Flowering with Cree bulbs

Yeah I would really like to get into making my own LED panels and the like.. I have no experience with soldering or anything like that but I am willing to learn. I am very crafty and do a lot of DIY projects so I don't doubt I can do it.. just a matter of getting all the stuff and how complicated it is! Definitely will do that and perhaps slowly replace my Cree bulbs, but I will probably get those first just for ease. Hmmm.. you know what I do still have time before my grow starts.. maybe I will look into the Cree CXA 3070 COB's. Would I end up spending more or less by using those at the same wattage? I'll have to do some researching.

Anyway, back to my original question:

Does the glass on the bulb reduce the PAR in any way? I'm still wondering about the whole bulb glass on vs. off thing.
If the danger wasn't an issue (can they be wrapped in electrical tape or anything like that to be made safer?), would it be better to use the bulbs in that fashion instead of with the glass on?
Or does the glass help disperse the light better, instead of a series of more focused LED diodes?


Thanks Captainmorgan, you are my LED hero.

They have solderless holders but you would have to drill and tap for two small screws.


http://www.newark.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=15003&langId=-1&urlRequestType=Base&partNumber=90W0065&storeId=10194

Hey guys, I got 2 of those 9w Cree bulbs and plan to get a bunch more, but the two I have are different versions. One Home Depot near me carries a bunch of one kind and another has the other kind. One has a more rubbery feel to the glass and the silicone holding the glass dome is a bit more sloppy. I think the more rubbery feeling dome bulb is also slightly more opaque than the other one.

I heard there were differences in the bulbs, so I'm not sure which ones I should get. I heard some people preferred the older ones more? I can't remember where I read it, but any direction would be great! I plan to exchange the lesser of the two and then buy a bunch more.

The packaging was different, too.. one had a sort of open book format (rubbery dome was in this one I believe) and one was a single sheet, if that makes sense.

Thanks guys!

Looking around some more I think the differences are negligible, but the older ones emit ever-so-slightly more light per watt? I'm still unsure which one is the new one and which one is the old, or if the older ones being better is even true.

CaptainMorgan, I would love to hear your opinion on this as I believe someone said you tested the two with a light meter. Thanks so much

My box is almost ready to go, just getting my last few ducks in a row!

captainmorgan said:

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Sorry,I missed your last post. The 9 watt are 5000k for veg and the 9.5 watt are 2700k for flower,they have different colors on the package.

captainmorgan said:

Sorry,I missed your last post. The 9 watt are 5000k for veg and the 9.5 watt are 2700k for flower,they have different colors on the package.

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I don't mean the differences between veg and flower bulbs, I mean the two different Cree builds for the same bulbs. I have 2 versions of the same 5000k 9w bulb (one has a rubbery feeling glass dome, one is smoother... packages were different as well. One opened like a book and one was a single sheet of cardboard).. just looking for info on which one is which and which is better, because I have access to both versions.

subb said:

I don't mean the differences between veg and flower bulbs, I mean the two different Cree builds for the same bulbs. I have 2 versions of the same 5000k 9w bulb (one has a rubbery feeling glass dome, one is smoother... packages were different as well. One opened like a book and one was a single sheet of cardboard).. just looking for info on which one is which and which is better, because I have access to both versions.

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The heatsinks are the only way to tell.
The 1st versions [older] had Cree XT=E's, and the heatsink was a tad smaller than newer versions and had no taper. The 2nd versions [current - ] have a tapered heatsink on the base end and use Xp-G's.

The 5000k is actually a 42XX K

You'll have to post pics of the differences. They were first released with one type of LED then after maybe 4 months they started using a different type. That info is in this thread,it was last summer but I don't remember for sure which LED they changed to. But they may have made another change that I don't know of. With the first change there was no real difference in out put or efficiency. They originally had 20 XT-E's which have a rounded dome profile and I think they changed to 10 XB-E's that have a square dome profile.

captainmorgan said:

You'll have to post pics of the differences. They were first released with one type of LED then after maybe 4 months they started using a different type. That info is in this thread,it was last summer but I don't remember for sure which LED they changed to. But they may have made another change that I don't know of. With the first change there was no real difference in out put or efficiency. They originally had 20 XT-E's which have a rounded dome profile and I think they changed to 10 XB-E's that have a square dome profile.

