Building a Home Made LED

[hempfield]

On another popular grow site one grower/DIYer tested the chinese cobs. Pretty pathetic, destined for mediocrity, if not outright failure

When something sounds to good to be true...

In COBs you get what you pay for

Despite low efficiency of the cheap chines leds and COBs, I invite you all guys to see what can be achieved with them.

Have a look on this album, which contains pictures from this winter and actual run : https://www.icmag.com/ic/album.php?albumid=50894

Only 8 XM-L T6 leds have been used (for blue suplement), without a driver ( there are 4 leds connected in series directly on a 12V power supply).

However, I intend to move to a higher level and go for a CXA 3070 Z4 project, but maybe for the next winter (when hopefully I will move my growing room in a more decent space )

 

[tenthirty]

Nice, you won't be disappointed with the 3070!!

 

[hempfield]

Nice, you won't be disappointed with the 3070!!

That's for sure ! I am dreaming of them since CREE announced breaking the 200lumens/watt barrier two years ago or so.

A lot of 6 or 9 'Z4' is on top of my wish list

Do you remember the discussions about future of led growing lights one or two years ago ? When I think of 303 lm/w record CREE achieved this year I can't ask myself what kind of lights we will be using on a year or two. Not to mention about above unity efficiency LEDs !

When I build my first LED panel I was very enthusiastic about the very long life LEDs supposed to have and now I realize they will never have the chance to die due technical problems, but rather 'ethical' ones. But I promise myself to keep that panel as a vintage tech object just to remember me about the LED growing pioneering age.

 

[gusgusthegrate]

i took at your dwc 300w . i like! very clean job and grow room. what are you working with now hempfield? seems like you know you leds.

im using these.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/321205882059?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

is that old tech? or even counterfeit chinese leds?
they work great but i cant find much info on them.

if i weree to keep building led set ups what is the best led you can recommend? i like the cob idea over individual leds in series . i did see types like the 3070 but liked the idea of just red and blues because plants like those colors correct? why waist power on spectrom they dont use is my thinking.

 

[tenthirty]

I will be needing at least 12 of these bad boys for my new flower room plans too.

 

[hempfield]

i took at your dwc 300w . i like! very clean job and grow room. what are you working with now hempfield? seems like you know you leds.

im using these.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/321205882059?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

is that old tech? or even counterfeit chinese leds?
they work great but i cant find much info on them.

if i weree to keep building led set ups what is the best led you can recommend? i like the cob idea over individual leds in series . i did see types like the 3070 but liked the idea of just red and blues because plants like those colors correct? why waist power on spectrom they dont use is my thinking.

A lot of grows have been completed under blue and red mix by so many growers, there is no doubt. But after more than 4 years working with that pinkish light I can tell I had enough : it's nice to see it on pictures, but it's a PITA to work in the growroom in that light. Another concern is about the narrow spectrum of the red-blue lights compared to plants needs.

Plants use red and blue, this is totally true, but it's very hard (or quite impossible I might say) to adapt your colored lights to plant needs. A complete white spectrum is more soft and the plants will receive photons with different energy levels ( the energy carried by a photon depends on it's wavelength), so this should be more proper for a plants in different flowering phase.

Going a step further with latest CREE CXA is mandatory in terms of efficiency : in theory, the same yield (or even better) could be achieved with just a little more than half of the same power of the old chinese LEDs.

Another reason to go for CXA is the simplicity : my 300W DIY led panel wights about 14pounds and is 2.5"x1.5". The same power with CXAs will fit on just 6 CPU coolers, which can be placed at different heights or angles.

So it's not mandatory to use full or narrow spectrum, is more like a personal preference.

I will be needing at least 12 of these bad boys for my new flower room plans too.

What surface do you plan to cover with those 12 CXAs and what current they will get ?

