Hey guys, I'm new here but have been growing for a few years and I think it's time to upgrade from the chinese blurple panels that I've been using (x2 Meizhi "1200w" 1k actual between both). They're served me pretty well, I've been able to pull up to .9g per watt from them, but it's time to see what all this QB hype is about.
I have a 5x5x8 GGT and each run consists of 4-6 fairly large autos in 5g equiv air pots. I'll likely be sticking to 6 after upgrading to QBs, but it can get a bit packed especially when they bush out from the LST.
I'm not particularly handy, and in the spirit of keeping things simple, I'd rather not go the DIY route. I'm looking to hit 35w/sq. ft. (or 875w) on a budget of around $1000-1500 (I know it could be done a lot cheaper if I DIY). The main thing that I'm concerned about is the spread. Seems like there aren't any prebuilt configurations that would be optimal.
I was initially thinking about grabbing x2 HLG 600H Kits (just under $1400) and running them at 450-500w ea., but I think having the light split between 2 panels/8boards is going to give me a pretty bad spread and issues with hotspots.
If I'm going the HLG route, I'm assuming that running 3 of these 320w panels (dimmed down to 300w ea) would be my best bet for a 5x5. I'd basically be paying the same for less light, but will be more efficient for my purpose I think. These panels are each running x3 QB 288 boards.
x 3 HLG 320w using x3 QB-288 ($1431 with dimmer knobs)
That would be 1 panel @ 300w per 2 plants, 7" spacing between each panel and walls at each side, with 12.5" of dead space in the front/back.
There's also these 320w panels that are the same size, but they run x2 QB-324 boards. Having the light spread across fewer diodes is less efficient, but I would save just over $300
x3 HLG 320w using x2 QB-324 ($1047)
My gut is telling me to go with the 320w panels that run QB-288s if I'm not going to DIY, it's more expensive but will give a better spread and allow me to run them a bit closer. I'd just like to get some opinions before taking the plunge. Thanks in advance xD
I have a 5x5x8 GGT and each run consists of 4-6 fairly large autos in 5g equiv air pots. I'll likely be sticking to 6 after upgrading to QBs, but it can get a bit packed especially when they bush out from the LST.
I'm not particularly handy, and in the spirit of keeping things simple, I'd rather not go the DIY route. I'm looking to hit 35w/sq. ft. (or 875w) on a budget of around $1000-1500 (I know it could be done a lot cheaper if I DIY). The main thing that I'm concerned about is the spread. Seems like there aren't any prebuilt configurations that would be optimal.
I was initially thinking about grabbing x2 HLG 600H Kits (just under $1400) and running them at 450-500w ea., but I think having the light split between 2 panels/8boards is going to give me a pretty bad spread and issues with hotspots.
If I'm going the HLG route, I'm assuming that running 3 of these 320w panels (dimmed down to 300w ea) would be my best bet for a 5x5. I'd basically be paying the same for less light, but will be more efficient for my purpose I think. These panels are each running x3 QB 288 boards.
x 3 HLG 320w using x3 QB-288 ($1431 with dimmer knobs)
That would be 1 panel @ 300w per 2 plants, 7" spacing between each panel and walls at each side, with 12.5" of dead space in the front/back.
There's also these 320w panels that are the same size, but they run x2 QB-324 boards. Having the light spread across fewer diodes is less efficient, but I would save just over $300
x3 HLG 320w using x2 QB-324 ($1047)
My gut is telling me to go with the 320w panels that run QB-288s if I'm not going to DIY, it's more expensive but will give a better spread and allow me to run them a bit closer. I'd just like to get some opinions before taking the plunge. Thanks in advance xD
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