New grower LED light questions.

[Turbonyg]

Hey All,

I'm building my first grow room for my first ever grow and could use some help choosing LED lighting. I chose led due to lowest heat generation so I have minimum cooling to contend with.

The room is 7x7x7 and plan for 6 plants.

Looking at all the various light styles, I'm not sure which way to go. Through hole led bulbs with multicolored leds, smaller cobs spaced out board, larger cobs with reflectors? Do all cobs put out full spectrum light or are there only certain ones? Is there a preferred color temp?

I'm ok with building the lights from a kit if it offers noticeable savings on the cost of the lights.

Thanks.

 

[TheSadVeryBadMadGrower]

What's your budget?

 

[coreywebster]

The cheapest option to get the highest efficiency could well be strips or boards run soft and close, with some strips like Bridgelux EB gen 3 been able to be mounted on U shaped aluminium angle or with boards ran soft enough been able to run without a heat sink it means you can spend more on the boards/strips themselves rather than a massive chunk on heatsinking.

As far as COB (or board/strip) spectrum, there are slight variations between one brand and another in the same kelvin and there are also different CRI ratings which changes the spectrum also.

Some examples of strips that I know can be run on aluminium angle are Bridgelux EB gen 2 and gen 3 and cutter.au 's cree j series strips.
All 3 are pretty cost effective.
When you start looking at F series Samsung or strips with higher diode count they tend to be expensive and need heat sinks, or at least the cost drives people to run less strips harder rather than many soft.

Various boards can be run without heat sink or with basic aluminium plate , such as solskin, quantum boards, and a lot of knock off versions.
The original v1 quantum boards can be picked up for $29 a board currently. Not sure if that's the permanent price or just a sale.

COBs are still awesome if you can get the pin heat sinks cheap enough.

I would have a look at LEDgardeners strip build guide and get an idea what is popular and the lm/w you can get from various strips, then check out the data sheets.

If heat is such an issue you could even modify air cooled hoods to air cool the lighting and keep less heat in the room. Like by replacing the glass with an aluminium plate and mounting strips/cobs/boards to that.
You have to take into account we typically run at higher room temps than HID lighting anyway, like 80s.

The standard for all stages of growth is 3500k.

 

[Turbonyg]

What's your budget?

I haven't really set one seeing the wide range of pricing out there. I would prefer the best value in terms of light cost vs plant bud output. I'm not looking to eek every last gram or grow monster plants.

The cheapest option to get the highest efficiency could well be strips or boards run soft and close, with some strips like Bridgelux EB gen 3 been able to be mounted on U shaped aluminium angle or with boards ran soft enough been able to run without a heat sink it means you can spend more on the boards/strips themselves rather than a massive chunk on heatsinking.

As far as COB (or board/strip) spectrum, there are slight variations between one brand and another in the same kelvin and there are also different CRI ratings which changes the spectrum also.

Some examples of strips that I know can be run on aluminium angle are Bridgelux EB gen 2 and gen 3 and cutter.au 's cree j series strips.
All 3 are pretty cost effective.
When you start looking at F series Samsung or strips with higher diode count they tend to be expensive and need heat sinks, or at least the cost drives people to run less strips harder rather than many soft.

Various boards can be run without heat sink or with basic aluminium plate , such as solskin, quantum boards, and a lot of knock off versions.
The original v1 quantum boards can be picked up for $29 a board currently. Not sure if that's the permanent price or just a sale.

COBs are still awesome if you can get the pin heat sinks cheap enough.

I would have a look at LEDgardeners strip build guide and get an idea what is popular and the lm/w you can get from various strips, then check out the data sheets.

If heat is such an issue you could even modify air cooled hoods to air cool the lighting and keep less heat in the room. Like by replacing the glass with an aluminium plate and mounting strips/cobs/boards to that.
You have to take into account we typically run at higher room temps than HID lighting anyway, like 80s.

The standard for all stages of growth is 3500k.

The heat issue is mainly so I can hopefully avoid having to run a/c to cool the room and help cut down on humidity (I do have a dehumidifier) during the warmer months. I plan to add an external vent for the carbon filter fan to expel heat if needed. The current temp of the area is 55-60*F so some heat is necessary, I do have an oil filled space heater I can use. I haven't checked the temps during the warmer months as until now it hasn't mattered, but is noticeably cooler than upstairs during the warmer months.

