Should I consider DIY?

I apologize if this question has been asked a million different times but I'm looking at some light options and could use some advice. I've done a couple grows under a blurple light and I'm ready to step it up.

Flowering area is a 5x5 tent currently. Could become a room about 2 1/2-3 times larger than that in the future.

It seems like the best option I can find right now that would be relatively plug and play is the
HLG-600H Quantum Board V2 R-Spec DIY Kit for just under $800. I'm thinking that would kick ass in the tent and I could add another one for the room later if needed and it would be OK.

I've been reading through lots of posts and watching some Growmau5 videos on Youtube regarding assembling my own if I wanted to save some $ but there is a lot to learn and it seems like the options are always changing in regards to what technology is out there.

In my situation would you:

1) Buy a couple HGL-600 kits for $1600 and call it a day
2) Source components and build your own lights
3) Buy a couple Chinese HGL knockoffs on Alibaba to get a similar set-up for about half

Thanks, just looking for some opinions and excited about having a real light to play with!

DIY was a different works when Growmau5 made those videos. Presently, you just build a frame out of angle aluminum, screw on your boards and plug the driver to em using the convenient Molex connectors all strips and boards have nowadays.
It's hardly even DIY anymore.

Using either original QB's or Chinese knockoffs is the easiest and most efficient way.
Originals ensure you are getting what you are being sold.
Knockoffs are a crap shoot-using one of the more 'reputable' alibaba sellers loke meiju or kingbrite will help.
I have both diy fixtures using Vero's and F-strips as well as a meiju 480w rspec clone.
They both grow dank.

Without even reading im going to say yes!

Ok, so it sounds like the DIY option is the least expensive option and won't be very difficult beyond assembling a few components and sourcing some angle aluminum.

I've read a lot of people are happy with the results from the meiju and kingbrite knockoffs on Alibaba so I'm inclined to go that route if I build a light. There is still so many options that it's a somewhat confusing for me just getting introduced to this stuff. Anyone aware of a guide or video I could follow along for my first attempt or willing to help out a noob in regards to what to get?

Seems like the general consensus is to buy the driver from a reputable domestic source if you get the boards from China.

Thanks for the help guys.

Innerorbit said:

Ok, so it sounds like the DIY option is the least expensive option and won't be very difficult beyond assembling a few components and sourcing some angle aluminum.

I've read a lot of people are happy with the results from the meiju and kingbrite knockoffs on Alibaba so I'm inclined to go that route if I build a light. There is still so many options that it's a somewhat confusing for me just getting introduced to this stuff. Anyone aware of a guide or video I could follow along for my first attempt or willing to help out a noob in regards to what to get?

Seems like the general consensus is to buy the driver from a reputable domestic source if you get the boards from China.

Thanks for the help guys.

Click to expand...

The quantum board thread has a TON of pics. Really just a few peeks in there will give you a decent id a what to build

My advice is wait a couple months for HLG to come out with V3 boards and then do what you're planning. You could also get two 260w heatsinks instead to spread the light out a little more. I run 2 of them in a 5x5 now and plan on upgrading to 4 of them as soon as HLG comes out with new boards.

LarsVegasNirvana said:

My advice is wait a couple months for HLG to come out with V3 boards and then do what you're planning. You could also get two 260w heatsinks instead to spread the light out a little more. I run 2 of them in a 5x5 now and plan on upgrading to 4 of them as soon as HLG comes out with new boards.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I was going to DIY myself, but once I read HLG is going to drop their new 3umol lights soon, i'd rather save myself the headache and buy those.

SourDeezz said:

Yeah, I was going to DIY myself, but once I read HLG is going to drop their new 3umol lights soon, i'd rather save myself the headache and buy those.

Click to expand...

3.0umol/J at system level (at the wall). That is huge.

You can still DIY, you can wait and get parts from HLG or you can order lm301H strips from digikey now. It won't have whatever spectrum tweaks they're throwing into the next r-spec board, but it's still 3.0umol/J.

I will continue reading through the Quantum board thread for some ideas. I would like to wait for the new HLG boards but I honestly need the light sooner then a few months from now.

