Can we build an HLG 550 or equivalent light? Ive got $$$ to burn

TurboTokes

TurboTokes

Well-Known Member
I am looking to build a light to really rock a 3.5 X 3.5 space . The catch is I have no headroom though, only 60" floor to ceiling. The HLG kit is out of my budget, is there anything $400 or less home built. $300 would be ideal but that seems a little far stretched below the HLG price when I am asking for something that performs aswell as that specific light

Has anyone every replicated the HLG 550 or a similar build? I am looking to run autoflowers for a while, so I can keep the plant size down. I will veg them a week or two in a seperate space, but Id like to keep this LED tent running 24/7 to maintain heat in the space in winter, but I also need to take into consideration the headroom I have. I am uncertain how far away these lights of this high power need to be kept from plants.

I am capable of solderring and building my own frame if necessary, Ive got lots of aluminum in the shop, I could probably build heatsink plates myself if that would save me a bunch, drilling/tapping/cutting is what I do best. Im currently using an hps but the temps in summer I cannot fight without a/c

I am sorry to ask for a silver spoon here persay, but I honestly just dont understand the whole amperage/diodes etc etc, especially since I want to run autoflowers so I need to both veg and flower. I will likely have 4 week old and ready to harvest plants iright beside eachother perpetually . If there is a list of parts I can buy everything and assemble/wire at home that would be the golden treat appreciated very much
 
S

shimz

Well-Known Member
Spoon-feed much?

4x Quantum288 V2 4000k: https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/quantum-boards/products/qb288-v2-quantum-board?variant=8673410646108

1x HLG-320H-C1400: https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/mean-well-usa-inc/HLG-320H-C1400A/1866-2499-ND/7704057

18ga 300V wire: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/262315137464

Pick up wagos and grommets at your local hardware store. You provide the aluminum sheet and arrange to provide the best spread at 12-18". Use rivets and nylon washers.
 
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shimz

Well-Known Member
Strips are great, but are more work to build and can be more expensive if you go for efficiency. I found that the easiest light to build compared to strips and COB's is with the HLG 288 boards. These V2 boards are very efficient and I have been running around 25W/sqft with great results. There is simply no good reason to go higher than 320W in this space with current tech.
 
projectinfo

projectinfo

Well-Known Member
shimz said:
Strips are great, but are more work to build and can be more expensive if you go for efficiency. I found that the easiest light to build compared to strips and COB's is with the HLG 288 boards. These V2 boards are very efficient and I have been running around 25W/sqft with great results. There is simply no good reason to go higher than 320W in this space with current tech.
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The difference for me is height.

These strips can pretty much touch the plants, im guessing.... But do those boards require much of a distance between the conopy and qb board. 288 when their turned up in flower? Do you have mutlple boards for better light coverage?

The cobs you can light a cig the get so hot and you should hang them higher for better light coverage. But they probably penetrate a bit deeper.

I just go for an even canopy right across, and then i cutout all the undershit
 
wietefras

wietefras

Well-Known Member
shimz said:
Strips are great, but are more work to build and can be more expensive if you go for efficiency.
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Those 288 Boards are more expensive at the same efficacy. Plus you need a lot of height to hang those boards (18") which OP doesn't have. Also with extra height you loses more light on the walls. So you can even use less strips at higher wattage (ie lower efficacy than the boards) and still end up with the same amount of umol/s/W on the plants.
 
S

shimz

Well-Known Member
I agree with the strip sentiments above and run them myself. I was attempting to answer the OP's question of how to build the HLG550 at home. In general, yes, the boards will need to be run higher due to higher diode density. Seems to be a wash on price if you match the efficiencies. IME the strips are quite a bit more work to build, so I think the OP would be well served by the HLG clone especially since he already has the aluminum.
 
TurboTokes

TurboTokes

Well-Known Member
Cutting aluminum on a table saw that thick doesnt sounds very logical, but I can cut it any size cleanly no problem
 
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