Flowering with Cree bulbs

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az2000

Well-Known Member
Mohican said:
I love your trays!
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Thanks. I don't let plants sit in that depth of water for long. I just like the margin of safety against overflow. And I had trouble handling shallow trays. One wave and it's all over. (But, I bought a FlowStix battery operated pump to suck the runoff out of the saucers. I don't lift them anymore.).

It's hard to cut a circle around a bucket. I put marks around the circumference. Then used masking tape to connect the marks, creating a visible line. Using a hacksaw, I cut lightly all the way around. Then a little deeper all the way around. Finally started cutting through. You have to be careful not to cut too deep too fast or the blade veers off track.

I feel another blog entry coming on. :idea:
 
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az2000

Well-Known Member
I was thinking about the electrocution hazard of removing the globe. Wouldn't a ground-fault outlet reduce the danger?

I wish I could delete my post about the BR30s being less efficient. The more I think about it, lumens being a measure of light output at a source, lux being a measure of amount of lumens falling on a specific place, I don't think I gave it a fair test. The BR30 was more diffuse, distributing its lumens more uniformly. The A19 inside a reflector was more harsh, concentrating its lumens. If readings had been taken at different locations within a 18" square, I think the average lux would be similar.

I think proper application goes this way:
- A19 by itself: Lumens distributed omnidirectionally, more concentrated if the globe is removed. Suited for a drop-down sidelight within 4 plants.
- A19 in a reflector: Lumens focused, more focused if the globe is removed. Suited for top lighting for penetration, or anywhere space permits the size of an external reflector?
- BR30 by itself: Lumens focused more uniformly. Suited to side lighting where space is often restricted and coverage may be more important than penetration?
 
NapalmD

NapalmD

Well-Known Member
Awesome setup az2000! I wonder if I can find a wire clamp to attach my lamp cord to the tent legs oppose to just having them dangling in each corner. Thanks for sharing!

az2000 said:
Here's how I mounted my four 60w "warm" A19s in my autoflower tent (2x4x4' tall):

View attachment 3256149

I got rid of the clamps and mounted the reflectors directly to the tent legs. Added "legs" with PVC pipe. It's a compact fit using the corner spaces around the plants. I like the adjustability up/down on the tent legs, and being able to slide my PVC "legs" closer. The clamp-on's swivel is still present too.

I documented how to do this in my blog (<link). It's a little over-the-top, but I wanted to play with a creating a blog entry. Seemed like a good topic.

I think I may put 5k lights on the veg side and save that Blackstar for use on the flower side whenever that one dies.

BTW: Those are my deep-wall saucers made from Home Depot buckets. 4" deep.
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skr141

Member
Sorry for my stupid questions, but is there a big difference between cree XT and cree XB? And does it say which one it is on the packet? Which one is preferred? And what is better, A19 or BR30?

And how deep do these 9.5w led bulbs penetrate? Im assuming way deeper than cfl?

Also, I have some philips led 9.5w 2700k. Can these be used as well? Or does it have to be cree brand?

Thanks!
 
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az2000

Well-Known Member
skr141 said:
what is better, A19 or BR30?
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I can't answer your other questions, but as far as I can tell, the distinction of "better" between those two bulbs is whether your application needs a reflector, and how much work you're willing to put into attaching one to the A19.

The BR30's internal reflector makes it suitable to those flex "stayput" extensions which are relatively inexpensive on Amazon. It's also more compact for smaller areas. But, the BR30 is more expensive than the A19. You're paying for a disposable reflector. At 10 years expected lifespan, it probably doesn't matter.

The A19 gives you omni light which could be good between plants. It's less expensive. If you want to reflect it, you have to make your own ghetto reflector or invest in a clamp-on reflector ($7) and how to mount it (thread-end "stayput" extensions, or slide mounts like I did).

Once you get your head around all the options it's a nice, adaptive system. I documented the options in my blog.(<<link).

Edit: Concerning penetration, Home Depot sells Cree 80w equiv. flood and spot lights. I think FranJan has used the 27-degree spot. I bought one of each a few days ago to use as supplemental light in a taller tent.
 
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Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
skr141 said:
Sorry for my stupid questions, but is there a big difference between cree XT and cree XB? And does it say which one it is on the packet? Which one is preferred? And what is better, A19 or BR30?

And how deep do these 9.5w led bulbs penetrate? Im assuming way deeper than cfl?

Also, I have some philips led 9.5w 2700k. Can these be used as well? Or does it have to be cree brand?

Thanks!
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Most of the time, the A19's are more efficient, but the some of the BR30's can provide more intensity, but in far narrower zones, than the A19's.

I have some phillips bulbs still....3k's. They aren't quite as efficient as the Cree, of which XT-E is the more efficient and thus more sought after, but only in the 1st version of the Home Depot Bulbs. Which would have to find some NOS, to score.....The phillips are a more of a directional light though, like a BR30 reflectance, just a bit wider, so their intensity, I believe is a bit higher than the Cree, but only in narrows zones, directly under the bulb, so there is a trade-off. More intensity, less coverage.

I have used a mix of Phillips and Cree, for a bout a year together, don't think it matters.
 
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skr141

Member
Thanks for the replies. It would be way easier for me to get a hold of the philips 9.5w leds instead of cree. Would a philips 9.5w led do better compared to a 26w cfl? also, how deep would the leds penetrate? deeper than cfl ?

thanks!
 
Shwagbag

Shwagbag

Well-Known Member
Sweeet! Those are the Cree LED T8's? That's exactly what I want it for too, early veg fresh from the cloner right before transplant to veg.

These are just over $30 each shipped. Cree T8 90 CRI
 
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SomeGuy

SomeGuy

Well-Known Member
i could put the older cree ones in that dont use t8 ballast or some better tubes. just power only to one end of the tubes... super simple wiring. I could even add tubes with t8 inserts and a little wire and wire nuts. only 62 w right now.
 
SomeGuy

SomeGuy

Well-Known Member
its not the rating of the fixture but of its components. 14g wire can easily handle up to 1000w. there are no other parts exept for power wire to the t8 terminals on one side only. very simply type of fixture.
 
SomeGuy

SomeGuy

Well-Known Member
I believe cree makes the type you can use without ballast too?? You used to have to bypass the ballast and they started making them compatible recently.
 
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