randydj
Well-Known Member
Is it possible to build a good COB LED light for a grow tent 3x3x5 for under $200.00?
I have done a lot of reading here and there does not seem to be a consensus about much in relation to a cheap build that meets anybody’s growing standards. I am so confused. Help!
I am a child of the 60’s and smoked a lot of pot back in the day. Then some career choices had me clean for over 35 years. I have a deteriorating disc in my back with a lot of pain. I do not tolerate opioid type medications and the NSAIDS were destroying my liver and kidneys. My doctor decided I should try Cannabis. Well ok, it works better than the NSAIDS. I am retired on a fixed income and want to grow my own medicine. I live in the San Joaquin Valley of California and it is really hot here in the summer. I can only afford to run a swamp cooler so my best daytime indoor temp is 82°F with 60% RH. I have a small tent 3x3x5 running a top fed deep water culture (5 gallon bucket), 6” hyperFan exhaust with plenty of CFM. I was running my day/night upside down to help with the heat. I have two small cheap Chinese LED fixtures. I started with 8 CFLs but the heat buildup was just too high. Remember my incoming air is already hot. I had to have something fast so that is why the Roleadro LEDs. Fortunately, I had most everything I needed to add CO2 and I programmed an Arduino Uno to inject the CO2 based on cubic foot calculations without letting the tent go over 95°F before turning the exhaust fan back on. I am actually surprised by the results so far. I made a NOOBZ mistake with my genetics as I chose Moby Dick CBD based on the high CBD, expected yield and flavor profile – all good for what I was looking for. I failed to notice that this strain needs a LOT of room to grow. The first clue should have been in the name – MOBY DICK!!!. Here is a picture of Mobina I thought she should have a girl’s name. I think I still have 4 or more weeks to go.
I want to upgrade my lights for my next grow. I have a fixed income. I will not be selling any pot to supplement my medical grow because I will not risk a stint at the cross bar hotel. So please don’t talk about the macro economics of spending more money to save more over the long term. I understand that already. Can a good COB based LED grow light be built for under $200.00? I can scrap together a frame. I want to mount the driver/s outside of the tent. Since vertical space inside the tent is at a premium I don’t think I need lenses or refractors but you tell me.
I have done a lot of reading here and there does not seem to be a consensus about much in relation to a cheap build that meets anybody’s growing standards. I am so confused. Help!
I am a child of the 60’s and smoked a lot of pot back in the day. Then some career choices had me clean for over 35 years. I have a deteriorating disc in my back with a lot of pain. I do not tolerate opioid type medications and the NSAIDS were destroying my liver and kidneys. My doctor decided I should try Cannabis. Well ok, it works better than the NSAIDS. I am retired on a fixed income and want to grow my own medicine. I live in the San Joaquin Valley of California and it is really hot here in the summer. I can only afford to run a swamp cooler so my best daytime indoor temp is 82°F with 60% RH. I have a small tent 3x3x5 running a top fed deep water culture (5 gallon bucket), 6” hyperFan exhaust with plenty of CFM. I was running my day/night upside down to help with the heat. I have two small cheap Chinese LED fixtures. I started with 8 CFLs but the heat buildup was just too high. Remember my incoming air is already hot. I had to have something fast so that is why the Roleadro LEDs. Fortunately, I had most everything I needed to add CO2 and I programmed an Arduino Uno to inject the CO2 based on cubic foot calculations without letting the tent go over 95°F before turning the exhaust fan back on. I am actually surprised by the results so far. I made a NOOBZ mistake with my genetics as I chose Moby Dick CBD based on the high CBD, expected yield and flavor profile – all good for what I was looking for. I failed to notice that this strain needs a LOT of room to grow. The first clue should have been in the name – MOBY DICK!!!. Here is a picture of Mobina I thought she should have a girl’s name. I think I still have 4 or more weeks to go.
I want to upgrade my lights for my next grow. I have a fixed income. I will not be selling any pot to supplement my medical grow because I will not risk a stint at the cross bar hotel. So please don’t talk about the macro economics of spending more money to save more over the long term. I understand that already. Can a good COB based LED grow light be built for under $200.00? I can scrap together a frame. I want to mount the driver/s outside of the tent. Since vertical space inside the tent is at a premium I don’t think I need lenses or refractors but you tell me.
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