LED diy build

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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
hi all, thanks for reading this post

I have zero experience with led lights, I just brought 4x talos 0010. Now I now they may not be the cheapest or the best and at just over 2 grand I’m sure I could of got a better quality light, so here’s the thing, I want to try and build my own and have heard this is the best way to do so. Is their any experienced led light builders who would be happy to share some knowledge and advice. I’m based in the uk, I would be very grateful if anyone could help me out. Feel free to private msg me if you are in the uk or even post the equipment needed on here so all other newbies can see it as well. Thanks
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum dude.
Cheapest option seems to be going with strips powered soft so you don't need much in the way of heat sink.
You have various options including Samsung, bridgelux and cree.
You will find more help in the LED sub section on this site.
But the basics are, pick a strip check out the data sheet to see the performance at different currnts and most importantly the forward voltage, knowing the fV will help you match X number of strips to a driver, you need to stay withing the voltage range and wattage of the driver.

Far easier for me to say check out
ledgardener.com

https://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

also google growmau5 and look at his early 7 part diy series on youtube, specifically you want to look at the matching the drivers to LEDs vid

Edit, and yeah there are a lot of us from UK or Europe so plenty to help with sourcing parts.
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Welcome to the forum dude.
Cheapest option seems to be going with strips powered soft so you don't need much in the way of heat sink.
You have various options including Samsung, bridgelux and cree.
You will find more help in the LED sub section on this site.
But the basics are, pick a strip check out the data sheet to see the performance at different currnts and most importantly the forward voltage, knowing the fV will help you match X number of strips to a driver, you need to stay withing the voltage range and wattage of the driver.

Far easier for me to say check out
ledgardener.com

https://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

also google growmau5 and look at his early 7 part diy series on youtube, specifically you want to look at the matching the drivers to LEDs vid

Edit, and yeah there are a lot of us from UK or Europe so plenty to help with sourcing parts.
Click to expand...
Cheers for the reply mate, I have just started watching growmau 7 part series on YouTube, I got a bit worried as all the stuff he shows are from USA sites but it’s good to know the same stuff can be purchased locally.
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
Frank Cannon said:
Check out this thread bro, if you want some of the latest boards available these will be cost effectiveish if you're in the UK - and I have just upgraded to them from the latest fan fare...

https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-monumentally-epic-knockdown-dragout-take-no-prisoners-slapdown-aussie-high-light-vs-hlg-288.988144/page-4#post-14867143
Click to expand...
Cheers for the help mate, I will have a look at this. What has been your experience with using DIY lights compared to the hps etc in terms of yield
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
Frank Cannon said:
Check out this thread bro, if you want some of the latest boards available these will be cost effectiveish if you're in the UK - and I have just upgraded to them from the latest fan fare...

https://www.rollitup.org/t/the-monumentally-epic-knockdown-dragout-take-no-prisoners-slapdown-aussie-high-light-vs-hlg-288.988144/page-4#post-14867143
Click to expand...
Just read what you forwarded me to, honestly mate I got a bit lost lol I’m new to led lights and have zero knowledge of building them. I will come back to this after I have learned a bit more
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
DrGrinspoon1010 said:
I was just looking on the site you suggested, they have a few suggested kits that look good. But it’s all in $ and then need to pay for shipping etc. Can all these parts be brought in Europe or UK being the best option ?
Click to expand...
Yeah man, though the price you see usually doesn't include tax so account for that because ultimately they are US or other companies that have uk or euro branches.

In no order for strips or drivers.
Digikey
arrow
mouser
You can use parts numbers to google search which LEDgardener list, that will give you uk results. Octopart is good for price comparison.

Cutter.au also have their own strips and boards but are obviously in Aus, still competitive prices though.
But they do have a good range rather than just whites in different Kelvin.

Aluminium warehouse for U or L shaped aluminium angle which can be used as heatsink depending on how hard you run the strips.

Actual aluminium heat sinks are a bitch to find here, you can go the china route or try searching for for aluminium extrusion profiles. There are some uk companies but you would have to enquire with them for prices.

Someone else may have a better idea for heatsinks, I know I struggled when I built my first light.
 
