900w DIY Led project

Hi guys!

I'm new to both growing and LEDing and this will be my fist of probably many questions in the months to come. I've been suffering from (what I think is called) chronic fatigue syndrome since about 30 months back and aren't able to work as a normal person would, so, I decided to start growing my meds myself and perhaps sell some to make my life a little bit easier.
I don't live in the US and english isn't my primary language so I apologize in advance for my not-too-accurate English =)

I hope I posted this in the right category...


So...
I'm planning on building a 600/900w led setup. The complete budget incl cables and hardware will be at about 430 usd and these are the parts I'm thinking of using:

1x Powes Supply: 12v 50a (600w)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Best-quality-12V-50A-600W-Switching-Power-Supply-Driver-For-CCTV-Camera-CNC-LED-Strip-Lamp/32605745238.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.1.OWmIZ8&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_8,searchweb201602_4_10057_10056_10065_10068_10055_10054_10069_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_418_10073_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_1&btsid=e32c9eb4-4905-4311-bae3-1a8025fd48ee

Leds: 300x3w "full spectrum"
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hydroponic-1W-3W-10W-30w-50W-100w-Led-Grow-light-Chip-Epistar-Bridgelux-chip-full-spectrum/32669288029.html?spm=2114.01010208.3.83.Ya2lZ5&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_8,searchweb201602_4_10057_10065_10056_10068_10055_10054_10069_301_10059_10033_10058_10032_9911_418_10073_10017_10070_10060_10061_10052_10062_10053_10050_10051,searchweb201603_1&btsid=afbd4107-9b46-40d6-a0c3-45c61cb1ab13

Aluminum base plates: 4x3 (in series ~12v@12w x 72 = 864w)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/30-x-Aluminum-Base-Plate-DIY-PCB-45mm-Dia-for-4-x-1W-3W-High-Power-LED-/391253901645?hash=item5b188cc14d:g:T-sAAOSwzhVWrdUr

Heatsinks: 4 pcs 140x500 with 2 pcs 140mm fans
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Heatsink-Cooling-for-LED-Power-Memory-Chip-IC-Transistor-various-length-/131535356625?var=&hash=item1ea01e42d1:m:mUmeObwN4TYRKRW3C5qYtlQ



So, to the questions...
-Does anyone have experience with these types "full spectrum" of LED's
-Is 50 amps @ 12v really the way to go? Is it safer to up the volts and lower the amps in a different configuration?
-I will be running the LED's on about 70%. Is this too much for good efficiency?

The reson I choose the 3 w leds (allso "cob's) instead of a 100 w cob is that the 100w-cobs from china allmost allways have A LOT of defectice chips on them. check:

While the smaller LED's don't seem to have the same issue:

So, why don't just use Crees?
-I can't afford them. This light will work the first 2-3 batches and then I will afford something better. But for now i'll have to live with china-stuff =)
I know there will be a crazy much soldering but time is all I have...

@VegasWinner didn't you build something similar to this?

HydroRed said:

@VegasWinner didn't you build something similar to this?

Click to expand...

I did similar. I did COBs and 3w leds as full spectrum lights. I chose to go with two lights, One for veg, 12 Royal Blue 3w leds, and 5000k cxb3590 36v, 4 each. For bloom I did 4-cxb3590 3500k, with Deep Red, IR and Far Red 3w leds. I use 12 of each for a total bloom spectrum timed for various times. each space is 2x2. get real nice plant response. peace

VegasWinner said:

I did similar. I did COBs and 3w leds as full spectrum lights. I chose to go with two lights, One for veg, 12 Royal Blue 3w leds, and 5000k cxb3590 36v, 4 each. For bloom I did 4-cxb3590 3500k, with Deep Red, IR and Far Red 3w leds. I use 12 of each for a total bloom spectrum timed for various times. each space is 2x2. get real nice plant response. peace

Click to expand...

Thanks!
I was planning to use only the "full spectrum" leds for now and add other colors in a later stage, but, its perhaps an idea to blend them in?

ettot said:

Thanks!
I was planning to use only the "full spectrum" leds for now and add other colors in a later stage, but, its perhaps an idea to blend them in?

Click to expand...

If you have the extra voltage left over to play with from the driver why not?

HydroRed said:

If you have the extra voltage left over to play with from the driver why not?

Click to expand...

Naah, I use a 600w (or perhaps 2x300w) driver driving about 864 watts of leds to make them more light/heat-efficient. My thought was to add blues during veg and reds/ir/uv during flowering.

This light will be a sort of base light. 4 bars of 150 watts each.

Low wattage drivers are really cheap so I'd rather use separate lights for different stages than blend them in, taking away the control of what light at what stage...

ettot said:

Naah, I use a 600w (or perhaps 2x300w) driver driving about 864 watts of leds to make them more light/heat-efficient. My thought was to add blues during veg and reds/ir/uv during flowering.

This light will be a sort of base light. 4 bars of 150 watts each.

Low wattage drivers are really cheap so I'd rather use separate lights for different stages than blend them in, taking away the control of what light at what stage...

Click to expand...

mean well has a power supply for 3w and 5w leds. get a driver board 4up or 6up and you have lights in every color you can imagine. I put mine on my heat sink with the COB's not in a circle or anything, but there. I turn them on/off when I want them. I have been using IR and find more thc development and frost rails on stalks on main leaves now. good luck and peace

ettot said:

Thanks!
I was planning to use only the "full spectrum" leds for now and add other colors in a later stage, but, its perhaps an idea to blend them in?

Click to expand...

using just the full spectrum you are going to get a lot of stretching.you should mix in some cool white and perhaps a few violet (420-430 nm) to get shorter bushier and healthier plants. those full spectrum diodes work well as supplemental lighting for MH or HPS light but as stand alone lighting they are not great