1440 watt project - Cutter strips, Time to build!

[diggs99]

Well the time has finally come. Majority of the parts are here. I have begun building the frames already. i have 1 almost done. I welcome everyone to join in on the fun, im sure ill have lots of questions and im always open to suggestions on better ways of doing things. So stop by and say hello, laugh at me while i try to figure all of this out .

I will be building 3 fixtures, each 3` x 4`.

Parts list :

30 x 3000k 90 cri 560mm strips
24 x 3000k 80 cri 560mm strips
3 x meanwell HLG-480H-48A drivers
6 x 1"x1" x 36" aluminum extrusions for outside frame
3 x 1"x2" x 36" aluminum extrusions for middle support and junction boxes
10 series hardware
27 x .601 x 50" heatsink from heatsink usa

Junction boxes, ip68 glands , power cords etc, all from Amazon.


Special thanks to @whytewidow and @Randomblame for all of the helping getting me to this point.
Appreciate it guys

 

[diggs99]

2nd frame almost finished, broke the last drill bit i had for drilling the aluminum. Only 54 more holes to go lol

May finish the frames later if i can nab another bit out of my dads shop.

 

[diggs99]

3 frames all finished.

12 feet of led goodness coming up.



If anyone has a link to good 18awg solid core wire , toss it up here please.

I assumed I could buy that local, never had much luck finding anything good today.

 

[whytewidow]

Lookn good man. I am so sorry, I forgot to get you that wiring diagram. Love the way your frame is turning out. Stoked to see this beast up n running.

 

[diggs99]

Lookn good man. I am so sorry, I forgot to get you that wiring diagram. Love the way your frame is turning out. Stoked to see this beast up n running.

Thanks man, its coming together nicely.

No problem on the diagram, im still waiting on the thermal tape. But when you get a chance, it would be great to have it, so i can look it over and try and figure it all out before i begin lol.

Ya i underestimated the sheer size of these fixtures, probably could have went smaller in the space, whatever, go big or go home lol

 

[whytewidow]

Thanks man, its coming together nicely.

No problem on the diagram, im still waiting on the thermal tape. But when you get a chance, it would be great to have it, so i can look it over and try and figure it all out before i begin lol.

Ya i underestimated the sheer size of these fixtures, probably could have went smaller in the space, whatever, go big or go home lol

I will definitely get it to you this evening. And that's right... go big or go home. Once built though. If it's too much. You always have the future. You nvr know. You may open a bigger grow area. And you already have the light. You're gonna have to dim it. The one I built for @tman42 and for Green. They will have to be dimmed. They are insanely bright. Brighter than people think. The same amount of strips as my f series build. It puts out almost a 1/3rd more lumen. According to my meters. You'll be happy with it.

 

[Ryante55]

2nd frame almost finished, broke the last drill bit i had for drilling the aluminum. Only 54 more holes to go lol

May finish the frames later if i can nab another bit out of my dads shop.

Use some tap oil I broke like 5 bits and taps before I learned that haha

 

[Ryante55]

This stuff or something similar
https://m.grainger.com/mobile/product/41MW02?gclid=Cj0KEQjw8-LnBRCyxtfMl-Cbu48BEiQA6eUMGvmRmCYfBUaChuGvBcpUzxc5xpAQRLBHqdliilxbs8QaAqOM8P8HAQ&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PLA&ef_id=Cj0KEQjw8-LnBRCyxtfMl-Cbu48BEiQA6eUMGvmRmCYfBUaChuGvBcpUzxc5xpAQRLBHqdliilxbs8QaAqOM8P8HAQ:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!320184893892!!!g!543440110750!

 

[diggs99]

Use some tap oil I broke like 5 bits and taps before I learned that haha

Ya i used Wax on the bits.
I only broke the 1 bit, 118 holes drilled lol

Glad all that drilling is over with lol

 

[Ryante55]

Ya i used Wax on the bits.
I only broke the 1 bit, 118 holes drilled lol

Glad all that drilling is over with lol

Oh nice you made it pretty far I was thinking it broke on one of the first holes haha

 

[diggs99]

@Ryante55 @whytewidow or anyone that may know

you guys know where i can find some 18 awg and 14awg solid wire?

