LEDs for 4x4? Best lighting?

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M386

New Member
I’m a first time grower. I plan to use a 4x4 tent and am interested in scrog. My aim is 2 to 4 plants at a time. I would like to grow both indica dominant and sativa dominant strains. DWC is the method I’m leaning toward... perhaps bubbleponics. I’m still in the early research stages of method.

What lights would you recommend? I thought that might be a good place to start. I’d prefer easiest and least expensive while still very effective. I’ve read a lot of comments about building your own lights. I have an electrician who would do it, so that’s an option I’d consider since it seems to be most affordable. Also, what about any supplemental lights?

Links to a full list of what to buy would be very much appreciated. I have purchased books and am heavily researching, but all of this is still like another language currently.
 
M

Mak'er Grow

Well-Known Member
There are many options now...might be better to start with whats your budget for lights?
Strip builds, HLG panels or Mars hydro. Theres many configurations of each.
Strips take a little more know how to assemble...HLG lights are fairly simple and they also have pre assembled and tested if you want...so does Mars
Maybe check a few grow journals of other growers using same grow space size you have and go from there.
 
M

M386

New Member
For budget, the max I’d really like to do is $600... but the less, the better as long as quality isn’t severely compromised.

Thank you for the suggestions.
 
M

Mak'er Grow

Well-Known Member
You should be able to find/make a good light for your tent for that price...now to decide which one you like...lol
 
L

Lpt

Well-Known Member
ledgardener.com

DIY LED Strip Build Designs for Samsung H-Series, F-Series, Q-Series, and Bridgelux EB Gen.2 - LED Gardener

DIY LED strip builds have become very popular recently. The mid-power section of our forum is full of threads created by DIYers looking to build their own custom lights, and new builds and ideas are surfacing every day. If you don’t live somewhere where you have easy access to premade lights...
ledgardener.com

have a read through this. @Coalcat put me onto it.. it's perfect for starting out written in a easily digestable way. And not bias or trying to sell you any thing. :cool:
 
S

Stikup187

Member
M386 said:
For budget, the max I’d really like to do is $600... but the less, the better as long as quality isn’t severely compromised.

Thank you for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
You can get decent 600w led for little over 200 and since first grow I'd go with potting soul maybe do one of the hydro as hydro is very sensitive 6and takes alot of attention and detail,sometimes you gotta crawl before you walk
 
Moldy

Moldy

Well-Known Member
Cheaper version, cobs have been around for awhile. Don't know how good these would work.

Amazon.com : Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light with LM301B Diodes & Dimmable MeanWell Driver Commercial White Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum for Greenhouse Hydroponic Veg Flower 606pcs LEDs : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light with LM301B Diodes & Dimmable MeanWell Driver Commercial White Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum for Greenhouse Hydroponic Veg Flower 606pcs LEDs : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com
Cheaper version of HGL's quantum boards. I have no idea if this is a good deal. lol

Here's a couple of cheaper lights I've been looking at since I'm retired and don't make a lot cash these days. I also have a 4x4' area. You need to figure out if you're heat is an issue or not. I grow in the winter as I have a corner in my garage I grow in. It's not too cold in NV in the winter so it works out nicely as I use a AC-DE 1000W HPS open hood. It heats the area good but I can't run in the summer as it gets in the high 90's and my ac unit won't keep up so I've been looking a cheap LED's to run at least into June. It starts heating up here in April and I figure I can finish up any plants that need a few more weeks/months. Heating a space is expensive too so it's a consideration when buying a light. LED's can get pricey but it depends on what you can afford and your environment needs. I've heard that the temps should be in the low 80's if using LED lighting, not the 78F that's normally preferred for standard lighting.

Disclaimer: I am not a LED geek. There are many knowledgeable peeps on this forum and they know their shit. I'm not one of them.
 
C

christopher jordan

Well-Known Member
M386 said:
For budget, the max I’d really like to do is $600... but the less, the better as long as quality isn’t severely compromised.

Thank you for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
Check Alibaba. There's a sweet deal on an 8 bar light free shipping, just under $600. 2.7 umols. Osram, Cree and Samsung diodes.
 
neal62

neal62

Well-Known Member
M386 said:
For budget, the max I’d really like to do is $600... but the less, the better as long as quality isn’t severely compromised.

Thank you for the suggestions.
Click to expand...
look at Budgetled.com i got one last week already see a differance
 
M

M386

New Member
Moldy said:
Cheaper version, cobs have been around for awhile. Don't know how good these would work.

Amazon.com : Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light with LM301B Diodes & Dimmable MeanWell Driver Commercial White Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum for Greenhouse Hydroponic Veg Flower 606pcs LEDs : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Spider Farmer SF-2000 LED Grow Light with LM301B Diodes & Dimmable MeanWell Driver Commercial White Grow Lights for Indoor Plants Full Spectrum for Greenhouse Hydroponic Veg Flower 606pcs LEDs : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com
Cheaper version of HGL's quantum boards. I have no idea if this is a good deal. lol

Here's a couple of cheaper lights I've been looking at since I'm retired and don't make a lot cash these days. I also have a 4x4' area. You need to figure out if you're heat is an issue or not. I grow in the winter as I have a corner in my garage I grow in. It's not too cold in NV in the winter so it works out nicely as I use a AC-DE 1000W HPS open hood. It heats the area good but I can't run in the summer as it gets in the high 90's and my ac unit won't keep up so I've been looking a cheap LED's to run at least into June. It starts heating up here in April and I figure I can finish up any plants that need a few more weeks/months. Heating a space is expensive too so it's a consideration when buying a light. LED's can get pricey but it depends on what you can afford and your environment needs. I've heard that the temps should be in the low 80's if using LED lighting, not the 78F that's normally preferred for standard lighting.

Disclaimer: I am not a LED geek. There are many knowledgeable peeps on this forum and they know their shit. I'm not one of them.
Click to expand...

We’re in the south where it’s always hot. Summers are intense. That’s part of the reason I was leaning toward LEDs. They seem to be a bit easier. I’m largely uneducated though so that may be an inaccurate opinion. Still learning and making decisions.
 
diggs99

diggs99

Well-Known Member
1 x 480w meanwell driver

16-20 J series strips from Cutter electronics( You can also use the bridgelux gen 2/3s or samsung f series , both are sold on digikey.com last i checked) .

running the J series anywhere from 24w - 30w per strip requires no heatsinking The softer you run them, the more you need tho obviously. On the flip side, the softer you run them, the less need for heatsinks. You can run these strips upwards of 50w per strip with good sinks. So theoretically you can use 10 strips on sinks and a 480w driver without issue and achieve good lux across a 4x4.

The samsung double rows can run upwards of 100w per, but are much more expensive per strip, so you dont gain or lose , it basically works out the same.

Angled aluminum from hardware store for framing, some 18 AWG wire and heavier power cord

If your american you should be able to easily build a 480w fixture, that costs below $600
 
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farmingfisherman

farmingfisherman

Well-Known Member
Mix and match has been working for me so far. I'm running two Spider-farmer 1000 leds that I ran for veg then I added one 315 CMH in 3100K when I switched to flower in a 4 x 4. Enviro consists of 3 low wattage fans and one radiator heater. So far things have been pretty, pretty good. Pictures are from this morning plants are going into the start of week 4 of flower.
 

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