tmold44
Well-Known Member
That was my next question....with the kit I need the substrate and that would be everything I need? It truly isn't hard to put together? I don't see the discount either....it's like 960 plus 180 for the substrate.
Anyone heard of mammoth lights?
- Thread starter tmold44
- Start date
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
The top of the page says 10 percent. I just sent em an email before ordering and they sent me the code.
I looked it over. Thought it came with the substrate but it doesn't. You'll want that for sure. It has the rails and all the mounting gear which is really a big reason to go with rapid in the first place.
And yes, installation is a breeze. All you need is a wire stripper and a screwdriver. No drilling or anything. The kit even includes the plugs to the wall and everything you need. Took me about 30 minutes to assemble and wire the 2 x 4
HydroFood
Active Member
Do you know what shipping is to US? I know it’s all different but if I order a hand full of strips. Any idea what it’d cost?
tmold44
Well-Known Member
I did quite a bit of re-looking at comparable lights from the manufactures you mentioned again. I believe I've convinced myself my best option is the rapid led 5x5 kit. Shipped with everything looks to be around $1050. The bc blondes gamechanger 680 is in that ballpark at $1100 shipped but definitely less of a light. The Gavita 1650 is about $1450 shipped and I didn't see any advantage it has over the rapid kit. Then the timber light fatty is probably fairly comparable and would be about $1500 shipped. The last option would be 2 hlg550 v2's which would be slightly more light then the single unit options listed but it would be $1800 shipped.
Let me know if you think this summary is accurate and if you would agree the 5x5 kit looks best bang for the buck or if there's a better option....
I'm still waiting on info back from cutter so that could be an option still, however, the ssk-550 is $628 without shipping and similar to the hlg550 I would probably need two so now it's pushing $1250 before shipping quote.
Thanks again for the info!!!
Let me know if you think this summary is accurate and if you would agree the 5x5 kit looks best bang for the buck or if there's a better option....
I'm still waiting on info back from cutter so that could be an option still, however, the ssk-550 is $628 without shipping and similar to the hlg550 I would probably need two so now it's pushing $1250 before shipping quote.
Thanks again for the info!!!
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mathewscott
Active Member
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Rocket Soul
Well-Known Member
For any openspace build id sincerely recommend a fixture(s) hanging low over the cannopy with the diodes as spread around as possible. This in order to avoid a fixture that throws half the light on the wall due to hanging too high. This is something that happens regularly with cobs or standard qbs: small boards with high power.
For a 5x6 id recommend:
8x FoTop boards on 2x hlg600-48
Fotop boards are 3'x1' and at that wattage they will run cool with no heatsink: avoid a fixture that weighs too much.
Mount them in 4 bars, with 2 boards each bar and you should have more light than you can shake your nuts at. We do a similar setup at 30w a square foot instead of 40 and recently we had 2 ounce per squarefoot: 2g/w on an 11 week strain.
For a 5x6 id recommend:
8x FoTop boards on 2x hlg600-48
Fotop boards are 3'x1' and at that wattage they will run cool with no heatsink: avoid a fixture that weighs too much.
Mount them in 4 bars, with 2 boards each bar and you should have more light than you can shake your nuts at. We do a similar setup at 30w a square foot instead of 40 and recently we had 2 ounce per squarefoot: 2g/w on an 11 week strain.
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
Yeah you're in the right ball park. The rapid setup is a good value. It's very modular and future proof as well. 900+ watts of the most efficient and well tuned spectrum LEDs out there should do great in your room. I dealt with CS too (just a general question) and they were friendly and quick to respond.
If you want a better value, I'm afraid the only other option would be to DIY or go with a Chinese qb clone but whether that's worth it or not idk.
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
Yup I've heard good things about Meijiu as well. It just didn't make sense for shipping only 3 boards for me but I would have considered it had it been a larger order
tmold44
Well-Known Member
I really appreciate the time to put together your recomended setup. Even though I've been growing a long time and we'll versed in my current setup....I really am just in the learning phase of led's. There is so much info it almost seems like a foreign language. I want to make sure I get quality being that I would be transitioning from a tried and true hps setup. There are those that tell me I'm crazy to change but it appears technology has made strides in led's making it attractive. If I were to put together a setup like you suggest where should I look for the parts? I was totally set on a prebuilt fixture until I realized the savings in self assembly as well as getting better components. I'm honestly leaning towards the rapid kit as it looked doable for me and it has everything I need together. The longer and deeper I look the more I change my mind....lol....
tmold44
Well-Known Member
I'm real close to pulling the trigger on the 5x5 rapid kit....I really do appreciate your guidance and everyone's on this site. I've learned a lot....when I started looking I thought I needed a black dog or kind light...mainly because of the mainstream advertising. Little did I know the science behind leds when I'm used to just screwing a bulb in a fixture to this point.
