IF you are new to LED and want help choosing what to buy, POST HERE!

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Zulu Smoker said:
Go for it man. Why don't you license your design to other DIYers in other countries so they can sell it locally? Would be a great way to get the LED grow revolution going around the globe. Save all the poor folks who are using inferior quality lights.

As for your tip - were there any major design changes in the recent Optic Veros that are not publicly known? I still have yet to receive mine so I really can't confirm or anything.
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Don't know much about all that licensing stuff. Little I read it doesn't really seem applicable to this. Although copyright and publishing does seem to fit.

I have no idea what they have going on in the box. All I can really say is 100w cobs with optics need more headroom or it's really easy to over do the light and compromise plant health. My next run will be 100w + per cob without optics, maybe diffused, to see if I get a better user experience
 
SnotBoogie said:
Why buying LED lights are different from HID, flourescent, and other established technology

The thing with the market for LED lights is that they have only recently become affordable for our purposes. They're still so new that the "cutting edge" moves extremely fast! what this can mean is that prices can vary wildly, between brand new tech and older stuff for example. At first it is very confusing, as what you think you "know" could become outdated due to advances in technology or cheaper production. Things that were expensive could become cheap, making you think you have a great deal, when in reality it is because there is some even newer technology which does the job better. For this reason, it's important to seek up-to-date info when making a purchase.
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With this in mind I seek help. I have always grown HID and am seeking new technology. What I need is simple layman's English to help me make a choice in LED. Simply a suggestion from the LED grow pros on a good product for a reasonable price (I am not broke but I do not have very deep pockets either. Looking to spend up to about $400.00

Thanks!
 
Hello! This is a newb question I'm sure (and my first post!)

I'll be putting together a fixture with:

CXB3070's and Ideal holder 50-2234C

I see a lot of recs for the Arctic CPU coolers... the 11 plus to be specific.

My question is... will the Ideal holder 50-2234C fit on this?

Also, is a TIM like artic silver good.. do you guys scrape of the pre-applied TIM on the heatsink?

I ask as I'll likely be moving them on to large AL single sheet heatsinks, going to build some 1" angle stock and tube stock frames until I decide configurations etc!!

Many thanks RIU seems to have it all!
 
geez, so many questions. Does anyone have a link for plans for a COB light? Jimmy Indica mentions something about maybe providing plans.

I want to light my 3x3 tent.
If I could dim the light that would be good for veg.
Looking at pricing on the retail models using vero29 or cree cxb it seems that they run around $500 for a 200 watt light. Approximately how much would it cost to build a comparable light? $300?

For the best coverage of a 3x3 would it be better to use 4 COBS with less power than two with more power?

Is there a good manual out there that explains COB technology and all of the terms? I've just been piecing it all together. ppfd, PAR, CRI etc..
 
sunny747 said:
geez, so many questions. Does anyone have a link for plans for a COB light? Jimmy Indica mentions something about maybe providing plans.

I want to light my 3x3 tent.
If I could dim the light that would be good for veg.
Looking at pricing on the retail models using vero29 or cree cxb it seems that they run around $500 for a 200 watt light. Approximately how much would it cost to build a comparable light? $300?

For the best coverage of a 3x3 would it be better to use 4 COBS with less power than two with more power?

Is there a good manual out there that explains COB technology and all of the terms? I've just been piecing it all together. ppfd, PAR, CRI etc..
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Rec building something like this. Use 4 vero29s. 90 to 120 watt each COB and Meanwell HLG are very good . 2COBs/1Driver. 30E (3000K) for flower/40E(4000K) Full Cycle
I have more of a parts list for ya if this is something your looking for (need to know how much power u want to each COB or call AP at Heavenbright. The higher the Intensity the higher you can run the fixture for extended coverage area. IMO- Lower wattage COBs need to be put 14inches do get the penetration high wattage COB do at 20 to 24inches:peace:

IMG_0600.JPG
@MonsterDrank running 120watt Vero29s right now in the Batcave next to 1000HPS
 
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m4s73r said:
and yet they sell thousands of them. care to elaborate.
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I actually bought the "Roleadro" one from eBay, but it was branded "PopularGrow" there. It's for my small veg cab and will probably keep my moms and clones healthy enough. It doesn't really look very bright, but it is indeed a "whiter" color light than the other COB fixtures on eBay.
 
I see a lot of recs for the Arctic CPU coolers... the 11 plus to be specific.

My question is... will the Ideal holder 50-2234C fit on this?
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Anybody used the Arctic Plus 11 with the Ideal holders for the COB CXB3070 ?

Thanks!
 
