From DEs to LEDs

greengrassgrower1

Well-Known Member
Really enjoyed this thread! Very similar style plants as me but I use hp promix/FFOF instead of coco. I also run hps's but want to switch over to quantums. I have two qb 120s now on a diy frame between 2 blockbuster 1k hps's to hit the tops of the plants that are between the hoods.

So I was wondering about your placement of your boards on your diy frames. I'd assume you tried different placements of the 4 boards until you came up with the way you have them. My question is do you think they would benefit at all with 1 more board dead center?

The 6 board setup you made, you believe that is a waste of light and unnecessary compared to 4 board setups?

Are you still using the cobs? If so do you plan on replacing them with another qb setup?

Thanks for any info, I'm just trying to do as much research before changing over completely to LED's.
Hi Booms,

Ok, so do i think they would benefit at all with 1 more board dead center? I would say yes. How much though?? Not enough for me to want to make the investment.. I look at it like if i were to add another board in the center i could drop the wattage down per board to around 130-140W per which would slightly bump up my efficiency and light spread.. Again not enough to install the board though..

`The 6 board setup you made, you believe that is a waste of light and unnecessary compared to 4 board setups? No i don't believe its a waste of light. With more boards and less watts per board your efficiency goes up.. That rig was my first, and i have learned a lot since then.. For up front cost the you really cant beat the 4 board rig..

Are you still using the cobs? If so do you plan on replacing them with another qb setup?
I still am using the COBs, I don't plan on replacing them just yet.. They work pretty well, plus building that frame and mounting all the heatsinks was pain in the ass. i want to get all i can out of it before i take her down.. BUT when the new boards or the next big thing comes out, ill be able to justify in my mind that i need it and i already have a place for it.. :)

All and all QBs kick ass!! For DIY you have endless options. IMO target 600-700w per 4x4 in open space or 400-500w in a tent..

Today i am putting together a new rig that will house 12 - QB 120s and 3 HLG 240- C2100A.. Its a big 44" X 44" rig. I am calling it The Blanket. It will complete cover the target area with even light distribution. With no heat sinks needed it a DIY'er dream come true. With the boards being ran softer i will need to shorten the distance from the plant to give equal intensity. I am excited to see the outcome..

Good luck

Cheer,
 

booms111

Well-Known Member
Hi Booms,

Ok, so do i think they would benefit at all with 1 more board dead center? I would say yes. How much though?? Not enough for me to want to make the investment.. I look at it like if i were to add another board in the center i could drop the wattage down per board to around 130-140W per which would slightly bump up my efficiency and light spread.. Again not enough to install the board though..

`The 6 board setup you made, you believe that is a waste of light and unnecessary compared to 4 board setups? No i don't believe its a waste of light. With more boards and less watts per board your efficiency goes up.. That rig was my first, and i have learned a lot since then.. For up front cost the you really cant beat the 4 board rig..

Are you still using the cobs? If so do you plan on replacing them with another qb setup?
I still am using the COBs, I don't plan on replacing them just yet.. They work pretty well, plus building that frame and mounting all the heatsinks was pain in the ass. i want to get all i can out of it before i take her down.. BUT when the new boards or the next big thing comes out, ill be able to justify in my mind that i need it and i already have a place for it.. :)

All and all QBs kick ass!! For DIY you have endless options. IMO target 600-700w per 4x4 in open space or 400-500w in a tent..

Today i am putting together a new rig that will house 12 - QB 120s and 3 HLG 240- C2100A.. Its a big 44" X 44" rig. I am calling it The Blanket. It will complete cover the target area with even light distribution. With no heat sinks needed it a DIY'er dream come true. With the boards being ran softer i will need to shorten the distance from the plant to give equal intensity. I am excited to see the outcome..

Good luck

Cheer,
Thanks for the info GGG1! Another question i was wondering about is the color spectrums. Have you tried the 2700k boards yet? Do you think the 3000k are superior to the 2700k because of the added spectrum?
 

greengrassgrower1

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info GGG1! Another question i was wondering about is the color spectrums. Have you tried the 2700k boards yet? Do you think the 3000k are superior to the 2700k because of the added spectrum?
I dont have any data to say yes or no.. I can say i use both and have great success with them.
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
If I were to add a central light, it would be lower power as the light tends to be super hot in the center of a panel like that.
 
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Toohighmf

Well-Known Member
Was thinking of building something similar with 1200 total diodes 2700k, 3500k and possibly 5000k strips to get something “adjustable” totaling about 500w. As my open room with 9 hlg550s feels like overkill if not 5’ off the canopy.
 

lukio

Well-Known Member
Much ignorance abound when it comes to the capabilities of GOOD LED
it really annoys me! like more than anything else - i need to let it goooooooooo!

@greengrassgrower1 looking grand - shame the beasts arent your cuppa tea! some great looking weight though. ever measured the light? curious to how much theyre getting? i ran about 850ppfd last round..seems enough!

How do you check the further away pot weights for watering when things are rammed? i drip feed coco too and find runnin multistrains means theyre all over the place watering wise! so much so im gonna stick to one or two strains per 4x8...

:leaf:
 

greengrassgrower1

Well-Known Member
it really annoys me! like more than anything else - i need to let it goooooooooo!

@greengrassgrower1 looking grand - shame the beasts arent your cuppa tea! some great looking weight though. ever measured the light? curious to how much theyre getting? i ran about 850ppfd last round..seems enough!

How do you check the further away pot weights for watering when things are rammed? i drip feed coco too and find runnin multistrains means theyre all over the place watering wise! so much so im gonna stick to one or two strains per 4x8...

:leaf:
No i never have measured the light.. I don't have a Par meter, I may get one though. Another fun toy to kill time with while chilling with the girls..

Its tough, lol.. I army craw below the canopy and lift up each pot to feel the weight.. Sometime i can tell just by the color of the coco.. The way i deal with larger one off plants in the room like i had this past run, is add another drip line to them and install a 1/4 valve on the line.. I turn the value down so the plant gets the same as all the other plants but with a little extra from the new line.. If that's not enough i slowly increase the flow on the valve to where the plant is staying as moist as the others..

20180317_112444.jpg
 

booms111

Well-Known Member
@greengrassgrower1 - I seen your veg spot but not sure on what your using for actually lighting in there? What lights did the quantums replace in your veg area?

I run 600 MHs in veg. Use to use the digilux 600mh bulbs but now I'm using genesis 600mh bulbs, both put out around same amount of light but genesis has better blues. Each MH covers slightly under a 4x4 veg area.

What would you recommend I replace the 600mh's with?
 

greengrassgrower1

Well-Known Member
@greengrassgrower1 - I seen your veg spot but not sure on what your using for actually lighting in there? What lights did the quantums replace in your veg area?

I run 600 MHs in veg. Use to use the digilux 600mh bulbs but now I'm using genesis 600mh bulbs, both put out around same amount of light but genesis has better blues. Each MH covers slightly under a 4x4 veg area.

What would you recommend I replace the 600mh's with?
Nothing 2 exciting for veg.. I have around 300ws of QB and 200ws of COBS.. Mostly for moms and this and that.. Most of the Veg goes down in the flowering area.. Not ideal but it works for me..
 

DesertHydro

Well-Known Member
Looks good to me. I have a hard time comparing my stuff to all this commercially produced PGR Kush that goes around. It's always so dense and uniform. Must be all the chemicals

I'll use any edge I can get as long as it's safe to use. I guess that's why a lot of us are always looking for magic additives lol.

Can't wait for next round. I'm just now flushing and dialing back the N
 
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