Ok, I'm 110% sold on the led bit. I think its smarter, efficient, less heat. All the above so if you are here to down this please go to the next led chat. I am going to build my own at a fraction of the cost. I need to know which led components are the best. Plus what else is involved in this process? Does anyone have anything on this topic. And please no led knockers. Seems like thats all these led threads attrack and I don't want to read that shit its a waste of my time. The technology is here guys. Lets get a good thread going on here!!!!!!!!
DIY LED---Cheaper?
- Thread starter hattrick
- Start date
mazand1982
Well-Known Member
lol..."real good thing"...then u think atleast one person would have replied....haha, sry i use hps
abecsta
Active Member
im doing the something bro because i dont want to buy stuff from the states
so far my cong fig for the leds is something like this
630nm red: 48pcs
660nm red: 48pcs
730nm far red: 12pcs
430-450nm blue: 15pcs
460-670nm blue: 15pcs
UVB : 6pcs
or
630nm red: 48pcs
660nm red: 48pcs
730nm far red: 12pcs
430-450nm blue: 18pcs
460-670nm blue: 18pcs
i had white in there but decided it was a waste of time
i plan on using 3w leds at about 1.75w each and 90degree lenses
check the link in my sig
so far my cong fig for the leds is something like this
630nm red: 48pcs
660nm red: 48pcs
730nm far red: 12pcs
430-450nm blue: 15pcs
460-670nm blue: 15pcs
UVB : 6pcs
or
630nm red: 48pcs
660nm red: 48pcs
730nm far red: 12pcs
430-450nm blue: 18pcs
460-670nm blue: 18pcs
i had white in there but decided it was a waste of time
i plan on using 3w leds at about 1.75w each and 90degree lenses
check the link in my sig
herbavor
Well-Known Member
http://www.kingbrightusa.com/ is a good site for led components.
ive always thought it would be interesting building a HIGH WATT led light, the thing for me was, it is quite involved as far as soldering and the skills you need to actually do it. i wouldn't recommend trying a build unless you know at least a little about electronics.
ive always thought it would be interesting building a HIGH WATT led light, the thing for me was, it is quite involved as far as soldering and the skills you need to actually do it. i wouldn't recommend trying a build unless you know at least a little about electronics.
Again, since I wasnt clear the first time. Please do your homework before you reply to this thread. I realize that most people use hps or some form of hid and don't ever plan on being more efficient with the same results. I realize that this could be due to the high price of this relatively new technology.....ok....that is what this thread is for so please...please keep this thread reserved for people who want to share ideas about making there own led light for cheap or about led lights in general....don't bash leds just because you don't use them or you can't afford them yourselves....make a new thread that says "leds suck" or something.
Also, what are the best led's out there because they're are a lot out there that say they are 500 watts when they only draw 300 watts. Watch out for that for sure.
Also, what are the best led's out there because they're are a lot out there that say they are 500 watts when they only draw 300 watts. Watch out for that for sure.
Green Inferno
Active Member
I'm using an LED right now, store bought though. I am really liking it.
I'd like to see what you come up with if you do make something. Keep us updated!
toastycookies
Active Member
Hey bro. Im not sure just yet. im hoping someone will come along and show me something that i've been missing or just havent worked out through google kung fu....lol. thus far, im looking at cree. I do know that I want a full spectrum and atleast 800 watts. Which would out perform at least 1500 watts of hid. sounds expensive right? It will be worth it though. I won't need to replace it for 10 years and it will pay for its self in a matter of months.
hobbyhorse
Member
http://www.rapidled.com
get 3 W cree leds. they even sell the full kit. get a drilled heatsink too.
use whatever mixture of royal blue and red leds, throw in some cool or warm white leds too.
more blue and cool white for growth, more red and warm white for flowering
step by step instructions: its super easy.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1672708
get 3 W cree leds. they even sell the full kit. get a drilled heatsink too.
use whatever mixture of royal blue and red leds, throw in some cool or warm white leds too.
more blue and cool white for growth, more red and warm white for flowering
step by step instructions: its super easy.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1672708
by full spectrum i meant= all the spectrums that the plant uses. the reds and the blues for sure and whatever else they use. nothing else because it would be a complete waste of electricity and space that could be used for someother spectrum of value to the plant. I def want to have more red and also for flower and i def want to isolate the red from the blue so that i can turn off the red during veg. I will also be using some form of cfl to aid in veg so that I make up for my lack of blue spec because i want to whole damn spectrum when I comes to flowering. Im in a hurry. sorry if it sounds jumbled together. hopefully you get the picture.
I agree, but will i need the whites if im gonna be using a good amount of cfl's???? Thanks for the replies----we r finally getting somewhere.
Jozikins
Well-Known Member
Do not make your own. There are engineering complications that I am sure go far beyond you. The new 4th Generation LED's are out, make sure you purchase a premade one from a RESPECTED and RECOGNIZED manufacturer. No Mom & Pop Shop bullshit. These LED's need to be cooled, weather resistant, and designed to operate for long periods of time, and should be able to to take some shock and abuse. They need to be able to get hit by your foliar mister, and keep preforming without a skip. Usually DIY units over heat and break in just a few months. A lot of money and hard work turned into heart-break. Not worth it, even a little. Spending 300-800 dollars on a quality light is the way to go, you will not regret it, I promise. I have grown with 3rd generation LED and HPS, the LED's I've used gave great results during veg, and decent results for flower. The most amazing and energy efficient lamp I have ever seen are the new Plasma Lamps!!! AMAZING!! Huge buds, dense as fuck, side by side products looks identical if not better than HID lighting. I've only seen 1 or 2 grows with it because it is so expensive, but it is amazing. Fantastic light penetration.
