Testing HLG's far red light

Thegermling

Thegermling

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, I got these 730nm boards to test by HLG and I told them I would create a journal once I started to use them. I got interested in these far red leds specifically for the fact that some growers on here (in the far red thread) have knocked off up to a week in their flowering cycle and that means they get to harvest faster. Thanks to fellow grower @Randomblame for giving me the specific times the boards should be on and @Stephenj37826 for giving me all the info too.
I will be running the main lights on at 11hrs and 55 min plus 5 min of the far red leds after lights off for now because im in the party cup challenge as well.
I have a las vegas triangle kush in the flowering tent that looks like it has well over three weeks left of flowering. I threw in an adub plant to test this far red light (the flowering times of adub are 9-10 weeks from what ive read online). Plus the seeds I started for the party cup challenge so well see all the changes.
Here are the 3 far red boards...
IMG_1722.JPG IMG_1723.JPG IMG_1724.JPG
As you can see I macgyvered the boards onto my main light for now (talk about a fire hazard). I plan on buying some aluminum strips to add them to my light properly soon. I had started the seeds for the party cup challenge and these boards arrived the next day so I had to add them quick.
Heres the circuitry that controls these far red boards...
IMG_1729.JPG
The threshold knob adjusts the photocells sensitivity to light. The time adjust knob is the time adjustment after lights off. If anyone else gets these boards or is currently testing them then the times are as follows (I had to time each "bar" there are a total of 11 if you zoom in and count the bars), the 1st bar is 1 minute 57 seconds, 2nd is 2 min 7 sec, 3rd is 2 min 30 sec, 4th is 3 min 4 sec, 5th is 3 min 25 sec, 6th is 3 min 51 sec, 7th bar is 4 min 20 sec, 8th is 4 min 55 sec, 9th is 5 min 22 sec, 10th is 5 min 55 sec, and the final 11th bar is 5 min 59 sec. These times might be off 1 or 2 seconds and make sure they are aligned evenly too!
Heres a few pics of them on...
IMG_1730.JPG
Looking at this pic I can see the far left boards light is a bit obscured so I went back and adjusted it. Lvtk on the left of above pic. IMG_1731.JPG
I went back and cut some of that string too.
Other test plants, adub...
IMG_1732.JPG and party cup challenge seedlings
IMG_1733.JPG
Ok thats all I have for now. I plan on updating weekly or if there are drastic changes soon. Maybe Randomblame and stephen can help me with the light schedule a bit more. I have the 3 boards so I think 5 min would be way too much randomblame dont you think? I have it set up at the 4rth bar so thats 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Is that still too much random? Any help is appreciated guys!
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Just over 5mins is the longest setting for it to stay on after lights out?
Thegermling said:
Hey guys, I got these 730nm boards to test by HLG and I told them I would create a journal once I started to use them. I got interested in these far red leds specifically for the fact that some growers on here (in the far red thread) have knocked off up to a week in their flowering cycle and that means they get to harvest faster. Thanks to fellow grower @Randomblame for giving me the specific times the boards should be on and @Stephenj37826 for giving me all the info too.
I will be running the main lights on at 11hrs and 55 min plus 5 min of the far red leds after lights off for now because im in the party cup challenge as well.
I have a las vegas triangle kush in the flowering tent that looks like it has well over three weeks left of flowering. I threw in an adub plant to test this far red light (the flowering times of adub are 9-10 weeks from what ive read online). Plus the seeds I started for the party cup challenge so well see all the changes.
Here are the 3 far red boards...
View attachment 4268090 View attachment 4268094 View attachment 4268097
As you can see I macgyvered the boards onto my main light for now (talk about a fire hazard). I plan on buying some aluminum strips to add them to my light properly soon. I had started the seeds for the party cup challenge and these boards arrived the next day so I had to add them quick.
Heres the circuitry that controls these far red boards...
View attachment 4268101
The threshold knob adjusts the photocells sensitivity to light. The time adjust knob is the time adjustment after lights off. If anyone else gets these boards or is currently testing them then the times are as follows (I had to time each "bar" there are a total of 11 if you zoom in and count the bars), the 1st bar is 1 minute 57 seconds, 2nd is 2 min 7 sec, 3rd is 2 min 30 sec, 4th is 3 min 4 sec, 5th is 3 min 25 sec, 6th is 3 min 51 sec, 7th bar is 4 min 20 sec, 8th is 4 min 55 sec, 9th is 5 min 22 sec, 10th is 5 min 55 sec, and the final 11th bar is 5 min 59 sec. These times might be off 1 or 2 seconds and make sure they are aligned evenly too!
Heres a few pics of them on...
View attachment 4268103
Looking at this pic I can see the far left boards light is a bit obscured so I went back and adjusted it. Lvtk on the left of above pic. View attachment 4268104
I went back and cut some of that string too.
Other test plants, adub...
View attachment 4268110 and party cup challenge seedlings
View attachment 4268115
Ok thats all I have for now. I plan on updating weekly or if there are drastic changes soon. Maybe Randomblame and stephen can help me with the light schedule a bit more. I have the 3 boards so I think 5 min would be way too much randomblame dont you think? I have it set up at the 4rth bar so thats 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Is that still too much random? Any help is appreciated guys!
Click to expand...
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Thegermling said:
Hey guys, I got these 730nm boards to test by HLG and I told them I would create a journal once I started to use them. I got interested in these far red leds specifically for the fact that some growers on here (in the far red thread) have knocked off up to a week in their flowering cycle and that means they get to harvest faster. Thanks to fellow grower @Randomblame for giving me the specific times the boards should be on and @Stephenj37826 for giving me all the info too.
I will be running the main lights on at 11hrs and 55 min plus 5 min of the far red leds after lights off for now because im in the party cup challenge as well.
I have a las vegas triangle kush in the flowering tent that looks like it has well over three weeks left of flowering. I threw in an adub plant to test this far red light (the flowering times of adub are 9-10 weeks from what ive read online). Plus the seeds I started for the party cup challenge so well see all the changes.
Here are the 3 far red boards...
View attachment 4268090 View attachment 4268094 View attachment 4268097
As you can see I macgyvered the boards onto my main light for now (talk about a fire hazard). I plan on buying some aluminum strips to add them to my light properly soon. I had started the seeds for the party cup challenge and these boards arrived the next day so I had to add them quick.
Heres the circuitry that controls these far red boards...
View attachment 4268101
The threshold knob adjusts the photocells sensitivity to light. The time adjust knob is the time adjustment after lights off. If anyone else gets these boards or is currently testing them then the times are as follows (I had to time each "bar" there are a total of 11 if you zoom in and count the bars), the 1st bar is 1 minute 57 seconds, 2nd is 2 min 7 sec, 3rd is 2 min 30 sec, 4th is 3 min 4 sec, 5th is 3 min 25 sec, 6th is 3 min 51 sec, 7th bar is 4 min 20 sec, 8th is 4 min 55 sec, 9th is 5 min 22 sec, 10th is 5 min 55 sec, and the final 11th bar is 5 min 59 sec. These times might be off 1 or 2 seconds and make sure they are aligned evenly too!
Heres a few pics of them on...
View attachment 4268103
Looking at this pic I can see the far left boards light is a bit obscured so I went back and adjusted it. Lvtk on the left of above pic. View attachment 4268104
I went back and cut some of that string too.
Other test plants, adub...
View attachment 4268110 and party cup challenge seedlings
View attachment 4268115
Ok thats all I have for now. I plan on updating weekly or if there are drastic changes soon. Maybe Randomblame and stephen can help me with the light schedule a bit more. I have the 3 boards so I think 5 min would be way too much randomblame dont you think? I have it set up at the 4rth bar so thats 3 minutes and 4 seconds. Is that still too much random? Any help is appreciated guys!
Click to expand...
Yeah, nice little boards, brother T.
Althrough I don't like the driver boards very much, they work and do what they are made for. But it's unfortunately impossible to use the far-red for the whole day +2-6minutes without manipulation.
But yeah, thats my opinion...
With 4 boards inside a 4x 4' area I would start with 2-3 minutes far red treatments and when the stretch is done I would increase to 5-6 minutes.
Far-red EoD treatment cause some additional stretch and with this rule you can keep the stretch low to almost normal. Its slightly different from strain to strain. I've also used it to increase the stretch for instance with mostly indika genetics.
Because plants use far-red also to identify their sourrounding competitors it can be used to communicate with the plants and tell them how to behave. For this reason I don't like the driver boards cuz it cuts a few possibilities of these far-red strips.
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
To get a few numbers we need to do some math..

