DIY LED Grow Light Vero 18 (Economy light)

A weller with a station is probably going to be your best bet as a general all around soldering iron.

I have a weller butane, which is hardly ideal for precision work, but nice for using where there's no electricity.

Station based weller is the most reasonably priced option for a good soldering iron system.\

Radio shack irons are shit, although anything that gets really hot will work in a pinch.

I have a couple wellers that are OK. Not the best. Is there a particular model you would recommend?

The all in one pen styles never lasted or really got hot enough for me.

Like church said the Weller with a seperate station works really good. I have ruined a few stars with them because of how much hotter they can get. But I've also ruined stars (solder pad separates from star) from too low a heat and working an area too long. In the end the hotter quicker iron is way way preferred.

I use this and love it. Works like the first time every time.....

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WES51-Analog-Soldering-Station/dp/B000BRC2XU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410479328&sr=8-1&keywords=weller+soldering+iron

But this might be enough at half the price. The separate power supply should at least make it more durable than a all in one.

http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410479328&sr=8-2&keywords=weller+soldering+iron


My pen style Weller lasted maybe two or three extended sessions. Never really got hot enough either.

That first one looks like the ticket! Do you use a clamp to hold your work? Any suggested models?

Mohican said:

That first one looks like the ticket! Do you use a clamp to hold your work? Any suggested models?

Click to expand...

No..no clamps. The pen style allows you to work with things in place.

The only trick is to keep your tip cleaned and tinned. The fresh tin reacts well when you need to make a nice solder. So I use a tip cleaner....could probably just use a wet sponge but that cools the tip. I like this better.....

http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-599B-02-Solder-Cleaning-Holder/dp/B00FZPGDLA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410482573&sr=8-1&keywords=Solder+cleaner

SomeGuy said:

OK.... Apparently I waaaay under estimated the power consumption at the wall on these units. Here are the amps-watts for each:

3 cob bars:
1.6amp. 192w
1.8amp. 216w

4 cob bar:
2.2amps. 262w

Click to expand...

With fans and thats just about right, 3 CXA's at 1.4 amps you draw 37v*3*1.4 =155 just in lighting. Im not sure what the Veros Vf is but its probably close so I think your meter is correct.

Thanks! That looks cool!

Doh... I thought I replied to you mo?!!

Weller station from walmart will do it. They have all the vices and clamps you could want too. Im sure amazon has it too. thin solder works better. If you need some instruction in person let me know! happy to help.

epicfail said:

With fans and thats just about right, 3 CXA's at 1.4 amps you draw 37v*3*1.4 =155 just in lighting. Im not sure what the Veros Vf is but its probably close so I think your meter is correct.

Click to expand...

@epicfail

Thanks for the response. ! Its an old school meter and clamp so not as slick as a new one. After putting this one through some tests I think we need a new one here at work... LOL (I borrowed it to take the reading since mine does not have an amp clamp.)

If that is right then Im impressed... over 600w of led at the plug. It is really bright in there...and the growth is crazy. better than a 600w hps for first week of flower... I guess time is going to tell... as well as a newer meter.. LOL

Pics SG! I was wondering why you were ignoring me hehe

Ill snap some but Ive been waiting for week one to finish. I like to do week by week as the growth is more noticeable that way. Not even ignoring you man. Shits been busy though. AC blower motor went out in the house. so taking care of that shit..LOL.

Shit! In this heat! God's speed

yeah I know. I have a cool landlord. He was out of town. said get it fixed and deduct from rent or wait a couple days. You know what I chose...LOL no ac is NOT an option. This guy has been great though and leaves me the fuck alone.

Ac is fixed!

Tent has no ac. So has gotten hot.out.in the shed. Plants don't seem phased. These temps with hps and there would be some burn.


That's 1 week 12/12

How nicely filled screen!

COMPARISON***

LED tent... This is start of flower, then next pic is the end of 1 week flower. Lights and plants are doing great. Even with the extra heat lately. Sunnay cali


This is the day I flipped:


End of week 1 flower:

i can't believe you're running so much juice in that tent and they
aren't burning. is that a 2x4 tent?

yup 2x4

so you're running close to 75w sq/ft emittance or total system draw?

I think my meter is inaccurate. But still there is about 500-650w of just lighting in the tent. 2x4x5. so 40sqft. at 600w thats 15w per sqft. However.. the lights are probably used in half of that space so its probably 30w or so per sqft in there.