Lighting advice for veg/clones

B

Bignick10

Active Member
Hey everyone looking for some input on lighting for a veg tent. I am looking into getting a veg tent in the near future. The tent will be 36”x 20”x 62 and I am intending on using it for clones and vegging and possibly an auto every now and then when their is enough space. My question is of these options for lighting what does everyone think will serve my purpose best.
Option 1: mars ts 1000 $170
Option 2: Hlg qb288 v2 spec with slate and a hlg-150h-54b $145
Option 3: DIY build 6x SI-B8T26156CUS running on a hlg-185h-54b wired 2 strips in series then 3 of the series wired parallel (hope I’m explaining it right) on some heatsinks ~$190

any input is appreciated and like I said I will be using for most veg purposes but would like to have to ability to run a occasional auto if space is open.
Thanks
 
Last edited:
Hobbes

Hobbes

Well-Known Member
.

Hi Bignick

You're going to need 30 - 50 watts/sq ft with your led lights.

With your 5 square feet you will need 150 - 250 watts to flower, depending on the quality of the light.

.

I don't know much about the lights you have posted.

.
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
I have some led knowledge. I did already build my own for my 2x4 (which will be a flower tent after this run is done). I also read as much as a can on the forum and watch a few YouTube channels manly GGs. The 2x4 light is a simple led gardener build 15 eb 2 3000k running in parallel on a 320h-20b works well. I know the rule of thumb is typically 30-50w of led per sf, but I also knew that if I was using to manly veg that it would be less but wasn't sure how much. I would like to have the option to flower so wanted to know the thoughts of how much I would actually need. I am leaning towards the board or the diy build but mostly because it would be more efficient and I have an extra pot already so I can easily put one on ether those options so I could dim it down for when I don't need it, then turn it up if I flowered an auto with some more mature vegging plants....thinking that is the plan just wanted to know if it is overkill and if I am wasting money and is it okay for some more mature vegging plants to get turned up (obviusly i would do so gradually)
 
Last edited:
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Bignick10 said:
Anyone else have any thoughts...should I try and do this or am I just wasting money and just child a cheap veg light? @Rocket Soul @1212ham @cobshopgrow
Click to expand...
I like blux vesta strips for vegg/auto setup for versatility. They arent the most efficient strips out there, but they have 2 separate channels, both in 90 cri: 5000k and 2700k.
You can fairly easily set this up for 3 separate spectrums using parallel connections: 5000k 90cri for "dont stretch" vegg (could be a bit too much for indicas with short node distance), 2700k 90cri deluxe flowering spectrum, faster and better finish in our tests with better or equal yield. Can also be used to selectively cause stretch if you wanted. And the full cycle spectrum which is both channels at the same time: 3700k 90 cri, works great for vegg abd flowers about the same as 3000k 80cri. This is based on you grouping the the channels in warm and cold white but say you wanted something different: you could for example connect all your 5000k channels and then just some of the 2700k to find something around 4200-4000k which is where i believe youll find just about perfect vegg. Another idea is to do sections; one where your stretchier phenos go under (more 5000k) and one with more warmwhite for shorties (more 2700k). This might be hard though if you only have 20" wide space, there will be some mixing but the options are many.
Also theyre cheap, around 10$ per strip and 2*96 diodes. 30$ for equal diode count as a qb, and with better spread and spectrum. Of course the qb has better efficiency but being able to play with spectrum, and bring your light down much closer to your cannopy makes up for that imho.

Id run the strips no harder than 20w per strip total, or per channel.

The drawback is all the cabling: 2 ins and 2 outs for each strip. Get big wagos, 8way is the bomb.
Your space should be fine with 100w if your never doing 12/12, as autos dont really need 30w per foot.

You can use 24A drivers or run 2 strips in series and use 48A drivers, this will save a bit on cabling mess. But i would advice against using only tape, the ones im building with now are seriously rebellious, screws may very well be required.
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
Rocket Soul said:
I like blux vesta strips for vegg/auto setup for versatility. They arent the most efficient strips out there, but they have 2 separate channels, both in 90 cri: 5000k and 2700k.
You can fairly easily set this up for 3 separate spectrums using parallel connections: 5000k 90cri for "dont stretch" vegg (could be a bit too much for indicas with short node distance), 2700k 90cri deluxe flowering spectrum, faster and better finish in our tests with better or equal yield. Can also be used to selectively cause stretch if you wanted. And the full cycle spectrum which is both channels at the same time: 3700k 90 cri, works great for vegg abd flowers about the same as 3000k 80cri. This is based on you grouping the the channels in warm and cold white but say you wanted something different: you could for example connect all your 5000k channels and then just some of the 2700k to find something around 4200-4000k which is where i believe youll find just about perfect vegg. Another idea is to do sections; one where your stretchier phenos go under (more 5000k) and one with more warmwhite for shorties (more 2700k). This might be hard though if you only have 20" wide space, there will be some mixing but the options are many.
Also theyre cheap, around 10$ per strip and 2*96 diodes. 30$ for equal diode count as a qb, and with better spread and spectrum. Of course the qb has better efficiency but being able to play with spectrum, and bring your light down much closer to your cannopy makes up for that imho.

