LED Lab 2009

SupraSPL · Nov 27, 2009

Deep UV LEDs over $100 a piece :http://www.s-et.com/index.html

Typical solar UVB is above 300 nanometers. Would be interesting to experiment and find out what wavelengths and how much give the most THC.

My only experience has been with UVB fluoros and my working theory is that some is probably better than none. Since the fluoro adds some blue anyway I figure it's worth a try.

@Weezard have you found that plants flowered outdoors to have increased potency vs the LED flowered ones or do you mix them?

Weezard · Nov 28, 2009

Good question! Long answer.

Good question! Long answer.

"@Weezard have you found that plants flowered outdoors to have increased potency vs the LED flowered ones or do you mix them? "

Dis not my thread brah.

I posted a rather lengthy reply to that question in Apollonia's thread on c.dot.
They no want you posting links or hijackin' threads here, but if you search for it...

In truth, I'm kinda hesitant about posting anything here lately.
Ya know what I mean?

Aloha,

Weezard

greekguy · Nov 29, 2009

please mind my ignorance and jumping out from nowhere, im between bying a commercial led grow light or making my own, i hope that in this thread you will educate me+ help me decide!

is this led the best white led on the market??? and if not why so????

or it would be better to use 10other cheaper 1wleds? is it really using 27watts???????
hat ever i buy-make it will be for a preatty big pc case grow

JimmyWie · Nov 29, 2009

Hey guys,

I'm new at these LED growing thing.. pretty noobisch with any kind of growing

. But i had one question, i have 3 small autoflowers by my window. i wanned to use a smal LED panel as a SUPLEMENT for flowering.

I found one and its 1squart FT ( or 30cm x 30cm metric.. ) . 15WATT,
200 red 660 Nm, 21 white (10.000 K) and 4 ( blue )UVA (360 Nm )

Is this any good you think, for that litle extra? keep in mind that these are small auto-flowerings plants, and I only have 3 of them

by the window.. haha

Thank you

Jopedijoo · Dec 3, 2009

I'm about to built a lamp inspired by Weezard and Dreaded Hermie from Ledengin 15w leds. I've got almost everything together to start the assembly. As I'm not that good of a technician I wanted to ask your opinion about a few things hoping that Weezard, Dreaded Hermie of someone knowledgeable could help me. I don't have a bench supply at hand at the moment to check out how much each led wants power, might be able to borrow one at some point though.. I'm trying out a combo of 6 x 660nm, 2 x 460nm and 2 x WW. I was thinking of driving them with Meanwell drivers. Would it be possible to do the reds with a pln-100 and the blues and whites with a pln-60? If so what would be a safe estimate (voltage and amps) to drive the leds with as I don't know the exact bins? Might have a few too many watts for the closet I'm putting the lamp in so I don't mind underdriving the leds a bit for the time being. I have read the data sheets and have a rough estimate in my mind, but would still like a second opinion from someone who knows their tech. Thanks!

Oldmac · Dec 3, 2009

Weezard said:
"@Weezard have you found that plants flowered outdoors to have increased potency vs the LED flowered ones or do you mix them? "

In truth, I'm kinda hesitant about posting anything here lately.
Ya know what I mean?

Weezard

Exactly how I feel. Now that there is a resident "expert" that can spread all the crap HE wants to, and we are not suppose to question his technical expertise or motives.....or even the misinfomation he's handing out. This had been a technically driven thread, but is now just marketing BS.

Weezard · Dec 3, 2009

Hi Jack.

Hi Jack.

Jopedijoo said:
I'm about to built a lamp inspired by Weezard and Dreaded Hermie from Ledengin 15w leds. I've got almost everything together to start the assembly. As I'm not that good of a technician I wanted to ask your opinion about a few things hoping that Weezard, Dreaded Hermie of someone knowledgeable could help me. I don't have a bench supply at hand at the moment to check out how much each led wants power, might be able to borrow one at some point though.. I'm trying out a combo of 6 x 660nm, 2 x 460nm and 2 x WW. I was thinking of driving them with Meanwell drivers. Would it be possible to do the reds with a pln-100 and the blues and whites with a pln-60? If so what would be a safe estimate (voltage and amps) to drive the leds with as I don't know the exact bins? Might have a few too many watts for the closet I'm putting the lamp in so I don't mind underdriving the leds a bit for the time being. I have read the data sheets and have a rough estimate in my mind, but would still like a second opinion from someone who knows their tech. Thanks!

I'll be happy to help you, but, again no wanna 'jack dis thread.
I suggest that you start a thread 'round here, or elsewhere, if need be, for your build and I'll be happy to kibitz.

I'm sure that DH and OM will pitch in as well.
We like folks that do the research before asking questions. :respect:

As long as we're not planning to sell our lights, the paid advertiser shouldn't mind, yah? :joint:

Aloha,
Weezard

unthing · Dec 3, 2009

Growroom design and equipment maybe?

Centrum · Dec 3, 2009

Oldmac said:
Exactly how I feel. Now that there is a resident "expert" that can spread all the crap HE wants to, and we are not suppose to question his technical expertise or motives.....or even the misinfomation he's handing out. This had been a technically driven thread, but is now just marketing BS.

