3 year warranty & is American-Made. Excellent customer service.
I'll always spend a little more to get that quality.

Syntax747 said:

HLG comes with a 3 year warranty & is American-Made. Excellent customer service.
I'll always spend a little more to get that quality.

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The QB96's are from HLG too. He's right about it being a suped up version of a QB96.

Aye... I'm fucking stoned!!

PadawanWarrior said:

The QB96's are from HLG too. He's right about it being a suped up version of a QB96.

Click to expand...

Syntax747 said:

Aye... I'm fucking stoned!!

Click to expand...

It's literally the exact same board on a larger heatsink, so that it can take the 225 watts, plus a reflector, all mounted together nicely. IMO you need a lot of headroom with a HLG 225, and I prefer to run my QB96's much lower wattage, which also allows me to get them closer to the plants.

PJ Diaz said:

It's literally the exact same board on a larger heatsink, so that it can take the 225 watts, plus a reflector, all mounted together nicely. IMO you need a lot of headroom with a HLG 225, and I prefer to run my QB96's much lower wattage, which also allows me to get them closer to the plants.

View attachment 4987380

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I bought 6 on Black Friday that are still in a box. You're the one that gave me the idea.

Syntax747 said:

Personally, I'd add another HLG 225 if it will fit. HLG is a fantastic company, I highly recommend them.

Click to expand...

I hadn't been leaning this way then I sort of have been. But now I have a bit more to chew on.

So, Interested in the QB96 x3 solution. I'm not averse to some grunt-work on putting things together (I've done home electronics, built a few tube preamps, crossovers, speakers and music things in the past. If I were to go that way, thoughts on the best way to incorporate the 3x 96 with my already crankin' 225 in my 5x2.75 tent space to have things even?

Thoughts on sourcing & outfitting the setup with the correct drivers and implementation? Anyone point me to which driver and/or other bits and pieces I'd need, given my total newbness?

I'm certainly not against cheaper import lights, but less likely to want a bunch of them running unattended in my basement rather than something I'm confident was made with more attention to built quality.

Looks like HLG doesn't have these on hand but I do see kits floating around.

Thanks to everyone who's responded.

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Looks like HLG doesn't have these on hand but I do see kits floating around.

Thanks to everyone who's responded.

Click to expand...

You can get the QB96 kit from HLG. Recommended drivers are towards the bottom of the HLG page I linked.

I prefer bar style LEDs, the boards are hung in the middle leaving edges unattended or at least they don't recieved near as much light as they would moving towards the center. However I'm guessing with your tent dimensions that wouldn't be an option

perramas said:

You can get the QB96 kit from HLG. Recommended drivers are towards the bottom of the HLG page I linked.

QB96 Elite V2 Engine

QB96 Elite V2 is a white LED Board with boosted red spectrum. Each Board is powered by 64 high power white LED, 16 630nm Red LED and 16 660nm Deep Red LED.

horticulturelightinggroup.com

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From reviewing some of their notes on other boards it looks like doing 2 or three in parallel would be the neatest wiring solution in a tent. Are there negatives to consider in doing that? Also are there standard connectors that people are using when doing their wiring harnesses for these types of projects?

I apologize for the questions but it always ends up being better to ask first.

Thanks everyone again.

GroBud said:

I prefer bar style LEDs, the boards are hung in the middle leaving edges unattended or at least they don't recieved near as much light as they would moving towards the center. However I'm guessing with your tent dimensions that wouldn't be an option

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Yes, the tent is really shallow at a depth of 2.75 feet. I knew going in that having something that was 5' width with a narrow depth was awkward but it was more about fitting the tent to the space to make this work.

In the end having a bit of space at either side of the tent for fans, humidifier and ventilation gear has been solid for the setup. The plants I have now are small (4 autos that have been somewhat abused during my first grow) , so the extra light to the left and right 'wings'' hasn't been a huge problem, but assuming I get better at things, light to the full width will be the best move.

LeastExpectedGrower said:

Yes, the tent is really shallow at a depth of 2.75 feet. I knew going in that having something that was 5' width with a narrow depth was awkward but it was more about fitting the tent to the space to make this work.

In the end having a bit of space at either side of the tent for fans, humidifier and ventilation gear has been solid for the setup. The plants I have now are small (4 autos that have been somewhat abused during my first grow) , so the extra light to the left and right 'wings'' hasn't been a huge problem, but assuming I get better at things, light to the full width will be the best move.

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Get photos next time, I never recommend using autos for a first run. If you really don't know what you're doing autos only give you 30 days to figure it out. Photos you can veg as long as you need to until you figure it out and can take a healthy plant into flower.

GroBud said:

Get photos next time, I never recommend using autos for a first run. If you really don't know what you're doing autos only give you 30 days to figure it out. Photos you can veg as long as you need to until you figure it out and can take a healthy plant into flower.

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Yes, that's the plan for the next time I buy seeds. I have another run worth of auto seeds (more actually, I bought 20 thinking my germination rate wouldn't be great but they were 100%), that I may do another round just because I have 'em then move over to Photos. At the time, it seemed like an easy way to go without knowing they were finicky little devils.

That's also where the lighting question comes in because once I have to do 12/12 a single HLG225 doesn't generate enough DLI within 12 hours anywhere but dead center.

It looks like if I were to do 2x the QB96 in parallel with a MW HLG-320H-54 I'd reasonably expect outputs of somewhere north of 150w per board. With the raw materials being about $270 for the main hardware (not including any additional needed hardware or supplies).

I have the 225 also … very bright built like a tank. Only thing I don’t like is the “ dimmer “ pot is under boot at plate … wish it had an external dimmer.

But built a “ dual “ and 320w driver spaced 24” apart ( with uv lamp in middle - Sunblaster / Agromax pure UV ) ….
It’s what’s powering a Hempy grow right now until I kick the rest of the kids out of house finally and get a full room back.
Except im running HLG 320H - C2800b ( dimmable )

A TRI setup with those would be nice ….

Budzbuddha said:

I have the 225 also … very bright built like a tank. Only thing I don’t like is the “ dimmer “ pot is under boot at plate … wish it had an external dimmer.

But built a “ dual “ and 320w driver spaced 24” apart ( with uv lamp in middle - Sunblaster / Agromax pure UV ) ….
It’s what’s powering a Hempy grow right now until I kick the rest of the kids out of house finally and get a full room back.
Except im running HLG 320H - C2800b ( dimmable )

A TRI setup with those would be nice ….


View attachment 4987737View attachment 4987751View attachment 4987758View attachment 4987761

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That's a great looking setup!

Yeah, I really like the 225 but the dimmer thing is a bit annoying, I pulled the plug and then have to fuss and fiddle around with a screwdriver when I'm dimming.

Sort of thinking to keep the 225 in the middle then having a pair of whatever (maybe the QB96's running with the 320 (with the driver dimmer would be ideal) to the outsides. Given my footprint of 5x2.75' I think that would be enough PPFD with the two 96's maxing out at ~160w or whatever each.

Running the boards in parallel off of one driver would mean I could move the driver outside and have two separate 'leads' to the lights which is way more convenient than having them tethered together but hanging separately. I think due to the size of the space there's enough overlap in their light footprints to provide enough PPFD even in 12/12...