Spider Farmer LED Grow

[MIMedGrower]

Absolutely. If you wanted to modify this with those it would be top shelf no doubt. But with the added cost of obtaining those parts that have to be taken into consideration I just have no choice but to default to HLG. If they fixed those from the factory and kept prices where they are they’d put a lot of other manufacturers out of business.

Ahh well. I was hoping he’d take the info and run with it. Hell I even offered to do the mods and report my findings but was rebuttled with “our engineers say that’s within operating spec so it should be fine”. Sure I get that it’s within spec but it’s not within a reasonable range given constrained grow spaces and the limitations that has on cooling.

Its the shitty knock off boards you and others keep saying are the same.

There is always a reason if a similar product is much cheaper.

Low bin unmatched diodes. They sure mention they use real samsung diodes and even show pics of counterfeit ones on their site to compare like found often from the shenzen factory knock offs.

But there is more to it than brand and model.

Thats why i am so concerned about their heat sinks. And now i know why hlg can get away with a thin aluminum sheet. Like you said. A properly designed and built board shouldnt need a big heat sink.

I have refered to regular proof of this info on another forum site where the competing builders have been posting often for years now.

Thank you for adding to the proof of the low quality and likely premature failure of budget knock off chinese built light boards.

And confirming the dishonesty of these companies and lack of knowledge by most customers posting.

 

[JWM2]

Its the shitty knock off boards you and others keep saying are the same.

There is always a reason if a similar product is much cheaper.

Low bin unmatched diodes. They sure mention they use real samsung diodes and even show pics of counterfeit ones on their site to compare like found often from the shenzen factory knock offs.

But there is more to it than brand and model.

Thats why i am so concerned about their heat sinks. And now i know why hlg can get away with a thin aluminum sheet. Like you said. A properly designed and built board shouldnt need a big heat sink.

I have refered to regular proof of this info on another forum site where the competing builders have been posting often for years now.

Thank you for adding to the proof of the low quality and likely premature failure of budget knock off chinese built light boards.

And confirming the dishonesty of these companies and lack of knowledge by most customers posting.

I was assuming they were using quality components as on the surface it seems like they were. I will have to plead ignorance to the difference in meanwell drivers and believe that is most likely the culprit in this setup. I’d like to see the specs with a better driver first before declaring the diodes themselves to be at fault. But of course I’m open to that being the case as well. I was somewhat swayed by the positive reviews on Amazon to believe this would stack up. I will say they did everything else right so I’ll give them credit for that. But you’re right in saying the heat these produce is unacceptable. Hell when I was bench testing the rig I had it in a room that’s 12x12 with active cooling and it raised the temp of that room at least 8-10 degrees. That screams inefficiency to me. Color me surprised because I did not know this would be the case and have not been following the saga here or elsewhere on them.

When you spend as much time growing top shelf quality smoke as I do you don’t have as much time to nitpick grow equipment. Haha

 

[Glassdub]

How I'm coping, new exhaust fan, unfortunately I need a better inline fan to match as when closed sucks it out like a juice box (even set to med speed), one of my fans poped off at lights out last dark, landed on a budding stem, lucked out out it was a smaller one bent but not broke.

 

[MIMedGrower]

How I'm coping, new exhaust fan, unfortunately I need a better inline fan to match as when closed sucks it out like a juice box (even set to med speed), one of my fans poped off at lights out last dark, landed on a budding stem, lucked out out it was a smaller one bent but not broke.

Are you bringing intake air in from the bottom. And better to exhaust out the top up high rather than bend the duct down to the floor.

I have to send my exhaust down through my grow room floor. It then runs along the basement ceiling to the chimney and out.

 

[Glassdub]

IMO that’s a stretch. I also have a 5x5 tent and I’m running a FGI 680 4x4 footprint commercial quantum light. It pulls 690w from the wall and has the mixed spectrum same as spider farmers lights. They do use better drivers tho (x2) so there’s not much in the way of excess heat. I have a separate dimmer installed so I can turn the far reds, warm white and cool white lights up or down. Otherwise I ran these full bore for over a year without any heat issues.