Is 3.0umol/J really that much of a leap forward in terms of efficiency? I don't know enough yet to have an opinion but definitely curious to know if it is expected to save a noticeable amount on the power bill.

Innerorbit said:

I will continue reading through the Quantum board thread for some ideas. I would like to wait for the new HLG boards but I honestly need the light sooner then a few months from now.

Is 3.0umol/J really that much of a leap forward in terms of efficiency? I don't know enough yet to have an opinion but definitely curious to know if it is expected to save a noticeable amount on the power bill.

Click to expand...

Not gonna save much more on power. If you need light, just get em. Plus you can be sure the new board will be at their highest price point when they do come out.

I'd like to build my own light and probably will sometime but since I need a light sooner rather then later I think I need to get something soon.

Seems like the best value plug and play option I've found is this Chinese one: Meijiu Hlg550 knockoff

This will be mainly my flowering light at first but I'll likely use it for full grows in the future so I'm thinking the 3500K+660 option for $368 shipped.

I've been reading a lot but still don't know that much about lights so I wanted to post this here before I pull the trigger...does this seem like a good option for my 5x5 tent for the time being?

Innerorbit said:

I'd like to build my own light and probably will sometime but since I need a light sooner rather then later I think I need to get something soon.

Seems like the best value plug and play option I've found is this Chinese one: Meijiu Hlg550 knockoff

This will be mainly my flowering light at first but I'll likely use it for full grows in the future so I'm thinking the 3500K+660 option for $368 shipped.

I've been reading a lot but still don't know that much about lights so I wanted to post this here before I pull the trigger...does this seem like a good option for my 5x5 tent for the time being?

Click to expand...

Yep that'll work just fine. I have the legit hlg rspecs and they work great, just make sure you have calmag or at the least Epsom salt as you're going to need it for sure.

I would get something a little bigger for that space. Something around 600w draw.

And a bit better spread out.
3 boards on a 320 driver x2 is ideal for spread and wattage for that area.

are boards really that much better then cobs now? is it just this ease of use factor (which for sure does seem great!) or is there more to the spectrum since the boards can be made of so many individual diodes? I have invested a bunch in CXB 3590s and feel like like the guy with the pimped out sega with the like sega cd and shit and everyone else is on the playstation already hahaha (dating myself also with this reference I know)

meangreengrowinmachine said:

are boards really that much better then cobs now? is it just this ease of use factor (which for sure does seem great!) or is there more to the spectrum since the boards can be made of so many individual diodes? I have invested a bunch in CXB 3590s and feel like like the guy with the pimped out sega with the like sega cd and shit and everyone else is on the playstation already hahaha (dating myself also with this reference I know)

Click to expand...

If this was true I would say no But i think they can be matched by going with a lot of smaller cobs run low can match 3.0 umol/j. This stupid calculator makes me want to buy some v22's and light sensor to see what it will do. my guess is they will be closer to 3.0 than 3.4 umol/j. But if they things really did 3.4 they would leaving strips in the dust. Most efficient strips are around 3.06 umol/j the samsungs.

Rocket Soul said:

And a bit better spread out.
3 boards on a 320 driver x2 is ideal for spread and wattage for that area.

Click to expand...

I agree with this. Honestly closer to 800w of LED would be ideal in a 5X5. But 650 is going to do just fine.

meangreengrowinmachine said:

are boards really that much better then cobs now? is it just this ease of use factor (which for sure does seem great!) or is there more to the spectrum since the boards can be made of so many individual diodes? I have invested a bunch in CXB 3590s and feel like like the guy with the pimped out sega with the like sega cd and shit and everyone else is on the playstation already hahaha (dating myself also with this reference I know)

Click to expand...

It's more for the ease of use with connectors now. Also the spread you get over a small point source of light with a COB is definitely beneficial.

Airwalker16 said:

It's more for the ease of use with connectors now. Also the spread you get over a small point source of light with a COB is definitely beneficial.

Click to expand...

ok PHEW I am 22 CXB 3590s in I dont want to turn back now! lol