With 3 diodes running at 1000mA each boards should have ~7,2-7,5w, right...?(3x 2,4-2,5v x 1A= 7,2-7,5w )
This means 4 boards would have 28,8-30w which is pretty much for a far-red flower-trigger.

Let's say the diodes reach ~35% efficiency with 1A max current this means 10-10,5PAR/w. Far-red has a QER of ~6μMol/J so you have 60-63μMol/s PPF with 4 boards. ~15-15,75w per board!
Inside a 4x 4‘ tent it would be 60μMols : 1,44m² = 41,66 - ~20% wall and distance loss = 33,33μMol/s/m². So I would simply calculate with 35μMol/s/m².
Thats already a lot cuz one need 2000-4000μmols for EoD treatment and means in only 1 minute you already have +2000μmols and in 2 mins you get already +4000. So 1-2mins should be already enough unless you dimm the LDD down but I believe there is no built-in PWM dimmer.
So 1minute at the beginning and and 2-5 minutes when the stretch is almost done! I thought at first they would use 600mA LDD's but on this boards it is a 1000mA one.
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
4x4 should set you back about $650
I'd look for something on an HLG600 as it is the most efficient Meanwell and has the most features, like remote on etc. It can realistically drive the better LEDs to circa 100000 lm, which is a bit better than the typical 140 to 150 lm/W we see off a new 600W HPS.
 
ChronicWonders.

ChronicWonders.

