Out of likes, hopefully it works out haha.
If you don’t mind a little elbow grease you can save a couple bucks sourcing the stuff and assembling yourself. There was some good deals on the 288 v1 last I looked. Still plenty good of a product.
I guess I could start researching some lighting build youtubes. I’m an electronic/electrical guy by trade so it would be a piece of cake putting it together. LED lighting hasn’t been my forte. If I knew what to get and where to purchase from, the build/assembly part would be nothing for me.
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I can help you find what you need. Look around some and see if anything particular appeals to you.
Thanks brother. Will do.
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@dbrn32 . You seem to be quite of a LED guru. I’ve been doing some research and homework on the HLG 550 V2. Looks like I can purchase one for about 840 bucks. Looks like I need a driver, 4 LED quantum boards and an aluminum plate (heat sink) Just off the top of your head how much do you think I could make one for. If it’s gonna cost me 650-700 for parts I will just pull the trigger on a built one. If it’s around 450-500 I would probably built it.
Price varies a little depending on how you buy the components and any active sale prices. Right now it looks like there is 20% off 550 and you can get extra 5% at growers lights.
4 boards and 4 slate 2 sinks will currently run about $380. I think you’re looking at about $120 in driver cost within a couple of different options. Some angle to build frame, wire, power cord, and connectors probably run about another $50-$100. So I’d expect around $600 to build with v2’s.
You could also do two xl 260 kits or hlg-600 kit for around $700.
I think I’m looking ultimately at 2 HLG 550 or equivalent for the 4x8 tent. Unless there is better technology out there. Looking at some you tube videos, the cobs are interesting but it looks like good coverage with the quantum boards. I’ve been growing outdoors for years having great success and disasters so I would like to bring this indoors and have control of the elements. I received some seeds from ILGM and I’m gearing up for a good grow. Thanks for your time.
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From what I understand there’s not much difference between the quality of light between good cobs and good qb’s. The major difference is in how little height the qb’s take up.
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It’s hard to go wrong with either in my opinion. They’re definitely different animals, but you’re going to crush what the typical blurple will do with either.
@dbrn32 OK brother. Here’s what I’ve come up with. Arrow has the HLG-480-C2100A driver for $129. Cobkits has the Samsung QB 288 quantum boards for $70 each. Times 4 so that’s $280. They also sell the slate heat sinks for the QB 288. I want to opt for an aluminum plate like the original factory light. Do you know where I can purchase the aluminum plate? I might be able to get one locally somewhere but if there is a supplier out there I would probably purchase from them. All other ancillaries, I have. Plug, cord, wire etc. So question: Are the QB 288s compatible with that driver and do you know a supplier that has the aluminum plating? Thanks in advance for your support.
I would recommend using the factory heatsinks over a piece of aluminum plate. Nobody I know of sells a plate specifically for that. You’d have to go to a place like online metals and spec the size you wanted. Buying the factory sinks would likely be cheaper, and with increased surface area they would cool the boards better too.
I’m also pretty sure you can buy two hlg-240’s cheaper than one hlg-480 usually. Also, does cubby have the v1 or v2 boards at that price? You can get v1 boards with sinks for that at hlg.
Cobkits sells the V1 Samsung 561C for $57 ea. What’s the difference? Is it more compatible with the V1 driver? Would there be any output current/ PAR differentials compared to th V2? And if I opt for the factory heat sinks what would I use for mounting everything in a nice clean looking packaged light? Sorry, lots of questions, just want to do it right the first time.
Got a 4x8 tent so i will need either 2 550s or 4 240s I think for optimum lighting. I will go with 2 lights instead of 4. Grows will be seed to harvest. I don’t plan on doing any veg and flower at the same time in the same tent
Something like 5.7% increase in photon efficacy from v1 board to v2 board.
. So I’m looking at some 1” aluminum bar stock for a frame assembly. That should allow for some ambient air cooling as well. If you have a better idea, I’m game.
Square 1” tube.
That works. You just want something rigid enough it doesn’t flex. I think angle is more popular, but it’s also more readily available.
They’re 20% off now!
What is 20% off the factory lights? I saw they are $ 839 but if I can make them for about $500 I’ll go that route. I’m pretty handy with electronics. 
I’m an electronic instrumentation mechanic by trade.
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1” square tubular aluminum is pretty hefty. Especially with a 26x20 frame with some cross pieces to mount the lights and heat sinks.