Chose led strips for a first grow, are these any good?

So i'm a noob putting together a grow setup in a 3x2 foot closet.

I want to try led strip lighting, so i chose some strips from a local supplier.

I have chosen 2 types of strips to be used together.
10 meters of 3000K epistar led strips:
24V 22W 240LED/M 3000K (Epistar) (CRI: 90+)
5 meters of 4000K epistar led strips:
24V 24W 308LED/M 4000K (Epistar) (CRI: 90+)

The supplier doesnt have a datasheet for these, but here's a picture:


These lights + aluminium profiles + a 350W driver + wiring all together will cost me 290 € aka 316 dollars.

Could anyone give some feedback on this choice of LED-s?

At least they're all wired and have solder pads. I'm glad you didn't get duped into a straight reel.

I haven't actually bought these yet, but i am planning to.

Oh, don't buy them then. Epistar are sub Par and those are flexible reels. Get actual PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD strips from Digikey with Samsung's or Bridgelux EB gen2/3 diodes

Im interested in knowing what more experienced guys than me think of these lights. I personally forked out and went mars TSW 2000

Airwalker16 said:

Oh, don't buy them then. Epistar are sub Par and those are flexible reels. Get actual PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD strips from Digikey with Samsung's or Bridgelux EB gen2/3 diodes

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Yeh there are some really cool build guides on samsung F series panels on this site, worth a look!

Joncoh101 said:

Yeh there are some really cool build guides on samsung F series panels on this site, worth a look!

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Seriously though.. ditch those Epistar reels. They're basically bare diodes that will need even more heatsinking then a strip would. Strips at low enough currents, can do without any heatsink. The strip itself is enough. Those I'm almostvsure would burn themselves up at even 500mA on that bare reel.

Thanks for the feedback.
I have seen these gen2/3 diode builds but these arent sold in my country so i would have to order them.
This wouldn't be a problem but apparently i'm a bit simple because i already planted my seeds and they sprouted today.
Right now i'm using some CFL bulbs and sunlight, but i need higher power lights fast. Thats why i went with a local supplier for lights.

As far as the heat goes, these strips would be glued on aluminium profiles - the local supplier said they have tested these and havent had any problems with overheating.

nagoist said:

Thanks for the feedback.
I have seen these gen2/3 diode builds but these arent sold in my country so i would have to order them.
This wouldn't be a problem but apparently i'm a bit simple because i already planted my seeds and they sprouted today.
Right now i'm using some CFL bulbs and sunlight, but i need higher power lights fast. Thats why i went with a local supplier for lights.

As far as the heat goes, these strips would be glued on aluminium profiles - the local supplier said they have tested these and havent had any problems with overheating.

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Bro, not a single person here who's built a light with strips has EVER NOT Ordered them. We aren't walking into our local tech stores and buying them off the shelf. lol.
Of course you'll need to order it. It's no big deal.

yea i get that, it's just that i need some lights quickly so i thought i could get something off the shelf.
Ofcourse it's no big deal ordering them, but the shipping time would mean these little plants of mine are doomed.

nagoist said:

So i'm a noob putting together a grow setup in a 3x2 foot closet.

I want to try led strip lighting, so i chose some strips from a local supplier.

I have chosen 2 types of strips to be used together.
10 meters of 3000K epistar led strips:
24V 22W 240LED/M 3000K (Epistar) (CRI: 90+)
5 meters of 4000K epistar led strips:
24V 24W 308LED/M 4000K (Epistar) (CRI: 90+)

The supplier doesnt have a datasheet for these, but here's a picture:

These lights + aluminium profiles + a 350W driver + wiring all together will cost me 290 € aka 316 dollars.

Could anyone give some feedback on this choice of LED-s?

Click to expand...

They can work but the efficiency of those flexable strips is probably about half that of the good stuff. Good strips would use half the power and make half the heat. They are available in many parts of the world, The UK, Germany, Australia etc.

nagoist said:

yea i get that, it's just that i need some lights quickly so i thought i could get something off the shelf.
Ofcourse it's no big deal ordering them, but the shipping time would mean these little plants of mine are doomed.

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Not even. They'll ship to you in less than a week. In the meantime use any fluorescent or LED tube or bulb to give em a lil light to survive with.