Thoughts on lighting for 12'x5' flower area

Hey GC!

I'm getting ready to go into my next round of flowering soon (I harvest the current plants in 2 weeks) and I'm trying to get everything set up to fill up my entire area for next grow.

I currently have 3 240 watt quantum boards and 2 supplemental COB lights in my flower area. The supplement COBs are Rolaedro lights I got off amazon a while back but they are pretty decent and run at 300 true watts. I was originally planning on getting another QB or two but I have since decided I want to build my own 250 watt COB light. I have seen great results using these lights and after all the research I've done it's definitely caught my interest! I know there are a lot of people who believe QBs are the future and I totally agree but I'd like to give this a shot and if I don't like it as much as I though I'll use it in my veg tent in the future

For the light I would be getting:

-5x CLU048 1212
-1x MW driver HLG-240H-C1400B
-5x Ideal holder 50-2303CR
-5x Ideal 50-2300AN
-5x Reflector KB-D82-90RF
-5x Pre-drilled Passive heatsink 135*H70mm(for 55-65W)
-5x of Wago quick connectors
-1x (soldered) 100K linear dimmer
-5x thermal tape
-Cables + Screws

I believe that is everything I need, please let me know if there is anything else! In total I will be paying $237.12 for everything shipped to my house, so in my eyes it's a great deal!

Here's where I need your guys help the most! So I will be building the frame for the light and I have seen a ton of designs. I was wondering if you guys think a square design or a strip design would work better for my grow? Which set-up would provide the best coverage?

I have included some (very rough) drawings of my area, the frames I'm considering and the two ways I'm considering setting them up! The last picture is just a estimate of how many plants I can have set up. Sorry in advance for my drawing skills lmao

Any input or advice would be greatly appreciated since this is my first time doing anything like this! Hopefully there are still some DIY COB users out there

 

I was also wondering if it would be possible to switch out or replace the COB chips in the future? I have built PCs in the past so I'm wondering if it's just like switching the CPU?

Can you just take off the thermal tape and use a new chip with the same heat-sink? Are most heat-sinks compatible with all COB chips?

Thanks again for any input

 

Yeah that helps a lot, thanks for the information!!

What is the frame on your cobs like?? If assume it's a square based on your set-up?

I most likely will have around 15 plants in the area at most but I'm trying to get it set up so I can start harvesting every couple weeks!

Also what kid of COB chips do you use?? I was thinking about getting something more updated but the kit I can get comes with the citizen Clu048s and I've heard good things about them.

 

That's exactly what I was looking for! I'm thinking the square/dice set-up will suit me best! I've seen some pre-built frames but building your own with the angled aliuminium seems easy enough!

Do you remember how much you paid for all of the frame parts? Without the frame I'm sitting at $237 so I'm hoping I can stay under $300!

growmau5 is the shit! That's where I have been getting all of my info from! I've seen the kits they have but I've had really good success with the supplier Kingbrite on Alibaba and they have the whole kit there so that's what I'm going to do

Thank you so much for the info! I'm really excited to get all the parts in and start working on it. I love DIY stuff so this has me stoked

 

Oh damn that's alot cheaper than I originally thought it would be!

I'm thinking about just getting the kit as it is for the $237 and then buying some better chips... like Vero29 gen 7s or something! I could grab 5 for around $100 but I'm really not sure if it's worth it! Hopefully someone with more knowledge on the differences can chime in

For the heat-sinks, are there already pre-drilled holes in the side for screwing into the frame? Or do you have to drill them yourself?

Again thanks for your help!

 

@maximusmin frow what I've seen most of them come pre drilled, I just wanted to make sure! As far as using the heat-sinks for the different chips I'm pretty sure I'll be fine! Growmau5 was using the same heat-sinks I plan on getting so it should work. I'll probably stick with the Clu048s at the start and then if I feel like it's necessary I can switch them out later!

@Sade your set-up is freaking awesome! I've heard that COBs have better penetration on the canopy compared to QBs and so far the results definitely speak for themselves How many watts do you have? What size tent?

I feel like if I go with the parallel strip I will be able to get the cobs over my entries grow area and then stagger the QBs so that each plant is getting similar light. I have a 3000 K QB, 3500K and 4000 K so I plan on staggering them across in a way that the early flowering plants are under the 3000 K and the late flowering are under the 4000... hopefully I can make it work.

I'm so excited to get my kit in and start building... I should be placing my order soon

 

Lmao what the hell are you even saying man?

Its almost impossible to read your sentences... I feel like I'm having a stroke.

I know that COB means chip on board. I know exactly how they work, like I've said I've done a lot of research and already use some supplemental COB LEDs!

If you paid $1400 you really fucked up and that sounds like an idiotic mistake. I just paid $217 for the entire kit minus the frame and like others have already said that shouldn't cost more than $50... So $267 total for a 250 watt light.

Im not sure if you even read my post whatsoever


I use Samsung boards already and like I said I've heard great things about these exact lights I'm getting.

Here is some information for you:

"COBs vs Mid Power Diode Boards (Samsung LM561C, LM301B, etc)

A question we hear often is "Which is better, COBs or boards?" Boards traditionally consist of long strings of 100's of mid power diodes driven at low current outputting on average 1/2 a watt per diode. This power, or PPF, is spread out over a large area, typically an 8x12" MCPCB and is designed to be used close to the canopy.

Our COBs are driven at over 100 watts each emitting a 120° beam angle from an area roughly 2" in diameter. As a result of this concentration of photons, COBs penetrate plant canopies better and when placed in an array at 18" above canopy provide more even coverage and spread the PPF out more broadly than board style lights, which typically concentrate the power in the center and then drop off on the edges and corners."

I have no clue why you're trying to call me out for saying COBs because that's how people refer to them.

Anyways thanks for your reply!