Go Big or Go Home..

ThatBoyZooted

Active Member
Originally i was looking into upgrading my 600w vivosun (240 @ wall) for a MarsHydro TS1000(150w @ wall). Seeing how that was solid but still a little weak i kept looking then found the TS2000 performing well on my size tent for $250 & wanted to get that instead . THEN I stumbled upon with the HLG 260 starting at around $330. And from what ive seen this light is pretty much unmatched for as far as 3x3’s go. Ive seen multiple accounts of people pulling a pound off of this light in a 3x3 while only using around 270 watts I believe. (Less than the TS2000 which pulls @ 310w) Im almost 90% sure i will be saving my money & going for the HLG but my main question now is am i better of going for the 4000k, 3000k, or the R spec version of this light ? I also wondered if maybe running the vivosun with one of the mars would match up or even out match the HLG? My tent isnt a true 3x3 its 32x32x5.5’ . Any other thoughts or recommendations are welcome!
 

piratebug

Well-Known Member
A 260 in 32" x 32" will work, but its far from being what a optimal lighting array in that size space should look like. Really, running a 4 pack of 132(s) and using 80 less watts of power will kill a not very optimized, (space-wise), 260, in that sized space. Anyhow... what most people don't realize when it comes to running samsung tech, is that running each diode at its max efficiency rating, or just slightly less than that, trumps running each diode at max power, or even 3/4 max power. So the more diodes one runs at their max efficiency, or slightly less than their max efficiency, will allow one to grow bigger, and denser plants while using less electricity. To understand what I mean, here is quick example... 4 x 132(s) running @ 35 watts each, will be about 154 total watts at the wall, and if you ran a 260 @ 120 watts each board that would be about 254 watts at the wall, and even if you cut that back to 3/4 power, 186 watts at the wall, those 4 x 132(s) running a total of 154 watts at the wall will grow much bigger and denser plants than whatever that 260 could hope to grow, in a 32" x 32" space!
 

ThatBoyZooted

Active Member
A 260 in 32" x 32" will work, but its far from being what a optimal lighting array in that size space should look like. Really, running a 4 pack of 132(s) and using 80 less watts of power will kill a not very optimized, (space-wise), 260, in that sized space. Anyhow... what most people don't realize when it comes to running samsung tech, is that running each diode at its max efficiency rating, or just slightly less than that, trumps running each diode at max power, or even 3/4 max power. So the more diodes one runs at their max efficiency, or slightly less than their max efficiency, will allow one to grow bigger, and denser plants while using less electricity. To understand what I mean, here is quick example... 4 x 132(s) running @ 35 watts each, will be about 154 total watts at the wall, and if you ran a 260 @ 120 watts each board that would be about 254 watts at the wall, and even if you cut that back to 3/4 power, 186 watts at the wall, those 4 x 132(s) running a total of 154 watts at the wall will grow much bigger and denser plants than whatever that 260 could hope to grow, in a 32" x 32" space!
Thank you! Thats good information about running the lights at less power and I’ll definitely have to try it if i end up getting one . Whatever i do end up choosing, i just want them to be able to yield 12-16 oz without any real problem . Of course growing that much in a 3x3 or anywhere you need to know what you are doing but i think with proper equipment i got that all day .
 

ThatBoyZooted

Active Member
A 260 in 32" x 32" will work, but its far from being what a optimal lighting array in that size space should look like. Really, running a 4 pack of 132(s) and using 80 less watts of power will kill a not very optimized, (space-wise), 260, in that sized space. Anyhow... what most people don't realize when it comes to running samsung tech, is that running each diode at its max efficiency rating, or just slightly less than that, trumps running each diode at max power, or even 3/4 max power. So the more diodes one runs at their max efficiency, or slightly less than their max efficiency, will allow one to grow bigger, and denser plants while using less electricity. To understand what I mean, here is quick example... 4 x 132(s) running @ 35 watts each, will be about 154 total watts at the wall, and if you ran a 260 @ 120 watts each board that would be about 254 watts at the wall, and even if you cut that back to 3/4 power, 186 watts at the wall, those 4 x 132(s) running a total of 154 watts at the wall will grow much bigger and denser plants than whatever that 260 could hope to grow, in a 32" x 32" space!
Id like to try bulding my own but im a bit skeptical on it since ive never done it before. im also in the middle of a grow rn , looking to send them into flower within the next 2 weeks so i really want to have a new light ready with no issues for whenever that is
 
Thank you! Thats good information about running the lights at less power and I’ll definitely have to try it if i end up getting one . Whatever i do end up choosing, i just want them to be able to yield 12-16 oz without any real problem . Of course growing that much in a 3x3 or anywhere you need to know what you are doing but i think with proper equipment i got that all day .
For that kind of yield in a 3' x 3' I would do a scrog net.Ive never used an HLG,I use mh/hps when not in a tent,but I am finishing a 1 plant scrog in a 2' x 4' tent with a MarsHydro ts 1000 and a 70 watt mh for veg and my ts 2000 alone for flower,my results since buying this light has been good and it's comparable to a 400 hps,although I think buds are bigger and denser with hps but not by much.
 
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