Newbie looking for help please

WillieP

Well-Known Member
Let me start with a little background.
I have access to 100 watt LED street light drivers that have been replaced under warranty. (issue was with some of the LED arrays, not the drivers)
I would like to use these to build a COB 2700K light to supplement the original light arrays that is 5000k. The drivers have three different current levels to select from: 350ma, 530ma and 700ma. The maximum voltage out is 140 vdc.
I plan on using a 24x48x72 inch grow tent and I am planning on building 2 lights (one using the original 5000K light array and one using the 2700K COB's) to individually cover each 24x24 inch area. (2 plants)
So the plan for the COB build is to use 4, Bridgelux Vero 13 SE's. These are a 34.1v chip, with a max current of 1.26 amps. The test current is 630ma, and I would like to overdrive them at the 700ma output of the driver. All four wired is series for a total of 136.4v, still under the max voltage of the driver.

One of my concerns if what type of heatsink to use. The current plan is to use 18 inches of 1.813 inch heatsink from Heatsink USA.
(I can't post a link on my first post)

Having never built a COB light, I am planning on using a 40 mm x 10mm 12 vdc case fan mounted on the heatsink at the location of each COB mounted 5 inches apart, for active cooling. I do not know if this is necessary, but for the cost of 4 - $1.67 fans and power supply, I thought it seemed like a good idea.

34.1 v X .700 ma = 23.87 watts 23.87 X 4 = 95.48 watts from the wall.
Cost is:
Vero 13 SE's $5.67 X 4 = $22.68
Heatsink $14.04
40 mm fan $1.67 X 4 =$06.68
12 v power supply $10.00
Driver FREE
Total $53.40

If those more experienced growers/builds would please chime in on this plan, it would be most appreciated.

Also, as I am a total Newb, what type of grows can I anticipate from a 24x48 with 2) 100 watt 2700K and 2) 100 watt 5000K lights?
The current plan is DWC/bubbleponics in 5 gallon buckets, perhaps with 5 gallon secondary reservoirs for ease of water changes and additional water volume.
I hope to use a SCROG setup.
I understand that this is a loaded question, I'm not asking how many grams I can count on. I'm asking if the amount of light per square foot is appropriate for growing two plants in bubbleponics.

I originally post this on another forum, with no assistance. Hoping for more love here.
Since then, I am considering buying a 60 x 60 x 80 tent. Starting with the same lighting, but having room to move around and expand in the future if needed.

Many thanks,
WillieP
 

TrippleDip

Well-Known Member
Do I need a fan for the heatsink?
Watch the growmaus videos, he explains it well. Something like if you have less than 16W of heating (30W of leds) per square inch of heatsink then you don't need a fan. I am probably wrong on the numbers so watch the video.

Is light sufficient and how much?
Have 400w in a 2x4, so imo yes. Newbie grower starting around 2oz for 2 plants, now at 6oz (and 5 oz popcorn) for 2 plants. Think there's still lots of room for improvement.

Edit to say that I'm using soilless in 5 gal and it's super easy. I know one person who's had several floods trying to automate things.
 
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WillieP

Well-Known Member
Tripple, thanks for the heads up.
Are the videos you're talking about on YouTube?
(Sorry if that sounds dumb, just trying to learn)
WillieP
 

TrippleDip

Well-Known Member
Tripple, thanks for the heads up.
Are the videos you're talking about on YouTube?
(Sorry if that sounds dumb, just trying to learn)
WillieP
Yeah, he has a channel growmau5 on youtube. The series I'm thinking of is "diy led basics". It's 16 square inches per watt of disipation I think, up to 9 with a fan.
 

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
Look into some Bridgelux EB series 560mm strip builds. I run them up to 1a without any heatsink whatsoever.
I built exactly one COB fixture, basically with exactly what you are describing, then the EBs were brought to my attention, and I've been having fabulous results with every build I use them for.
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
Look into some Bridgelux EB series 560mm strip builds. I run them up to 1a without any heatsink whatsoever.
I built exactly one COB fixture, basically with exactly what you are describing, then the EBs were brought to my attention, and I've been having fabulous results with every build I use them for.
Chip Green,
Thanks Man. I will definitely check those out.
WillieP
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
Yeah, he has a channel growmau5 on youtube. The series I'm thinking of is "diy led basics". It's 16 square inches per watt of disipation I think, up to 9 with a fan.
Wow, just caught that video you recommended. That was an excellent explanation of what is needed.
Again many thanks.
WillieP
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
Hey all,
Looking for some input here.

