DIY led for 50x50x100 (~1,5x1,5x3ft)

[Viscera]

Hello guys I need help from you. I've read tons of stuff about led lights, cobs and qb's. And I want to start growing on my own. I have unused cabinet 50x50x100 (or 120) which I want to use as grow box. Planning on growing 1 (max 2 plants if I get wider box).

Question is what light would be best for that space? I don't have money for expensive lights so I want to build it on my own. I thought of 10 x Samsung LT-Q282A + driver but would it be enough? It uses lm301b led lights but power output only 5W per stripe, total of 50W. Or should I go with some cobs?

Could anybody guide me the right way? I want to stay under 100$ (led + driver)

 

[Boatguy]

Hello guys I need help from you. I've read tons of stuff about led lights, cobs and qb's. And I want to start growing on my own. I have unused cabinet 50x50x100 (or 120) which I want to use as grow box. Planning on growing 1 (max 2 plants if I get wider box).

Question is what light would be best for that space? I don't have money for expensive lights so I want to build it on my own. I thought of 10 x Samsung LT-Q282A + driver but would it be enough? It uses lm301b led lights but power output only 5W per stripe, total of 50W. Or should I go with some cobs?

Could anybody guide me the right way? I want to stay under 100$ (led + driver)

You could just buy a hlg65 as a turnkey/non diy for under 100.
If you went the cob route, I had good luck with smaller cxb1512's in my micro grow. 5 spread out on a single heatsink would make for a cheap build

 

[Viscera]

You could just buy a hlg65 as a turnkey/non diy for under 100.
If you went the cob route, I had good luck with smaller cxb1512's in my micro grow. 5 spread out on a single heatsink would make for a cheap build

How did your plants grow under those sma cobs?

 

[Boatguy]

No different than the big ones in the tent. They can be kept quite a bit closer than large cobs.

 

[Viscera]

No different than the big ones in the tent. They can be kept quite a bit closer than large cobs.

Did you use any kind of holder or pre-made heat sink or just screwed it into aluminium heat sing with thermal paste?

 

[Boatguy]

I used thermal adhesive on mine. No drilling or tapping, holders or anything else. If you dont use holders, you will have to solder your wires to the cobs. Not that easy if you havent soldered before.
I got the heatsink from heatsinks usa, it was something like 11" long by 6 or 7" wide. Did 10 and ran them at half power.

 

[coreywebster]

Maybe try H series

The 1ft are 24v
1-Footers (275mm):
LT-H282D (24 Diodes, 8 Series x 3 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 600mA)
3000K: SI-B8V05128HUS
3500K: SI-B8U05128HUS
4000K: SI-B8T05128HUS
5000K: SI-B8R05128HUS

Or F series

1-Footers (275mm):
LT-F284B (72 Diodes, 8 Series x 9 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 1800mA)
3000K: SI-B8V261280WW
3500K: SI-B8U261280WW
4000K: SI-B8T261280WW
5000K: SI-B8R261280WW

 

[Boatguy]

Maybe try H series

The 1ft are 24v
1-Footers (275mm):
LT-H282D (24 Diodes, 8 Series x 3 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 600mA)
3000K: SI-B8V05128HUS
3500K: SI-B8U05128HUS
4000K: SI-B8T05128HUS
5000K: SI-B8R05128HUS

Or F series

1-Footers (275mm):
LT-F284B (72 Diodes, 8 Series x 9 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 1800mA)
3000K: SI-B8V261280WW
3500K: SI-B8U261280WW
4000K: SI-B8T261280WW
5000K: SI-B8R261280WW

I have never used strips. How hard can you run those without heatsinks?

 

[coreywebster]

I have never used strips. How hard can you run those without heatsinks?

Honestly im not 100% , only strips I have is 4 eb gen 2 on a clone light. They get fairly hot at 15w each on a 3mm aluminium plate.

But the F and H seem around the same price as the Q series but higher voltage, so 10 at 350ma for 8.4w each should do the job and be reasonably cool on a U channel.

Second opinions would be nice though, @f series @1212ham

 

[1212ham]

I suggest 8-10 Bridgelux EB 2 strips powered by a 20v laptop supply and a dimmer.

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/bxeb-l0280z-30e1000-c-b3/bridgelux?gclid=Cj0KCQjwuJz3BRDTARIsAMg-HxXgb-IXame_SY0cYRt_4EQqi0lRtmC8SUY7mPWZyC87ISYEsjug5IgaAlmVEALw_wcB

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what do you think about this light

Did anyone read the original post? A mars or spider farmer won't even fit in a 1x1x3! Sure it can..

www.rollitup.org

I suspended the strips with utility wire in my hi tech cabinet, a cardboard water softener box.
These are the 2 foot strips running at 80 watts. The HLG 65 that Boatguy mentioned is good, but this is cheaper and could give a little better spread.

 

[1212ham]

Honestly im not 100% , only strips I have is 4 eb gen 2 on a clone light. They get fairly hot at 15w each on a 3mm aluminium plate.

But the F and H seem around the same price as the Q series but higher voltage, so 10 at 350ma for 8.4w each should do the job and be reasonably cool on a U channel.

Second opinions would be nice though, @f series @1212ham

Are those the 560mm length? I'm surprized they seemed hot to you, several of us have run them at 700ma-1050ma with no heatsinks.
Good point about getting second opinions, always a good idea.

 

[coreywebster]

Are those the 560mm length? I'm surprized they seemed hot to you, several of us have run them at 700ma-1050ma with no heatsinks.
Good point about getting second opinions, always a good idea.