Frank Cannon

Frank Cannon

Well-Known Member
DrGrinspoon1010 said:
Cheers for the help mate, I will have a look at this. What has been your experience with using DIY lights compared to the hps etc in terms of yield
Click to expand...
First LED grow I tripled my yield compared to my 600w HPS, nuff said. I had no idea either but this thread got me through it all and its really not that difficult. I suspect this may help you as it helped me ALOT, lots of options and opinions were offered all f$%ken helpful, good mob of lads.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/5-x-5-light-set-up.978296/#post-14543150
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
Yeah man, though the price you see usually doesn't include tax so account for that because ultimately they are US or other companies that have uk or euro branches.

In no order for strips or drivers.
Digikey
arrow
mouser
You can use parts numbers to google search which LEDgardener list, that will give you uk results. Octopart is good for price comparison.

Cutter.au also have their own strips and boards but are obviously in Aus, still competitive prices though.
But they do have a good range rather than just whites in different Kelvin.

Aluminium warehouse for U or L shaped aluminium angle which can be used as heatsink depending on how hard you run the strips.

Actual aluminium heat sinks are a bitch to find here, you can go the china route or try searching for for aluminium extrusion profiles. There are some uk companies but you would have to enquire with them for prices.

Someone else may have a better idea for heatsinks, I know I struggled when I built my first light.
Click to expand...
Cheers for that mate, what is your views on quantum boards ?
 
D

DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
Frank Cannon said:
First LED grow I tripled my yield compared to my 600w HPS, nuff said. I had no idea either but this thread got me through it all and its really not that difficult. I suspect this may help you as it helped me ALOT, lots of options and opinions were offered all f$%ken helpful, good mob of lads.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/5-x-5-light-set-up.978296/#post-14543150
Click to expand...
Sounds good, what type of led did you use when you got those results, I use 600hps or gavita at the moment depending on space etc. I have only just brought my first set of led lights and went for telos 0010 as that seemed the easiest to acquire, will have to wait and see. They cost 2 grand for 4 and wanted to go down the DIY route if I want to add anymore.
 
Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Strips are the best way to go. Dirt cheap. Only expensive thing is the driver. Get strips for like $9 a pop. Give off minimal heat. No heat sink required like stated above. I mounted mine to an 1/4 inch aluminum sheet. Fastened with screws and used thermal paste under the strips.
 
Moflow

Moflow

Well-Known Member
DrGrinspoon1010 said:
I was just looking on the site you suggested, they have a few suggested kits that look good. But it’s all in $ and then need to pay for shipping etc. Can all these parts be brought in Europe or UK being the best option ?
Click to expand...
What area are you trying to cover?

Here's 2ft long Samsung F series strips for 20 quid

https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SI-B8V521560WW/1510-2221-ND/6624005

Here's 2ft long Hinflux samsung strips for 25 quid

https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SL-B8V4N90LAWW/1510-2452-ND/8536581

The above f strips come in 1ft, 2ft and 4ft lengths
The hinflux 1ft and 2ft lengths.
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
Moflow said:
What area are you trying to cover?

Here's 2ft long Samsung F series strips for 20 quid

https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SI-B8V521560WW/1510-2221-ND/6624005

Here's 2ft long Hinflux samsung strips for 25 quid

https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SL-B8V4N90LAWW/1510-2452-ND/8536581

The above f strips come in 1ft, 2ft and 4ft lengths
The hinflux 1ft and 2ft lengths.
Click to expand...
I have a large area or should I say areas to cover, I was going to break it down into meter squares so would the 2 ft strips have enough coverage? Sorry if this all sounds amateur, I have no experience with led let alone building them.
 
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DrGrinspoon1010

Well-Known Member
coreywebster said:
I own 3x 260w kits mate. First two i got were direct from Horticultural lighting group Version 1s
Last one i got a V2 in 4k from diyleduk.com who sells the genuine HLG kits.

I love em... :bigjoint:
Click to expand...
Are the kits from diyleduk a good deal ? I seen a few they have ( well they are out of stock at the moment ) but wasn’t sure if they were good value or if I could save a load by doing it myself.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
DrGrinspoon1010 said:
Are the kits from diyleduk a good deal ? I seen a few they have ( well they are out of stock at the moment ) but wasn’t sure if they were good value or if I could save a load by doing it myself.
Click to expand...
They are good value yes, compared to importing them direct from the manufacturer in USA.
His strip builds are a good deal too.
But obviously there is a mark up and you could build something similar for less if you sourced the parts.
 
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