In essence you just want more wattage for that space. You’d need 3 spider farmer 2000s to match the output and at that price you might as well go with a commercial fixture and not deal with the heat.

I might have to delay, I have to start recooping some of my money from this 'hobby' its taxing my budget as is.

 

[MIMedGrower]

The only reason spider farmer is charging the amount they are, is they can and people are paying it. In all fairness we trust any company that they are telling the truth about top bin LED's but we really have no way of knowing. If they were not so popular, then the price would come down to reality. I purchase quantum boards from china from a manufacturer I have been dealing over 6 years. I trust them as I purchase quite a bit from them. I have had nothing but success with my SF knock offs. I can daisy chain them and adjust dimmer on top. $100 USD each when I buy 10 or more. SF2000 equivalent. I agree that it would be rather expensive and commercial lights may be in the budget if you are going to fork out the dough for a large grow. As you add more, you use more power and some of that is lost through heat. I would love to fill my 15x11 room with these but the heat would be overwhelming. There is a point where thermo dynamics takes over and then you do not have control over your environment... you are chasing it. I am now running 12 sf 2000's in my 11x15 room. I have had no heat issues as I can push 2000 cubic ft per min so not worried about that. All is I can say I would have never spent $4000usd on Spider Farmer lights. I spent $1200 USD and happy. Second grow with lights. Used 6 months before and were on 24/7 for it. I am now running 18/6 for less plant stress but have been tried and tested. Not all Chinese lights are garbage. All I know is I asked a lot of questions and got english answers before I decided to take the plunge and try their quantum boards. I am happy I did. I will upgrade after this grow... I have maxed them out : )

Spider farmer and your boards are likely same level knock offs. SF is priced to compete with american resellers. You cant spend half and get the same quality even direct from china. I have experience trying to build a furniture line from chinese factories. By the time i had stuff that would compete with quality furniture lines it cost almost as much from china. But using lesser materials and they even offer counterfeit branding (seriously!) it can be much cheaper.

You get what you pay for. Nothing more.

 

[Glassdub]

Are you bringing intake air in from the bottom. And better to exhaust out the top up high rather than bend the duct down to the floor.

I have to send my exhaust down through my grow room floor. It then runs along the basement ceiling to the chimney and out.

Yeah, near the AC vent. Mounting that fan near the top, unless I wanted to hang inside (& I don't, space hog, more heat) would be a pain, works fine as is where its located, at lights out the tent is cooler than room temp, just need more equal input to prevent the tent from imploding.

 

[JWM2]

Yeah, near the AC vent. Mounting that fan near the top, unless I wanted to hang inside (& I don't, space hog, more heat) would be a pain, works fine as is where its located, at lights out the tent is cooler than room temp, just need more equal input to prevent the tent from imploding.

You want negative air pressure and with that comes the sides getting sucked in. Negative air pressure is the only way you can control odor.

 

[Glassdub]

You want negative air pressure and with that comes the sides getting sucked in. Negative air pressure is the only way you can control odor.

Odor control is not an issue, just temp, I don't use a carbon filter.

 

[JWM2]

Odor control is not an issue, just temp, I don't use a carbon filter.

Even temp control negative air pressure makes it easier to deal with because you have control over where the air is exhausted.

 

[MIMedGrower]

I dont want to argue, I have the proof as I finished my first grow... 10 watts per sq ft and got average 1/4 dry per plant. I had 24 plants in 11x15. I would not preach it if I do not have the ways to back it. I would be more than happy to show lux foot print on mine. I do have a high quality lux meter. As stated, I purchased mine for $100 USD plush shipping. I even had my company logos placed on at no extra charge : ) Not sure where the argument really lands as I just stated facts on my quantum boards but you say that it is impossible. Need pics?

You have said this 10 watt per square foot claim before but i dont believe your yield at all. Couldnt possibly be dry weight or the pro growers i know must really suck at growing.

