Seeking Help - Building Custom-Designed DIY LED Grow Lights using CREE CXA3070 COBs

$114 Active Eye Quantum PAR Meter on sale right now at Horticulture Source.

Unfortunately they called me and said they won't actually be getting them till April. So I'm cancelling my order and buying the Apogee sensor. Should be able to use it with the multimeter I just bought.

G, there's a lot of potential with Galactica with the chip spacing you have. It will
be interesting to see what you're chip additions might be in the future. Good work!

Update from the Battlestar:



They've actually swelled up quite a bit since going 100% COB. I'm already convinced of the Ganjatica's efficacy. Can't wait to do a full run with it.

Lookin good how many weeks?

~5 weeks old. Hoping I get more swell before hairs start turning. No purple this time so far. Maybe not enough red light to bring it out?

LIKE!

Gaius said:

~5 weeks old. Hoping I get more swell before hairs start turning. No purple this time so far. Maybe not enough red light to bring it out?

Click to expand...

Sweet build, the way you have the COB's spaced out is the same way I space my lady's on my 3x4 flood table so I may copy your design. I was looking at buying A51 or Apache but after reading this thread and Supra's I've decided to go DIY. Thanks for the motivation and idea!

It's a lot easier than you'd think. I knew nothing of LED a month ago. So far the Battlestar is ROCKING!

Just out of curiosity I tried using the external hard drive power supply with the fan controller and six of the new CPU fans. Worked perfectly! Ran it for a few hours and the thing didn't even get warm.

Pretty nice little fan driver for $10, and no soldering necessary.[/QUOTE]

Hey gaius, been following this tread.
As a matter of fact , i bought sevrel cxa-3070 too.
I am not https://www.google.ca/search?client=ubuntu&hs=I44&channel=fs&q=electrician&spell=1&sa=X&ei=tZcQU8yVDImayQHe6YDwCA&ved=0CCEQvwUoAAelectricain (and bad at DIY stuff) so im taking it slow.
i bought one pc fan(for now), the same one you got.
And i just received the led driver.
This one :
http://www.satisled.com/30w-40w-50w-adjustable-round-led-driver-ac85265v-input-dc3136v1500ma-dc12v-twoway-output_p1539.html
SupraSPL recomended that in some post.
But it didnt have DC12V Output like there should be according to the picture. And i was counting on that.
i was wondering if i could use a fan hub like you did, with one pc fan.
So that later on, when i'll get more pc fans i could connect them to the hub, if i'll need to.
Do you think this one should work with this pc fan
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21000/ele-1197/4-Pin_Molex_SATA_Power_Distribution_PCB_8x_PWM_2x_4-pin_Block_MMT-PCB-4-8P2M1S.html?tl=g34c17s424

shadowfigure said:

Hey gaius, been following this tread.
As a matter of fact , i bought sevrel cxa-3070 too.
I am not electricain (and bad at DIY stuff) so im taking it slow.
i bought one pc fan(for now), the same one you got.
And i just received the led driver.
This one :
http://www.satisled.com/30w-40w-50w-adjustable-round-led-driver-ac85265v-input-dc3136v1500ma-dc12v-twoway-output_p1539.html
SupraSPL recomended that in some post.
But it didnt have DC12V Output like there should be according to the picture. And i was counting on that.
i was wondering if i could use a fan hub like you did, with one pc fan.
So that later on, when i'll get more pc fans i could connect them to the hub, if i'll need to.
Do you think this one should work with this pc fan
http://www.frozencpu.com/products/21000/ele-1197/4-Pin_Molex_SATA_Power_Distribution_PCB_8x_PWM_2x_4-pin_Block_MMT-PCB-4-8P2M1S.html?tl=g34c17s424

Click to expand...

I have higher power version of that driver - it does indeed have 12V out but you have to solder wires to the PCB board as they did not include the header/plug like in the picture. It's a pain, but it's possible to do.

Keep in mind that driver's 12V output barely runs a PC cooling fan. Supra tested them out and some fans wouldn't even spin up. For a plug'n'play option I'd highly recommend buying one of those 12V external power supplies from frys, then using that distributor, or a basic molex fan adapter (often comes with the fan) if you are only doing 1 fan. If only a couple fans, Fry's also sells Molex Y-splitters for like $2.

I think that might have been caretak3r that bought and tested one. I was thinking about getting the 3A dimmable one for a photography lamp but havent got to that project yet.

Any updates Gaius?

Things still chugging along nicely. Little more swell each day. Looking like I'll pull over 2oz per plant.

More pics as they get closer to chop.

Can't wait to do a full run with just the new light!

Cool, Keep us posted!

tallen said:

Cool, Keep us posted!

Click to expand...

Agreed! Very excited to see the COBS on there own. Would you say with the cool and warm colors you get more leaf matter? Also what plants are you running? Indica/Sativa?

Just prior to flush now...

Gaius, very nice build! How did you attach the Artic heat sink to the rails? It looks like you used screws, but how did you screw into the little fins of the heat sink? Also, did you end up using the thermal adhesive or did you just use the adhesive that was already present on the heat sink to attach the COB? Thanks

Would you mind doing a macro Gaius. I'd love to see the frost under these cobs!

Final Update Here
Please refer any further comments to that thread.

Thanks again folks!
~Gaius