[1toke]

Good afternoon,

I have been researching LED components all day and had a few questions for those who have taken the plunge and built their own. I am lookin at LED Engin's LEDS. Specific models are as follows:

LZ4-40R300 - 740NM, 8-11V, 700MA.
LZ4-40R200 - 660NM, 8-11V, 700MA
LZ4-00MC00- 625NM, 520NM, 460NM (RGB), 2-8V, 700MA
LZ4-40UA00 - 400NM, 13-18V, 700MA

Questions
1: Is the Wavelength Spectrum diverse enough? Or maybe to much? Im trying to make this as energy efficient as possible while maintaining high quality. Quality of the product is the bottom line for me.

2: Do you think it would be beneficial for power consumption to have a toggle switch for VEG and FLOWER. Maybe like toning down the reds power during Veg and blues power during Flower. Or is it best to have them all on during all phases?

3: I was looking at an LM3464 for driving the LEDS. My concern however is that I will not be able to meet the Voltage requirements with one chip. Im not very good with datasheets, but it looks like it will drive 4 LEDS. I really wish I could find a driver for 5 LEDS. Any advice in powering these would be greatly appreciated

Ideally I would like to have a modular lighting system, say a 5" square with 5 LEDS, that will grow and shrink depending on the space I have to work with. I would like to have the powersupply be on the mother light and have sub lights that could plug without introducing new cables, OCD

any advice on the topic would be awesome! I got ahold of some durban poison and this is the outcome. HA!

[rives]

Well, I find your choices a little odd. I know that some people have started including the far-red end, but I haven't really seen much point in it. The 660nm and 625nm chips look fine, but the ultra-violet one has me confused - I think that you would be better off up around 460nm, and they are about $16 each rather than nearly $80. Some cool white would be a good addition to fill in some in the middle.

Yes, I think that it is very handy to be able to tweak the spectrum depending on what stage your plants are in.

You do realize that the LM3464 driver chip is just a naked surface-mount device about 3/8" x 3/16" ?!?!? You could damn near stick that in your eye and not blink, and you sure as hell aren't going to do anything with it on a DIY level. Go to Jameco.com or Mouser and check out Meanwell drivers - they are already assembled.