One 1200 dollar light or 3 400 dollar lights?

I've got a 5x5 for flowering on order and am trying to decide how to light it. I was initially sold on the Gavita 1700e but I can't get the idea of 3 Mars Hydro SP 3000s out of my head. I'm sure the Gavita is a higher quality fixture (and has a better warranty) but I can't help thinking that the extra wattage (680 on the Gavita vs 900 on the Mars x3) and the overlap would give me more light. Anyone wanna try to talk me into one set up or the other?

QB lights with Samsung diods

Budgetled or HLG

All I use now

The gavita is a more quality light for sure, but that being said more watts usually equals more yield. So that's a tough choice. I def think the gavita would last longer and hold up better over time.

Neither, get 3x 240w QB setups and you are close to 30w per sq foot for about $500-550.

Basically, what @BobThe420Builder said, he just posts fast

The Gavita is pretty. Here's another option for ya.

When you guys say QB I know it stands for quantum board I'm just not sure what actual product you're suggesting I use. I guess I just don't have the vocabulary to talk DIY lighting. I've no real interest in DIY setups either. It's worth it to me to pay someone else for that.

Didn't see what diods are used

$1500.... wow

I could build a lot of true QBs with that much $$$$$$

Oversoul said:

When you guys say QB I know it stands for quantum board I'm just not sure what actual product you're suggesting I use. I guess I just don't have the vocabulary to talk DIY lighting. I've no real interest in DIY setups either. It's worth it to me to pay someone else for that.

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What Cinco said

Some nice pre built setups from hlg and budgetled

All use the NEW Samsung diodes

PadawanWarrior said:

The Gavita is pretty. Here's another option for ya.

Growcraft X6 - 1000W LED Grow Light - Commercial Grade

Growcraft Light Spectrum Options Passive Cooling Linear Bar Design Thin Profile – Only 1.375in Tall Rugged T Slot Bar Design Oversized surface area for maximum heat dissipation Remote Power Driver Location Lower your heat load by removing power driver outside grow area...

chilledgrowlights.com

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That sure is pretty. The efficiency is the highest I've seen. Unfortunately, the price point is just a bit out of range.

Theses




Or these

Paid the same price to cover a 4x8 area from Meijiu as I would’ve to cover a 4x4 area with gavita

Oversoul said:

When you guys say QB I know it stands for quantum board I'm just not sure what actual product you're suggesting I use. I guess I just don't have the vocabulary to talk DIY lighting. I've no real interest in DIY setups either. It's worth it to me to pay someone else for that.

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They are no more DIY than the Mars or Gavita. I thought the same way you did until I ordered one, and now I wish I hadn’t spent the money I did on my Mars setup.


If I were you, I would literally order 3x of those, 3500k LM301H and Epistar 660nm (I’m okay with that, they do have Osram if you want).

$499 shipped to the US for 720w of a great quality light.

That is just me. Assembly was on the same level as my Mars Hydro lights. You just connect the drivers, dimmer, and plug it in.

They also have some killer deals on bar lights. I haven’t tried them, but I understand they are phenomenal.

Oversoul said:

I've got a 5x5 for flowering on order and am trying to decide how to light it. I was initially sold on the Gavita 1700e but I can't get the idea of 3 Mars Hydro SP 3000s out of my head. I'm sure the Gavita is a higher quality fixture (and has a better warranty) but I can't help thinking that the extra wattage (680 on the Gavita vs 900 on the Mars x3) and the overlap would give me more light. Anyone wanna try to talk me into one set up or the other?

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If that 1200 dollar light fails. You're out 1200. If one 400 fails you're out 400. Its a matter of what you like ultimately but, I personally am a fan of several less expensive lights vs 1 really expensive one. You have more options too. You can move one or two lights to another grow, play around with coverage, run 1 or all 4

BobThe420Builder said:

What Cinco said

Some nice pre built setups from hlg and budgetled

All use the NEW Samsung diodes

Click to expand...

Hey Bob. I was just checking out the HLG 650 which looks to be 4x 160W QBs spread out over a frame. The total size of the thing is about 26" x 21". Would that be able to hit the edges of the tent that could be up to 18 in away? The reason I like the setups I've mentioned above are because of the huge form factor of the Gavita or the ability of the long and narrow Mars' to spread out over the tent. I'm not sure 630w is going to outperform 900w. The HLG runs about $1100 too so I'm really not saving anything but am giving up a lot of wattage. Is there something about the QB technology that I don't know?

Oversoul said:

When you guys say QB I know it stands for quantum board I'm just not sure what actual product you're suggesting I use. I guess I just don't have the vocabulary to talk DIY lighting. I've no real interest in DIY setups either. It's worth it to me to pay someone else for that.

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So you got a bunch of links - heres the important thing to remember about all of these. They are basically the same thing, 2 simple components, in various configurations.

Theres a board with LEDs and a heat sink on it. Then there is a power supply, or driver.

Aside from the connectors and hanging hardware which is included 99.9% of the time and not worth thinking about — that’s it.

Mars, Gavita, HLG, Meijiu, Spider Farmer, all just package these boards and drivers into kits. What varies is the quality of the chips and drivers. Pick a reputable company that sells Samsung LM301h chips on the board and Meanwell drivers, and you are getting the most stable, current LED tech at the best price point, imo.

Oversoul said:

Hey Bob. I was just checking out the HLG 650 which looks to be 4x 160W QBs spread out over a frame. The total size of the thing is about 26" x 21". Would that be able to hit the edges of the tent that could be up to 18 in away? The reason I like the setups I've mentioned above are because of the huge form factor of the Gavita or the ability of the long and narrow Mars' to spread out over the tent. I'm not sure 630w is going to outperform 900w. The HLG runs about $1100 too so I'm really not saving anything but am giving up a lot of wattage. Is there something about the QB technology that I don't know?

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Not Bob, but that’s the reason I didn’t go HLG. I prefer having the boards on separate heat sinks so I can space them appropriately In the tent. HLG is also pretty high priced. It’s debatable (and well debated, so none of it here I hope) as to why and they are certainly a wonderful company to work with. They are the first to introduce QBs to the market.

Went with Meijiu and got same chips, drivers, and board config I wanted. I can move individual panels anywhere in he tent.

Hey Cinco I may be crazy but killer ass deal from companies with Chinese names make me a little wary. Can't knock the stats per $ that these Meiju products have though.

Oversoul said:

Hey Cinco I may be crazy but killer ass deal from companies with Chinese names make me a little wary. Can't knock the stats per $ that these Meiju products have though.

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Search for them here, they have been around for nearly a decade and there are thousands of members with Meijiu lights. @bk78 ousted his new badass bar light setup from them. You are missing out if you don’t consider them.

Mars is just a Chinese seller with a crazy name too...

Thanks Cinco. That last post was very informative. I knew I needed to look for the best Samsungs and drivers I just didnt know what they were called.

Kingbrite is another Alibaba seller that sells the same products that has been around a long time, I haven’t ever bought from them but another option for you to have a look at.

Well I got 8 rspec and 24 cutter strips over a 5x5 overkill is really it u can do anything that can hit 30-35 watts a sqft all depends on how much u wanna spend and how hard u wanna run your boards