I've been reading, and reading and reading. The more I read, the more the questions I have.
If you read the first post in this thread, you can see the original intent was to add some 2700k to supplement the 5000k lights that I can hang for free. (Salvaged street lights) Free is Good.
The COB set up will require heatsinks, passive or active, either one is still and added cost of setup.
The Bridgelux EB series, that were suggested above, if ran at 700 ma, would not require heatsinks. (Bonus!) But, is there an issue with running to different types of light when it comes to distance from canopy? (remember, I have ZERO experience, total Newb)
Then I had the thought, do I really need anything but the 5000k lighting? I can crank out 600-1000 watts (at the wall) (not BS sales tactic numbers) of 5000k lighting at the cost of just building the framework to hang them. I understand that the 5000k lights would be fine for veg, but I don't know about flower.
So if you could hang 5000k lights dirt cheap, what would you do?
Add some 2700k COB's??
Add some 3000k strips??
Add some red chips to supplement the 5000k??
Run the 5000k in the veg tent, and set up a separate flower tent with the 2700 COB/3000k strips??

FYI, the state I live in will not be legal till Jan 1, 2020. There will be a 5 plant maximum. I had originally thought of setting up one 5X5 tent for the whole run. But I could set up two smaller tents, one veg, and one flower. I would like to flower two large plants at a time in SCROG, so maybe 4 week veg and 8 week flower.

Again, I would appreciate your input,
WillieP
 

TrippleDip

Well-Known Member
is there an issue with running to different types of light when it comes to distance from canopy?
nope

do I really need anything but the 5000k lighting?
nope, having bluer lighting (lower K) in veg will result in tighter node spacing or so they say, personally if I want it to stretch more I jusy raise the lights.

if you could hang 5000k lights dirt cheap, what would you do?
I would use the 5000k for flower and a mix of 5000k and 2700k for veg but mostly the 5000k if they are so cheap. You can always upgrade later. Fyi the fixtures were the most expensive part of my home made lights.

I had originally thought of setting up one 5X5 tent for the whole run. But I could set up two smaller tents, one veg, and one flower. I would like to flower two large plants at a time in SCROG, so maybe 4 week veg and 8 week flower.
Consider keeping your veg plants outside of a tent, takes up much less space. I use a 2x4 for two plants flower and two plants veg right beside it. It takes a full 8 week veg for me to turn each plant into a 4' high bush that takes up half the tent so it works out well flipping from veg to flower when the flowering plants are harvested.
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
nope


nope, having bluer lighting (lower K) in veg will result in tighter node spacing or so they say, personally if I want it to stretch more I jusy raise the lights.


I would use the 5000k for flower and a mix of 5000k and 2700k for veg but mostly the 5000k if they are so cheap. You can always upgrade later. Fyi the fixtures were the most expensive part of my home made lights.


Consider keeping your veg plants outside of a tent, takes up much less space. I use a 2x4 for two plants flower and two plants veg right beside it. It takes a full 8 week veg for me to turn each plant into a 4' high bush that takes up half the tent so it works out well flipping from veg to flower when the flowering plants are harvested.
Tripple,
Thanks for your input!
So you think I won't have any problems in flower if I just use the 5000k lighting all the way through? That's my cheapest route for lighting on this initial setup.
I understood that you could use the 'more blue' temps in veg to make the plant bushier, but I thought you needed 'more red' temps when flowering? Like when using HID lighting, Metal Halide for veg, and HPS for flowering.
But I'm clueless...
WillieP
 

TrippleDip

Well-Known Member
Tripple,
Thanks for your input!
So you think I won't have any problems in flower if I just use the 5000k lighting all the way through? That's my cheapest route for lighting on this initial setup.
I understood that you could use the 'more blue' temps in veg to make the plant bushier, but I thought you needed 'more red' temps when flowering? Like when using HID lighting, Metal Halide for veg, and HPS for flowering.
But I'm clueless...
WillieP
I think you got it. I got mixed up in the previous post. I think you will be fine with 5000k all the way through, maybe add some 2700k in flower for balance but most white lights have light output across the spectrum.

