Hi everyone ! This being my 2nd post in the last couple months want to say thanks to @dbrn32,@Myfriends410 & others for replying! Again this is my first grow and thought about qb’s but im leaning toward diy with eb gen 2 strips due to the $ right now and im just a redneck mechanic from Nevada cant help it i have to build stuff! i have a 32"×60" grow space, few inches bigger than 2x4 was thinking using 560mm but being 22" dont think they would cover say up to 30" so i figure going with the 1120mm i can space them out to say 30 or 32" if needed. now using (2) hlg185h-c1050b 4 strips per at 40fv would give me roughly 168w x 2 336w at the wall or (2) hlg240h-c1050b 5 strips per 210w x 2 420w wall wired in series, also using 1/8in alum angle for heatsinks or if necessary use 1" heatsink usa profile! i have spent sum time searching info elsewhere but i always end up back at this forum you guys imo are the light guru’s i trust your opinion whole heartedly so that being said am i on the right track here or am i way off base? your thoughts on this matter are highly appreciated! Thanks Again
I used these strips on my build not that long ago and they have been great. I built 2 lights with 2’ strips and put the lights side by side to cover my 3x3. Placed end to end, they would prob cover a 2x4 well, but @dbrn32 would be the guys to ask.
Here is the link to my journal with the build in it. First Journal - From Build To Harvest
Happy Growing!
You would be fine with 560mm, and they will probably fill drivers better. Off top of my head you can fit 11 of the 560mm eb gen2 on hlg-240h-c1050a. Two drivers worth would be solid light for your space.
Have you checked stock? With eb gen3 out I’m thinking the gen2 will start getting kinda scarce.
Ok Thanks, Yes i checked stock going fast gonna order something 2day ! arrow in the 560mm has 4- 3500k 30-3000k & few 5000k, digikey has zilch in 560mm but lots of 1120mm 3500k & 5000k prob going to have to mix & match a few if im to use gen 2 strips! yea while i have been hee hawing around the last couple of weeks they are becoming scarce! ill make a few calls see what i can do if anything. ill keep you posted Thanks
@dbrn32 would it be sufficient if i had to mix a few 5000k & 3000k or 3500k & 5000k ?
@dbrn32 ok just did a little more snooping i can prob get what i need between arrow & digikey just depends on what color seems stock changes by the minute, yesterday when i checked digikey they were on back order till feb now they have 140 3k! ill wait to here from you Thanks
You can mix them if you need to in order to get enough strips. 3000k or 3500k alone both make great grow lights though.
@dbrn32 sounds great! guess it wouldnt hurt to add a few 5k in the mix would it? also you suggest the a over the b version driver, i guess it wouldnt restrict me with the (A) version dont believe i would need to dim below 50% anyways, plus im going to mount drivers outside the space so i would still have adequate access to dim easily enuff if necessary!
@dbrn32 ok gonna lighten the wallet a bit not that it was heavy to begin with but gonna make a hienz 57 light 3k,35k,5k cant hurt i suppose ill get all the flavors lol! just need to know A or B driver is there a significant difference other than get a few more watts from A & dimming from B ? Thanks
oh and going with 10 strips per driver, guess it could handle 11 but dont see the need just keep an even number if that matters !
Yes that’s pretty much the only differences. As far as 10 or 11 strips, just a matter of a little more or less light.
Build your light so that it can be dimmed down. I have gen 1 eb strips with a peak of 240 watts per panel and can run them down to 100 watts and rarely do I go above 200: it’s simply not necessary. I just vegged one plant under that fixture at 100 watts up until it started to get cold and needed the additional heat.
A drivers work great if you can access the top of driver with a phillips head screwdriver. Pick up a kill-a-watt, download the power/photon chart in the technical specs and you can use that as a rough way to determine your proper DLI for the space.
Remember; it didn’t happen if there are no pictures lol…
Thank you for that info been looking for an excuse to get one of those kill a watt meters, thought about it b4 but really didnt know if they were accurate! excuse my ignorance but i searched all over this forum for that chart no luck! i was just happy as a lark just to post something green horn all around ! rememer what u do in vegas stays in vegas, i know i live in Nevada lol Thanks a bunch
yea i kinda was wondering about my space um 400+ watts seems alot but for flower i guess its ok, my light will b used thru veg & flower hoping i make it that far lol i will b starting from seed prob get a t5 for that or dim down like you i suppose, im thinking since ill b using 2 drivers ill make 2 identical lights just use one dimmed for seedlings until i hang the second one when needed!!
I use an old blurple light to start in a starter box with 24/0 lighting. After two weeks I pot up and go into the big boy lights. They are so ridiculously efficient that I was getting dense flower at about 75% rated output or 200 watts X 3 in 24 square feet. That’s a solid 25 watts per square foot—about half of the suggested footprint wattage. Yields were 1.24 grams per watt. Mine are in 3,000K 80 CRI. I would look on the website you order from under the technical specifications for the lights you choose.
400ish watts of eb strips is about right for 12.5 ft².
Happy New Year to everyone! I hope everybody survived “Amateur Night” atleast thats what i call New Years Eve! @dbrn32 @myfriendis410 Thanks for all your input i truly appreciate it, i can tell you guys & others have a real passion 4 what u do and your knowledge & willingness 2 help others is truly “PRICELESS” !! Time 2 quit procrastinating & get busy growing! ill keep u posted on my progress an what i ordered for lights, i never make any New Years resolutions cuz i never follow thru but this will b an exception, i did receive my ILGM GSCE seeds last week was a little skeptical about how i had 2 purchase them but all is good in blarney world lol, if this pans out i will b ordering more of a variety. Big Thanks again !!
Ya, when the amatuer drinkers go out haha. Rare to catch me out and about around holidays. Not unless I’m staying anyway.
@dbrn32 yeppers cant say i was never one of those amateurs many moons ago lol, but my liver said no more of that fun! now ill work on my lungs! anywho as luck would have it i was gifted a new light 2day free99 best kind, from a friend who decided growing was not his forte its a amazon/chinese roleadro 600w prob about 130ish @wall white light 3500k nothing fancy thinking just use this 2 get my seeds started until my lights are built. so what height would you suggest i hang it above them? Thanks again for your time
I’ve never seen that light in person, maybe 24"? Then just watch what seedlings tell you.