To the OP:
Perhaps you might be overthinking things?
Suggest you simply cowboy up and buy a decent light, appropriate for a 2' x 4' space, and be done with it. It will cost you about $275 on Amazon, and take a couple of days to arrive.
- Yes, you could save a few dollars on a similar 230W QB direct from China (Kingbrite, et al), if time and trouble don't matter
- No, you won't find a decent cheap light
- Yes, you will need to learn to monitor and control tent temperature no matter what you do, lighting wise
Here's the Amazon review I posted for you a week ago:
I've done your homework for you...
If you need a cost effective, state-of-the-art, high quality grow light (for a ~ 2' x 4' area), stop soul searching and purchase the Maxsisun MF2000. In my opinion, it's pretty much the best combination of price, performance, and quality available anywhere.
I have numerous HID, flourescent, and LED grow lights. The MF2000 will effectively replace a 400 - 600 watt HID, and will optimally cover a ~2' x 4' footprint. At 230 (actual) watts, it will consume about half the electricity (and, produce roughly half the heat) while doing so. As a moderately driven LED array, it should do this full time for about five years (which is a long time, measured in replacement HID HPS and MH bulbs)
So, forget the cheap purple LED's, T5 fluorescents, COB's, etc. If you're interested in professional results, either use old school HID lighting (slightly cheaper, upfront), or go straight to one of the very latest LED quantum board lamps (such as the MF2000). Trust me.
UPDATE: I've now put the MF2000 into service. Here are a few tips:
- About the Remote Controller:
Reassuringly, the MF2000 will work just fine with a conventional (24hr on/off) timer. And, the light intensity (eg, 50%) initially selected via remote will continue under subsequent on/off timer control (eg, 18hr/6hr). So, set intensity once and forget it
- About Initiating the MF2000:
Simply press and hold the remote control "ID" button while you click the red lamp switch to "On"; lamp will blink for 2 seconds; now release the "ID" button and you're done - all the remote functions will now work
(the MF2000 instructions are a bit fuzzy here, but its actually dead simple)
- About Hanging the Lamp:
The MF2000 comes with a (four wire) hanging harness and a couple of rope ratchets. All good, except this combination uses up a lot (~20") of vertical space (which is at a premium in a 5' high tent). Solution: Use just two of the hanging wires (one per side), forming a loop between hanger points. Clip the included rope ratchet carabiner around the loop and hang as usual. (Maxsisun also makes an excellent 2'x4'x60" grow tent - ideal for the MF2000; see my review)
- About Different Light for Vegging vs Flowering:
Short answer - the MF2000 will work just fine for both. And - importantly - your ability to smoothly vary intensity from 10% - 100% means you can use the MF2000 right from seedling to final bud finishing. Combined with varying height above canopy via rope ratchets, adjustable intensity makes the MF2000 a simple and sophisticated grow lighting solution.
(Technically, the MF2000 produces an extended light spectrum which pretty much encompasses all stages of plant life cycle needs, just like normal sunlight. So, no need for "red/blue" switches or MH/HPS HID bulb changes).
(Thanks for reading. Hope all of this info helps you. Buying grow lights can be confusing...)