JimmyIndica said:
Rec building something like this. Use 4 vero29s. 90 to 120 watt each COB and Meanwell HLG are very good . 2COBs/1Driver. 30E (3000K) for flower/40E(4000K) Full Cycle
I have more of a parts list for ya if this is something your looking for (need to know how much power u want to each COB or call AP at Heavenbright. The higher the Intensity the higher you can run the fixture for extended coverage area. IMO- Lower wattage COBs need to be put 14inches do get the penetration high wattage COB do at 20 to 24inches:peace:

View attachment 3549058
@MonsterDrank running 120watt Vero29s right now in the Batcave next to 1000HPS
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Thx Jimmy,

Yes, I'd like to see a parts list. Maybe PM me if you have time.

Something I am not understanding is this " Does the driver determine the output of the LED?" If so, do COB's have a Min and a Max output? If I am correct there is a zone where you get max efficiency, right?
 
What does BIN refer to? The actual lot of lights? Similar to a batch? Do some batches of the same COB perform differently?
 
sunny747 said:
Thx Jimmy,

Yes, I'd like to see a parts list. Maybe PM me if you have time.

Something I am not understanding is this " Does the driver determine the output of the LED?" If so, do COB's have a Min and a Max output? If I am correct there is a zone where you get max efficiency, right?
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In the end the driver will determine the output. The Emitter has a High rec , Low rec and nominal which is usually their test current.
Yes there is a current for max efficiency.
 
hello.

I have a small 35x45cm (1m height) build for one plant.
Thats around 1.7sqft

One plant was vegging with 2x45 6500k cfl. (a friend gave me the seed. he brought it from peru, might be the "natural" seed from there).
Veg was nice, but now i need to flower....

First Step taken...
Since last week it is running with 3x16w 3000k e27 Led bulbs.
The manufacturer claims a 100lm/w, but i doubt it. The 6500k model claims the same 100lm/w....
So, im considering 70lm/w for the 3000k.
This would give me something around 1.000lm per bulb(16*70=1120). So i might have 3.000lm of a cheap maybe(i hope) 70cri.
I know this is(or might be) not enough for flowering. But it was the first step....
The plant had too much time in vegging!

Now i'm wondering whats my priorities:
Add some 2000lm decent 80+cri 3000k(or 2700k) led?
Add some 660nm?
Add some 630nm?
do i need 1 ou 2 uv(around 400nm)leds?

2:1 -> 660:630 ratio?

"my web researches" told me that it is needed 1.5w/m2 of 660nm red. (based on sunlight)
in a 1,7sqft this be something like 0.2-0.3w.
and I think its all wrong, because its too low....

how much mW of each(630 and 660) wavelength do i need for 1.7sqft?

i'm almost decided to order 5 luxeon deep reds from steve leds(U$10), but as newbie, i'm afraid to under/over power my project...
i'm in a short budget so i'm considering ordering some chineses:
7 band chinese 50w
660:440nm 30w

should i definitely stay away from the chinese cobs?

thats what i have in mind for now....

I accept any suggestions that stays below the U$35 budget/(in brazil U$35 is BRL R$140)

IF i was going to build a custom panel, is it trustable? http://www.ledspecs.com/#


thank you guys!!
 
Hello, I have a 400w hps light and it's too hot and noisy for my closet tent, so I am going to send it back to the manufacturer. I want to use an LED for my room and have a budget of about $150. Any recommendations on leds? Is LED for only hydroponics or does it do well for soil too?

Dimensions of tent are 24"×42"72"
Would either of these be good for a closet tent? Screenshot_2015-11-24-13-42-23.png Screenshot_2015-11-24-13-42-55.png
 
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Setting up in a 4x4 Tent. I am looking at G8 240 LED to use in a 4x4 Grow Tent, 2-4 plants.

Is this a good LED to purchase? Am I able to use this for entire growth process?
 
TJ baba said:
Hello, I have a 400w hps light and it's too hot and noisy for my closet tent, so I am going to send it back to the manufacturer. I want to use an LED for my room and have a budget of about $150. Any recommendations on leds? Is LED for only hydroponics or does it do well for soil too?

Dimensions of tent are 24"×42"72"
Would either of these be good for a closet tent? View attachment 3549994 View attachment 3549995
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Probably not. A real 400 watt COB costs around $800. Remember that the China mans whole goal in life is to F Americans. They are snakes.
 
I can respect that. But what would you suggest otherwise? lol I'm not trying to drop over $800 in total grow equipment either..
 
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If I don't have kapton tape, is there an alternative tape that can be used? Tried searching web but only kapton tape was found. No stores in my area carries it.
 
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