Help with lighting

A_String

Well-Known Member
I have a 3x2 grow tent that is 5 feet tall. I have a budget light in it that I bought at a Home Depot hardware store. Last season, I grew a single plant (My very first successful grow). It was....okay. I got about 14 grams, final product, from the plant. I KNOW, if I had better lighting, I could have increased that.

So...I'd like to get a new, better light. It would still be in the 3x2x5 space and would only ever house 1 plant. I don't want to go over board and, given the height restriction, I really have to make sure I'm not over doing it. lol.

I'd like to keep it just around or under $100, CDN. I've seen TONS of light that everyone is recommending but, to be honest, I know nothing and a lot of them seem like WAY too much light for the space.

Long story short? What do you guys recommend that will help increase me yield, work in a small space and not break the bank.
 

WubbaLubbaDubDub

Well-Known Member

A_String

Well-Known Member
I actually have Amazon Prime so, free shipping! I've been looking at a bunch of recommended lights from them. (Spider Farmer, Maxisun, Mars Hydro etc. etc.). They are all under $100, but are a fairly high wattage (1000W). Is it okay to go that high for such a small space? Should I be looking at something else? Is there going to be a big difference in yield at this wattage? Like...is it worth it?

Here are a two, I was looking at:


The first is a 1000W and the second is 600W.

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I'm buying the right light for my situation.
 

WubbaLubbaDubDub

Well-Known Member
I’d spend the extra $20 and get the quantum board wal-mart has online it’s has great quality parts(meanwell driver).
The ones you posted are a pinch cheaper in price but way way cheaper in design.
Leds have have come a long way you don’t need purple or magenta colours, you want white light with a little something extra mixed in

-edit- neither of those are 600 or 1000w watt get the 100w quantum board and you’ll be happy
 

MustGro

Well-Known Member
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MustGro

Well-Known Member
I actually have Amazon Prime so, free shipping! I've been looking at a bunch of recommended lights from them. (Spider Farmer, Maxisun, Mars Hydro etc. etc.). They are all under $100, but are a fairly high wattage (1000W). Is it okay to go that high for such a small space? Should I be looking at something else? Is there going to be a big difference in yield at this wattage? Like...is it worth it?

Here are a two, I was looking at:


The first is a 1000W and the second is 600W.

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I'm buying the right light for my situation.
I would avoid both of those lights. If I only had $100 to spend I'd buy that Wal-mart light or a mars hyrdo. I've yet to hear anyone crap on Mars but just know for $100 you're not getting a great light.
What Spider Farmer and Mars Hydro light you seeing for $100? I don't think they'd be 1000 watt drivers on them. The biggest driver I know meanwell makes is 600 watts and it's 250-300 bucks.
In a 3x2 grow space the 100 watt driver would probably be max. Pretty hard to lose out at $100 for the walmart one; the driver is worth that.
 
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Hygropia

Member
Hi, take a look on yt for the amazon light reviews. Between a couple of the led growers, they've reviewed most of these with par maps, power usage and other useful info.

My 2p.. Avoid spider sf1000d and Mars TS600 models as they are fairly low output and hyped up on brand. TS1000 Mars is a solid unit,150w though and if you can get for $100, is good value. SF1000 is a rip off for an average light.
Bloomplus and Maxsisun have had decent reviews, also Viparspectra p and xs are low cost options. Mixjoy have a new unit with many app control functions but ive not used them as yet.
I just checked US Amazon and you guys have a ton of lights available. Look for the best diodes and driver for your budget on the day and ignore advertising claims on output, wattage etc.
The walmart light is a good option, it's a common board with samsung and meanwell driver similar to the rest, maybe cheaper on amazon though under a different brand.
 

Severed Tongue

Well-Known Member
I'm using a Marshydro TSW1000 in my vivosun 36"×20"×62" tent.

Imho, It's a good fit.

This pic is running at about 70% on the dimmer, 16" from canopy.(edit - I set it here a month ago, plants were 1/5th size, thanks for this thread realized I need to move it up, so I did raise it to 24").

100% is ridiculous for size and 150 watts. I think it would be fantastic for flower.

Those are two 5-gallon fabric pots in front, two 1-gallon on the side, with a small bottle in-between, and a quick DIY stand with two seedlings in back.

20210310_181618.jpg
 
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rundlescunder

Well-Known Member



Use Grow10 or RIU10 on hlg for 10 percent of your dollars off. Their easy af to set up honestly I set this one up as a side light but could easily be a overhead light.

 

Hugo Phurst

Well-Known Member
I actually have Amazon Prime so, free shipping! I've been looking at a bunch of recommended lights from them. (Spider Farmer, Maxisun, Mars Hydro etc. etc.). They are all under $100, but are a fairly high wattage (1000W). Is it okay to go that high for such a small space? Should I be looking at something else? Is there going to be a big difference in yield at this wattage? Like...is it worth it?

Here are a two, I was looking at:


The first is a 1000W and the second is 600W.

Sorry for all the questions. I just want to make sure I'm buying the right light for my situation.
I'm looking hard at the light that I posted for supplemental lighting in my grow. Price at WM is pretty much the same as EbayCanada.
What I like about it is, Samsung chips, MeanWell Driver, water resistant and a heat-sink (no cooling system with additional weight & power draw).
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member



Use Grow10 or RIU10 on hlg for 10 percent of your dollars off. Their easy af to set up honestly I set this one up as a side light but could easily be a overhead light.

Love the qb96 but that's not a very good driver match. For that space (low height) I'd also avoid using a high powered qb96, hanging height will be troublesome.
 

rundlescunder

Well-Known Member
Love the qb96 but that's not a very good driver match. For that space (low height) I'd also avoid using a high powered qb96, hanging height will be troublesome.
O damn did I fuck up? 185watts seems like the max one should push those boards. What would be a better driver?
 

rundlescunder

Well-Known Member
this is good info thank you. It feels like the driver I am looking for is never in stock or google takes me to a different driver. At max I am only getting 75watts. I thought it felt under powered. wow
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
this is good info thank you. It feels like the driver I am looking for is never in stock or google takes me to a different driver. At max I am only getting 75watts. I thought it felt under powered. wow
Octopart.com is a great tool for price comparison and finding providers. Just enter the model nr and it will bring you suppliers. You can do this with any meanwell driver finishing with 54A or XLG-xxx-H driver.
But remember you want a lot of clearance when running them hard, the qb96 don't give great spread unless you have a few.
 

A_String

Well-Known Member
Looks like the Walmart one is the overall consensus in this price range. Searching on Amazon.ca, I found the same info, (Samsung Chips, Mean Well driver), for $10 less. Does this look like the same deal?
 

Hugo Phurst

Well-Known Member
A
Looks like the Walmart one is the overall consensus in this price range. Searching on Amazon.ca, I found the same info, (Samsung Chips, Mean Well driver), for $10 less. Does this look like the same deal?

Almost - different type of Samsung chips, 281b instead of the LM301B (check out the reviews).
 

Johnny Lawrence

Well-Known Member
Looks like the Walmart one is the overall consensus in this price range. Searching on Amazon.ca, I found the same info, (Samsung Chips, Mean Well driver), for $10 less. Does this look like the same deal?
It doesn't say that it has 301B diodes, so probably not.

If you're looking for something super budget, the light linked above with the $45 discount code is a really good deal.
 
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