DIY LED Grow Light Vero 18 (Economy light)

SomeGuy said:

Tomorrow I will put together the rest of the walk through. Finished the four cob fixture today though.

Sneak peak:
View attachment 3245585

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cob
\ˈkäb\
See above...^^

he

SomeGuy said:

Tomorrow I will put together the rest of the walk through. Finished the four cob fixture today though.

Sneak peak:
View attachment 3245585

Click to expand...

someguy dont mean to be a pain but could i get a run down on them cobs u are gunna use im looking at maybe going the way u went just wanna look at what kinda yeild u think u will get and also just a run down on the cobs u are useing drivers and power surply and did u get it all of ebay ?? u can pm me if u want i really want to get into a diy led system any help would be sic man

Rob... I have linked to all the information on the cobs in the start of the thread. It would be redundant to reiterate spec sheets here. If you go back and read in detail you will see I have a link to every piece of hardware used. I have no idea yield till flower. Here are the re-posted links to the hardware. This is not a DIY project for people who do not have some familiarity with electricity and component level electronics.

Here is what I used:

vero 18
http://www.digikey.com/product-search/en?mpart=BXRC-30E4000-F-03&vendor=976

fastech drivers
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10004218/1320600

Intel fan & heatsink combo
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Origina...01-/230771615333?ssPageName=ADME:L:OU:US:1120

fan power supply: running 3 fans on each one. so one per fixture. You can get them with in different voltage and amps
http://www.ebay.com/itm/271544517231?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

housing:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_24992-73428...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=


Wire and tools and littel this and that that I already have will add up... so be careful if your new.

Also... I soldered all my connections. I am Really good at soldering. If you are not nice connectors can be found and solderless mounts for the Cobs can be found also.




Some other good info:
--I do not know the exact draw at the wall of each bar. Eventually I will get around to metering it. However, Supra tested the 50W fast tech driver I used and it was about 90% efficient or so. I expect that each COB is putting out 38-42w of dissipation. Actual plug draw is probably AROUND (not exact) 125w on the 3 COB bars and 160w or so on the 4 bar.

back to the show

More build details:

First I cut a 6' x 4" x 4" fence post down and make my spacing marks for where I want the Cobs on the bar. Use grease pencil if have one so that you can wipe it off with acetone. marker will not come off as I found on the first two bars... LOL:






Then I cut the holes for the cob. I used a 57mm hole saw:


Then on the top side I mark out where I want access holes so I can mount the heatsinks and hardware inside more easily. This also supplys air as the fans blow air down:

Next I prep the drivers by soldering the AC wires. Standard US electrical code is:

Hot = black
Neutral = white
Green = Ground

Here you can see I have soldered in the Neutral: I used 12g wire and cut it back... It is easier to use smaller wire. Say 18-20g I make up for it by adding solder to the base and strain relieve the wires


You put the wire in the AC-L(leg) and apply heat from the bottom before applying some solder to the iron and wire. Use a very hot iron and work fast.


Apply silicone to the ac connection to help protect the circuit and yourself:



You mount the driver inside the bar and then solder and heatshrink each one to the other in a chain sort of. I use solder connections as a choice because they do not come apart easily... its a choice. LOL!

This time I took apart the dc converter for the fans and wired it hard into the main ac power for the fixture. This way there was only one plug for the fixture. I did the others as a separate plug. I like it better this way.


Sealed back up and installed in place with some marine jb weld.

Once all the drivers and fans etc.. are all wired and finished up top I drill some small holes and send the cob power wires through the the bottom of the fixture.

This picture is prior to "tining" the wires and solder pads on the COB:

(that youtube shows how to tin wires)



Here it is with the wires tined and the solder pads ready:


now just put the wires over the pad and apply the heat to secure:


Silicone those open connections!!!



Make sure your main ac wire for the fixture is wired and your ready for some action!!

Here is mine doing the labor they were designed for. Today is first day of 12/12 for the tent. SOOOOO off we go!

ANNNNNDDDDD!!! Some basic skill videos. Remember.. for the basic skills you will need you can learn most of it on youtube or elsewhere online. Also! Every project is easier with the right tools! TAke care all.


Ill keep some updates here with the flowering.

Very very nice and detailed write up bro! Also very nice grow area. If I had a big area to cover I'd be all over that rail idea.

I didn't put silicon on my connections but that's a great tip. I did a shock test for everyone by grabbing a high voltage connection at 1a 200w...just a little zap...lol. The silicone would have prevented that from happening.

