Algood il probably just ride out the summer with my hps grow. Any idea how much u yield off ur led setup @dbrn32 and the size of the led? I dont want to get compromise my usual harvest of just over 2lbs thats off 3x600 hps lights
I ran 300 watts of bridgelux vero 29 previously. It was good for +/- a gram per watt in a 3’x3’ tent. I crashed and burned on a couple, and had 2 that were a little over that. But that’s what I’d say to expect in the hands of a competent hobby grower.
The light I’m currently working on i would probably expect a little more out of under the right conditions. But I’ll be running a quantum board surrounded by 90 cri Cree cobs instead of the vero. Watt for watt, it cost me about double for the components. The benefits are a more horticulture friendly light spectrum and I should get about a 7-10% in light for about the same amount of power consumption. We’ll see, it will be a while before that fixture gets any action.
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It must be a good feeling knowing u built a light thats doing what its supposed to. Is it hard to build a light?
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Sorry to butt in, but I had received a Chinese light and one of the Cobb led drivers was broke. Sent company pics and they sent new light. I bought a new led driver on amazon and fixed the first light they sent me. Now I have 2 led lights 
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Swt score on that. Ive got a cheap chinese 450w with a mother and next cycle clones under they love it what strains u running?
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I don’t feel it’s difficult at all. However, I also work in technical field and have electrical background.
Depending on what you’re trying to accomplish and have access to, it can be as simple as tightening a few screws and making a couple of electrical connections. On the other hand, you can also up the level of difficulty fairly quickly if you want to get really fancy with it.
The quantum boards are about as easy as they come. Can be purchased as a kit that contains everything you need, and put together in about literally 15 minutes. With YouTube instructional videos as well. The downfall here for you is that I believe they’re only available through U.S. from horticulture lighting group. Some of their complete lights may be available for international distribution, but I’m not aware of any particular.
Led strips are very similar to the boards. They’re relatively cheap, easy to get, and have a variety of sizes and layouts. A big benefit here is that you can usually get away with mounting to aluminum bar stock or similar instead of buying expensive heatsinks.
The next best route would be a cob kit from a place like rapid led or timber grow lights. Similar deal, but there’s a lot more parts and accessories. As well as more labor getting together.
From there, you’re looking at sourcing your own individual parts. You usually get out of this what you put into it. Passive pin heatsinks are available all over. You can find them drilled and tapped for specific cobs at a little higher cost. That also cuts down on labor and tools required. Most led’s are now available solderless or with a solderless holder, which is a big benefit to some. This is a good option for those or are generally handy and/or have some fabricating and electrical experience. If you don’t need to buy tools or random miscellaneous items, you can definitely get the cheapest lights this way.
If you decide to try building, there are a few of us here that can help. YouTube is another good resource, or just run “diy led grow light” on a search engine. You will probably be surprised at how many do it.
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Thanx heaps @dbrn32 il get onto some of those youtube vids and let u know what route im going to take
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@Saffa I just got one of these
A freebee from a guy I work with
Seems like a good light he and his partners swear by them Amazon.com
I think I seen them as cheap as 70 bucks but you will need probably 2 or 3 of em not sure though I am just using it to supplement sunlight for my seedlings
Hope this helps
A freebee from a guy I work with
Seems like a good light he and his partners swear by them Amazon.com
I think I seen them as cheap as 70 bucks but you will need probably 2 or 3 of em not sure though I am just using it to supplement sunlight for my seedlings
Hope this helps
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That LED will eventually burn a plant that it’s kept that close to.
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I currently don’t, but I do have a seed bank of my own. I have Amnesia Haze photo, gold leaf photo, and white widow auto, waiting for New York to buckle down for January 2018 requests for the s3040a bills to pass through and legalize in NY for recreational use of cannabis.
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swt its always good to have a seed bank ive got 6 strains in flower and i ended up with 1 male so ive seperated him collected pollen then I pollinated 1 bud on each strain and marked them with a piece of tape so fingers crossed 
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Cool thanks for the info I know nothing of indoor lighting so thanks man much appreciated!
What would be a good distance?
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Where did you find that chart? Does it apply to 3 watt diodes driven to something like 500 ma, which would be like 1.3 watts per diode? Or do you treat it as a 3 watt light because the manufacturer says it has 3 watt diodes?
The only thing that chart applies to as far as my knowledge is “cheapie” LEDs.
Its not a scientific guide, more like a reference.
I’m not going to flash that chart to someone like you that seems to know lights as well as you do. Where I’m going to use it is to simply try and help people understand that this is not going to help them. In fact it could be detrimental.
I see allot of this, When people see a chart, they go “oh, that makes sense, I should raise the light.” When they have someone like you come in and start talking it’s easy for them to say “oh, that guy really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to lights, maybe I should raise the light.”
Then there’s me, I know lights, not like you, but I know that an LED placed 2" above the plant canopy is not going to help it. This chart helps me let somebody know their lights are to close to their plant without having to go and get all detailed with them.
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Ya, I don’t really disagree with what the chart is implying. Or you using it to help others. It just seems like a very generalized chart, that could possibly steer someone in the wrong direction. It’s more of an issue with the way some of the lights are advertised. “1000w, 100 10 watt diodes means very little when each diode is run at 700ma. The output of each 10 watt diode is around 2 watts. It would require each diode to be ran around 3000ma to have a 10 watt output.
Getting off topic, but the same stuff happens regardless of the model or type of led used. The cobs I’m working with right now are 150 watt at max current. But i run them at 1050ma and they come in just under 40 Watts. Therefore I have to treat them as a 40 watt cob, not a 150 watt cob.
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It is very generalized and simple, which is why I think it catches the eye of people that don’t understand the consequences of placing LEDs to close and really the only direction I’m trying to steer them is up 
Up and away from their plants that is. I would never use it to try and get someone to bring their lights closer to their plants
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I can safely say I run my 1200w (6) 200w cob light can be safely 29-1/2” to 36” without burning leaves. A mature plant in flower should be be closer than 24” with my LED
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