5 x 5 light set up

[Frank Cannon]

Hey guys, been doing a 600hps in a 5 x 5 for a long time and want to upgrade to LED - Quantum or Cobs
Was going to go with a HLG-600 then 2 x 320w 324s but they have been discontinued.
Whats my best option to do it once and do it right? Im handy enough on the tools so happy to build something, Was thinking of 2 x 320 V2 288 combos?
Prawn you have been most helpful so far...
Cheers FC

 

[Prawn Connery]

Hey mate, a 600 HPS isn't much for a 5x5, so I guess it depends on what you want to achieve and how much you want to spend. 600W of LED should certainly yield better than 600W of HPS - unless you have been growing vertically (which should have given you better yields by maximising the light).

As they say, there are many ways to skin a cat. Two triple QB288 kits would do the job. I would be inclined to run a different driver with them myself. I see HLG recommends a HLG-320H-1750A, but by their own specs you should be able to run a HLG-320H-2100A driver with three boards and max it out - unless the issue is too much heat (which could be overcome with direct fan cooling or aircon if you have it): https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb288-v2-with-slate-2-triple

Here's the driver: https://www.meanwell.com/webapp/product/search.aspx?prod=HLG-320H-C&pdf=SExHLTMyMEgtQzIxMDAtcnB0LnBkZg==&a=2

The guys at HLG would be better to comment on the above.

Another option is Cutter's Solskins: https://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Sol-Skin

I'd do the maths and bear in mind that you will have to convert from US$ into A$ for the HLG boards, plus shipping, plus 10% GST, so the Cutter boards might be more economical to buy if you're in Oz.

That goes for other boards out there, too, if you can find them (they're out there if you look).

The final option would be a strip build if you're handy. IMO that would be the most economical if you don't count your time to assemble everything. Strips and drivers can be ordered online from Arrow or Digikey with free shipping (though 10%GST), and then you'd need to source some aluminium U-channel - which is pretty easy (even Bunnings has it). A bit of wire and some plugs and "Bob's your uncle".

Have a look around and get back to us. I'm sure lots of other people here would have suggestions and - as long as it suits your budget and objective - there are few wrong answers.

 

[Prawn Connery]

I'd also suggest asking the mods to move this thread to the LED Lighting forum, as you'll probably get quicker answers there.

EDIT: I've just reported the post to see if they can help. Just let the mods know if you want the thread moved. If not, no harm done.

 

[Airwalker16]

Definitely move to LED. Also, if you've been running HPS, I'm sure that heat from LEDs will not be a problem. But for a 5X5, I'd definitely say to do it "right", shoot for 8-900 watts.

 

[Prawn Connery]

By heat, I meant whether the heatsinks would be able to duct enough heat away from three QB288 panels at higher currents. That may be the limiting factor, as the panels are side-by-side, and the heatsink is not that heavy. HLG would be best to answer that.

 

[Airwalker16]

Throw a 140mm PC fan on top of each one and you would be more than safe.

 

[Prawn Connery]

I already mentioned that. Cheers.

 

[Frank Cannon]

Thanks for your replies and to mods for moving the thread.

Well that's certainly thrown the cat amongst the pigeons, I had just got my head around the HLG kits so now it looks like I need to swat up on strip builds and cutter.
I did find the HLG kits quite elegant and simple (just slates and v2, so I could add my own type b driver for potentiometer control).
I don't really want to have to piss around with thermal paste so prefer the ally heatsink options.

Whats the general consensus on strips to driver ratio ie how many strips per driver?

I'll have a look at some strip builds to familiarise a bit, if there are any you think fit my bill pls poke me in the right direction.

Not overly concerned with budget and bear in mind that it is damn hot down here in summer.

Much thanks
FC

 

[pulpoinspace]

Hey guys, been doing a 600hps in a 5 x 5 for a long time and want to upgrade to LED - Quantum or Cobs
Was going to go with a HLG-600 then 2 x 320w 324s but they have been discontinued.
Whats my best option to do it once and do it right? Im handy enough on the tools so happy to build something, Was thinking of 2 x 320 V2 288 combos?
Prawn you have been most helpful so far...
Cheers FC

my recommendations at the moment are these (ofc cobs and regular qbs are good too):

https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-300w-linear-plug-and-play-kit x3 OR https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-connect-960w-controllable-diy-package
https://www.rapidled.com/chilled-logic-5-x-5-led-grow-kit/
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine x6 with 3 hlg-320h-54

 

[Airwalker16]

my recommendations at the moment are these (ofc cobs and regular qbs are good too):

https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-300w-linear-plug-and-play-kit x3 OR https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-connect-960w-controllable-diy-package
https://www.rapidled.com/chilled-logic-5-x-5-led-grow-kit/
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine x6 with 3 hlg-320h-54

He's happy to build one though so if you're comfortable wiring a few things together, it will save you a lot of money, really.

 

[Airwalker16]

Also, when using CV drivers, the number of strips ultimately just determines the amount of amperage each one receives from the drivers total output being split amongst them.

 

[Prawn Connery]

Thanks for your replies and to mods for moving the thread.

Well that's certainly thrown the cat amongst the pigeons, I had just got my head around the HLG kits so now it looks like I need to swat up on strip builds and cutter.
I did find the HLG kits quite elegant and simple (just slates and v2, so I could add my own type b driver for potentiometer control).
I don't really want to have to piss around with thermal paste so prefer the ally heatsink options.

