Debating switching from 400 HPS to COB light

[Silverfox125]

Hey guys so here’s my request for help.

I currently have a 3x3 tent and a 400hps as my flower tent.

I have no real issues with heat or anything just ready for an upgrade.

I’m looking at a “2000w” Philzon cob system. (451 watts from wall).

Would this light truly be an upgrade?

Is it too powerful for the 3x3 tent. Is that a thing with cob lol?

Any advice is appreciated!

 

[Silverfox125]

Is there a better cob to get just for flower purposes? I have a veg setup already.

This will only be for flowering.

New to led/cob. I’ve done some research but just enough to be dangerous

 

[Bush Doctor 77]

I do a rare indoor grow, and use HID when I do. Cheap parts, and if energy isn't costly I don't see a reason to change yet. I figure if the LED makers say "Equal to a XXXWatt HID", I'll stick with the HID until cost for the really nice LED's comes down. I do like the quantum board idea with passive cooling like the MARS TSW 2000 , or the Budget Grow Light Red Spec light that is for bloom. Both are sponsors here.

 

[Greenlizard]

I personally tend to shy away from the LED makers who say "equal to XXX watt HID" due to the dishonesty. If the seller can't be honest then who would do business with them? If an automaker built a car that said it got 2000 KM per tank of gas and you bought it only to quickly find out that it only got 200 KM you would likely be upset and return it.
Just call it what it is...
In my opinion the first LED maker to start being completely honest and throw all these false claims and titles out the window will be the most respected, and promoted. You don't have to make the best LED, or the most powerful LED to make successful sales. Quality, Honesty, and Affordability are the keys to success in any production company.
Don't get me wrong I don't paint all LED makers with the same brush. The bigger issue I see with this is the cheaper brands such as Philzon just for an example are preying upon the new growers. Claiming their 600 Watt fixtures to be "600 watts" and also give the impression it would be an alternative to a 400 watt HPS or sometimes even a 600 watt HPS. Their 600 watt fixtures are only 108 WATTS!!! That's it! Do we really believe a 108 watt LED fixture is going to be anywhere even comparable to a 400 watt HPS?
Also I would like to mention that when Sarah promotes her MARS HYDRO light fixtures she always clearly says how many actual watts the fixtures draw from the wall and I respect that.

 

[Silverfox125]

I’d be interested in the qb. What color do you guys recommend to flower with.....I knew all this stuff last time I bought a light but have forgot after years lol.

 

[Silverfox125]

@Greenlizard that’s the most confusing part. I’ve read a million different things and now my head is spinning

 

[Bush Doctor 77]

I’d be interested in the qb. What color do you guys recommend to flower with.....I knew all this stuff last time I bought a light but have forgot after years lol.

I think if you will using it just for bloom, get a 3000K

 

[Nunyabiz]

A 250w LED using LM301B or comparable diodes will easily take the place of a 400w HPS.

And really, everyone needs to stop using Watts as a guideline anyway because watts is meaningless.
The only metric that matters is PPF.
A 400w HPS is around 700 PPF.
250 w of LED is around 700 PPF if using newer diodes.

 

[Elevated Lighting Company]

Our 250w Red Spec Kit below in our signature would be a great flowering light for you. As others have said, 3000k would be the best option. The kit comes with Samsung LM301b diodes, Osram SSL Reds, and a Meanwell Driver.

We only advertise draw wattage. If you have any questions, please let us know.

 

[Emilya Green]

I love the cobs and think that you were well on the way to making a wise choice, before you asked for everyone to chime in. The whole idea of LED vs HID makes sense to me, even if only looking at cost of operation and longevity. When I decided to move to LED I did my research. I don't like QB because they generate a lot of heat as compared to a cob, and that is efficiency lost. The thing I like about cob is when I don't need a million lumens, I can dial it way back and provide exactly the amount of light needed in that stage of the grow. Because of the ultra efficiency of these things right up to the end of veg, your overall cost of your grow goes way down. My 6 cobs in a 2x4 tent did not even come close to having a heat problem nor did they require me to run the window air unit that I usually had to run so as to keep the temperature down. Just with normal air exchange and fans going in the tent, I was able to keep right near 79 degrees all during the grow so far.
I went with a 3000k light rated at 90CRI. This closely approximates the output of the sun, and appears to be highly effective in both veg and flower. I built mine myself and ended up with a 6 cob array that definitely can supply too much light to my plants, but with a $35 LUX meter I have that well in hand and for the first time in my growing career can dial in as much wattage as needed. I have absolutely zero buyer's remorse after building these lights and know that I did it for about half the price of a comparable commercial light of the same quality.

