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Offlineberminghamd1
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Registered: 06/13/19
Posts: 5
Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
New grow setup - would appreciate input
    #838142 - 06/13/19 08:47 AM (4 years, 9 months ago)

Hi all,

Im new to the forums, so please forgive me if I make any faux pas.

I have grown in the past indoors - back in the 90s, so things have changed a lot.  I also did an outdoor grow last year but between the seeds, flooding, and bud rot Id like to move back indoors. I’m exploring a new indoor grow for personal use, and was wondering if I could get some feedback on what I’m exploring as a setup.

I will be going LED for $ savings and heat reduction, in a grow tent, using soil (May move to hydro in the future but soil is easiest for me now).

Here is what I’m looking at:
Light: VIPARSPECTRA PAR450 450watt dimmable
Coolgrows 48”x48”x80” grow tent
iPower 6” 442cfm in-line fan (bundle deal with fan speed control, carbon filter)

My main question is lighting...is a 450watt setup sufficient for this tent?  I could easily get a 2000W setup for just a little more (though it’s not dimmable and I’m not even sure if that matters?)

Thanks in advance for any input or advice!!!

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Offlineyoosername
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Registered: 06/09/17
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: berminghamd1]
    #838143 - 06/13/19 10:35 AM (4 years, 9 months ago)

Be wary of "equivalent" wattage ratings.  Actual watts is what you want to look at.  The viparspectra par450 really only pulls 213 watts. 

For a 4x4 space, 450 watts is about the minimum of what you'd want with high quality LEDs.  Expect to pay around $1 per watt.

QB 96 Elite V2  4 of these paired with 2 meanwell hlg-320h-54a drivers would be one good option if you can DIY.

Fomex v2 480w This one would be a bit cheaper, still a very good option.

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Offlineberminghamd1
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Registered: 06/13/19
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: yoosername]
    #838144 - 06/13/19 11:56 AM (4 years, 9 months ago)

Thanks for the input!

So, for just a small amount more than the 450W I mentioned before there is a 2000W light that I wonder what your opinion is?

BESTVA 2000W

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Offlineyoosername
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: berminghamd1]
    #838145 - 06/13/19 12:28 PM (4 years, 9 months ago)

It's 390 watts, with blurples you want to shoot for 50w/sqft, or 800 watts for a 4x4.  You'd need 2 of them.

The quantum boards may cost more initially, but they are better lights.  The setup with four 96s would kill a 4x4 with 700 watts for ~$650, and cost less to run than the 2 bestvas.

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Offlineberminghamd1
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Registered: 06/13/19
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: yoosername]
    #838147 - 06/13/19 01:50 PM (4 years, 9 months ago)

Ok, this makes sense to me.  Thank you!

I have a modicum of technical skill but I’m no electrical engineer.  Would a DIY setup as you mentioned above be terribly difficult to do, with some research on my end from the interwebs?  I’d hate to drop the $ only to screw it up!

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Offlineyoosername
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: berminghamd1]
    #838148 - 06/13/19 05:00 PM (4 years, 9 months ago)

It's pretty straightforward to DIY.  Aluminum angle frame, parallel wiring.  Just make sure to double check your wiring before plugging it in.

I recommend buying a bunch of 18 gauge solid core wire and mounting your drivers remotely, to make them easier to access for dimming.

Other things to consider are wagos and waterproof splice connectors for the driver power cords.  Not strictly necessary but it will make things easier.

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Offlineberminghamd1
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Registered: 06/13/19
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: yoosername]
    #838150 - 06/14/19 07:21 AM (4 years, 9 months ago)

Awesome.  After looking over some of this online it’s much simpler than I had originally thought - stuff I feel confident in doing.

I had wondered about dimmers - is it really as simple as just wiring a potentiometer in-line?

Thank you again for the incredibly helpful advice.  I’m still too “new” to rate you (too bad this isn’t the shroomery where I could rate you!!!)

Once I get this built I’ll post pics to update.

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Offlineyoosername
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Registered: 06/09/17
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Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: berminghamd1]
    #838151 - 06/14/19 11:58 AM (4 years, 9 months ago)

No problem, happy to help! :blazed:

The "A" series drivers have a potentiometer built in, under some rubber plugs.  You'll need a screwdriver to adjust.

The "B" series has leads where you can wire in a potentiometer.

Here's a link to the QB96 ELITE V2 No BS thread over at the city.  If you scroll through it a bit you'll find links to PPFD mappings of various configurations at different heights and wattages.  Four is good, but six is better if you ever want to upgrade.  You could also add UVA and far red eventually.

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Offlineberminghamd1
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Registered: 06/13/19
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Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
Re: New grow setup - would appreciate input [Re: berminghamd1]
    #839243 - 11/09/19 03:11 PM (4 years, 4 months ago)

Well, I got this all set up!!

Here is my build and log



Thanks again for the advice, and I’ll update the log as my grow progresses!

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