Whats the general consensus on strips to driver ratio ie how many strips per driver?

I'll have a look at some strip builds to familiarise a bit, if there are any you think fit my bill pls poke me in the right direction.

Not overly concerned with budget and bear in mind that it is damn hot down here in summer.

Much thanks
FC

Mate, what sort of yields have you been getting from your 600W HPS set-up and what sort of yields do you want out of your new LEDs? 400W of LED will replace a 600W HPS grow, but you could get up to 1000W of LED into a 5x5 if you really want to max things out.

And I know how fucken hot it gets here. If all you want to do is replace 600W of HPS with 600W of LED, then we can start to plan.

 

[Frank Cannon]

Typically 15-18 oscas, ideally mid 20's would be nice if its feasible. I was thinking minimum 600w upto 750ish, but fucked if I really know. It was quite straight forward for a while 2 x pairs of 324s I thought may have been ok.

Your right the solskins look interesting to and probably more cost effective for down here compared to HLG but HLG is nice and straight forward sigh.....

Ideally 2 x identical set ups which gives me some height balancing to play with. I did go a bit weird and then think maybe 2 x triples with some sort of supplemental strips each side, but dunno how you would run it off 1 driver ie 3 x v2 and 2 strips?

Or bugger it do we just go with simple? sometimes it is just as easy considering any small gains I may get making something Elon Musk would be proud of vs headaches
FC

 

[Frank Cannon]

BTW Prawn, you started all this when I saw the 324 setup you did for a mate

What about the solskin 4? any ideas on performance or price?

 

[Prawn Connery]

Haha! I just wrote a big long post and then suddenly noticed these QB288 copies on Cutter's website: https://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut3412

Well I guess that puts things into perspective, because you can compare these directly to HLG's QB288 boards. They also come with heatsinks, so you should be able to drive them close to 150W each. Total price per board + heatsink looks to be about A$175.

So $700 for four.

HLG QB288 combos run about A$135 (converted from current US$), but shipping will be almost A$100. Plus 10% GST. So 4x QB288 boards with heatsinks would also be close to $700.

Almost the same, really.

Solskins are about $140 for the 288 diode version - very similar to the above and HLG's QB288 - but they don't come with heatsinks, unless you make you own heatsinks out of 3mm ally. That obviously pushes the price up a bit, as you could pay maybe $25-$30 or more for a piece of sheet aluminium cut to size.

Honestly, all these options are about the same. That's probably no coincidence

Strips, on the other hand, are cheaper and more flexible. The equivalent strips are the Samsung H_influx series than also use LM301B chips. L09 strips are double-row, 128 diode 2' (560mm) strips that are probably the most convenient and cost-effective.

Samsung also does an F Series strip based on the older LM561C LED. They're great value (especially now), and I have built three strip boards so far with them.




^ This is what you would be building. It's pretty straight forward. If you can get the ally cut to length, all you need to do is drill a few holes and plug some wires in. These are 600mm x 500mm frames. You would probably want to make 2 frames using 4' (1120mm) strips measuring 1200mm x 600mm. That would well and truly cover your 5'x5' space. You would connect each frame to a HLG-320 or 480 driver.

I run two of these frames (mine are H Series strips, not F Series, but draw the same power) in a 4x2 and each is connected to a HLG-240H-48A driver. Each runs at 200W - so 400W in a 4x2 (8 square feet).

All other strip builds are just variations on the same theme. I've done five of them now. LED boards (like the QB324s) are easier to put together and I like the heatsinks that come with them, but strips are cheaper and have a better spread of light. They also run cooler.

So there you have it. A few options to consider.

I'm sure others will chime in, as they have already, but it's your $ and your time - only you can deicde what's best for your situation.

 

[Prawn Connery]

my recommendations at the moment are these (ofc cobs and regular qbs are good too):

https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-300w-linear-plug-and-play-kit x3 OR https://chilledgrowlights.com/our-products-services/diy-led-grow-light-kits/chilled-connect-960w-controllable-diy-package
https://www.rapidled.com/chilled-logic-5-x-5-led-grow-kit/
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine x6 with 3 hlg-320h-54

Actually, you're right - these aren't a bad option for a 5x5: https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine

You'd run four of them on a frame like a COB set-up and each of these can run up to 200W, so the QB96s are definitely worth considering. Four for around A$700 is good bang-for-buck.

What Frank didn't mention is he's in Australia, so has currency conversion, shipping and taxes to deal with, which pushes up prices for overseas boards.

 

[devile]

If you choose COB, you had better buy Cree or Osram chips COB, or the heat will be a problem. I am using Mars COB, it produces less heat than other chips COB.

 

[Frank Cannon]

Bro, your a good bugger for an Aussie

 

[Frank Cannon]

So what I don't get is why use Quantum boards at all? Surely the light strips are going to give far better light spread than 4 x QB96s or 4 (or even 6) 288V2, I'm just a dumb fitter so go easy

 

[Dave455]

Actually, you're right - these aren't a bad option for a 5x5: https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb96-elite-v2-quantum-board-engine

You'd run four of them on a frame like a COB set-up and each of these can run up to 200W, so the QB96s are definitely worth considering. Four for around A$700 is good bang-for-buck.

What Frank didn't mention is he's in Australia, so has currency conversion, shipping and taxes to deal with, which pushes up prices for overseas boards.

Any PAR maps of coverage on QB96. Like to see test of light spread.