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
4x4 should set you back about $650
I'd look for something on an HLG600 as it is the most efficient Meanwell and has the most features, like remote on etc. It can realistically drive the better LEDs to circa 100000 lm, which is a bit better than the typical 140 to 150 lm/W we see off a new 600W HPS.
Click to expand...
I have a 600, I was referring to the supplemental lighting. I gifted away all my 1k HPS 10 years ago when I got out of indoor growing. I regret it now, but at the time would have rather seen them being used. Cheers.
 
Thegermling

Thegermling

Well-Known Member
Randomblame said:
To get a few numbers we need to do some math..

With 3 diodes running at 1000mA each boards should have ~7,2-7,5w, right...?(3x 2,4-2,5v x 1A= 7,2-7,5w )
This means 4 boards would have 28,8-30w which is pretty much for a far-red flower-trigger.

Let's say the diodes reach ~35% efficiency with 1A max current this means 10-10,5PAR/w. Far-red has a QER of ~6μMol/J so you have 60-63μMol/s PPF with 4 boards. ~15-15,75w per board!
Inside a 4x 4‘ tent it would be 60μMols : 1,44m² = 41,66 - ~20% wall and distance loss = 33,33μMol/s/m². So I would simply calculate with 35μMol/s/m².
Thats already a lot cuz one need 2000-4000μmols for EoD treatment and means in only 1 minute you already have +2000μmols and in 2 mins you get already +4000. So 1-2mins should be already enough unless you dimm the LDD down but I believe there is no built-in PWM dimmer.
So 1minute at the beginning and and 2-5 minutes when the stretch is almost done! I thought at first they would use 600mA LDD's but on this boards it is a 1000mA one.
Click to expand...
So are you saying Id need a 4th board because I only got 3.
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Thegermling said:
So are you saying Id need a 4th board because I only got 3.
Click to expand...
Nope! You can also use 3. I've only used 4 for better coverage! Its a bit tricky to cover a squared area evenly with only three 1ft strips. Efficiency and μMols per module stays the same so the math is pretty easy. ~27-28μMol/s/m² instead of 35 on a 4x 4' area and 1,5-3 minutes to get 2000-4000μmols.
 
Thegermling

Thegermling

Well-Known Member
Randomblame said:
Nope! You can also use 3. I've only used 4 for better coverage! Its a bit tricky to cover a squared area evenly with only three 1ft strips. Efficiency and μMols per module stays the same so the math is pretty easy. ~27-28μMol/s/m² instead of 35 on a 4x 4' area and 1,5-3 minutes to get 2000-4000μmols.
Click to expand...
So 1 min of these lights on during transition (stretch) then at about the last week of stretch leave them on for 2-5 minutes? I wanted to ask you how you do all the math for the usage/application rates because im kind of lost on this post you posted
Randomblame said:
With 3 diodes running at 1000mA each boards should have ~7,2-7,5w, right...?(3x 2,4-2,5v x 1A= 7,2-7,5w )
Click to expand...
For example whats the "~7,2-7, 5w" mean LOL. The 3 (is the boards right) x whats 2, 4-2, 5v X 1A (is the driver) part? Whats QER too? Its probably too much explaining huh? I appreciate if you can elaborate on this so any other growers watching this can understand, like me!
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
Okay! As usual, I will try my best!
vF of a far-red diode is 1,9v@350mA, 2,2-2,3@700 and 2,4-2,5v@1000mA(±0,1v depending on manufacturer).
Each of these little boards has 3 diode so 3x 2,4-2,5v = 7,2-7,5watt per board.
1A(ampere) is the constant current you get out of the LDD driver on the circuit board.
And QER is the quantum efficiency of the given LED color or spectrum, in this case far-red or 730nm.
1w Deep-red (650-670nm) has for instance 5,5μMols and white LED's have between 4,6 and 5,1 depending on spectrum and CRI. There is a way to calculate those numbers.
If you're interested type 'the math behind' in the search engine and tap 'enter'.
 
grotbags

grotbags

Well-Known Member
Thegermling said:
So 1 min of these lights on during transition (stretch) then at about the last week of stretch leave them on for 2-5 minutes? I wanted to ask you how you do all the math for the usage/application rates because im kind of lost on this post you posted
Click to expand...
no your mixed up, you should run the far red for the full 12 hours of the ON period and then for 2-5min after lights out.
the only time you should think about not running the far red is for the first two weeks of 12/12 because the extra red can cause unwanted stretch unless like random said you had a real short tight growing plant and you wouldn't mind a bit of extra stretch.

please someone correct me if im wrong, im new here and have been reading up as i am wanting to build my first LED flowering light.
 
Thegermling

Thegermling

Well-Known Member
grotbags said:
no your mixed up, you should run the far red for the full 12 hours of the ON period and then for 2-5min after lights out.
the only time you should think about not running the far red is for the first two weeks of 12/12 because the extra red can cause unwanted stretch unless like random said you had a real short tight growing plant and you wouldn't mind a bit of extra stretch.

please someone correct me if im wrong, im new here and have been reading up as i am wanting to build my first LED flowering light.
Click to expand...
No way. I think youre thinking about the emerson effect or something. The 2-5 min of only far red after lights out is to put them to sleep faster.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top