Obnoxious nooby question. What light unit?

[SilkyJohnson]

Hello there.

I've been searching and reading all the threads I can get my hands on, but there is nothing definitive and not much information that is relevant to the UK.

So I was wondering what one would need for a pc case grow with like 2 plants.

I'm just looking for someone to tell me what the best off the shelf solution is for seed to harvest, and what wattage I'd need for this and what effect efficiencies of each unit has on that etc. So I'm getting a bit lost in trying to nail something down really, any help would be appreciated.


I've narrowed down some options available in the UK from premium to low-end:

http://www.led-lightbulb.co.uk/node/197

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/...TF8&me=&qid=1371663053&seller=&sr=1-2-catcorr

http://ukgrowlights.co.uk/new-2012-lighthouse-180w-blackstar-led-grow-light-ultra-violet.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEWEST-20...61141713335?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3ccd4251b7

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LED-120W-...arden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item43a1b70adf

 

[positivity]

I'd probably go with the 21x. Start with one and if you think you need more light get another and you could have one per plant. The others would be kind of shoehorning it in, then you might have some heat build up issues.
Personally I'm liking the integrated led approach. Something similar to the hgl sol would be pretty nice in a small area where penetration isn't a huge issue. All the colors would blend rather then laser beams shooting straight down.

 

[ellydee]

http://astirgrows.com/en/

 

[SilkyJohnson]

Thanks for the reply. I was leaning towards the 21x also, as it looks to be the most professional and quality unit out of them, from the info I've been able to gather. And like you say, it gives me the option to adjust the total wattage, opposed to shoehorning one big unit in and it being too much.

@ Ellydee, are you sure that site is still active? Nothing is instock

 

[trem0lo]

If you're just filing a PC case, get a solderless DIY kit from RapidLED. I think they ship internationally. You'll get much better light and efficiency for your $$$.

 

[SilkyJohnson]

If you're just filing a PC case, get a solderless DIY kit from RapidLED. I think they ship internationally. You'll get much better light and efficiency for your $$$.

How much better are we talking? convenience trumps costs, so if there is something off the shelf that's going to do the job, that's what it'll be

Form factor is another benefit as well, that kit looks like a mess

 

[jcmjrt]

Take a look at this unit - bonsaihero.com .

The solderless kit from rapidled looks good too but if convenience trumps cost you can get Cree LEDs (and yes, it makes a LOT of difference between brands and bins) from bonsaihero

People crow about using Cree LEDs because they produce quality LEDs and quality means more light on spectrum (bigger plants) and less heat (tighter buds). Companies that are not transparent about what they are using in their fixtures are usually trying to hide the distinct lack of quality.

 

[trem0lo]

How much better are we talking? convenience trumps costs, so if there is something off the shelf that's going to do the job, that's what it'll be

Form factor is another benefit as well, that kit looks like a mess

Potentially much better. Frankly the cheap lights haven't impressed me much in nearly every micro grow I've ever seen. You're better off using PLLs if you insist on buying one of these. With DIY you know you're getting quality lights and drivers, plus better thermal management. Also they take up less space.

 

[SilkyJohnson]

That was one of my main concern really, the quality of LEDs etc actually used in these off the shelf units, there is very little info on them, hence this thread.

If the end result is going to be leap and bounds better, then I'm certainly not averse to DIY, but the hassle isn't worth it for the sake of 10-15% improvement, let's say. Thanks for the replies, very helpful. I'll have a look into bonsaihero, jcmjrt, thanks.

 

[trem0lo]

Growing in a PC case you're looking at a pretty tiny yield anyway. If you've never grown before it may be even less. The cheap LEDs produce sad, airy buds a lot of the time, so it's important to have proper light intensity which is strongly tied into LED quality and thermal management (aka heatsink size). Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

 

[SilkyJohnson]

Thanks for the advice. Your PC case grow is essentially what I'm going to be replicating so I will take your advice on the matter into consideration. I can handle a soldering iron so I would not be averse to a custom DIY rig if someone can point me in the right direction for materials?

 

[ellydee]

"@ Ellydee, are you sure that site is still active? Nothing is instock "

Send them a message from their site. They are traveling all over Europe atm promoting their lights. It may be awhile before they can fulfill orders. They have some crazy good new stuff coming in the future!

 

[habeeb]

PC case..

your making your own, or

-kessil ( my experiences were shit, 5 grams one plant )
-HGL spotlight ( not sure the name )

-I guess you could also mutilate a light in extreme cases.. but that's "hardcore"


that's all I know right now that would fit a PC case.

 

[jcmjrt]

PC case..

your making your own, or

-kessil ( my experiences were shit, 5 grams one plant )
-HGL spotlight ( not sure the name )

I've had great luck with Kessil. Maybe I had such good experiences because I was using fluorescent lighting as a supplement. I haven't tried growing with just Kessil...but I can say that I had such good experiences that I purchased 4 of them (H350 magenta) and I'm having a great grow again and no fluorescent light but I do have a couple of diy LED fixtures with white light so maybe that's the key.

The fixtures are quality and run cool too which is nice for a PC grow. If I were doing a PC grow with what I've got (not making a diy fixture to just fit the space), I'd use a Kessil H350 magenta and one or two small white (cool during veg and warm during flower) fluorescent bulbs. I usually keep the Kessils about 10 inches above the canopy.

 

[babelfish]

yaknow, eshine has some stuff - its not as efficiant as some, but nice and cheap that would work.

http://www.eshinesystems.com/products.html
scroll down a bit, and youll see some gold:

http://www.eshinesystems.com/grow/3g-50x3w-led-grow-light.html
just a bit long, but you might be able to make it work if the case is deep enough?
get a nice miniscrog going with 1 girl in coco, i could see some fun times
(these units pull about 2w per led, so 50x3 => 100w@wall (roughly))
also, there have been some reports of these running a bit hot, so you'd need good cooling, but i feel its likely doable. if not a pc then a speaker for sure.

<edit>
love to see some 5w led's in such a small area, but can't find any premade lights that would have even a hope to fit :/

 

[SilkyJohnson]

I went DIY in the end, should be done in a few days