And regardless none of that proves anything about build quality or parts used or life of the boards.

 

[MIMedGrower]

Odor control is not an issue, just temp, I don't use a carbon filter.

you can put additional bars for side support like secret jardin has done. I have seen 1x4’s attached across the middle to hold out the sides.

Or you can dial in an intake fan. Which can equalize the pressure and help with cooling.

 

[Glassdub]

Even temp control negative air pressure makes it easier to deal with because you have control over where the air is exhausted.

More the reason to get a 5x5, its getting cramped in there, wish I could afford lighting one...

 

[matthewearl]

Well just wanted to update everyone on the status of this fixture. I’ve been relating my concerns to the manufacturer and they seem incapable of acknowledging the heat issues I’ve encountered. I just cannot swap this unit out in place of my HLG quantum fixture due to the fact there is a 20 degree increase in heatsink and driver temps which will raise the ambient and leaf temps of my grow and wreak havoc on my VPD. If you are going to build a setup around the excess heat this puts off you’ll be fine. However you can’t just swap this out into an existing grow and hope it works. You’ll have issues with heat and your quality will suffer. So I’m going to have to retract my recommendation in previous posts until this is addressed. For not much more money you can get a fixture that is proven and puts off next to no heat. And for that alone I’d have to recommend HLG over spider farm.

This is sad as I had high hopes for this light fixture and everything leading up to firing it up was positive. Now that I’ve had a chance to test things out and speak with the manufacturer I’m disappointed with the outcome. My apologies to the community. But make no mistake I will always step up and acknowledge I was wrong if I am in fact wrong and this is one such case.

Just put a frozen pizza on the top of it and you will be fine for 20 minutes. After that you can enjoy lunch.

 

[matthewearl]

I can't deny these things get hot, 2 in a tent is a struggle.

I use A/C to control temps. I know for some this isn’t an option. My bill is nearly 1200 month though...

 

[MIMedGrower]

7.2 lbs dry weight total from 24 plants. Not sure how complicated it is and never said anything about any pro growers grow, just mine. 7x sf2000 in 11x15 room x 24 plants. I am not a reseller nor am a seasoned grower but that is the yield. Why so angry? I am not known to lie especially about yield. If anything I am rather conservative considering I did not include shake. I would have got more if I would have defoliated all of them. But hey, who am I to say. I guess everyone is right but me here. Maybe there is a rock I can crawl under around here...let me see.

Im not angry i just dont believe your numbers. And that doesnt look like 7 pounds of weed.

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

Quality over quantity any day....

 

[MIMedGrower]

Quality over quantity any day....

Quality and quantity come together with good gardening. What does that have to do with low watts per square foot magically growing more than everyone else?

 

[BurnzYzBudZz]

Quality and quantity come together with good gardening. What does that have to do with low watts per square foot magically growing more than everyone else?

Lol I just pulled 253grams with2 plants under 240w Chinese dimmed to 80% in a 4x4.. it’s possible. Your always stuck to your opinion and yours only.

*edit
It’s magical.

 

[Anthem]

2.98kg in pail. plus jars and pressed 1/2 lb of Headband into rosin... you wont see that since it was done 2 weeks earlier. There is just under 2lbs in pail bottom right. Everything you stated I have shown evidence and yet you still want to disagree or argue over my yield. Yet we should all believe YOU on this forum? Can you imagine if I called you out like you did? I have shown you the proof. Other than you coming here and weighing it yourself you are going to have to take my word for it. Like I said, anyone who knows me for the 47 years I have been on this earth, I dont lie. I am bad at it like my mom said so I choose not to. I am trying to inform you and the info you posted may not necessarily be correct for everyone. Yet, does not work for you, cannot work for anyone else attitude does not phase me. It all sold, and super happy customers. That is all that matters.

Ya here in the USA we tend to weight our flower after it has been dried and cures. No way 7 lbs with 10 watts a square foot. If that was the case, you would have ever professional growing company and grower knocking on your door.