DIY - Cheap China Cob panel Build+Grow

What im going to build?!?
Im going to build a cheap China Cob Chip panel and see how well it grows. Everybody talks about Cree and Vero but i havent seen a full grow with china chips so im going to compare with other grow's. Yeah this can be waste of money but it can also be a cheap alternative for new Led builder's like me.

What i have Bought?
I have ordered all the pieces from Ebay and tryed to find the cheapest alternatives.

Led Chips: 5x50w Warm White Chips $9,95
http://www.ebay.com/itm/272137742802?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=570969572518&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Drivers: 5x30w 20-35v 900ma + 1x12v 1a Driver for fans $31,4 + $2,29
http://www.ebay.com/itm/251996921076?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=550860956911&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
http://www.ebay.com/itm/291832619598?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=590837765531&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Heatsink: 5x CPU cooler with fan $37,90
http://www.ebay.com/itm/311389215821?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Steel Clamps: 5xSteel clamps for mounting $3,12
http://www.ebay.com/itm/252497279285?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Thermal Paste: 30g Thermal paste $1,30
http://www.ebay.com/itm/351820352994?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Cable connectors: 2x12stk Wire connectors $1,98
http://www.ebay.com/itm/121984842387?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=420977904884&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Wire: 10m Steel wire 1,5mm for mounting $4,62
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300996905265?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Buttons: 5xon/off buttons $2,04
http://www.ebay.com/itm/262173556862?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Heat shrink: 4ft Heat shrink 2,4mm $1,18
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261055290570?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Cable: 15m Black and Red 2pin Cable $4,50
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261847946982?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=560697930589&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Cable Sleeving: 10m Green Cable Sleeving $3,28
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141164193998?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=440239020938&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Connector: 10x4pin Connectors $2,15
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271889858445?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=570726257045&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Alu profile: 3m Aluminium L profile from lokal store $15
http://www.hafix.cz/files/fotografie/5954

Total: 120,71$

Building plan?!?
The plan is to build 2 of these panels to fit ma 150x80x200cm tent

Pictures coming soon with wire diagram

What we are going to grow?!?
I dont know what strain we are going to grow yet but its for sure going to be a Hydrophonics grow in ma DIY Hydro Setup with the Green House Hybrid Powder Feeding.

The end?!?
Thats all for now keep in touch just waiting for ma stuff to arrive.

Definitely cheap!!!

I have done it. Check my loft build thread on here.

I ran 4x 600w each in a 4x4 area. I yielded around 1800g total from 2400w. So 0.75 gpw.

They are advertised as putting out 80-90lm/W. I'd estimate it to be more like 70lm/W despite my units being water cooled.

I have recently switched to Citizen CLU046-1212 COBs which I got for 2.50 euros a pop (similar to the Chinese COBs in price). My lux meter is reading twice as high.

I would not recommend building a cheap Chinese COB unit, although it may be worth doing as a learning experience if you plan on upgrading and building higher efficiency units in the near future.

This is my first build so its for learning and wanna see how it compares to my hps with cheap chips i can always change to Cree's if the output is a piece af shit

atm im running a 400w hps which im yeilding around 300g

Building plan?!?
Im done with the Building plan heres what i ended up with.

Just go straight to cree, vero or for your cheaper solution citizen cobs. You're just spending more money buyin cheap Chinese ones if you're gonna upgrade eventually anyways. Also, use a single meanwell driver. Seperate ones for each cob is tacky. And run em harder than 30watts too. At least 1050ma (37watts) or 1400 or like me 1750.

Airwalker16 said:

Just go straight to cree, vero or for your cheaper solution citizen cobs. You're just spending more money buyin cheap Chinese ones if you're gonna upgrade eventually anyways. Also, use a single meanwell driver. Seperate ones for each cob is tacky. And run em harder than 30watts too. At least 1050ma (37watts) or 1400 or like me 1750.

Click to expand...

Its only 10$ for some fun testing got space tent and all i need from previous grows Lets see how it turns out with these china chips they are only 50w's

kmn6900 said:

Its only 10$ for some fun testing got space tent and all i need from previous grows Lets see how it turns out with these china chips they are only 50w's

Click to expand...

Whatever man

Actually, there are more options available with multiple drivers when it comes to spacing. Some consider long circuit runs to be a safety hazard so require the drivers to be close.

Since the cobs are cheap, you might consider doubling them up and running them in parallel off each driver. Or even go 3 off each. It would be interesting to see how many you could get to run in parallel.

