Current optimum budget friendly lighting options for 3x3

Cherkan

Cherkan

Well-Known Member
Been a while since I've lurked these parts of the web. Was going to pull the trigger on some cobs once upon a time but never followed that up.

Now it seems quantums are big and even strips if I have that right?

I'm looking to upgrade to a 3x3 sort of setup but on a budget of sorts. $500 AUD max for a lighting solution, fine with a bit of DIY work as long as it's not to intricate. Fine with putting wires into a WAGO.

Also, what's the go with Cutter's SolSkin boards, are they good? Could I get a good budget friendly light for a 3x3 setup from there?

In summary, I guess I'm asking for the best bang for buck light!
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
Welcome, Cherkan.
I began my DIY adventures building a couple of 4 array bars using Vero29's. Still have them and they work great. Built a simple 200W fixture using 2' F-strips and a 18x24 aluminum baking tray-less than $1/watt for a state of the art tech fixture(and it makes GREAT cookies). The boards are also an easier way to package really good diodes but you have to figure out a heatsink for those apps. I would plan on shooting for about 300w for that space. Ledgardener.com has plenty of info on matching components
 
booms111

booms111

Well-Known Member
Id recommend these boards and driver for a diy rig, similar placement of boards as a HLG 300 but just alittle farther apart. Use greengrassgrowers1 closet shelf idea for the boards to hang off of.

Two 288 boards with heatsinks- https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/qb288-with-slate-2-heatsink

Driver that can push them at 280w- https://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-hlg-240h-c2100a/

Hanger kit- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010PYWCX8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Little fan to blow on boards and driver- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXOFO7W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solid 18g wire- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FE18G3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Would just need a wire for plug, zip ties, and some wagos or wire nuts also. Looking at just under $500AUD roughly with shipping included but might be more since your in Australia.
 
Last edited:
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Im not sure whats going on with the cutter sol strips as I lost track of that thread ages ago.
But they seemed to be producing a quality system last I looked.

Give @welight a hola and ask him direct what they have to offer.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Last edited:
klx

klx

Well-Known Member
I have cobs and strips as that was what was best bang for buck at the time. If i was building a light right now I would 100% go for cutter's solskins.
 
Cherkan

Cherkan

Well-Known Member
GBAUTO said:
Welcome, Cherkan.
I began my DIY adventures building a couple of 4 array bars using Vero29's. Still have them and they work great. Built a simple 200W fixture using 2' F-strips and a 18x24 aluminum baking tray-less than $1/watt for a state of the art tech fixture(and it makes GREAT cookies). The boards are also an easier way to package really good diodes but you have to figure out a heatsink for those apps. I would plan on shooting for about 300w for that space. Ledgardener.com has plenty of info on matching components
Click to expand...
I've had a look at some of those strip builds. Definitely keep them in mind!
 
Cherkan

Cherkan

Well-Known Member
klx said:
I have cobs and strips as that was what was best bang for buck at the time. If i was building a light right now I would 100% go for cutter's solskins.
Click to expand...
Will have to give those boards a little bit more research then!
 
Cherkan

Cherkan

Well-Known Member
booms111 said:
Id recommend these boards and driver for a diy rig, similar placement of boards as a HLG 300 but just alittle farther apart. Use greengrassgrowers1 closet shelf idea for the boards to hang off of.

Two 288 boards with heatsinks- https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/collections/all/products/qb288-with-slate-2-heatsink

Driver that can push them at 280w- https://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-hlg-240h-c2100a/

Hanger kit- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B010PYWCX8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Little fan to blow on boards and driver- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FXOFO7W/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Solid 18g wire- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FE18G3M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Would just need a wire for plug, zip ties, and some wagos or wire nuts also. Looking at just under $500AUD roughly with shipping included but might be more since your in Australia.
Click to expand...
Cheers for that. I have some of the stuff already (Hangers and 18 guage) so that hits close to 500 for me!
 
N

NothinYet

Active Member
Cherkan said:
Been a while since I've lurked these parts of the web. Was going to pull the trigger on some cobs once upon a time but never followed that up.

Now it seems quantums are big and even strips if I have that right?

I'm looking to upgrade to a 3x3 sort of setup but on a budget of sorts. $500 AUD max for a lighting solution, fine with a bit of DIY work as long as it's not to intricate. Fine with putting wires into a WAGO.

Also, what's the go with Cutter's SolSkin boards, are they good? Could I get a good budget friendly light for a 3x3 setup from there?

In summary, I guess I'm asking for the best bang for buck light!
Click to expand...
There was a fellow I was helping out on led gardner and he was from Australia. Cutter sells bridgelux eb gen 1 strips, Cree strips, and some nice drivers (they are actually rated for use in austrailia). I also found some meanwell driver options that are rated for Australia.

He ended up purchasing some Cree strips and the drivers they sell. Here is a link to the helping.
https://ledgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=967

Here is the build
https://ledgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1005
 
Rolla J

Rolla J

Well-Known Member
NothinYet said:
What are those lights?
Click to expand...
Got some ideas from YouTube on some led lighting DIY and just rounded up some 10 watt warm white led chips for the flower light. And also some 5630 led strips daylight white for the veg, ran some numbers matched up the volts I needed along with Amps and watts, soldered and wired everything up and wahla!
Flower light cost me around 100 bucks the veg light cost me about 65 bucks.
I grow in a 2x2.
 
N

NothinYet

Active Member
You could go with 14 eb gen 1 strips 3500k for a veg bloom light. At approximately 318w. $132
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut3156

Driven by a PF-P400CC-C105-S-DM
. And find a 100k ohm linear taper potentiometer for dimming. $144
http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut2999

Source some aluminum angle and/or sheet.
Find some wagos or connectors. Get some thermal paste and screws, thermal tape, or thermal adhesive, a hanger, a power cord, some 16 GA sold core wire for connector to connector, 18ga wire for connector to strips, and you should be good to go.

About $280 for strips and driver. And maybe another 100-200 depending on sourcing of other items.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top