Been searching amazon.ca but having no luck, only finding stranded. Same with local, everything i found was 18/2 or 18/3 and all stranded.

 

[diggs99]

Oh nice you made it pretty far I was thinking it broke on one of the first holes haha

Nah i had 60 holes done before i broke the bit. My dad had one left the size i needed, i babied that one until i finished lol

 

[diggs99]

https://www.amazon.ca/Remington-Industries-18UL1007SLDBLA25-Length-Diameter/dp/B01L7KLEH4/ref=sr_1_23?crid=31PBKOYT3V2CN&keywords=18+awg+solid&qid=1559847957&s=gateway&sprefix=18+awg+s,aps,556&sr=8-23


https://www.amazon.ca/NTE-Electronics-WHS18-00-100-Solid-Length/dp/B008BL7QPW/ref=pd_sbs_328_1/138-5578618-4728237?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B008BL7QPW&pd_rd_r=3a67141c-8891-11e9-b64c-d73dded6ffc7&pd_rd_w=gVK1g&pd_rd_wg=NS70W&pf_rd_p=5dcda75b-8643-4da3-9bb1-5c0233790500&pf_rd_r=2CD4EYMKFSW0XTFZ9XTZ&psc=1&refRID=2CD4EYMKFSW0XTFZ9XTZ

i think the 2nd link may be what im looking for? 100` roll $25

 

[diggs99]

I will definitely get it to you this evening. And that's right... go big or go home. Once built though. If it's too much. You always have the future. You nvr know. You may open a bigger grow area. And you already have the light. You're gonna have to dim it. The one I built for @tman42 and for Green. They will have to be dimmed. They are insanely bright. Brighter than people think. The same amount of strips as my f series build. It puts out almost a 1/3rd more lumen. According to my meters. You'll be happy with it.

Ya man , im getting excited to see them in action.
1/3 more lumen is very good.

Ya its not ideal size for this room, it will work fine, but prob coulda been smaller to allow for more working space, but the plan was always a bigger room in my garage once its built, so as you say, ill have the light lol

 

[Ryante55]

@Ryante55 @whytewidow or anyone that may know

you guys know where i can find some 18 awg and 14awg solid wire?

Been searching amazon.ca but having no luck, only finding stranded. Same with local, everything i found was 18/2 or 18/3 and all stranded.

https://www.remingtonindustries.com/hook-up-wire/hook-up-wire-18-awg-solid-kit-10-colors-25-length-each/?gclid=Cj0KEQjw8-LnBRCyxtfMl-Cbu48BEiQA6eUMGit-8fR3jC_7ELqXypGhUcgrQ-8xX-w8uwRl37kITZ4aAgBG8P8HAQ

Amazon used to have a similar pack to this but I can't find it anymore

Edit: it's only rated to 300v I'm sure that's all you need

 

[Chip Green]

I have yet to build a light that was "too big"

 

[diggs99]

I have yet to build a light....
Got a big frame tho

 

[1212ham]

3 frames all finished.

12 feet of led goodness coming up.



If anyone has a link to good 18awg solid core wire , toss it up here please.

I assumed I could buy that local, never had much luck finding anything good today.

It should be available locally, look for bell or thermostat wire.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Wire-Doorbell-Wire/N-5yc1vZc7dc
https://www.homedepot.com/s/thermostat%20wire?NCNI-5

 

[diggs99]

It should be available locally, look for bell or thermostat wire.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Electrical-Wire-Doorbell-Wire/N-5yc1vZc7dc
https://www.homedepot.com/s/thermostat%20wire?NCNI-5

Ok will check tomorrow. Obv should be thermostat wire or door bell wire in town lol.... I was just asking for 18awg solid core and was met was confused looks lol

Hard finding people in any of these stores that actually know anything and im not much help lol

 

[1212ham]

Yeah, I thought you may never find it asking for 18g, forgot to get back when I had time and post. Around here it's not in the wire section, but is in the electrical area. I must have walked the area 10 minutes before I finally saw it... knew it was faster than asking.

Went to a big box store for perlite, the kid working the huge lawn and garden area had never heard of it!