psychedelicdaddi
Well-Known Member
I'm running 10 in a 4x2 and its killing it. 20 in a 4x3 would be awesome. I think my light spacing is 3.25" center to center.
-boring 'ol 230w 154lm/w led strip build
- Thread starter iHearAll
- Start date
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
Nice, do you have a grow log somewhere?
psychedelicdaddi
Well-Known Member
http://rollitup.org/t/vertical-growing-with-lm651c-and-uv-fr-pr-in-organic-soil.950998/
probably will abandon that thread after this crop. vertical in a 2x4 was dumb
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
Useless fact: measured tc last night with max current draw, light strip suspended in 70f air, using a thermocouple. Max temp 113f over a 15 minute interval. Not too bad....
Starting to wonder if I can get away with simple 1/8" thick bar stock with thermal tape rather than usaheatsinks.com 2" wide heatsinks. I see peeps using cookie sheets on some other sites, haha.
Starting to wonder if I can get away with simple 1/8" thick bar stock with thermal tape rather than usaheatsinks.com 2" wide heatsinks. I see peeps using cookie sheets on some other sites, haha.
psychedelicdaddi
Well-Known Member
i'd still use the most appropriate heatsink for the situation. those 2" ones are hardly expensive and will let those lights last forever. The 2" u-channel is only 25$ and with free shipping on ebay. just cut it into 5 pieces for 5 of those strips. They're like 17" in length. or get two for ten, etc.
nfhiggs
Well-Known Member
If you run them at nominal current, you can dispense with heatsinks entirely.
Instead of bar stock get architectural channel. Much more surface area - that what dissipates the heat.
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
I hear you guys... Just experimenting. no matter what, they need to be affixed to something and not just flapping in the wind.
Just testing with 1/2" bar stock I have on hand at the moment. So far hitting 91F, but i brought the piece in from an unheated barn which was 30F.
I have a bunch of bar stock and sheet material on hand. Thought about firing up the CNC and machining my own sinks, but the heatsink material is so cheap not even worth it.
With the included driver.. at the 3 diff amp settings, no heatsink, ambient ~70F:
1) 113F
2) 108F
3) 102F
19" of http://www.heatsinkusa.com/2-079-wide-extruded-aluminum-heatsink/ is $6 each. Most likely worth the $150 total with shipping. Want an extra 1" on either side to fasten to 8020 aluminum extrusion. It's actually roughly the same price as the U channel.
I think I'm going to make 6 banks of 5 strips each for a 3'x6' area. If my #'s are correct I should be seeing ~900+ ppfd
Just testing with 1/2" bar stock I have on hand at the moment. So far hitting 91F, but i brought the piece in from an unheated barn which was 30F.
I have a bunch of bar stock and sheet material on hand. Thought about firing up the CNC and machining my own sinks, but the heatsink material is so cheap not even worth it.
With the included driver.. at the 3 diff amp settings, no heatsink, ambient ~70F:
1) 113F
2) 108F
3) 102F
19" of http://www.heatsinkusa.com/2-079-wide-extruded-aluminum-heatsink/ is $6 each. Most likely worth the $150 total with shipping. Want an extra 1" on either side to fasten to 8020 aluminum extrusion. It's actually roughly the same price as the U channel.
I think I'm going to make 6 banks of 5 strips each for a 3'x6' area. If my #'s are correct I should be seeing ~900+ ppfd
nfhiggs
Well-Known Member
I get 8 feet lengths of 3/4" architectural channel for $10 at my local hardware store. No shipping.
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
HamNEggs
Well-Known Member
I have ordered metal from heatsinkusa.com and a few others before but that shipping kills me. You could try and see if there is a local metal distributor in your area that allows will call. Something like AlcobraMetals.com. I have to agree on the channel. Its versatile as well.
nfhiggs
Well-Known Member
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
Yeah, then I'm about at the same price as the stuff from heatsinksusa. Got to get off my behind, seeds in papertowels and ready for solo cups tomorrow.
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
Ended up ordering thirty lengths of 18"x2.079" from heatsinksusa...
Cost was $172 + 30 shipping.
The 1/2"x2"x72" channel is $20 each.
8 lengths @ $20... $160 total.
Seemed worth it toss in the extra $40 for the prospect of more effective cooling.
SonsOfAvery
Well-Known Member
I've just finished building a frame/heatsink for my TCI strips, 12 in total. I used regular aluminium angle bar. Works great as an effective heatsink and structural frame.
I'll take some pics today and upload later on/ tomorrow with specs.
I'll take some pics today and upload later on/ tomorrow with specs.
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
Good stuff. . Post up those pics! My heatsinks are due to arrive on friday, will start the build then.
SonsOfAvery
Well-Known Member
Apologies, I'll have to wait until the weekend to take the pics (my phone is broken).
The aluminium angle bar is basically just L shaped and measures approx 49mmx49mm cut into lengths of 950mm. The aluminium is approx 3mm in thickness. (Which I find to be sufficient for cooling, warm to the touch but not hot.)
With 950mm lengths I built a square frame which allows me to have 2 TCI strips on each length (8 in total) I then have another 2 lengths of the same aluminium angle bar which sit freely in the square frame. Each with another 2 TCI strips.
12 in total (276w). I'm also running a Meizhi in the middle of all of this with a total of about 500w. I don't have a meter to check accurately my power consumption.
Having the two central channels of my DIY frame not fixed in place allows me to move them according to how the individual plants are growing. I like this as it gives me a little more flexibility in my grow.
The aluminium angle bar is basically just L shaped and measures approx 49mmx49mm cut into lengths of 950mm. The aluminium is approx 3mm in thickness. (Which I find to be sufficient for cooling, warm to the touch but not hot.)
With 950mm lengths I built a square frame which allows me to have 2 TCI strips on each length (8 in total) I then have another 2 lengths of the same aluminium angle bar which sit freely in the square frame. Each with another 2 TCI strips.
12 in total (276w). I'm also running a Meizhi in the middle of all of this with a total of about 500w. I don't have a meter to check accurately my power consumption.
Having the two central channels of my DIY frame not fixed in place allows me to move them according to how the individual plants are growing. I like this as it gives me a little more flexibility in my grow.
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
sounds solid,
is this for flower or veg?
SonsOfAvery
Well-Known Member
This will be my veg and flower light.
I'm using the Meizhi while they are still small and once they get large enough I'll switch on my DIY frame as well.
Let them veg for a couple more weeks then. Flip to flower.
Attachments
Hairiest_Stamen
Well-Known Member
looks nice and tidy... UPS coming today hopefully. Ill post pics if anyone is interested.
psychedelicdaddi
Well-Known Member
Do it