 

[Mars Hydro]

Hi Silver, if you are looking at a cob lights, why not check out Mars Hydro COB, it is currently on sales for buy one get one free, that is you get two COB for one price. Two of the COB will be around 210w fan fit your 3x3 space perfectly! And you only pay around 240USD total, Cree cxb 3590, meanwell driver, waterproof, no fan design, ETL certificated.

Mars Hydro COB promotion - buy one get one free.jpg

• Mars Hydro
• Sep 17, 2019

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

Silverfox, I'm nearing the end of my first grow using a Phlizon 3000W COB (actual pull 630 watts) in a 4x4 tent. My plants absolutely love this light! I have never achieved this type of stretch or flowering with my old lights (500w LED). So my biased opinion is, YES, go with the Phlizon COB! You won't be disappointed.

 

[Remystemple]

I have 2 of those with an aglex of the same type in a 8x4. the lights are great. I just ordered a "3000w" today to replace the aglex. it was on deal of the day for $397 canadian. the Optic 6 is about 3 times the cost and pretty much the same light.

 

[Remystemple]

Silverfox, I'm nearing the end of my first grow using a Phlizon 3000W COB (actual pull 630 watts) in a 4x4 tent. My plants absolutely love this light! I have never achieved this type of stretch or flowering with my old lights (500w LED). So my biased opinion is, YES, go with the Phlizon COB! You won't be disappointed.

lets see a couple pics broski.

 

[Grand Daddy Black]

lets see a couple pics broski.

Remy, these are Alaskan Purple autos at about 50 days old.

 

[Remystemple]

Remy, these are Alaskan Purple autos at about 50 days old.

Very nice. Thank you.

 

[Silverfox125]

It’s getting hard to argue against the cob. My main concern is bud density. It seems cobs are up to the task. So what brand do you guys recommend? I’m in a 3x 3 tent for flower. 2-4 plants. Again this will only be used for flower.
Thanks for all the advice so far

 

[Remystemple]

It’s getting hard to argue against the cob. My main concern is bud density. It seems cobs are up to the task. So what brand do you guys recommend? I’m in a 3x 3 tent for flower. 2-4 plants. Again this will only be used for flower.
Thanks for all the advice so far

most will say the cree cobs are the best. it's the main reason i like my lights. i spoke to someone and found out they're putting out qb's in a couple months. it seems the price point has been very good for these lights compared to others of the same type.

 

[TulsaJJ]

I love the cobs and think that you were well on the way to making a wise choice, before you asked for everyone to chime in. The whole idea of LED vs HID makes sense to me, even if only looking at cost of operation and longevity. When I decided to move to LED I did my research. I don't like QB because they generate a lot of heat as compared to a cob, and that is efficiency lost. The thing I like about cob is when I don't need a million lumens, I can dial it way back and provide exactly the amount of light needed in that stage of the grow. Because of the ultra efficiency of these things right up to the end of veg, your overall cost of your grow goes way down. My 6 cobs in a 2x4 tent did not even come close to having a heat problem nor did they require me to run the window air unit that I usually had to run so as to keep the temperature down. Just with normal air exchange and fans going in the tent, I was able to keep right near 79 degrees all during the grow so far.
I went with a 3000k light rated at 90CRI. This closely approximates the output of the sun, and appears to be highly effective in both veg and flower. I built mine myself and ended up with a 6 cob array that definitely can supply too much light to my plants, but with a $35 LUX meter I have that well in hand and for the first time in my growing career can dial in as much wattage as needed. I have absolutely zero buyer's remorse after building these lights and know that I did it for about half the price of a comparable commercial light of the same quality.

Hi,

Do you have a link for your diy cobs, that you built yourself?

Thank you!

 

[Emilya Green]

I really didn't document the build... there are pictures of the assembled light in my last grow journal. For a more detailed look at the build of lights just like mine, check out @fanleaf 's links.