Have you picked up the most recent issue of Maximum Yield magazine? They have an entire article on your question right here.
Have you picked up the most recent issue of Maximum Yield magazine? They have an entire article on your question right here.
hobbyhorse
Member
just a little fyi, 1 higher wattage cfl will produce more heat then 48 leds on a heatsink. if you can afford it, just add in some white leds instead of the cfls.
you can get those kits with a dimmable controller, so you can tweak your color spectrum. wire 24 leds (blue and cool white) to one controller, wire the other 24 leds (red and warm white), and this way you can dim each (flowering and veg) leds to get exactly what you are looking for...
you can get those kits with a dimmable controller, so you can tweak your color spectrum. wire 24 leds (blue and cool white) to one controller, wire the other 24 leds (red and warm white), and this way you can dim each (flowering and veg) leds to get exactly what you are looking for...
Jozikins
Well-Known Member
During veg you will need red as well. There is no stage of growth (maybe last 10 days of flower) that gets any advantage from using one color. A well balanced spectrum is the goal from start to finish. LED's designed to flower still give incredible veg results. CFL's are always recommended in the veg room though, 125w or 250w is the only way to go though, none of that little 23w bullshit.
Please listen to me, the guy with LED experience, the guy that works very closely with a 100 plant set up using ONLY 3rd and 4th generation LED's, do NOT make one yourself. I mean, if you really want to stomp and kick your legs on the ground while letting out a long, frustrated howl of desperation and frustration. Because DIY set ups are not the same as a well engineered lighting instrument.
Green Inferno
Active Member
You already posted two things without him even responding to you yet, and all you're telling him is to not do it, and now you're telling to use CFLs.
Did you read his 1st post? He wants to build his own. Let him do his thing dude.
hobbyhorse
Member
the saltwater fish tank world has been building these kits for years. i have built 3 of these kits myself. they work great. LEDS are so simple you don't need an engineering degree to build a simple light. just make sure you buy good quality cree leds and controllers.
oh and buy a varying degree of lenses, its fun to play with different lenses and see the results.
Also I suggest going to cree's website and do a little reading about the different LEDS they sell. read about them, figure out the color temp, and also what current they suggest driving them at. there isnt a single led manufacturer that runs their LEDS at max wattage. make sure the leds you are going to use are all meant to driven at the same current
oh and buy a varying degree of lenses, its fun to play with different lenses and see the results.
Also I suggest going to cree's website and do a little reading about the different LEDS they sell. read about them, figure out the color temp, and also what current they suggest driving them at. there isnt a single led manufacturer that runs their LEDS at max wattage. make sure the leds you are going to use are all meant to driven at the same current
I def will build my own, I was planning to put at least four or six fans in the unit anyways. But i welcome any response to led's. What pushed me to build my own more than anything else was I couldnt find concrete evidence on which light was the best. Just one sites word over anothers promising that theres is better at a hefty price. http://www.hidhut.com/catalog/led-mothership-540w-enhanced-spectrum-led-grow-lights-p-2600.html This is the best thing I've come up with. Does anyone have any others that look promising. i will look up the plasma thing, thanks for all the advice here. and thanks for no bashing. everytime I see one of these led boards pop up they crash because they won't stop they're ignorance long enough for a good note to be dropped.
Green Inferno
Active Member
I have the 90 watt one from HTG, $150, This plant is just 16 days old:
I'm sure there are better ones available, but not for $150.
Jozikins
Well-Known Member
Lol, I did read his first post. But I just read a whole article on this and talked to a few people I would like to consider professionals for several hours on the topic. I know he wants to build his own. But from everything I have ever seen with my own eyes, or heard about with my own ears, has pointed to DIY LED to be a half-baked idea. LED is great, but I don't think you can do it as good as the pro's, and I don't think you can get that experience unless you spend easily the same or more on buying your own units pre built.
He brought up CFL's as an assistant light, to balance the spectrum. I personally use more CFL than LED (yes I have LED's that I use, 3rd generation 50w and 90w UFO's) because it gives me fantastically healthy growth, and it doesn't grow too fast. I always have traffic in my veg room, so I try and veg them out slower now. LED does give some more vigorous growth, for the most part, all veg plants love it. When it comes to flowering LED has CFL beat, 10:1 for my own personal use. But once again I am using HPS to flower, my 3rd generation LED's can give good flowers, but I just can't get the same weight with them, after about 12" the light isn't intense enough, at least with my shittier LED's, another reason I suggest purchasing quality designed by an engineer with a degree in the field. I just don't think any of us could possibly get anything better than an amateur's understanding without going to school for this kind of shit.
All I want is for this guy to have success in his garden and to be happy with whatever decision he makes. DIY LED is heart-break, less than a year away. You can put that quote on your wall, because I wont be hear to say "I told you so."
I'm not trying to be a smart ass. I have learned a lot about this in the past, and just this week I had a refersher course on the new 4th generation LED's, just a day or two before I saw this post. I don't know everything, but I do know that buying a well engineered lighting instrument is going to blow some ghetto grow light straight the fuck out of the water. It's a bad idea, just like a menstruating chick in the ocean.
But seriously guys... check out these new plasma lights, so fucking tits!