DYI LED for 2x4 veg tent

Closet Smoker

Closet Smoker

Member
Please excuse me if this is a well thrashed subject.

I am currently lighting my 2x4 veg tent with a 8x T5 fixture. Looking into doing a DYI LED setup using Cree COBs, possibly doing the MAU5 IV kit from Cutter. (I know Growmau5 is on Rollitup) I am a jack of all trades, and I know enough about electronics to be deadly. I have all the tools and knowledge to drill and tap holes, fabricate a mounting fixture etc. I can machine small parts on a old manual lathe and vertical mill I have as well. Way more than capable of handling what I see as a simple DYI project.

Of course, I have a couple ?'s:

1. Recommended Cree COB for veg stage.
2. Is there a US based supplier you guys can recommend? Cutter Electronics is in Australia, makes everything more expensive.
3. Best COB layout for a 2x4 space.
 
Victor6634

Victor6634

Well-Known Member
Closet Smoker said:
Please excuse me if this is a well thrashed subject.

I am currently lighting my 2x4 veg tent with a 8x T5 fixture. Looking into doing a DYI LED setup using Cree COBs, possibly doing the MAU5 IV kit from Cutter. (I know Growmau5 is on Rollitup) I am a jack of all trades, and I know enough about electronics to be deadly. I have all the tools and knowledge to drill and tap holes, fabricate a mounting fixture etc. I can machine small parts on a old manual lathe and vertical mill I have as well. Way more than capable of handling what I see as a simple DYI project.

Of course, I have a couple ?'s:

1. Recommended Cree COB for veg stage.
2. Is there a US based supplier you guys can recommend? Cutter Electronics is in Australia, makes everything more expensive.
3. Best COB layout for a 2x4 space.
Click to expand...

Try timbergrowlights.com northerngrowlights.com cobkits.com
 
Nenno44

Nenno44

Well-Known Member
im not so sure I would use cree chips. Im about to build a veg light myself using citizen chips from cobkits.
 
Evil-Mobo

Evil-Mobo

Well-Known Member
Closet Smoker said:
Please excuse me if this is a well thrashed subject.

I am currently lighting my 2x4 veg tent with a 8x T5 fixture. Looking into doing a DYI LED setup using Cree COBs, possibly doing the MAU5 IV kit from Cutter. (I know Growmau5 is on Rollitup) I am a jack of all trades, and I know enough about electronics to be deadly. I have all the tools and knowledge to drill and tap holes, fabricate a mounting fixture etc. I can machine small parts on a old manual lathe and vertical mill I have as well. Way more than capable of handling what I see as a simple DYI project.

Of course, I have a couple ?'s:

1. Recommended Cree COB for veg stage.
2. Is there a US based supplier you guys can recommend? Cutter Electronics is in Australia, makes everything more expensive.
3. Best COB layout for a 2x4 space.
Click to expand...
Keep it simple. (4) COB's pushing out 250-300 watts and you will be GTG. I am having excellent results with the 5K 3590's for my 3x3 veg tent. It's the only thing that made me put my 8 bulb T5 away aside from a 600W Blue MH I had a brief run with, but that used up more juice and I was having ballast issues so off it went.

I am using a meanwell 240-1750B with a dimmer because I flower autos in my veg tent from time to time and this allows me to dim down or bring it back up depending on my needs at any given moment.

I got my COB's direct from digikey and the rest of the parts from @robincnn at Northern Grow Lights.

I will say you should take a look at the citizen COB's as you could save some $$ there on your build. In the citi's I favor the 4K spectrum as the ticket for an all around light.
 
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Closet Smoker

Closet Smoker

Member
One of my goals is to reduce my electricity consumption. The 8x T5 uses 400W+ with all bulbs lit up, I was thinking the Cree CXB3590's could be run with it dimmed down to about 100-150W, depending where the plants are in growth. As they get bigger I could turn it up to help with light penetration. This is for veg, not flowering, I have a separate 5x7 space with 2x 600W HPS/MH with 2x 4ft T5 UVA/UVB side lights.
Tell me if I am wrong......

Last vid I made of my garden a year and a half ago:

 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Closet Smoker said:
Looks like the 200w kit from Timber Grow Lights is the one. I hope this is good for my setup!

http://timbergrowlights.com/200-watt-cree-cxb3590-4-cob-grow-light-kit/
Click to expand...
That looks nice. $39 more for a framed unit.

I still like the thought of the Quantum Boards too if a guy wanted a small project. Even easier than framing a kit of cobs. I just like the thought of a spread out light source like the quantum boards on small plants plus they are very efficient.
 
Tomula

Tomula

Active Member
Closet Smoker said:
One of my goals is to reduce my electricity consumption. The 8x T5 uses 400W+ with all bulbs lit up, I was thinking the Cree CXB3590's could be run with it dimmed down to about 100-150W, depending where the plants are in growth. As they get bigger I could turn it up to help with light penetration. This is for veg, not flowering, I have a separate 5x7 space with 2x 600W HPS/MH with 2x 4ft T5 UVA/UVB side lights.
Tell me if I am wrong.....
Click to expand...
Hello man, there are better LEDs than Cree CXB3590. Check out Citizen CLU058 1825 or CLU048 1818. Here is thread about the lights:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/top-bin-cob-comparison-2.897765/page-7
The CLU3618 can do even 300W single chip but you will need some serious CPU active cooling and ducting for that.
Yeah 150-200W seems enough for veg. Good luck with your build or buy whatever you choose to do! Cheers!
 
Closet Smoker

Closet Smoker

Member
It is going to be a bit before I can act on my desires, money is tight and I am unable to afford even lighting the grow room up ATM. Doing research is a whole lotta fun though......
 
V

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
I use 8 -cxb3590 4/5000k 4/3500k 2- hlg-185h-c1400b drivers 400w at the wall. I also use 4x-12(3w) diodes with a se250-48v meanwell power supply
 
Closet Smoker

Closet Smoker

Member
VegasWinner said:
I use 8 -cxb3590 4/5000k 4/3500k 2- hlg-185h-c1400b drivers 400w at the wall. I also use 4x-12(3w) diodes with a se250-48v meanwell power supply
Click to expand...
Sounds like a very nice setup for flower. The only thing I would add is a UVB bulb. I know it works, I have grown some really heady stuff with it with 2x 600w HPS
 
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