 

[PetFlora]

Whomever came up with the concept that all mj needs is light focused on CH A/B should be drawn and quartered

My suspicion is back in led infancy, whites were not the focus (too difficult with tech at that time), but they wanted to EXPLOIT indoor horticulture lighting, so they used BSS (BS Science) to promote. actually not too damaging for non fruiting plants

Most of this problem is on the doorstep of mj growers (myself included 3+ years ago) for blindly believing them, even though MH/HPS have been used for decades and they are basically WHITE light

When my R/B ufo 90 failed miserably, I realized white was essential

We are still trying to determine how much 470-600 mj needs, but there are some great grows using top bin Cree COBs and Bridgelux Veros- other following Im sure. Alas, IC is way behind in this regard

One thing is certain, mj will take what it needs from white light (assuming it is a full spectrum white in the PAR range)...

BUT, it cannot manufacture light that it needs that is not available. The lack of full spectrum will certainly lead to negatively altering future genetics

My custom BML light bars are ~ 90% WW, the rest a mix of a few 450 Royal Blues and 660 reds

Drop by my thread

 

[sammyz2646]

On another popular grow site one grower/DIYer tested the chinese cobs. Pretty pathetic, destined for mediocrity, if not outright failure

When something sounds to good to be true...

In COBs you get what you pay for

NOT ALWAYS TRUE.....Mostly true, but certainly not always the case. China is rapidly advancing in the LED field, and every field for that matter. Be ready





QUOTE--"Whomever came up with the concept that all mj needs is light focused on CH A/B should be drawn and quartered"QUOTE-- PetFlora


---------Be careful Fluff-ball, thats YOUR opinion

Proof is in the preverbal "PUDDING". I am waiting for you to prove your case, with proof via photos.






This is a single leaf that clearly demonstrates that a room full of whites , blues, reds, and full spectrum chips can produce.

 

[gusgusthegrate]

Mabee I'll grab a cxa for shits n giggles. I might build some LEDs for a friend. Mabee we can do a comparison. Cxa stay pretty cool? Mine does but that's thanks to the fan.

The driver I have only ranges from 20v-27v . any cxa's that you know of that will do well. My one 60w is all I'm running rite now. (Still waiting for roots to pop). I'll do my own research too.

 

[PetFlora]

You see, I belong to other grow sites, where there has been a great deal of led testing going on for a couple years

A number of finished grows, even using only Cree household Whites

So, no, it's not my 'opinion' fluff ball

Before you opened your mouth and stuck your foot in it, did you stop to think (lol) about CFLs, HPS, HID lights that people have been growing with for oh, DECADES... what do they have in common ummmmm, now... let me think about this.... oh yeah... WHITE lights. granted, some lean more to white or yellow, but they are full spectrum bulbs

NOT ALWAYS TRUE.....Mostly true, but certainly not always the case. China is rapidly advancing in the LED field, and every field for that matter. Be ready





QUOTE--"Whomever came up with the concept that all mj needs is light focused on CH A/B should be drawn and quartered"QUOTE-- PetFlora


---------Be careful Fluff-ball, thats YOUR opinion

Proof is in the preverbal "PUDDING". I am waiting for you to prove your case, with proof via photos.






This is a single leaf that clearly demonstrates that a room full of whites , blues, reds, and full spectrum chips can produce.

View Image

 

[sammyz2646]

Everyone knows that general white light contains all the necessary colors to grow. I am simply telling you that ADDING more spectrums/wavelengths in certain areas of the color spectrum, is not a waste, in any way shape or form, BUT in fact a benefit if used IN CONJUNCTION with lots of white lighting... . . .



Like I said...... MORE LIGHT is the key... Anyone's garden growing cannabis especially, will usually almost always benefit form additional light and additional spectrums flowing through that area.....

I like to play with many different colors ........... (BUT I DON"T CHANGE THEM UP EVER, FROM VEG TO FLOWER, ONCE I START THAT SPECIFIC COLOR ARRAY FOR THAT RUN OF GIRLS)







That way you can truly get a solid idea about the way your garden will respond to all the changes. It takes time and patience.



Pet, I respect your influence here more than you know. Having said that....

