I am wanting to build a quantum board light set up… the fixture will be used for the full grow from seed/clone to harvest…
. I am gonna need it to flower a 4x4 footprint
My big question is when looking at these QB how do I know what their coverage is. Right now i am just looking at sites like budget led and hlg and going by what their assembled light cover is and trying to go about it that way. But I am thinking there is a better way
Maybe @PreyBird1 would know… he just finished a build… 
That’s right he did lol
The simplest calculation to start with is taking the total output in PPF (not PPFD!) and dividing it by the area you’re going to be lighting. You’re looking for a number between 50 - 70. Up to 100 or higher is fine, but will take a really tight growing system to work well without running into problems.
For example if I was looking at a light that has 1525 PPF (the HLG 600w kit) and wanted to grow in a 4’x4’ space I would do 1525÷(4×4)=95 PPF per square foot. So this light would do a killer job over a 4x4 at full intensity. Over a 5x5 it would work out to 61 PPF per square foot, which is also totally acceptable.
Ok thanks that makes more since … it was driving me crazy trying to figure it out … good thing I am in no rush do make the light happen lol
I use 3 4’x4’ tents. And i like lights that are meant for a 3’x3’ flower footprint and then i double it. So essentially a 6’x6’ foot print and then it’s dimmable so you have more control. Similair to a step down dimmable ballast.
Check out my light build thread. Full spectrum light build.
Thanks I forgot you did that build… could be a perfect recipe
I may get a stronger ballast just so i can push the boards up to the full 170 watts. I really like hgl.com light
I also really like the hgl light… but I feel I can do the same cheaper lol
You can but not a whole lot cheaper. Big money is the drivers no way around it. And right now because of trump theres a 25% tarrif tacked onto the driver incoming from china. And the lowest cost boards that are worth a damn are $75 each.
But I think the biggest part for me is to say that’s MY light… not a company’s lol
Lol bob vila. Fuck i wish i knew as much as that guy. Nice work by the way! Did you singe-burn the wood in the deck?
HAHA… U guys are funny. I want to build some lights myself down the road, so Im jus soaking up the needed info right now…KEEP it coming 
Yeah it was a light single burn … but it is gonna get done again this year because we didn’t put a sealant on it and the dogs wore the burn away …
I did the same thing now I am at the ask questions stage …
I am always impressed to see how guys diy your lights. I hate floating the LEDs it’s what makes me nervous. I guess you could buy them already on a board but that limits the pattern size.
I agree thats why i made my own spread pattern. On my frame i got longer heat sinks. I wasnt happy with what was offered. Fixed lights suck. This one is on a nice rail system. If i want to slide them i can. But when i put corner light i decided to make it fixed the way i wanted it. And i may add another supplement light. Its going up tomorrow and im going to veg 8 hash passions under it.
