diy version of low profile led propagation fixture for small area?

bri77

bri77

Well-Known Member
Hi guys,

How would I build a light with the properties of one of the modern commercial low profile propagation leds. Main thing I need is a low profile light and ability to have plants close to light. To achieve this I need low temps and even spread. I'd also like something efficient, competitive with the best commercial fixtures.

You know the ones I'm thinking of, like this..
https://fluence.science/technology/razr/
or this
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/products/horticulture/propagation.html
(apparently you need a letter from the Pope to buy a Phillips led)

The 3x1 version of this would be perfect for my area...
http://bioslighting.com/icarus/#icarusVI
but it hasn't been released yet.

I want to cover two 3'x1' areas, one 3' high , the other 2' ( I'll be using hand watered 4" rockwall cubes ). I assume cobs are a bad choice and I need to go to more difficult route of 5w diodes ( Im a total noob who barely knows what these words mean, be gentle)

I really like this specrum the 3500k 90 cri shown here
https://cobkits.com/product/citizen-clu058-1825-90cri/

It has peaks and valleys in same position as fluence's PhysioSpec, seen here..
https://fluence.science/technology/physiospec-broad-spectrum-led-lights/

Any suggestions on how to diy this?
 
JorgeGonzales

JorgeGonzales

Well-Known Member
This is actually an easy one. That Physiospec spectrum looks 80 CRI 3500-4000K, just grab some Samsung strips from Digikey or some of these bad boys: http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut3021

You get the idea. And some heatsinks from heatsinkusa.com. The 2.079" profile should be good.

Samsungs, they make a lot of different choices, but three of these per 3ft bar might work: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SI-B8T114280WW/1510-1334-ND/5958893

Either way, figuring out how much light you are shooting for how many watts you need is a good start.
 
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Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Or spend coin on an LED that's probably too much light anyways for clones/seedlings that will be used for a very short time. 1-2 weeks tops.
 
bri77

bri77

Well-Known Member
Airwalker, be nice! Im new ffs.

Im looking for a reasonable amount of light for vegging thats all. I dont really like t5's, they give off a shit load of heat in a small space, they're awkward and fragile. I just dont like them.


Thoose strips from cutter look great, definitely trying them. What sort of effiecies can I hope to get from those strips ? Is there a way to estimate that ?
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
bri77 said:
Airwalker, be nice! Im new ffs.

Im looking for a reasonable amount of light for vegging thats all. I dont really like t5's, they give off a shit load of heat in a small space, they're awkward and fragile. I just dont like them.


Thoose strips from cutter look great, definitely trying them. What sort of effiecies can I hope to get from those strips ? Is there a way to estimate that ?
Click to expand...
Hey man just stating a fact Is all. If you plan to veg your plants to flowering stage with this light, by all means, build one.
 
Growmau5

Growmau5

Well-Known Member
Airwalker16 said:
Hey man just stating a fact Is all. If you plan to veg your plants to flowering stage with this light, by all means, build one.
Click to expand...
AIRWALKER, I love you man. You are a passionate hobbiest & a supportive member, but sometimes your fingers hit that keyboard & diarrhea comes out.
Fuck t5 or CFL for any purpose. (Unless you have to grow in your van down by the river).

You can do way better with Cree xml2, xpg2 xpg3 or xpl.

Check out my Instagram @bri77 there some pics of my clone/veg nursery using xml2 at 700-1400ma.
20w of xml2 will crush a 54w t5 all day long for rooting and vegging clones.
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Thoose strips from cutter look great, definitely trying them. What sort of effiecies can I hope to get from those strips ? Is there a way to estimate that ?



You can estimate 48% for the XP-E photored stripes(...901 bin) @350mA (45% @700mA)
and 56%(60%) eff. for XP-G3/4.000k/S4 bin @1050mA(700mA).
Thats the same LED's like in Cree's 1000w HPS replacement design.
Use them in a 3: 1 ratio or add some other colors if you want.
The lower you drive them the lower is the minimal distance.
I've 6 CXA2540, V4 running at 350mA(12w) and get no bleaching at 10cm / 4inch. 72w, 51% eff., for a small 2sft box.
+3°C above ambient temperature!
 

