Lighting DIY LED Grow lights

[pop22]

I've begun a project that I've wanted to do for a very long time. Build my own LED grow light! I've spent months doing research. A big thanks to SAG for his LED Light series! Most informative!

https://www.reddit.com/r/HandsOnCom...hd/sags_plant_lighting_guide_linked_together/

This is going to be a project that takes some time and expense. I'm starting with some cheap, Chinese 100 watt LEDs, 2 warm white ( 3000K ) and one Royal Blue. I also have a 100 watt LED driver. I have several processor heantsinks around so I'll mount them on those for now.
Need some tools I don't have so that's next on the shopping list.
after testing and building with these generic LEDs, I plant to build a full grow light using the best CREE LEDs I can get, likely the 3590s.

here's pics of the parts:

 

[lost360]

I been thinking about this please keep it updated

 

[Gabro]

Over my country (BR) growing leds are expensive as hell...

And also rare to find... and I dont like buying online for I feel like compromising my stealthness.

So i'd rather attempt to make my own rather than purchase one.

Plus... you might assemble all circuits in the shape and the size you need, to achieve optimum illumination.

Unfortunatelly I dont have such skills... yet.

Are you willing to teach us the way?

 

[pop22]

That's the purpose of this thread, so that we can learn together! My electronics skills are a bit rusty so anyone seeing that I do something wrong, shout it out here!
Hoping to get the tools I need today, soldering station, etc.

Over my country (BR) growing leds are expensive as hell...

And also rare to find... and I dont like buying online for I feel like compromising my stealthness.

So i'd rather attempt to make my own rather than purchase one.

Plus... you might assemble all circuits in the shape and the size you need, to achieve optimum illumination.

Unfortunatelly I dont have such skills... yet.

Are you willing to teach us the way?

 

[guerilla]

Do it then give us plans an sources. I curious myself as to its feasibility. Go pops.

 

[Xagor]

Running these 100W Leds with 100W is not the best idea. They will degrade quite quickly. Using a 30W driver would be nicer, its only like 6$ or somethin. Or 50W driver.
Do you have a luxmeter or something like that?
With a luxmeter you could compare the output to what its like in a month/ track degradation, as you already bought that driver.

If you dont know this one, you might find it interesting:
https://www.orchidsforum.com/threads/amazing-cree-cxa3070-led.13309/
Notice the table, fc per ledW. And he used middle bin, "old" cxa and 3070.
CXB, best bin, 3590 will be again about 40% better than even that...its insane

Have fun with your experiment.

2 years ago I build a growlight with those 100W chinese leds too (+red cobs). It did okay.
Now im using them, 4 pieces in parallel on a 20W driver (each at 5W) at the window sill for veggies as a supplement.

 

[pop22]

I'm going to run two, 100 watt chips of the 100 watt driver.

I saw one fellow built a light using CXA 2530 chips. Total wattage for his light was 285. He pulled down 475 grams giving 1.67 grams per watt! He used mostly 4000K chips as they were on sale. I think he had 2, 10watt red also.

So yes, my plan is to use good chips under driven. I'm going to invest in a lux meter as I'll be sticking with white leds.

Running these 100W Leds with 100W is not the best idea. They will degrade quite quickly. Using a 30W driver would be nicer, its only like 6$ or somethin. Or 50W driver.
Do you have a luxmeter or something like that?
With a luxmeter you could compare the output to what its like in a month/ track degradation, as you already bought that driver.

If you dont know this one, you might find it interesting:
https://www.orchidsforum.com/threads/amazing-cree-cxa3070-led.13309/
Notice the table, fc per ledW. And he used middle bin, "old" cxa and 3070.
CXB, best bin, 3590 will be again about 40% better than even that...its insane

Have fun with your experiment.

2 years ago I build a growlight with those 100W chinese leds too (+red cobs). It did okay.
Now im using them, 4 pieces in parallel on a 20W driver (each at 5W) at the window sill for veggies as a supplement.

 

[Xagor]

I'm going to invest in a lux meter as I'll be sticking with white leds.

If you got an e.g. android mobile, you can usually access its lightsensor with an app.
Helps for all relative % measurements.

So yes, my plan is to use good chips under driven.

I dont think there is any commercial led panel that can compete with the numbers these cobs put out.

He used mostly 4000K chips as they were on sale

You can get the best bins and the quality stuff cheaper from china. Mouser/digikey is more expensive and you get the best bins only on buying e.g. like 50 pieces. But make sure to check for reputation of the shop.

 

[Balarama]

Hey pop22 and Xagor!
Nice thread you have here pop!

I'm just ordering parts for my diy led project, it will be one of the top efficency configurations possible at the moment.
Will be using cxb3590 high bin version 3500K powered with MW drivers @1400mA, dimmable down to 700mA.
Each light will be driven on 25-50W and will put out around 160+lumens/W which is more than any commercially available led grow lamp. Some would say that lumens are irrelevant(in a way it's true) but PPFD will be also very high, at around 800+mmol/s.
Expecting some good results with these full spectrum lights.

*I found some very useful infos on roll-it-up searching for cree leds. Highly reccomendable for anyone to visit!
If someone is buying Crees, go to KingBrite led, best deals on the net no doubt and many high bins available.

Good luck with your build pop, looking forward to see some nice plants

 

[Xagor]

I was thinking kingbrite too, but didnt wanna advertise.
Not only cree, but bridgelux vero v2 (for more budget oriented) too and holders and drivers, and red crees...completly focused on best growing led hardware available lol.