I wonder if you could find a spot on the CPU cooler for a thermostat. The only thing I'd worry about is a fan going out and one of those modules getting really hot and melting the rail. All it would take is a small 1/2" diameter thermostat on each module to cut the power at a certain temp. Something to consider...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/231033631052?lpid=82

I want to see how you connect it all into the junction box! I planned on using vinyl fence as well, but it looks like you're using the posts, where I want to use the actual railing. This appears to give a bit more room inside, I like it a lot! Great work! I'll be throwing in some 630, 660, and 730 (for ligths out) on another bar and attaching the two together to run on a DIY rail that I'm building that runs on a drive screw.

I have thought about that actually. But I ran the first bar for about 40min with no fans on. the heatsinks get got but not enough to melt the vinyl. plus!! I have a box fan hung above blowing down on high. Its just not visible in the pictures.

Thanks for the compliments also! I thought if I did some detail it might help others to make some headway towards led. This is not for everyone though. It does take some know how and time.

HockeyBeard said:

I want to see how you connect it all into the junction box! I planned on using vinyl fence as well, but it looks like you're using the posts, where I want to use the actual railing. This appears to give a bit more room inside, I like it a lot! Great work!

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It is all soldered. No junction boxes.

4 pair of ac wire from the drivers and 1 more pair for the fan power The kind of daisy chain with a solder point and then at the end I just grouped the remaining ac wires and soldered them together and heat shrink. same setup on the dc fan power... each fan is wired parallel to the supply.

I looked at the fence rail but wanted the room and airflow and the fence post looked perfect.

~SG

SomeGuy said:

I have thought about that actually. But I ran the first bar for about 40min with no fans on. the heatsinks get got but not enough to melt the vinyl. plus!! I have a box fan hung above blowing down on high. Its just not visible in the pictures.

Thanks for the compliments also! I thought if I did some detail it might help others to make some headway towards led. This is not for everyone though. It does take some know how and time.

Click to expand...

You are right about it taking some know how and time. I think that's where CPU coolers are a great start. Just putting together one module to hang can be a great starting point for a future more ambitious build.

yea... no amount of write up is going to replace native skills. venturing in slowly to get those skills will help with being successful with future more complicated builds. My background is lighting heavy you could say.... I have also repaired many highend electronics related to it on a component and electrical board level. My skills are practical based with understanding of theory. However I am not nearly s advanced as some on here in regards to electronics and builds entirely from scratch. I viewed this as a component level build which for me was easy. I also have gained more knowledge of led by reading all the stuff posted here and elsewhere.

Now that I understand what the led wants I am getting better at matching components. My next light will be a simple veg light using some things I already have.

AGAIN... I am hugely thankful for the folks who share thier knowledge here and am just trying to make a small contribution to the group. I am loving the light output though FYI. I had to back the lights off even. It was a mistake thinking they were like t-5's... LOL The intensity from these cobs could easily bleach bud.

Well, what do you wire those AC wires into? a 3 prong power cord that you just run to an outlet?

HockeyBeard said:

Well, what do you wire those AC wires into? a 3 prong power cord that you just run to an outlet?

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I basically wire all those down to one zip cord (soldered connection and heat shrinked) then install the 3prong edison. I strain relief with zip ties. You could put a power buss bar in and do the same thing I am doing.

SomeGuy said:

yea... no amount of write up is going to replace native skills. venturing in slowly to get those skills will help with being successful with future more complicated builds. My background is lighting heavy you could say.... I have also repaired many highend electronics related to it on a component and electrical board level. My skills are practical based with understanding of theory. However I am not nearly s advanced as some on here in regards to electronics and builds entirely from scratch. I viewed this as a component level build which for me was easy. I also have gained more knowledge of led by reading all the stuff posted here and elsewhere.

Now that I understand what the led wants I am getting better at matching components. My next light will be a simple veg light using some things I already have.

AGAIN... I am hugely thankful for the folks who share thier knowledge here and am just trying to make a small contribution to the group. I am loving the light output though FYI. I had to back the lights off even. It was a mistake thinking they were like t-5's... LOL The intensity from these cobs could easily bleach bud.

Click to expand...

100% agreed. I have military level training in component side work, as well as holding a couple certifications at one point. That doesn't mean I can engineer a complex circuit, though. I can read through schematics and build something with the proper instructions, and confidently handle the tools, though! I could probably wire up some simple circuits, but I haven't challenged myself to do anything like that for years, and I haven't really played around, outside of a couple minor repairs, haven't used these skills in over five years. I just set up my veg tent and am about a week away from ordering my batch of LEDs. Infinite thanks to those who have put in so much energy and work to show others what works, why it works, and give actual proof that it works. I wouldn't be as confident in my new setup as I am without it.


--- The power box was pretty much what I had planned on doing, but I like the other option as well.

well... I decided to make an "economy light" setup. So I figured the less parts I bought was money saved.

Good luck on your build. I hope to see more people doing this. I Have been on here a long time and have kept regular journals. So it will help others to see a documented build and grow as proof of viability. Its already been done but the more people doing it will give a rise in confidence to others.