The cheaper components are definitely good for the experience. As was said earlier, you can always upgrade later. Learn from mistakes on cheap equipment rather than expensive. Many here don't see this from a hobby perspective and are all about the business

Plus you can easily redeploy the cheap CoBs by tacking all in parallel off a single 30w driver till they die. 5 might be able to run passively without (or a small) a heatsink and would work great for small areas like corners.

Ill start with the build i all ready made and Building 2 of them. Maybe i should add 4 cool White chips in parallel to get a Little Blue spectrum on each panel.

This is only a hobby for growin ma own medicine have grown for meny years and wanted to try buildin a cheap led panel for learnin.

Just received the chips fast shippin Only 14 Days from order

I picked up some interesting parts for quirky DIY projects. Looking forward to using a surplus street sign as a panel.

Nothing wrong with recycling components. Those old cheap fixtures still have usable drivers that come in handy. For some, saving money by re-using and putting those savings into better engines is the best plan. Others do it just for fun because it is a hobby.

Many paths to the same destination.

Also chinese leds take a lot of abuse but they are still useful. Just severely under run them. I managed to take a 80 chip blurple panel down to 36w where it passively cools maxing out at 31C in 25C ambient. The output isn't impressive at all - ~250 umoles at 8 inches, dropping to ~150 at 12. Intended purpose is for side, back, spot lighting, which at 36w is pretty decent.

loftygoals said:

I have done it. Check my loft build thread on here.

I ran 4x 600w each in a 4x4 area. I yielded around 1800g total from 2400w. So 0.75 gpw.

They are advertised as putting out 80-90lm/W. I'd estimate it to be more like 70lm/W despite my units being water cooled.

I have recently switched to Citizen CLU046-1212 COBs which I got for 2.50 euros a pop (similar to the Chinese COBs in price). My lux meter is reading twice as high.

I would not recommend building a cheap Chinese COB unit, although it may be worth doing as a learning experience if you plan on upgrading and building higher efficiency units in the near future.

Click to expand...

Exactly that's what I did as well just for learning of course

Airwalker16 said:

Just go straight to cree, vero or for your cheaper solution citizen cobs. You're just spending more money buyin cheap Chinese ones if you're gonna upgrade eventually anyways. Also, use a single meanwell driver. Seperate ones for each cob is tacky. And run em harder than 30watts too. At least 1050ma (37watts) or 1400 or like me 1750.

Click to expand...

I use the cheap chinese drivers. i have plenty. I learned from Supra. he sent me a list of descent suppliers. I drive CXb3590 36v with 900ma, 700ma and 350ma single drivers for next to nothing. great for vegging. I also have Mean well drivers that do the same thing with a group of COB's. I guess I am tacky using single drivers, multiple drivers, etc. it is all good and works great too. peace.

There's not much to really screw up when building a diy light. I agree as well about not wasting money on Chinese chips just to "learn" how to do it. You'll see you were able to do it no problem and will wish it was just done with high quality COBs in the first place.

VegasWinner said:

I use the cheap chinese drivers. i have plenty. I learned from Supra. he sent me a list of descent suppliers. I drive CXb3590 36v with 900ma, 700ma and 350ma single drivers for next to nothing. great for vegging. I also have Mean well drivers that do the same thing with a group of COB's. I guess I am tacky using single drivers, multiple drivers, etc. it is all good and works great too. peace.

Click to expand...

Just because he can't understand the value of using one driver per cob doesn't mean everyone else can't. Just because he can't grasp someone spending a few bucks on a cheap hobby pursuit to try and learn about it doesn't mean it's wrong. And just because 9 out of every 10 posts he makes come straight out of his ass doesn't mean he is one. Some people just never learn, and thus they are forced to continually repeat their mistakes.

There will always be a segment for cheap chinese drivers. I'm looking forward to seeing pictures. Heck, if people are growing perfectly good herb using Mars panels then there's no reason why you can't build something better for half the price right?

Or just re-use. Nothing wrong with recycling.

If you had older units or have access to a supply of used ones for little or no cost, it does make sense to put them to good use.

Cant wait to see how this turn's out if the chinese dobbel chips are shitty ill change to Cree's but for now its all about learning and to show others how they actually grow

I have just reconized that it got 100 chips where other cheap chips only have 50 chips for a 50w do you guys think they send me 100w's istead of 50w? on the package it says 50w 1500ma? and cant find this chip in 100w? is it good or bad if its a 50w chip with 100 chips instead of 50?

Instead of making a alu L profile frame i came up with a new plan im going to bend a box out of this.

Have also made a cutting bending plan.