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JorgeGonzales

JorgeGonzales

Well-Known Member
weed-whacker

weed-whacker

Well-Known Member
i would advise you go to fasttech.com and pick up any of the super cheap 5 packs of crees they have in like 4000-7000k
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10001905/4963102-cree-xp-g2-r5-1a-586lm-6500k-led-emitter-5-pack

if u wanna get fancy u can do some of these
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10007033/2119704-cree-xp-e-460-470nm-blue-led-emitter-on-20mm-base

then i would mount those on a cheap aluminium u profile(as a heatsink) or if u wanna spend on heatsinks you can but ive used monos on aluminium channel fine

and you can attacth it with the stickie things they have

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1506/10004569/1350301

you wont use optics or anything like that

you could run these off a cheap driver like

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10008212/1734701

or get some APC mean well drivers also cheaply

basically what @Growmau5 is suggesting
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
weed-whacker said:
i would advise you go to fasttech.com and pick up any of the super cheap 5 packs of crees they have in like 4000-7000k
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10001905/4963102-cree-xp-g2-r5-1a-586lm-6500k-led-emitter-5-pack

if u wanna get fancy u can do some of these
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10007033/2119704-cree-xp-e-460-470nm-blue-led-emitter-on-20mm-base

then i would mount those on a cheap aluminium u profile(as a heatsink) or if u wanna spend on heatsinks you can but ive used monos on aluminium channel fine

and you can attacth it with the stickie things they have

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1506/10004569/1350301

you wont use optics or anything like that

you could run these off a cheap driver like

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10008212/1734701

or get some APC mean well drivers also cheaply

basically what @Growmau5 is suggesting
Click to expand...
Those 5 packs are cheap but what would be the point of using the bigger stars to be "fancy"?
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
weed-whacker said:
i would advise you go to fasttech.com and pick up any of the super cheap 5 packs of crees they have in like 4000-7000k
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10001905/4963102-cree-xp-g2-r5-1a-586lm-6500k-led-emitter-5-pack

if u wanna get fancy u can do some of these
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10007033/2119704-cree-xp-e-460-470nm-blue-led-emitter-on-20mm-base

then i would mount those on a cheap aluminium u profile(as a heatsink) or if u wanna spend on heatsinks you can but ive used monos on aluminium channel fine

and you can attacth it with the stickie things they have

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1506/10004569/1350301

you wont use optics or anything like that

you could run these off a cheap driver like

https://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10008212/1734701

or get some APC mean well drivers also cheaply

basically what @Growmau5 is suggesting
Click to expand...
BUT the ones he suggested have the highest lumen output so def go with those.
 
bri77

bri77

Well-Known Member
Wow this is a great forum,, thanks for all the help guys. I'll read up on all your suggestions. Pretty exited about it now :D
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
bri77 said:
Hi guys,

How would I build a light with the properties of one of the modern commercial low profile propagation leds. Main thing I need is a low profile light and ability to have plants close to light. To achieve this I need low temps and even spread. I'd also like something efficient, competitive with the best commercial fixtures.

You know the ones I'm thinking of, like this..
https://fluence.science/technology/razr/
or this
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/products/horticulture/propagation.html
(apparently you need a letter from the Pope to buy a Phillips led)

The 3x1 version of this would be perfect for my area...
http://bioslighting.com/icarus/#icarusVI
but it hasn't been released yet.

I want to cover two 3'x1' areas, one 3' high , the other 2' ( I'll be using hand watered 4" rockwall cubes ). I assume cobs are a bad choice and I need to go to more difficult route of 5w diodes ( Im a total noob who barely knows what these words mean, be gentle)

I really like this specrum the 3500k 90 cri shown here
https://cobkits.com/product/citizen-clu058-1825-90cri/

It has peaks and valleys in same position as fluence's PhysioSpec, seen here..
https://fluence.science/technology/physiospec-broad-spectrum-led-lights/

Any suggestions on how to diy this?
Click to expand...
You can get these sinks for about $13, cheaper if you buy more, Ebay "50w aluminum heatsink round" and do something like this. The lamp is 1 inch thick. Those sinks will accommodate Vero 18 and 29 and some of the smaller Citizen chips. With the efficiency increase from Bridgelux the new Vero 18 should run very cool on them at 30 watts. Some of the sinks required lapping FYI.
 

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JorgeGonzales

JorgeGonzales

Well-Known Member
I still think with only 2ft of height you want 72 light sources instead of 5 or 10.
Rahz said:
You can get these sinks for about $13, cheaper if you buy more, Ebay "50w aluminum heatsink round" and do something like this. The lamp is 1 inch thick. Those sinks will accommodate Vero 18 and 29 and some of the smaller Citizen chips. With the efficiency increase from Bridgelux the new Vero 18 should run very cool on them at 30 watts. Some of the sinks required lapping FYI.
Click to expand...
Jesus I am going to have nightmares about building that. I am such a poser.
 
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