QB288_388_spectrum_f1e0bead-0378-43d5-a6ef-37358cf1ed42_grande_1.jpg

If you want the plants to stretch less in flower, lowering the lights might be an alternative to adding blue lights.
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
I think you got it. I got mixed up in the previous post. I think you will be fine with 5000k all the way through, maybe add some 2700k in flower for balance but most white lights have light output across the spectrum.

View attachment 4382061

If you want the plants to stretch less in flower, lowering the lights might be an alternative to adding blue lights.
Tripple,
Thanks again for your info.
I think I'm going to try the 5000k all the way through for the first run and see if the flower comes out OK.

WillieP
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
I think those plants will be stretchy as fuck
ANC----I say again...
So if you could hang 5000k lights dirt cheap, what would you do?
Add some 2700k COB's??
Add some 3000k strips??
Add some red chips to supplement the 5000k??
Run the 5000k in the veg tent, and set up a separate flower tent with the 2700 COB/3000k strips??

Talk to me Man!
WillieP
 

ANC

Well-Known Member
I only use high K lighting at the end of flower (where other people do the blackout thing), so my input would be a clever guess at best.
 

WillieP

Well-Known Member
Look into some Bridgelux EB series 560mm strip builds. I run them up to 1a without any heatsink whatsoever.
I built exactly one COB fixture, basically with exactly what you are describing, then the EBs were brought to my attention, and I've been having fabulous results with every build I use them for.
Chip Green
Thanks for the heads up on the EB series!
I've read all I can find on them.
That looks like the ticket for me. The heatsinks and the cooling of the COB's I had picked out was going to add to the cost of this setup. Simply unnecessary with those strips at the amperage I would be running at. (700 ma)

To All,
I sorta asked this earlier, but let me be more specific. If you could throw together 5000k lighting dirt cheap, like drivers and LED modules for free kinda cheap. But wanted to add some warmer temp lighting to the mix, would you:
A) Add 3500k EB Series Gen 2 strips to the same tent and make it a veg and flower area?
If so, what ratio of 5000k to 3500k would you want to use?
B) Use separate areas for veg and flower, with the 5000k in the veg; and the 3500k in the flower?
C) Use a smaller area for veg with 5000k and use a larger area for flower with a mix of 5000k and 3500k?

FYI. I would like to flower 2 large plant at a time in SCROG.
The drivers are kinda dimmable, they have a .35 amp, a .53 amp and a .70 amp outputs. CC with a max voltage of 140 vdc.
If I use a mixed CCT of lights, I feel it would be best to put the 5000k and the 3500k on separate drivers. That way I could tweek the ratio of 5000k to 3500k.

Looking for some nuggets of wisdom here.
Talk to me Goose...
Thanks,
WillieP
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
To All,
I sorta asked this earlier, but let me be more specific. If you could throw together 5000k lighting dirt cheap, like drivers and LED modules for free kinda cheap. But wanted to add some warmer temp lighting to the mix, would you:
A) Add 3500k EB Series Gen 2 strips to the same tent and make it a veg and flower area?
If so, what ratio of 5000k to 3500k would you want to use?
B) Use separate areas for veg and flower, with the 5000k in the veg; and the 3500k in the flower?
C) Use a smaller area for veg with 5000k and use a larger area for flower with a mix of 5000k and 3500k?
A) 100% 3500k is good for veg and flower. For a 2 x 4, I'd use three drivers and the 560mm strips, 7 per driver.


The Bridgelux EB series, that were suggested above, if ran at 700 ma, would not require heatsinks. (Bonus!) But, is there an issue with running to different types of light when it comes to distance from canopy? (remember, I have ZERO experience, total Newb)
I have run EB Gen-2 within 4" of the canopy, COBs need more like 18". 30-35 watts/ft. is good for flowering with efficient LED like EB Gen-2.
 
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