@dbrn32
Where do you purchase the parts for a diy panel? How difficult are they to put together?
RapidLED dot com is one. (replace “dot” with a period)
COBkits dot com is another.
I think the RapidLED kits you just screw the COB to the heatsink with some thermal paste under it, and then plug in some cables. VERY easy. They say you just need a screwdriver and a wire stripper.
youtube has a bunch of videos: search for DIY COB LED
or search for those words on google
Your best bet will be to use a Canadian electronics supplier, to avoid any import charges and large shipping costs. Possibly future lighting solutions? I think they have Canadian warehouse, but you can verify or find others.
You can go from fairly easy to pretty complex. Depends on cost and performance you’re looking for. The bridgelux vero se line comes with poke in connectors, and holders that do the same are available for Cree and citizen cobs. That alone will save you some soldering.
To get an in depth idea check YouTube for “diy led grow light videos”. Should give you a pretty good idea of what you’re looking at. It’s not terribly different than wiring up things around your house. There are a few things that are important with selecting components and putting together. But there’s a handful of us here that can help with that.
I actually soldered wires to my Vero29s and it was very easy. I just used a cheapo little iron without fancy heat control or anything. You put the iron on the COB pad and add a little solder so you get a nice bulge. Takes about 1 second. Tin your wire end with a little solder. Then hold the wire end against the COB solder bulge and apply heat with the iron. Again takes about 1 second. Then hold the wire perfectly still and remove the iron. Three more seconds to cool and you are done.
So even if you don’t get the COB connectors, don’t be afraid to solder them. Just be sure they are mounted on the heat sinks before you do it. That does a lot to protect them from heat.
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@dbrn32
How do you figure out true watts of a LED fixture? I have a ufo light stated at 150w. What is it’s true wattage?
Thanks all.
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Prob about 64w
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How do you come up with that number? Is there a formula?
Depending on where it’s sold, you can usually look around the description and find it’s actual power consumption. Where did you buy it?
Another way is to use an item like a kill a watt. You simply plug it into receptacle and then plug whatever appliance you’re looking for power consumption into it. They usually have a digital display that will read out power used as well as some monitoring over time.
If you’re familiar with how to use a multimeter, there are also ways to calculate using them.
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@dbrn32
Purchased it off Amazon
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0755923ZG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_U7NoAbWV4XE3M
Is a kill a watt a type of adapter you can purchase?
I have a multimeter. How would you test using that?
@dbrn32
Was thinking of getting two of these for my 2x4 tent.
1500W COB LED Grow Light Full Spectrum Indoor Plant Grow Lights with UV and IR for Indoor Plants Veg and Flower https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07596FSTQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_4zPoAb91JB8VY
Opinion?
Thanks
You would have to get to exposed wiring when the light is powered up. Please, if you’re not qualified or comfortable doing so, find some help! But Watts are found by multiplying bolts and amps. Getting a voltage measurement is pretty easy, but testing current a little more difficult. Circuit needs to be opened and the test leads installed in series.
The link doesn’t list, but I would guess in the 60-70 watt range as well. The diodes are rated by their voltage at max current. So a 3 watt diode is 3 volts at 1000 ma. The manufacturers like to say they have 50, 3 watt diodes so it’s a 150 watt light. But they don’t drive them at max current, they usually drive them around 30-50% give or take.
You can buy a killawatt meter at harbor freight if there are any in Canada. They’re $27 in the US
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Out of likes, but what @OldSkunk said. They should be available on amazon, or several of the big box stores online too.
As far as the light you linked, it looks like a white led source? If so the specs are horrible at 65 lumens per watt. Even the household led replacement bulbs are usually around 100 lumens per watt.
When you think of the cobs that are the big race in growing, most of them are going to be in the 140-200 lumen per watt range and have a little better production of red wavelengths than that.
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And even worse, “white” LEDs can have one narrow blue peak and one narrow yellow peak, and they look white to us. COBs use much better phosphors so they get a lot of light wavelengths. That’s why everybody who makes grow lights with individual LEDs uses a lot of different colors, not just white.
It’s an artifact of our visual system: Yellow can be a single wavelength or it can be red + green. Both can stimulate our red and green cones exactly the same, so it looks like the same color!
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So I take it that I should not go with those COB lights. Think I’m going to go with the Meizhi 450w. I will purchase one and add two more down the road. Is this sufficient for my 2x4 tent. Like I said I’m trying to get the most bang for the buck while staying in my budget. I will be using my tent mostly for bloom (I think). My goal is to get more then 10-15 grams per plant. That is what I’m getting now under 5 x 23watt CFL’s. My goal is to get at least an ounce per plant with these new lights. Down the road I hope to build or get a half decent COB and another tent. one for veg and one for bloom. I only want 5 plants max going at one time. I want to maintain a steady inventory so I don’t have to visit a dispensary again. Project in progress I guess. So gentlemen am I on the right path? All your advice has been great but a little overwhelming. Let me know your thoughts on the light linked below for my purpose and goals.
I would think two of those would be suitable for a 2x4
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@HJL just my 2 cents but I wouldn’t get the meizhi 450. It’s a decent light but price per watt is too expensive. If you are going to use it for flowering then Mars 600w is your best option in your price range??? You will need 2 of them so $260-280 for the pair. But your yield will be better.
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Good tip! Personally I feel like the mars provides a better light spectrum as well.
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Is this the one you are suggesting?
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Yes sir, that’s the one. It has alot more red spectrum for flowering.
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