DIY 150 Watt 18"X18" 48 diode grow panel
- Thread starter Chockfullonuts
- Start date
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
placed the pic with copy and paste
solid and stranded wire in mix.
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
I think I'm starting to get there. placed the pic with copy and paste
solid and stranded wire in mix.
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Here are some more pics.
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guod
Well-Known Member
from what i see all looks good,
don´t understand why one led works here, but 2 not. normally both should show some flashes here.
????
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
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Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Some more pics.
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salmonetin
Well-Known Member
mmm what i see looks a regular work with solder, some led dammaged a bit ...
saludos
saludos
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
I have not installed plugs on my driver or on my series string. Just twisted wires together. Plugged bare wire ends of driver into extension cord. Could not having a solid mechanical connection be the problem?
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Yeah. I'm a bit shaky....but all LEDs work. Just not all at one time off the driver.
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Since I am posting pics.....Here are a couple of my light frame/heatsink. The U channel is 1 3/4" wide x 1 5/8" tall. The angles on the ends are 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/8", flat bar stock is 1 1/2" x 1/8". The end angles are installed with self drilling self tapping screws
with thermal paste inside the joint. The flat bar stock is epoxied with Arctic Silver clamped with "C" clamps. I will attach hanging chains onto the angles. For additional cooling I'm going to mount a 200MM 12v computer fan with a hood. This stripped down version weighes a little over eight lbs.
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guod
Well-Known Member
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Thank you for the heads up on lever nuts. I will be getting some. I was a construction superintendent for 25 years and never ran across these. Are these a relatively new product? I have been retired for 6 years.i would fix that... one problem less!
growers little helpers... WAGO 222
I figured out my problem. You were right....driver problem. The output polarity on the drivers was marked incorrectly. Plus was actually minus and vice versa. Great feeling to see my string light up....blinding!
Guess these things can happen when you buy cheap stuff.
I will post updates to thread as I continue my build.
klozetgrow
Well-Known Member
I'm a total newb with some basic knowledge but what is the price range of a DIY led setup from my estimate cheap leds go for .25 to good high power leds for 1.09 drivers from 5$ to 46$ I have wire solder ect but not very informed of on the heat sink that would be required and what it takes to make one besides metal and thermal fluid
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
As you can tell from my thread, I'm new to this too. It is kind of hard to price this because you may have some of the supplies that you need, which will save you money. I sourced everything from ebay. My drivers cost about $8.00 with free shipping. Your prices for low priced high power 3 watt LED's seem about right. Most of the stuff from China is sold with free shipping....go figure. I got lucky and got a pound of 60/40 solder for $11.00 with free shipping. That came from the US. I happened to have aluminum channel and that would have been the most expensive for the heat sink I built. I used Arctic Silver thermal epoxy to glue aluminum together. That stuff is pricy. Thermal paste from China is cheap but it is not glue/epoxy. You need to really hunt around on Ebay for best deals. Be sure to check feedback of Ebay sellers...needs to be over 99% This will be much more expensive if you have to buy tools ie...drill, angle grinder,soldering iron etc Too many variables to really give you a straight answer. Good luck with your project..
klozetgrow
Well-Known Member
so are the .25 leds even worth the time ? Would they do better then say 300 actual watt CFL setup? I've heard good things about led growing but is that with just the high power leds or can you just add say twice as many leds using the .25 ones appreciate the feedback as well you answered my question to the dot lol
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
Just totaled up what I have spent so far. $242.28 That included $60.00 for soldering station which you may not need. Also remember that I did not have to buy "U" channel. That is expensive. Hope this helps.
klozetgrow
Well-Known Member
and have soldering kit solder wire drill pretty electronicly adept but the only thing I know about heat sinks comes from working on ps3s lol get the concept that's about it and have worked with artic silver
Chockfullonuts
Active Member
t lol[/QUOTE]
I have been growing with CFL's for the last two years. I have constructed several CFL light valances of various sizes. They are much cheaper to build than an LED setup. For vegging you can pick up 150 actual watt photography bulbs on Ebay for some pretty good prices. My current vegging light is 600 actual watts (4-150watters} It works well but puts out a pretty good bit of heat. I live in the tropics and my grow box is outside so that is why I am investigating LED's. It is hard to control temps at this time of year. I built a 16 bulb flowering valance for my growing partner, it is working very well. He is about one month into flowering a Pineapple Chunk
with that light right now. It uses 42 actual watt 2700 K bulbs. It puts out 672 actual watts. He does not use all the lights, usually has 4 to 6 unscrewed. His flower cabinet is 40" x 24"x 48". He grows in a conditioned space so he can control the heat better. I don't have anything bad to say about CFL's. We grow with CFL's in Hempy buckets. Works pretty good and it's very easy. I will take a pic of his big light and post it next time I am at his place. Good luck.
I have been growing with CFL's for the last two years. I have constructed several CFL light valances of various sizes. They are much cheaper to build than an LED setup. For vegging you can pick up 150 actual watt photography bulbs on Ebay for some pretty good prices. My current vegging light is 600 actual watts (4-150watters} It works well but puts out a pretty good bit of heat. I live in the tropics and my grow box is outside so that is why I am investigating LED's. It is hard to control temps at this time of year. I built a 16 bulb flowering valance for my growing partner, it is working very well. He is about one month into flowering a Pineapple Chunk
with that light right now. It uses 42 actual watt 2700 K bulbs. It puts out 672 actual watts. He does not use all the lights, usually has 4 to 6 unscrewed. His flower cabinet is 40" x 24"x 48". He grows in a conditioned space so he can control the heat better. I don't have anything bad to say about CFL's. We grow with CFL's in Hempy buckets. Works pretty good and it's very easy. I will take a pic of his big light and post it next time I am at his place. Good luck.
klozetgrow
Well-Known Member
just looking at all possibilities I can get a new 400watt hps for 65$ bulb included I have a CFL setup I did one run with heat became an issue due to many factors ie no exhaust not an air tight space middle of az summer ac unit going out ect ect doing a whole new setup just seeing what is most cost effective without losing quality and quantity have a DIY aircooled light fixture for hps ran across a couple guys that ran a successful led grow so peaked my interested