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Ah ok, thanks Captain, I will take some pics when I get home and post them. One of them seems ever so slightly more translucent as well (I believe the rubbery feeling one, which came in the package that opened up like a book)
Just not sure how much a photo will help, though, they look pretty identical otherwise. I could try taking the domes off these bulbs... I'm still debating on which would be better for my plants (domes off or domes on... electrical shock aside. Mounted horizontally)

Old Version [L] New Version [R]

The switch occurred around the end of 2013. Some stores, may have seen NOS as late as Jan/Feb of 2014. I have been to a few home depots travelling over the last 6 months from Dallas to Seattle. Haven't seen any of the older versions [On the Left!] since......

Abiqua said:

Old Version [L] New Version [R]

The switch occurred around the end of 2013. Some stores, may have seen NOS as late as Jan/Feb of 2014. I have been to a few home depots travelling over the last 6 months from Dallas to Seattle. Haven't seen any of the older versions [On the Left!] since......

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Whoa, weird. Looks like I don't have an old version then. Maybe I have an even newer version?

Here are the bulbs side by side:


The one on the right is what I believe to be the newer version (has a more rubbery feel to the glass), only because the packaging is more elaborate (it opens up). The one on the left seems slightly more translucent, though.

Here are their respective packages above them:


I am willing to open these bulbs up for you guys if someone can tell me whether or not it would better to use these bulbs without the glass or not. I still can't seem to find out if it is better or not (I think my main concern is about light dispersal and how much, if any, light is wasted in the frosted coating) - Assuming I am impervious to electric shocks (I am Electro from Spiderman, don't worry about me)

The package on the left is a 5000k veg bulb,need to see the front of the other package.

Anytime the light passes through a diffuser it will lose intensity. Probably not a crazy amount with those especially considering the electrical hazard. U could coat all exposed electrical with silicone manybe. Safer to run w lens off that way

captainmorgan said:

The package on the left is a 5000k veg bulb,need to see the front of the other package.

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They are both 5000k 9w bulbs, but I can post a photo of the front of it if ya need.
Also check out the logo placement between the two, just noticed one was higher.

subb said:

Whoa, weird. Looks like I don't have an old version then. Maybe I have an even newer version?

Here are the bulbs side by side:

The one on the right is what I believe to be the newer version (has a more rubbery feel to the glass), only because the packaging is more elaborate (it opens up). The one on the left seems slightly more translucent, though.

Here are their respective packages above them:

I am willing to open these bulbs up for you guys if someone can tell me whether or not it would better to use these bulbs without the glass or not. I still can't seem to find out if it is better or not (I think my main concern is about light dispersal and how much, if any, light is wasted in the frosted coating) - Assuming I am impervious to electric shocks (I am Electro from Spiderman, don't worry about me)

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Like this



Front one is the xb-g's [Call it V2, like you have] the back is actually a 6w of Xt-E, notice the single row of diodes instead of doubles....

And yes, the bulbs guts are non-isolated, so you can shock your shit, but I have never had a problem. Just don't touch them when on, easy......

Here are the package fronts

The coating on the bulb is a safety feature but will easily come off by just scraping it with your fingernail. I actual have two globes that formed cracks from the base and that coating is whats holding the globe on at this point.

subb said:

Here are the package fronts

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What are the serial #'s? On the back, by the UPC code.....Hmmm

I almost wanted to say that one might be the fancy High CRI DayWhite, but I don't know, you didn't mention it......

They are the same heatsinks however, I would imagine, they just got a new packaging changeover.........

yeah, may as well leave the glass domes on for now.. maybe down the road I will take them off if I am unhappy with the veg growth, but I am sure it will be A-OK.

Just weird that there are two different packages, but neither one are the old versions. Maybe just different packaging and maybe slightly different build but using the same diodes?

Abiqua said:

What are the serial #'s? On the back, by the UPC code.....Hmmm

I almost wanted to say that one might be the fancy High CRI DayWhite, but I don't know, you didn't mention it......

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I checked that, too, and both have the same serial number (BA19-08050OMF-12DE26-2U100) and UPC codes!