Id run the strips no harder than 20w per strip total, or per channel.

The drawback is all the cabling: 2 ins and 2 outs for each strip. Get big wagos, 8way is the bomb.
Your space should be fine with 100w if your never doing 12/12, as autos dont really need 30w per foot.

You can use 24A drivers or run 2 strips in series and use 48A drivers, this will save a bit on cabling mess. But i would advice against using only tape, the ones im building with now are seriously rebellious, screws may very well be required.
Click to expand...
Thanks as always buddy that sounds pretty interesting and like it would give me the versatility that I’m looking for. I’ll have to do some looking into a build with them..not going to be right away just started seedlings in the 2x4 so not gonna need the veg ready for the next round for a bit. Also working on a project with a friend close by on a 4x4 so might be making 2 light in the coming month or 2 and obviously will run some things by you guys.
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Bignick10 said:
Thanks as always buddy that sounds pretty interesting and like it would give me the versatility that I’m looking for. I’ll have to do some looking into a build with them..not going to be right away just started seedlings in the 2x4 so not gonna need the veg ready for the next round for a bit. Also working on a project with a friend close by on a 4x4 so might be making 2 light in the coming month or 2 and obviously will run some things by you guys.
Click to expand...
If your building lights: thread it, its allways better to have input from everybody
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
Forgot to ask since I’m somewhat new still and haven’t made a build with multiple channels. So for the vesta idea as far as wiring and driver selection so I will need 2 drivers correct one to power each channel. I.E. one for the 2700k and one for 5000k. So would 6 strips be good for this still or should a get some more. I haven’t had time to look at the vesta data sheets while I’m at work today. Then figure what driver needs I have from there.
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Bignick10 said:
Forgot to ask since I’m somewhat new still and haven’t made a build with multiple channels. So for the vesta idea as far as wiring and driver selection so I will need 2 drivers correct one to power each channel. I.E. one for the 2700k and one for 5000k. So would 6 strips be good for this still or should a get some more. I haven’t had time to look at the vesta data sheets while I’m at work today. Then figure what driver needs I have from there.
Click to expand...
Of course you can but i described is doing it with 1 driver, sending power down one channel, the other channel or both at the same time,, remembering that you could make those groups in any way you like, for example 2:1 warm white/cold white ratio.

If you have 2 drivers you can do this stepless but i would suspect that it would get too easy to give too much light with 2.
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
Yea that’s what I was wondering about if it was actually needed 2 seemed like a lot of power that I wasn’t going to use. I do like the idea of maybe keeping the working it from one side to the other as far as spectrum. I.E. 5000k then both then 2700k. Im still stuck at work so still didn’t look at the data sheets how many of those strips you think? Was picturing 6 and maybe the first 3 just 5000k then 2 mix and 1 just 2700k and just to make sure I’m picturing the wiring correctly would put the 3 5000k in series then parallel to the 2 mixed in series parallel to the last one in just 2700k. Trying to get it straight in my head without having to draw it. If that works what driver would you recommend
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Id probably go for a 120 driver, 48AB, and 6 strips. The rest is up to you, if you want you can leave things so you can mix and match as you go along. I seriously feel the all channels option is great for both vegg and flower. watch out though if your planning on taping, the vestas i got last time had a tendency to warp. Id rec 2 vestas on one sink, tape them but also align them so the notches make a hole close to the end and finish securing it by using one screw per side.
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
I have a qb288v1 4000k board/sink that I use in the same size tent.
I usually leave it @ 75 watts and the plants love it.
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
Rocket Soul said:
Id probably go for a 120 driver, 48AB, and 6 strips. The rest is up to you, if you want you can leave things so you can mix and match as you go along. I seriously feel the all channels option is great for both vegg and flower. watch out though if your planning on taping, the vestas i got last time had a tendency to warp. Id rec 2 vestas on one sink, tape them but also align them so the notches make a hole close to the end and finish securing it by using one screw per side.
Click to expand...
Okay I’ll probably just do it all channels then since I know you use those ones and thanks for the warning on the tape. Alway appreciate the advice
 
Rocket Soul

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Bignick10 said:
Okay I’ll probably just do it all channels then since I know you use those ones and thanks for the warning on the tape. Alway appreciate the advice
Click to expand...
Get some big terminal blocks or wagos and you can tweak as you go along. Or just divide the channels in cold and warm and feed the driver to both. That way its easy to switch.
 
B

Bignick10

Active Member
Rocket Soul said:
Get some big terminal blocks or wagos and you can tweak as you go along. Or just divide the channels in cold and warm and feed the driver to both. That way its easy to switch.
Click to expand...
Yea that’s good beacuse it lets my customize as I go then and I think I have some extra 8 clip wagos somewhere
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top