Lighting DIY LED Grow lights

[yellowman]

Hey Pop22 mind if I tag along just saw this thread

 

[G.Leave]

Hmm really starting to think I would be venturing into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim on this project. So here is what I want to do. I have a 54"longX20"deep X34"high(top of pots to bottom of lights) cab running by a old version Mars 100X3w(180 real draw) and a LEDlightseller brand led 100X3w (165 real draw). I am planning on adding another bought light(either another LEDlightseller or a Dirt Genius)

What I would like to do, is add a strip light that would be UV and IR spectrums, that would run at a certain time(when I am not around) likely 12 hours a day, but the light would only be used in the later phases of flower. I certainly wouldn't want or need the best or newest chips for this, especially considering the limited vertical. So could some of you knowledgeable guys chat with me on components, sources, and spectrums for this potential project. Would like to keep the price as minimal as possible for this project.

 

[Hal 8999]

730nm or 850nm for the IR is the exact number, and 410nm is the UVb spectrum.

 

[Xagor]

I dont think uv with led is a good idea.
"Real" UV(B) Leds are like 200$ for 0,5W or something crazy like that.
That what is beeing sold as UV leds on those panels is rather blue or for fluro blacklight disco action at best.
For UV better use desert /reptile lamps, e.g. T8.

ledengin sells pretty efficient far red leds and u only need very small amounts /W.
Why do you want to use far red with AF?
Usually you use far red with photos to alter their "nighttime", e.g. turn on for 5min after lights out on a 2nd timer.

 

[G.Leave]

I dont think uv with led is a good idea.
"Real" UV(B) Leds are like 200$ for 0,5W or something crazy like that.
That what is beeing sold as UV leds on those panels is rather blue or for fluro blacklight disco action at best.
For UV better use desert /reptile lamps, e.g. T8.

ledengin sells pretty efficient far red leds and u only need very small amounts /W.
Why do you want to use far red with AF?
Usually you use far red with photos to alter their "nighttime", e.g. turn on for 5min after lights out on a 2nd timer.

Thanks for the comment! So the UV I was referring to would be the disco lights(hehe) you referred to in the 380-410 range.
I was just advised about the reptile lights in T8...thanks, that will totally simplify this project as I still have all of my T8 fixtures.
As for the IR spectrum, I was reading about its effect for making stalky plants and that would be great in my specific situation.

 

[Xagor]

Hm. Yea, IR triggers the shade avoidance mechanism. Plants absorp the PAR light and reflect IR. So if a plant gets lots of IR it "thinks" its beeing shaded by others and starts stretching to get more light against the competition.
Blue light (strong bluepart UV reptile light) also counteracts this, as blue minimizes cell expansion, but I guess u wont run UV 24/7.

So you could either achieve this too by reducing the amounts of blue or decrease the amount of light in general.
Big downside of IR is that it doesnt do anything for photosynthesis but increases power consumption.

 

[keep pounding]

flipped around youtube and saw like 6 vid's of this one person and seemed to have a lot of knowledge. thought it was also really cool that they gave credit where they got the info from too. their user name on youtube is growmau5 I hope this was helpful people.
greengenes garden (user name) on youtube that has a lot of info too
growmau5 (username) on youtube
check both out and iam sure there are others just these to really stuck out (info wise)IMO
really considering going this route
hope this helps.

 

[Bunny]

Great thread! loving the idea Of some home grown lights.

 

[guerilla]

Saw some red an blue leds at hardware store..says it's fer parties...they talking my kind of party? What yall think