TEKNIK
Well-Known Member
Glad that you came on here to do some research and didn't buy a black dog
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
Yup. They seem really nice for the money. I can't personally recommend them since I've never actually used it and their aren't too many reviews except I've seen some of their other lights and the build quality looks great.
With that said OP, if I were in your shoes, I'd feel better going with a more well established company like Rapid. I will get around to testing Hortiblooms stuff one day I'm sure of it but right now I just don't know enough.
Happy you came here before spending all that money on a kind or whatever blurple. What they are doing is borderline fraud.
tmold44
Well-Known Member
I did have one more question. In the 5x5 kit there are 9 pucks.....in the other 5x5 kit that uses cobs there are 12. Would it be advised to possibly add 3 more to the kit I'm looking at to have 12 as well or is that overkill? and if it is would 3 more fit into the existing substrate or would it require a complete customization.
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
Yeah you could go for 12 pucks. Two ways of doing it here. You can put another puck on each rail making it 4 per rail rather than 3 or you could fit a 4th rail on the substrate and put 3 on it. They even have the blue pucks with 460nm diodes too if you want. Keep in mind you'd need another driver as well
I recommend driving them at 70 watts instead of 100 though if you are putting 4 per rail. In this case I'd get two HLG 480 1750 drivers. If you do another rail with 3 pucks you could drive the middle ones at 70 watts and the ends at 100 to get the even ppfd on the edges of the room. Just an idea.
Anyways, I'd contact Carlos from customer service if you'd like to do something custom. Any question about the drivers needed I can help.
tmold44
Well-Known Member
Rocket Soul
Well-Known Member
3 boards is not enough. 1 bet a 8 board setup would be cheaper even with the shipping. We use lm561c since they are only about 80$ for 800 diodes, and the performance is similar to lm301b. Especially with a setup which really covers your cannopy.
Why 8? They would cover the cannopy almost entirely which means you can bring it right down to the cannopy which is important with open space as a high hanging fixture will lose light on the sides. Its also a very even cover.
And using 8 boards: you can run them at 150w or less, meaning they are at nominal or less. The electrical efficiency gains plus not wasting light on the sides, plus having the boards at just very little over ambient: all of this contributes to being able to get great results from 30w/ square foot i stead of 35-40. Infact you could opt for 2x 480w drivers.
The one thing with a fixture like this is that you have to make a frame which is as easy as buying alu L-channel and drilling and screwing a few holes. The connections are easier: just 8 units to hook up.
This is
Id say its worth it. Especially for an open space.
China samsung
You could get everything (except frame) at meijiu:
Rita : s15@mei9led.com
Parts list:
8 Fotop lm561c 3000k 80 cri
Assorted wagos from 2 -5 way: 20 x 2 way , 10x 3 way 4way and 5way (they arent all necesary but good tonhave around, especially at china prices.
2x hlg600h-48; use A o B according how youd wanna dim. You could probably also do it with 2 hlg480s. Id get drivers locally for warranty purpose, also no big savings on getting them from chjna.
Aluminium L-extrusions, 6feet long: 2 per bar, so 8. Get sturdy ones cause of ther length.
No heatsink needed as you will stay below 150w per board.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Rita I've heard to watch out for.
Never dealt with her myself.
All i can say dude, is GET MUUUUUUULTIPLE QUOTES from SEVERAL different manufacturers. I was quoted for 6 boards $150-280. That's crazy differences.
Never dealt with her myself.
All i can say dude, is GET MUUUUUUULTIPLE QUOTES from SEVERAL different manufacturers. I was quoted for 6 boards $150-280. That's crazy differences.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Link to these blue logic pucks? I can't find anything on them.
DangerDavez
Well-Known Member
They sold out it seems. Was a limited release and I was lucky enough to get one