You can say what you like, your posts will just be deleted by [insert mod] no worries

pinstripe · Dec 3, 2009

Oldmac said:
Exactly how I feel. [...] This had been a technically driven thread, but is now just ....

Me too. No more fun posting in this thread. I was hoping there'd be something like a "Prefab LED light buyers guide", but the thing is we're still on topic.

Topic said:
Looking for serious discussion of LED growing, photosynthetic spectrum, optics, wiring, where to buy, etc.

Anyhow, if there'll be a "LED Lab 2010" I don't think it'll be started on this board. That's just how nature works

It's been fun and interesting, though. Great job guys!

/Pinstripe

mrred · Dec 4, 2009

whoever makes the 2010 thread should make it in the growroom designs & equipment or just the growers forum

FreezerBoy · Dec 4, 2009

Centrum said:
You can say what you like, your posts will just be deleted by [insert mod] no worries

That depends on what you like to say. If you like to say, "So and so is a big poopy-head," then, yes, that will get deleted. If you like to say, "I respectfully disagree because ...," you'll be fine. At least with me.

I don't have my badge yet but, check the Grower's Forums page and you'll see me listed as the mod for both Micro and Growrooms. I'd prefer to moderate with rhetoric rather than the hammer, given the chance. LEDGro has a thread going in Growrooms as we speak.

If we follow the rules of civility and the tou and remember that we're discussing lamps, not abortion rights or ID vs Evolution, then I'll fight for you.

Jopedijoo · Dec 4, 2009

Weezard said:
I'll be happy to help you, but, again no wanna 'jack dis thread.
I suggest that you start a thread 'round here, or elsewhere, if need be, for your build and I'll be happy to kibitz.

I'm sure that DH and OM will pitch in as well.
We like folks that do the research before asking questions.
As long as we're not planning to sell our lights, the paid advertiser shouldn't mind, yah?

Aloha,
Weezard

Thanks, point taken! Don't want to be no Jack the Highjacker, I'm just being ignorant, sorry 'bout that... Anyhows, I moved my things :tree:

here: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=148232 All help will be appreciated!

Hephaestus · Dec 9, 2009

Ok, before I start on the 60 pages of reading...

Anyone built an array using cree/luxeons? Any advice on red/blue mix (or white?) IR/UV useful or not? Is there a lumen range we're aiming for?

Noticing the emitters are getting cheaper by the day; starting to think it's time to buy up a bunch...

indifferent · Dec 10, 2009

I have built some arrays using CREEs and Luxeons. I've used CREE XR-E reds and blues, driven at 700mA they are very good. I've also used cool white CREEs, different bins of the XRs, they vary in colour temp but are also good.

Luxeons are good, not as efficient as some of the more modern models out there, the Rebels and K2s are the best. I've used warm white K2s and red Luxeon IIIs at 1400mA and they worked very well.

I'm finishing off the build of a huge 350W LED light I'm going to replace my 400W HPS with, it uses all kinds of emitters - Luxeons, CREEs, Seouls, Edisons, Prolights, LEDengins, Osrams, Lustrons, whatever I could find at the right wavelength and price. To give you an idea of the scale of the thing, it's made from 24 large aluminium CPU heatsinks joined together in a 7x3 grid and measures roughly 30cm x 60cm. The space it will illuminate is 45cm x 90cm so the intensity of the thing will be immense.

Hephaestus · Dec 12, 2009

Is there any general guidelines as to how many lumens / spread per sqft etc? or is it still largely just an guesstimate scenario?

whatissixbynine · Dec 13, 2009

indifferent · Dec 14, 2009

I've just started a small experiment with LEDs to determine the effects of blueand uv light on flowering plants. There are 495 LEDs, a mix of 385nm UV, 390nm UV, 400nm UV, 440nm blue, 460nm blue, 470nm blue and cool white split across 8 panels. Took me ages to build these panels, but I got the LEDs extremely cheaply. I've wired up the LEDs using a pair of 700mA constant current supplies, I'm under currenting the LEDs running them at 15mA each instead of 20mA to make them last a bit longer. In my previous trials with cheap LEDs I found they do burnt out.

This means the array is only using up 25W rather than 35W, but it should still be sufficient for the experimental purposes of determining the effects of blue and UV light.
The highly directional nature of the light from the LEDs and the way I've placed the panels in one corner means that only the plant placed in that corner is going to be saturated in blue/uv light, although the neighbouring plants are also going to receive some of this light.

I placed a ******'s Jack that's at 53 days of 12/12 in front of the LEDs and we shall see what impact the LEDs have on her in the last 3 weeks of her life.

I took a load of pics of her before turning on the LEDs so we have a point of reference to see what she was like before the LED treatment.

And here is just after I turned on the LEDs. I've moved the plant higher by a few cm to line her tops up with the LED panels, she is getting the absolute maximum intensity of light from the LEDs as her buds are almost touching them and her leaves are touching, but the LEDs don't get hot so no risk of damage. If blue and UV light does have some effect, I think placing a flowering plant so close to an intense light source will show us what that effect is pretty clearly, we shall see!