3x3x6 Tent LED setup

Hi all,

Im starting a new 3X3X6 tent and I wish I had time to research more. Ive read as mush as I can in the past couple weeks but am way outta my league compared to what I see on this forum. Some of the DIY stuff Im seeing is just awesome. Bravo to this group for the efforts in building and sharing the knowledge.

I would like to have the time to build myself but just get lost in the weeds of it all.
From what I understand, the Quantum boards are good, Cobs are good, supplemental lighting with far reds are beneficial. UV beneficial but may not be necessary.

Since my DIY skills are untested, Im going to go with a kit route where they provide me with everything. It also Lets me build from a kit and get familiar without me being concerned I bought wrong.

I would like to buy a quantum board but also add far right strips to round it out. Below are the options I have run across which im considering. Is the Quantum kit below enough to flower a 3x3? Would or Should I add to it some far right? Do I need too? Appreciate the help.

https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/kits/products/260w-qb-v2-led-kit

or thinking about this kit when it comes out.

https://www.rapidled.com/chilled-logic-3-x-3-led-grow-kit/

The Chilled logic pucks seem like they have more red boosted in the spectrum.

If there is any others that you would suggest, I would love to check them out. Cheers.

To be honest the DIY route by sourcing the parts yourself is not that daunting. Unless you are dead set on boards. If you’re willing to go the strip route it’s quite easy to get something built yourself. Just my .02$

mastrmasn said:

To be honest the DIY route by sourcing the parts yourself is not that daunting. Unless you are dead set on boards. If you’re willing to go the strip route it’s quite easy to get something built yourself. Just my .02$

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I see a lot of the strips too, Im in Canada and the options seem to be less available north of the border. Any good threads on DIY Strips I should look at?

Here's your absolute cheapest option. For a quantum board kit. Look no further cause you'll be wastin yer time.

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/ssk-550-kit/

Airwalker16 said:

Here's your absolute cheapest option. For a quantum board kit. Look no further cause you'll be wastin yer time.

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/ssk-550-kit/

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Thanks, I see they have the strip kits there too. Thanks for the link.

R3DSTAR said:

Thanks, I see they have the strip kits there too. Thanks for the link.

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That's for a 4X4 though. I just realized you've got only a 3X3

R3DSTAR said:

I see a lot of the strips too, Im in Canada and the options seem to be less available north of the border. Any good threads on DIY Strips I should look at?

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I’m in Canada. Built mine with everything sourced from Digikey. My preferred option due them being a supplier for us at work. There’s lots of threads. I believe if you look in my journal you’ll see my light.

mastrmasn said:

I’m in Canada. Built mine with everything sourced from Digikey. My preferred option due them being a supplier for us at work. There’s lots of threads. I believe if you look in my journal you’ll see my light.

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Ill take a look, cheers. Ill add Digikey to my list.

Airwalker16 said:

That's for a 4X4 though. I just realized you've got only a 3X3

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So maybe strips a better option for a 3x3?

Strips for a 3x3 are vexed by not having any real 3 foot strips. You can put 3 1 footers, or just do the "windmill" design from 2 footers but to me it just looks like swastika.

4 boards will also do it for you. At around 80w each you should almost be able to get away with no heatsink or just a alusheet backing the boards.
4qbs and a hlg320. If you want a cheapo solution go for lrs350 for driver and save some 40ish bucks.

Rocket Soul said:

4 boards will also do it for you. At around 80w each you should almost be able to get away with no heatsink or just a alusheet backing the boards.
4qbs and a hlg320. If you want a cheapo solution go for lrs350 for driver and save some 40ish bucks.

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Thanks, yeah im finding that 3x3 is an interesting size to deal with. The windmill idea I had not thought of before and could be a solution. Thanks for the input.

maybe buying 2 of these kits and stagger them?

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/sst-730_660-kit/

I just built a fixture 2 weeks ago from a pack of the hlg qb132v's 3500k and a hlg-320h-2100a for my 3x3x8. Easy as to build and bright as fark. I have them currently dimmed down to 106watt at 45" above 2 week old seedlings and getting 160 ppfd.

We have come up with what we think is the perfect 3'x3' solution: https://www.rollitup.org/t/high-lights-high-powered-cri95-flowering-boards-made-in-australia.988805/

High Lights left vs HLG QBs right


High Lights left, HLG QBs right


Two boards, two heatsinks, and a 320-480W driver and you'll fill a 3'x3' in no time.

Prawn Connery said:

We have come up with what we think is the perfect 3'x3' solution: https://www.rollitup.org/t/high-lights-high-powered-cri95-flowering-boards-made-in-australia.988805/

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https://www.rollitup.org/t/high-lights-high-powered-cri95-flowering-boards-made-in-australia.988805/


I would have jumped at this if it was available 1 month ago. Mine cost me 420 aud to build.(postage to oz and usd is a killer for us down under)

Sorry about that!

R3DSTAR said:

maybe buying 2 of these kits and stagger them?

https://www.cutter.com.au/product/sst-730_660-kit/

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Those are really only supplemental not a stand alone light.

Prawn Connery said:

We have come up with what we think is the perfect 3'x3' solution: https://www.rollitup.org/t/high-lights-high-powered-cri95-flowering-boards-made-in-australia.988805/

High Lights left vs HLG QBs right
View attachment 4325490

High Lights left, HLG QBs right
View attachment 4325491

Two boards, two heatsinks, and a 320-480W driver and you'll fill a 3'x3' in no time.
View attachment 4325492

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These look so nice but maybe not the right choice if you only have 6 feet of height (extra stretch and 18-24" hanging height) But that would be the same on almost any light. Depends on how you like to grow.

As you are a bit height constrained id recommend going for a setup which achieves a even spread over the 3x3 at low hanging height. Easiest way to do this is with one board in each corner.

Btw 4 of the High Lights in a windmill config is going to absolutely slay that space, but it might be pricey. But then again id respend every $$ i spent on getting diodes more spread out and softer driven cause ive seen it pay off.

Rocket your on the money, do it properly and it pays for itself in a 1/4 of a grow. Man I wish I had changed to LED a lot earlier!

You can run his boards soft so only 12" height but yes you need more boards. Its the age old story spend up front once and do it right or piss around and fuck around IMO.
FC

Rocket Soul said:

Those are really only supplemental not a stand alone light.

These look so nice but maybe not the right choice if you only have 6 feet of height (extra stretch and 18-24" hanging height) But that would be the same on almost any light. Depends on how you like to grow.

As you are a bit height constrained id recommend going for a setup which achieves a even spread over the 3x3 at low hanging height. Easiest way to do this is with one board in each corner.

Btw 4 of the High Lights in a windmill config is going to absolutely slay that space, but it might be pricey. But then again id respend every $$ i spent on getting diodes more spread out and softer driven cause ive seen it pay off.

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6' should be plenty. Preliminary testing shows 15" is about optimal for the High Lights over a 3'x3' enclosed area, but you can run them closer and not lose much light around the edges.

I hang mine less than 12" - admittedly in a 2'x2', but these boards are only running 95W each.



You won't get four High Lights into a 3'x3' in a windmill shape because the boards are 415mm long (x2 = 830mm) and 205mm wide (+ 830 = 1035mm, or 41").

However, you could arrange them in a double L shape to make a 27"x27" board with a hole in the middle, similar to this arrangement (these are not High Lights, which are about 50% bigger). Apologies to Rocket Soul if this is what he meant.