Yeah man 4 x 2ft on a 60w driver. I mean hot in comparison , not like I could cook an egg on it
Ive since reused that driver on a 4k twin QB set up I wasn't using or I could of lasered it to find out the temp.

 

[Viscera]

Well I'm limited by 50x50. @coreywebster F-series are sold only in box of 160 pieces. H-series don't state type of smd led used, but Q-series has samsung lm301b.

I'm still thinking of buying some 30-40W cobs and running them low, but it's efficency is lower than of those stripe leds.

 

[coreywebster]

Well I'm limited by 50x50. @coreywebster F-series are sold only in box of 160 pieces. H-series don't state type of smd led used, but Q-series has samsung lm301b.

I'm still thinking of buying some 30-40W cobs and running them low, but it's efficency is lower than of those stripe leds.

You can buy F series 1 at a time, same as any other strip, H series are Samsung lm561c like F series but less diodes.
Q are 301b but you can do much the same with lm561c , it would be more cost effective.

As suggested though eb gen 2 or 3 would be a good choice since It common to run without heatsinks.

As far as cobs go you wont get as high lm/w as you would with a good strip, takes more heat sink management and since your in such a low profile strips would lend better been able to be much closer to plants.

For some reason I thought eb gen 2/3 only came in 2ft and 4ft, which is incorrect, but that's why I suggested F series.

Info on smd and chip count, voltage and part numbers are on here, apart from bridgelux eb gen 3.

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DIY LED strip builds have become very popular recently. The mid-power section of our forum is full of threads created by DIYers looking to build their own custom lights, and new builds and ideas are surfacing every day. If you don’t live somewhere where you have easy access to premade lights...

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[Viscera]

You can buy F series 1 at a time, same as any other strip, H series are Samsung lm561c like F series but less diodes.
Q are 301b but you can do much the same with lm561c , it would be more cost effective.

As suggested though eb gen 2 or 3 would be a good choice since It common to run without heatsinks.

As far as cobs go you wont get as high lm/w as you would with a good strip, takes more heat sink management and since your in such a low profile strips would lend better been able to be much closer to plants.

For some reason I thought eb gen 2/3 only came in 2ft and 4ft, which is incorrect, but that's why I suggested F series.

Info on smd and chip count, voltage and part numbers are on here, apart from bridgelux eb gen 3.

DIY LED Strip Build Designs for Samsung H-Series, F-Series, Q-Series, and Bridgelux EB Gen.2 - LED Gardener

DIY LED strip builds have become very popular recently. The mid-power section of our forum is full of threads created by DIYers looking to build their own custom lights, and new builds and ideas are surfacing every day. If you don’t live somewhere where you have easy access to premade lights...

ledgardener.com

I will take a lok at EB gen 3 stripes. Although I only found shops selling samsung 1ft f series in 160pieces minimum.

 

[coreywebster]

I will take a lok at EB gen 3 stripes. Although I only found shops selling samsung 1ft f series in 160pieces minimum.

I just had a good look at all the usual places and your correct on the 160 MOQ, never used to be like that, lots of places out of stock so maybe they are not keeping them stocked. Could be the whole covid issue.

But I did find gen 3 gen strips 340mm for £4.90 on 10s or £5.88 for singles.

https://www.bridgelux.com/sites/default/files/resource_media/DS171%20Bridgelux%20EB%20Series%20Slim%20Gen3%20Data%20Sheet%2020190620%20Rev%20A.PDF

 

[andymex]

Maybe try H series

The 1ft are 24v
1-Footers (275mm):
LT-H282D (24 Diodes, 8 Series x 3 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 600mA)
3000K: SI-B8V05128HUS
3500K: SI-B8U05128HUS
4000K: SI-B8T05128HUS
5000K: SI-B8R05128HUS

Or F series

1-Footers (275mm):
LT-F284B (72 Diodes, 8 Series x 9 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 1800mA)
3000K: SI-B8V261280WW
3500K: SI-B8U261280WW
4000K: SI-B8T261280WW
5000K: SI-B8R261280WW

This would be my choice. I would buy the strips through digikey. Fast free shipping in orders over $100, and the best prices I could find.

 

[andymex]

Do

Maybe try H series

The 1ft are 24v
1-Footers (275mm):
LT-H282D (24 Diodes, 8 Series x 3 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 600mA)
3000K: SI-B8V05128HUS
3500K: SI-B8U05128HUS
4000K: SI-B8T05128HUS
5000K: SI-B8R05128HUS

Or F series

1-Footers (275mm):
LT-F284B (72 Diodes, 8 Series x 9 Parallel, Voltage = ~24V, Max Current = 1800mA)
3000K: SI-B8V261280WW
3500K: SI-B8U261280WW
4000K: SI-B8T261280WW
5000K: SI-B8R261280WW

Do you know anything about the new samsung strips with 660nm ? They are 5000k + 660nm and the efficiency is not so high, they are also very expensive. Is the lower efficiency compared to other models with 660nm a cause of the samsung 660nm diodes they use ? or is samsung more honest with there numbers ?

 

[coreywebster]

Do

Do you know anything about the new samsung strips with 660nm ? They are 5000k + 660nm and the efficiency is not so high, they are also very expensive. Is the lower efficiency compared to other models with 660nm a cause of the samsung 660nm diodes they use ? or is samsung more honest with there numbers ?

I have heard whispers but know little, possible it is because they are higher cri?

 

[andymex]

I have heard whispers but know little, possible it is because they are higher cri?

I had not considered that, are they cri 90 ?