Hey, I know the post is a month old, just figured I'd answer your question. Yes you can do it, and yes it works. Considerably better than cfl's too and uses much less energy. Also since they're designed for automotive use many have long warranties and are shock proof, water proof, etc. Also they're finally dirt cheap with many being as low as $40-$50 a set. You can also get bi-zenon which basically have two sets of everything ad with a little electrical modification you now have twice the output! The easiest way to hook them up would be an old computer power supply, printer power supply, etc. As for a housing/reflector, the housings from an inexpensive pair of fog lights can be modified to work. So can actual headlight housing, running light housings, etc. If you want to focus the light and get even more penetration a pair of aftermarket projector headlight housings does the trick nicely. Want additional "side" lighting without purchasing another hid kit? Just order your projector housings with halo angel eyes and you now have some very bright additional LED lighting.
I'm a mechanic by trade and currently own a performance shop. The automotive field is nice as it is constantly taking things from other areas and adapting them to vehicles. This process typically involves making it use less power, last longer, be cheaper, and work better. All good things for us. Plus they have to find solutions to many of the same issues we do. I enjoy adapting and adjusting the solution they figure out to work in a more........ profitable environment. For example, vehicles and airplanes were taking advantage of many of the benefits of LED lights long before it ever caught on in grow rooms. Sound deadening, heat shielding, light intensity, automated systems, and computer controlled parameters and some of the other items that the auto field had long since figured out solutions for that work great for us. For example, an engine gets pretty hot and can potentially be run at these high temps for a long time. So what did they do? They filled a large amount of small aluminum fins with water, used a fan to push/pull air across the fins, and ran the water through the engine. Yup, a radiator. Aftermarket radiator fans are also dirt cheap, use little power, and are extremely powerful and durable. If using air to cool air is more your thing, an intercooler works great. The systems work so well not only do vehicles still use them but grow companies are starting to take notice and are adding new "innovative" products. For example look up the ice flow by advanced nutrients. Yup, a radiator with a flange for an inline fan. Many automotive aftermarket gauges can be wired into your room, programmable computer and controllers, in line pumps, injectors, and fuel rails make a killer high pressure aeroponic grow system with an extremely fine vapor mist, as do water/methanol injection systems. Cone style air filters are great for grow room intakes. Dump in a bucket of activated charcoal from the pet store and you have the cheapest most efficient exhaust carbon scrubber money can buy. Want led grow lights? An under glow system is cheaper, bigger, more led's, more light output, a million available colors, and a remote. Hand held datalogers and additional software programs are also adaptable.
Sorry for rambling lol Long story short there are tons of items from many different occupational fields that are great for growing. It just takes a little time and ingenuity. Hope this helps!
