Hello ilgm community. I have been growing under a kind led xl1000 which I bought used. The light got me through 3 auto grows and now decided to fail on me. I had great results with this light. I wanted to get another one, but I had no idea the retail price on kind products because I picked this up at a yard sale for $100. After looking into kind products I would love to get another one new, but extremely out of my budget at the moment. I have 16 autos about 2 wks into veg and need to get a light asap. Do we have any suggestions on a cheap light that might be able to help me get through this grow. I understand you get what you pay for. I’m not expecting the same results as I got with my kind, but at the same time don’t want to buy complete trash. Looking for something under $300 that can get though any help is appreciated need coverage for a 5x5.
Go for high efficiency diodes (Samsung LM301) for the best bang for your buck. You should be able to get a 250 to 300 watt light for about $300. A 300 watt light will flower 1 to 2 plants total. Mars Hydro, HLG, and AC Infinity all have good options.
Be aware that lights sold for your price that claim to be over 250 to 300 watts are poor quality lights and do not deliver the wattage advertised. The typical 1,000 watt light found on Amazon at that price are really only 150 to 200 true watts.
Welcome to the community
I think you will find a light for a 5x5 space wall cost you a few more dollars than that. I will tag the light man for you, maybe he will have a suggestion. 
@dbrn32 can you suggest something?
Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.
Lights are the one thing you can’t cheap out on. I second using top shelf lights over these inexpensive crappy lights.
Running quality lighting you will see a definite increase in yield. I typically yield 12 oz. of dried flower per plant.
Thanks for the welcome I appreciate your help. I figured I wouldn’t be able to get nothing great was just hoping to get some decent. Then maybe use that for side lighting once I get a good one.
Believe me I really don’t want to waste money on a cheap light , but it’s either waste money on the seeds or a temp light. I figured I could probably get something to at least get me through this quick auto grow then just use for extra lighting. Btw 12oz per plant that’s awesome which light do you use? I am going to invest into a good one it’s just going to have to be at the end of October.
Mars FC-E 6500 is the cheapest I know of that will cover a 5x5 at $400. I have decent results using them as 4x4s. Having been down that road though I wish I had saved up a little more for better light, but I have 4 FC-E lights that I have been using for a few years now and they have produced many pounds for me with no real problems.
Mine are home built from Gen 1 Samsung diodes. Four fixtures, 240 watt peak on each, 3,000K.
Here’s my current grow: one plant
Thank you I’m going to look into that. I keep hearing to check out mars hydro, vivosun, and medic for cheaper decent lights. I just want to get this back up and running as quick as possible. I appreciate you letting me know what works for you.
Wow!!! She looks amazing great work. Out of curiosity about how much would one of these cost to build? I never thought of building my own, but I really like how the light is even all around.
That’s not a bad idea. My old boss has a shipping container a quarter full of drivers from our retrofit days and the chips really aren’t that expensive. Cheap light upgrade maybe. Have you ever felt the need to augment with red/blue light?
I chose to go the diy route because I had a quantity of aluminum I could use for a heatsink. My cost per fixture was a hair under $200.
Never felt I had to add UV or far red as these lights produce good flower.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before. I cleaned out a hoard of old computers and radio equipment while back. between all that and Those drivers I could probably rig up a few for the cost of chips.
like everyone is saying, the best thing you can do is get the BEST light you can afford, if you don’t the cheapy light will be the first thing you replace.
Check refurbished lights on hlg’s page.
I grabbed this for my 5x5 but I only plan on running 4 plants. Works with my ACI controller as well with their adapter. 280 bucks
edited to remove unauthorized link
@Jimmy420 welcome to the community. Sorry to hear about your light. I’ve been there before. You can check market place for a used one. @dbrn32 has a great idea about the refurbished from HLG those lights can’t be beat. Good luck
Szhlux has a 620 watt for around 269 and an 840 for around 350, the 840 will flower 7x7. It’s a big light at 48 inches square but it puts out a ton of light. I run the 620 in veg room and the 840 in flower room. I never run either over 75% with most at 25 and 50 percent. You can check my journal for grow results with them.
Hey thanks for suggestion. Even the refurbished were a little out the budget right now. I did end up finding a Kind LED Grow Light K5 SERIES XL1000/WITH two K3 SERIES L600 for $240 shipped. lights are used but guaranteed to work or money back. The guy I got them from said his dad only did 2 harvests with these and put them up. I’m not sure if he knows how much they run that he had on eBay at $170 buy it now but $70 shipping. Can’t wait till they come so I can get my plants back on scheduled. I threw 4 4ft t5 to keep some light on them until the lights come.