At times your comments can be somewhat "offensive"

I feel your overall perspective may be influenced by your limited growing area. You must understand that to provide people with the highest quality medicine , that it can not be accomplished in a closet sized space. Therefore, your ability to add numerous other colors to see long term cumulative results in the proper fashion, (NOT A SCREW IN BULB) (OR A SINGLE LIGHT BAR OR TWO)-----IS VERY LIMITED. I know what adding, (AND LEAVING IT THE SAME THROUGHOUT), multiple colors- does for me....wonders




Now some lights are definitely better than others, but they all bring benefit and growth to the table... Even my single cheap Chinese flood w/ 3 watt diodes running at 100%(they have not failed me in 6 months)... everything helps. Obviously running more efficiently is the answer too.

That is why I developed such an interest in LED's

 

[gusgusthegrate]

Why so offensive guys? Were just sharing knowledge any and all opinions/questions help. We can all compare info and weed out the lies. "In this great future you can't forget the past". in my eyes your both og's, pioneers of this whole diy led bizz. Lots knowledge to teach you have. I need lots more info haha

Where are these other good threads? . only other good info I can find are fish tank forums. Its hard to scan through to find info when people argue for days on these forums..

 

[hempfield]

Please don't start a fight here. Please !

 

[sammyz2646]

Hempfield, my apologies to your sir.....I am finished here with this little "DEBATE"

 

[gusgusthegrate]

Pet flora are you getting that spider 600? That Thing looks rad but $999 is steep

 

[PetFlora]

Pet flora are you getting that spider 600? That Thing looks rad but $999 is steep

I was told it MIGHT ship by today, but have not received any shipping details, so...

 

[gusgusthegrate]

so i hooked up 2 more of those 60w red/blue leds on smaller heatsinks and strapped it to my oscillating fan. no doubt that its much brighter than my 192w apollo cob. my tent now gets a lil warmer... before it was 82 tops and with the other 2 leds it gets to 86. thats with central air in my house being 77. i even dialed down the wattage to 24w. im hoping it wont matter much. im going to change my hrs to 6pm-12pm to avoid the hot hrs of the summer . any advice for keeping my temps down?

 

[gusgusthegrate]

crazy you would think that for a grand they would send you shipping info... so you were able to design a specific spectrom that they are setting up?

 

[MarCogollo]

Hello. What you think of this setup for a 4x4 tent:

40 leds x 3w (100W Real). 4 modules per panel (3).

1 CREE XP-E White 6500 ° K

3 OSRAM OSLON SSL 80, 660 nm (hyper red)

OSLON SSL April 80, 630 nm (red)

1 OSLON SSL 80, 470 nm (blue)

1 OSLON SSL 80, 445 nm (deep blue)

Meanwell "LPV 100-24" Drivers.

Aluminum heat sink (80 x 10 x 1.8 cm) finned to dissipate heat well without a fan, thus they are totally silent.

 

[thaichimaster]

Hey, guys.

Anybody uses Nichia cobs? I'm planing of getting four of these: http://www.leds.de/en/High-Power-LEDs/Nichia-High-Power-LEDs/Nichia-Chip-On-Board-Modul-NSBLL121A-2310lm-warmwhite.html and put them in 60cm x 40cm box. I'd also like to add some side lightning with high CRI 90. For this purpose I can't decide which leds to use, first I was thinking cree's XM-L2 or even MT-G's http://www.leds.de/en/High-Power-LEDs/Cree-High-Power-LEDs/Cree-MT-G2-Easywhite-warmwhite-CRI90.html but i don't see people who'd use them for growing I might try it anyway... and last option is low wattage Nichia cobs http://www.leds.de/en/High-Power-LEDs/Nichia-High-Power-LEDs/Nichia-Chip-on-Board-Modul-NSCLL036A-575lm-warmwhite-CRI90.html power and price of these cobs are so appealing but the problem with those is that they run at pretty high Voltage (36v) so i'd probably had to give each one its own driver and I want side ligthning to be as small as possible and don't want to many drivers there.
If anybody has similar situation and is willing to share an opinion... I'm listening.