If you’re in the indoor grow industry, there is a high chance that you’ve heard of “Quantum Board LED Grow Light”. Quantum Board LED grow lights have continued to grow in popularity since the Horticultural Lighting Group first introduced them in the market. Currently, several brands have started creating these grow lights and there are some DIY kits as well.
The biggest question lingering on the minds of growers is; are they effective and reliable as other LED grow lights? As you will find out later in this review and guide, Quantum Board LED Grow Lights, normally shortened as QB LED grow lights are very efficient and effective in performance. These lights have several advantages over COBs such as better efficiency and much easier thermal management.
What are Quantum Board Grow Lights?
When you are talking about Samsung LED Grow Lights, you perhaps think of the regular bulky LED panel. Some growers might also think of COB lights. However, this kind of a lighting setup is the next-generation version of these lights. The quantum board is basically a circuit board where LEDs are wired together and usually feature a heat sink (though some cheaper models might just give you a circuit board and you can add the heat sinks separately). These boards, however, cover smaller areas than their actual size – if you buy a quantum LED board which is 6×6 in size, the light it would provide might be for a 4.5×4.5 area so that’s something you need to take care of. However, the electricity it consumes is almost half of what a traditional light would have cost you.
Pros:
- High powered light output
- Energy-saving design
- IP65 certification
- Full-spectrum light for optimal growth
Cons:
- Need a controller (not included) for precise customization
- Fairly expensive
Pros:
- Less expensive with more than enough power
- Daisy chain ready
- Epileds LED chipset
- Lasts 50,000 hours
- 2 Year warranty
Cons:
- Not quite a professional grade light but does the job
- A bit flimsy compared to others on the list
Pros:
- High Yields
- Highest PPFD PAR values
- Large grow area
- Deep canopy penetration
- High-quality plants result
Cons:
- Expensive
Are my plants getting enough light?
Start by creating a coverage map. (Some manufacturers provide one, which you should check against reviews. If theirs isn’t accurate, just generate your own.)
Draw up a coverage map by comparing the requirements of your strains, the actual light coverage of the array, and the PAR. The connection is how height and PAR values are related, and of course this will change based on growth stage, and may fluctuate depending on what you’re trying to grow.
Things to consider before buying
There are a couple of things you absolutely need to consider before choosing the best LED grow light:
1) Spacing: You absolutely need to ensure that you have an idea of the amount of space you want to cover with your LED lights. Each light has a maximum range of space that it can cover, and it'll be important to understand the measurements of your grow space down to the centimeter. If you currently do not know what that is, you should find out now. After that is done, make sure you read reviews and feedback from others on the actual space that the LED light can cover (sometimes, products are not as advertised... shocking, I know).
2) Brand/Budget/Price: This will be important as the higher-quality lights typically yield the best results. If you are a beginner, you will likely want to start with a lower priced option to get your feet feet wet. If you are more experienced, it never hurts to go with the quality, higher-priced option. In addition, brand and quality of the light is very important. A good brand that has raving customer reviews, is almost always, a sure bet.
3) Spectrum: A full spectrum LED grow light will go a long way in terms of helping your plant growth. You'll need red & blue spectrums, but also infrared and ultraviolet, depending on the stage. It's important to have a powerful light, with different wave lengths to ensure maximum growth. The full spectrum yields are a bit newer to the industry, but they are certainly making headway to any good growers catalog. They run cool and don't need any additional fans, they cost less overtime given the electrical savings, and the durability is second to none. It is highly recommended to purchase a full spectrum LED grow light. Most LED lights have a range of colors being emitted (full light spectrum) - the best lights offer the full range, including UV light.
4) Electrical Usage: Your LED lights will need to have durability and great electrical efficiency as well. A good LED light should be operating for at least 10-12 hours a day. When researching a good LED light, you'll need to thoroughly understand what the total output is (1000w, 400w, 300w etc). The higher you go, the more powerful and more likely leads to less electrical usage (and more cost effective for you).
5) Light Control: Depending on the stage, you'll want to ensure that your plants receive the proper amount of lighting (down to the exact hour). See a breakdown of the phases below for growing LED lights:
- Seedling Phase: 16 hours on, 8 hours off
- Vegetative Phase: 18 hours on, 6 hours off
- Flowering Phase: 12 hours on, 12 hours off
It's extremely important that light cycles are followed to a tee as it can severely alter the growth and potency of your plants.
Final thoughts
Plants just like humans need some vital things to survive, but getting the best of what you need can only result in better quality. In other words, if you provide plants with the best LED grow lights that cover every aspect of lighting a plant needs then your crop can and will be the best it can be. We hope these top rated grow lights will help your indoor garden.
Every grow room is different and certain aspects of an LED grow light might not be perfect. Consider the variables of your grow room, plant, and soil and you can easily determine which LED grow light is right for you and more specifically your plants.
