I completely understand your concerns.
And Alibaba has done some work to help provide ensures although still not the best place I agree.
That being said kingbright and mejiu are selling solid products and Commerical growers are even using them.
I’ve been to China and I totally understand the way things work over there but not everyone is doing business the Chinese way, many are trying to be good companies and build a name for themselves.
I can assure you they are legit and worth the money.
I won’t be buying anymore HLG’s I can tell you that.
@Hydro I’m sure Nicky can give you a better impression based on use, but in evaluating them to purchase, my understanding is the HLG guarantees top bid diodes, and Kingbrite does not. Additionally, HLG uses a better red diode. Kingbrite has 2 levels of red diodes. For $119 you can get the 240 Watt Samsung 301H diode board with a cheap red diode, for $189 you can get the better red diode, but HLG’s is still better than that. Finally, the diode pattern is different.
Basically kingbrites are such a close copy it’s near impossible to notice a difference in the average hobby grow.
If your running a legal commercial grow ide go hlg due to warranty and customer support as well as you’ll probably run them until they fail.
@Nothingshocking has done quite a bit of digging like I did when I was learning lighting, I have my lights now and know I’ll buy kingbrites for my 4x4 when I get rid of my 2x4 but I wouldn’t say anyone wasted money on HLG’s.
They just paid for peace of mind and quality.
I’m happy with both lights, my hlg 320xl 3k v2 and my two 240w 3.5k uv/IR kingbrites.
I just prefer my kingbrites for cost to Preformance ratio
LEDs are the same ,but the connections and connectors and wiring is not the same quality. Which means the life of your product is not going to be the same .(more heat reduced output ) Basically you get what you pay for…
2 Hlg 260 rspec xl diy kits
I have HLG’s and I have kingbrites, the connections are the exact same.
You know why? Because the wires come right out of the meanwell driver and they are waggo connectors.
Also the kingbrites have a nice hand dial on them no need to use a screwdriver.
HLG probably runs higher bin diodes, although I don’t know I don’t run a par meter. And hlg. Has thicker heatsinks so that could over time cause more stress and lead to a shorter lifespan but unless I’m running them maxxed out I highly doubt it will make much difference 7 years down the road when technology changes so much I want new lights.
Also I could if I really wanted, find a better heatsink online and just buy the boards and drivers from kingbrite again not worth the hassle or the cost.
@Nicky, the diodes are the same , different bin number to singles out Hlg . I’ve seen several board connectors burn up on the knock offs. If you like the knock offs , then I love it . Good luck with your grow.
There are a bunch of knock off companies I don’t have anything to say about any of them other than kingbrite is legit.
Mejiu is good to but kingbrite is better and cheaper.
They are an industrial led company that just jumped on board of the grow light thing on the side.
Enjoy your HLG’s they are good lights I have one but I won’t buy one again I prefer my kingbrites they are just as good and way way less expensive.