So as a generalization of what you wrote, if I get cob leds in 3500k regardless of manufacture, I "should" end up with decent results as long as I have enough lights?

 

[coreywebster]

I haven't really set one seeing the wide range of pricing out there. I would prefer the best value in terms of light cost vs plant bud output. I'm not looking to eek every last gram or grow monster plants.






The heat issue is mainly so I can hopefully avoid having to run a/c to cool the room and help cut down on humidity (I do have a dehumidifier) during the warmer months. I plan to add an external vent for the carbon filter fan to expel heat if needed. The current temp of the area is 55-60*F so some heat is necessary, I do have an oil filled space heater I can use. I haven't checked the temps during the warmer months as until now it hasn't mattered, but is noticeably cooler than upstairs during the warmer months.

So as a generalization of what you wrote, if I get cob leds in 3500k regardless of manufacture, I "should" end up with decent results as long as I have enough lights?

Yeah man, 3500k is the go to for all round veg and flower, with a 7x7 you will have multiple drivers so you could have separate kelvin for veg and then a higher red like 2700-3000k which you turn on for extra photons in flower. Or you could just dim your whole 3500k set up in veg.
50% 3000k and 50% 4000k is pretty much 3500k anyway.

 

[FastFreddi]

I haven't really set one seeing the wide range of pricing out there. I would prefer the best value in terms of light cost vs plant bud output. I'm not looking to eek every last gram or grow monster plants.






The heat issue is mainly so I can hopefully avoid having to run a/c to cool the room and help cut down on humidity (I do have a dehumidifier) during the warmer months. I plan to add an external vent for the carbon filter fan to expel heat if needed. The current temp of the area is 55-60*F so some heat is necessary, I do have an oil filled space heater I can use. I haven't checked the temps during the warmer months as until now it hasn't mattered, but is noticeably cooler than upstairs during the warmer months.

So as a generalization of what you wrote, if I get cob leds in 3500k regardless of manufacture, I "should" end up with decent results as long as I have enough lights?

Timber for the win.
FF

 

[Couch_Lock]

Coreywebster is on point. 100% agree.

 

[KezuSajai]

Hey All,

I'm building my first grow room for my first ever grow and could use some help choosing LED lighting. I chose led due to lowest heat generation so I have minimum cooling to contend with.

The room is 7x7x7 and plan for 6 plants.

Looking at all the various light styles, I'm not sure which way to go. Through hole led bulbs with multicolored leds, smaller cobs spaced out board, larger cobs with reflectors? Do all cobs put out full spectrum light or are there only certain ones? Is there a preferred color temp?

I'm ok with building the lights from a kit if it offers noticeable savings on the cost of the lights.

Thanks.

I am looking on Alibaba, a site that has chinese sellers on it. I have been offered 2 x Kingbrite qb288 v2 lm310b 660 600w quantum boards, 3000 or 3500k with epistar 660nm. total 670 including shipping fees. For a HLG 550 v2Rspec it is 200 more, for half the light. I think HLG import their stuff from China and just assemble in the US, so I don't really see the point in paying a huge markup. Kingbrite offer 1 year warranty on lights and 5 years on drivers.

 

[KezuSajai]

Hey All,

I'm building my first grow room for my first ever grow and could use some help choosing LED lighting. I chose led due to lowest heat generation so I have minimum cooling to contend with.

The room is 7x7x7 and plan for 6 plants.

Looking at all the various light styles, I'm not sure which way to go. Through hole led bulbs with multicolored leds, smaller cobs spaced out board, larger cobs with reflectors? Do all cobs put out full spectrum light or are there only certain ones? Is there a preferred color temp?

I'm ok with building the lights from a kit if it offers noticeable savings on the cost of the lights.

Thanks.

Alibaba link

Products list direct from CN

Main products Led grow light, bar grow light and 195 more Products from Shenzhen Kingbrite Lighting Co., Ltd. on Alibaba.com

kingbriteled.en.alibaba.com

 

[Sfrigon 1]

Hey All,

I'm building my first grow room for my first ever grow and could use some help choosing LED lighting. I chose led due to lowest heat generation so I have minimum cooling to contend with.

