Don't buy into the madness, Area 51 and all others are chinese son.

Not all Chinese products are created equal. Top bin Cree CXAs, the most efficient LEDs in the world as far as I am aware, are manufactured in Crees Chinese plant. On the other hand, the very worst LEDs in the world also come from China. So when in doubt, I assume the worst (15% efficiency and not properly cooled). If you have yourself an LED grow lamp with unknown bins and chips, it is likely a false economy and you would be much better of using HPS.

Area 51 uses Cree chips so the bin and performance is known to a reasonable extent. That is critical for an LED grow lamp. Only a few other lamps fall into that category. The Hans, Onyx Bloom and Apache.
 
SupraSPL said:
Not all Chinese products are created equal. Top bin Cree CXAs, the most efficient LEDs in the world as far as I am aware, are manufactured in Crees Chinese plant. On the other hand, the very worst LEDs in the world also come from China. So when in doubt, I assume the worst (15% efficiency and not properly cooled). If you have yourself an LED grow lamp with unknown bins and chips, it is likely a false economy and you would be much better of using HPS.

Area 51 uses Cree chips so the bin and performance is known to a reasonable extent. That is critical for an LED grow lamp. Only a few other lamps fall into that category. The Hans, Onyx Bloom and Apache.
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wrong, all chinese are built same standard.
 
Turban Poison said:
wrong, all chinese are built same standard.
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Are you suggesting that all Chinese LEDs are equal to Cree chips? If that were true that would be awesome!! But it is not true. Cree chips can operate at 30% or higher efficiency even when driven hard.

"Cree (Nasdaq: CREE) employs 3,172 full-time and part-time workers, according to the company’s annual report. The Durham-based company says that more than half of its employees work in China, mostly at a factory in Huizhou that Cree acquired with its $207 million purchase of Hong Kong-based Cotco in 2007."

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/11/09/daily5.html


Or are you suggesting that Area 51 does not use Cree chips? There are dozens of Area 51 users here at RIU that can verify Cree chips are used. They are day and night difference from generic Chinese panels. This has been well established. It shows up on paper and it shows up in experimentation.
 
I take it Area 51 and the rest buy the designed parts over seas, such as Cree LED chips from China, and then hopefully inspect and assemble here in the United States or Europe to turn to sale?

Has anyone bothered to experiment and design their own product by just buying the raw equipment such as aluminum housing, heat exchangers, fans, circuit boards, and LED's or is that out of the question at this time?
 
churchhaze said:
You're kidding, right?

That's what we're all about!!
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I'm quite new to the the forums. I haven't come across anyone who actually does anything themselves to the degree that I asked or otherwise I wouldn't haven't bothered asking in the first place.

That being said, I have seen a bunch of LED users who try out the various products out there. It seems like you either chance it with a moderate brand like LightHouse Hydro or you go all in with your money and buy a fancy LED unit such as the Area-51 models. I can't see buying the parts, as the companies do, being cost effective for anyone who's looking to make one or two units for themselves but maybe someone has found an exception and is willing to share?
 
There are just too many good threads to post from this section. The different designs with different size vero and cxa , heatsinks, drivers, this place is where all DIY cobs thoughts originate. The fish tank world is also loving DIY cobs.

Cobs make it convenient to finally get serious power from leds with minimal wiring/soldering. The simplicity and easiness to get started is what's attracting so many people to finally make their own DIY LED grow lamps.
 
churchhaze said:
There are just too many good threads to post from this section. The different designs with different size vero and cxa , heatsinks, drivers, this place is where all DIY cobs thoughts originate. The fish tank world is also loving DIY cobs.

Cobs make it convenient to finally get serious power from leds with minimal wiring/soldering. The simplicity and easiness to get started is what's attracting so many people to finally make their own DIY LED grow lamps.
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I tracked down some decent DIY threads through your profile. It's really cool hearing about it because I'm in a electrical and software engineering program and this stuff is something I would like to get down to eventually.

By the way, how do I like comments here on Rolli? Do I need to be a well-known in order pass on the good vibes?
 
AquariusPanta said:
I'm quite new to the the forums. I haven't come across anyone who actually does anything themselves to the degree that I asked or otherwise I wouldn't haven't bothered asking in the first place.

That being said, I have seen a bunch of LED users who try out the various products out there. It seems like you either chance it with a moderate brand like LightHouse Hydro or you go all in with your money and buy a fancy LED unit such as the Area-51 models. I can't see buying the parts, as the companies do, being cost effective for anyone who's looking to make one or two units for themselves but maybe someone has found an exception and is willing to share?
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You haven't been looking very hard.
http://rollitup.org/t/diy-leds-how-to-power-them.801554/
http://rollitup.org/t/diy-led-cree-cxa3070.789575/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/cob-spectral-research-microcab.838578/
http://rollitup.org/t/thinking-of-a-new-light.822679/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/diy-led-grow-lights-with-cree-cxa3070-cobs-and-cpu-coolers.805681/
 
You don't save much if anything building your own panels vs a production version, especially if you use high quality components. However it's possible to build a higher quality and/or more efficient panel that's optimized for a given space/application. A production panel has to make certain compromises to get the price/profit ratio right, shipping constraints, and so it can appeal to a broader customer base.
 
 
bicit said:
You don't save much if anything building your own panels vs a production version, especially if you use high quality components. However it's possible to build a higher quality and/or more efficient panel that's optimized for a given space/application. A production panel has to make certain compromises to get the price/profit ratio right, shipping constraints, and so it can appeal to a broader customer base.
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I figured.

I guess if you have the time, money, and ambitions of making your own LED unit, it's definitely worth doing it yourself. I plan on eventually saving up for such a project. Until then I'll just have to keep feeding the dragon.
 
AquariusPanta said:
I figured.

I guess if you have the time, money, and ambitions of making your own LED unit, it's definitely worth doing it yourself. I plan on eventually saving up for such a project. Until then I'll just have to keep feeding the dragon.
Click to expand...

Honestly, with cobs it's so simple to DIY I don't see the point in buying production panels. If you can do basic arithmetic, and operate sandpaper, you can build your own panel and save money over production offerings.
 
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