The room is 7x7x7 and plan for 6 plants.

Looking at all the various light styles, I'm not sure which way to go. Through hole led bulbs with multicolored leds, smaller cobs spaced out board, larger cobs with reflectors? Do all cobs put out full spectrum light or are there only certain ones? Is there a preferred color temp?

I'm ok with building the lights from a kit if it offers noticeable savings on the cost of the lights.

Thanks.

 

[Sfrigon 1]

I would figure out the watts and money u want to spend then go from there . Pretty good size area so def something w a good footprint. The options for LED now are incredibly priced and efficient. Good luck !

 

[Turbonyg]

So, after a bit of reading it seems like the Bridgelux EB gen 3 strips may be the way to go. It'll take me a bit to finish the build research and get/assemble parts.

In the meantime, I was thinking of starting with 2 of these. Being that they are chinese sellers and almost all of them fail to provide true specs, I figured go with the "1800w" ones. Since they rate both the "1500 and 1800" as consuming "about 300w", the 6 chip 1800w may be closer to the actual 300w draw.

Has anyone seen posts from people using this specific light?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R7N9VZF/?coliid=I3MZZQT8NC1ZD3&colid=2TL8OIVIKSI2H&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

 

[coreywebster]

So, after a bit of reading it seems like the Bridgelux EB gen 3 strips may be the way to go. It'll take me a bit to finish the build research and get/assemble parts.

In the meantime, I was thinking of starting with 2 of these. Being that they are chinese sellers and almost all of them fail to provide true specs, I figured go with the "1800w" ones. Since they rate both the "1500 and 1800" as consuming "about 300w", the 6 chip 1800w may be closer to the actual 300w draw.

Has anyone seen posts from people using this specific light?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R7N9VZF/?coliid=I3MZZQT8NC1ZD3&colid=2TL8OIVIKSI2H&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

Take zero notice of the "1800" figure, they are 300w draw and that means they are a 300w light,

2 of them will flower a 4x4 or veg a 5x5 space. Roughly.

 

[G.I.JOSE]

I have a 7x4x7 diy tent I made it out of PVC into 24 ft tarps from Walmart I run two different lights one is a GIIXER light and the other is FSGTEK. Both are around 60 bucks a piece both lights are capable of tethering together. The reason for the two different lights is because I'm doing a sponsored grow and I had purchased the other before the sponsorship . I made my tent this way because I wanted to be able to walk down the middle and trim , or hang my trellis and have a space to walk in and water. Let me know if you want any more details and I can show you pics of how I did this.

 

[SmokingCrow]

Hi
I bought lights and made 50w LED grow lights from Aliexpress cost about £10 ($15) each (link to the detail)
they will be better than the fluorescent lights but probably less effective than commercial options.
I've worked out that making them myself was worth it.

Good luck it's a minefield with lots of information/ conflicting information.

 

[G.I.JOSE]

Nice setup!

 

[Gond00s]

eww blurples

 

[G.I.JOSE]

?

 

[Couch_Lock]

Creative tent u made.

 

[Turbonyg]

Take zero notice of the "1800" figure, they are 300w draw and that means they are a 300w light,

2 of them will flower a 4x4 or veg a 5x5 space. Roughly.

Yeah about the so called wattage output, very common on most chinese electronics.

I have a 7x4x7 diy tent I made it out of PVC into 24 ft tarps from Walmart I run two different lights one is a GIIXER light and the other is FSGTEK. Both are around 60 bucks a piece both lights are capable of tethering together. The reason for the two different lights is because I'm doing a sponsored grow and I had purchased the other before the sponsorship . I made my tent this way because I wanted to be able to walk down the middle and trim , or hang my trellis and have a space to walk in and water. Let me know if you want any more details and I can show you pics of how I did this.

Thanks. I'll take a look for those lights, $60 is better than $100ea since they will be getting replaced later.

How did you create the door in your tent, it looks like it has a zipper? I was thinking of doing a wood framed room and a smaller style normal door.