Lighting DIY mars conversion. Questions and answers here.

[DrSmurto]

G'day All, I am a total newbie and currently have 3 auto-caramelicious growing under 2 x 300W blurples in a 900x450x1800 cupboard. Growth seems to be much slower than I have seen from other people's photos so have done a bit of reading and come to the conclusion that I'm just not getting enough light into the plant. I have added a couple of CFLs to see if I can boost the light a little. The attached photo is my first auto currently 32 days old.

I think there is no doubt I am going to have to convert my lights to cob and am just weighing up my options. My lights have two drivers (see attached photo) and two cooling fans. The drivers don't actually state an output voltage, but I am hoping each diver would be able to support 2 x 36V cobs such as cx2530 or CLU048-1212. What do you think?

Also, my next question is in regards to some of the cheap led chips I am seeing on ebay such as these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wholesal...id=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=261440798498.
Probably a stupid question but would using these...although very cheap.... result in better light than the current blurple setup I currently have? The cheaper it is to do the quicker I will be able to rip the current lights out!

Cheers

 

[BigSm0]

G'day All, I am a total newbie and currently have 3 auto-caramelicious growing under 2 x 300W blurples in a 900x450x1800 cupboard. Growth seems to be much slower than I have seen from other people's photos so have done a bit of reading and come to the conclusion that I'm just not getting enough light into the plant. I have added a couple of CFLs to see if I can boost the light a little. The attached photo is my first auto currently 32 days old.

I think there is no doubt I am going to have to convert my lights to cob and am just weighing up my options. My lights have two drivers (see attached photo) and two cooling fans. The drivers don't actually state an output voltage, but I am hoping each diver would be able to support 2 x 36V cobs such as cx2530 or CLU048-1212. What do you think?

Also, my next question is in regards to some of the cheap led chips I am seeing on ebay such as these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Wholesale-10W-30W-50W-100W-High-Power-Chips-LED-SMD-Lamp-Bulbs-For-Flood-Light/391536014642?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid=222007&algo=SIC.MBE&ao=2&asc=20140106155344&meid=fa9fac52cfd14755a60604e6aec87397&pid=100005&rk=4&rkt=6&mehot=pp&sd=261440798498.
Probably a stupid question but would using these...although very cheap.... result in better light than the current blurple setup I currently have? The cheaper it is to do the quicker I will be able to rip the current lights out!

Cheers

Before you rip the cobs out and start over on the light I would finish the grow. You will definitely increase the amount of light by doing the conversion but light is just one factor in growing. It's a big one but it's not the only one.

As for the conversion the best thing to do is test the driver. In doing this make sure you can reattach everything in case it doesn't work. There is no harm in trying 2 cobs on the driver and that's exactly what I would do before I tore the whole light apart.

As for the cobs you listed from eBay I really don't want to look. 99% of the stuff on there is trash. The cobs you want are the citizen 1212's. Most of us have used the 2530's in the past but they are obsolete now. The 1212 will give you a lot more light per watt than the 2530's.

 

[DrSmurto]

Thanks for your advice. Will see how this grow pans out and make a decision from there. Just keen to get a good crop out of my first grow

 

[HotBunz]

What brand fixture is this? It seems to not be a MarsHydro as those are not the type of drivers I have seen in any of the hacked Mars light. Not having any information regarding output on those drivers makes them useless in my eyes. But even the drivers in the MarsHydro 300 units are only 500ma-650ma which makes them useless to me as well.

Like has already been said finish out your grow with what you have. Afterwards if you still want to convert them vs a fresh build then use the case, gut the diode board and drivers, keep the fans and fan power supply. Pick up a Meanwell hlg-185h-c1400($49-$55 each) driver and a few CLU048-1212's and have a light set up with 200w at the wall. You should be able to fit the HLG into one of the cases. Or if you wanted to just try converting just one fixture use a couple LPC-60-1400($14.00 each) drivers and again a pair ofCitizen 1212($14'ish each) or Cree cxb3590($39 each) or the Vero29(D version 38.7v $25each).

But back to your worries about your plant. Before we start pointing the blame at the lights what is your grow set up? What is your soil type? What are you using for nutes? What is your experience level at growing? What type of water are you using? What is you PH levels? Light schedule?

 

[DrSmurto]

Couldnt say what brand the light is, as the ebay description just says "Unbranded". http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/300W-Ful...328116?hash=item210b77e734:g:4B4AAOSwP~tW4kVL
As I say I am a total newbie at this and am trying to follow the practices of experienced growers I have seen on the various forums. As far as soil goes I am using 1/4 coco coir, 1/4 Debco Organic Potting Mix, 1/4 mushroom compost, 1/4 perlite. Lights are on 24/7. Following Tangs Advanced Nutrient schedule (Sensi A+B plus CalMag). Have been doing some intense LST since the plant reached about 6 nodes so not sure if that is playing a part.
I may be jumping the gun a bit and overthinking it all considering this is just my first grow so I suppose I'll just have to wait and see how it turns out and work from there.

Cheers!

 

[AutoButch]

Hi Guys, I got 2 x 300w Marshydro leds

I only have a one plant grow in a 40cmx40cmx160 tent with autopot 15L with airdome airpump etc

I use one 300w Marshydro all the way to harvest, and was looking at buying the 600w Marshydro Led for flowering for £105,

Can i get better light from a Marshydro 300w Cob converted than a 600w Marshydro for £105.

Please help and sorry if you can't understand just smoked somr green crack and im right on one.

I will be converting my spare 300w Marshydro led.
Hopefully!




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[White Punk on Dope]

Soon @BigSm0 will come around and give you the best advice possible including options.

 

[BigSm0]

Times have changed. I won't get into specifics but yes one coverted 300 could out perform the 600. I would do 4 citizen 1212's which would have a very similar output. If you were to do both 300's it may be best to go a different route. Maybe 2 citizen 1812's or 1818's in each of the 3 lights. Much higher efficiency and very simple.

 

[AutoButch]

Times have changed. I won't get into specifics but yes one coverted 300 could out perform the 600. I would do 4 citizen 1212's which would have a very similar output. If you were to do both 300's it may be best to go a different route. Maybe 2 citizen 1812's or 1818's in each of the 3 lights. Much higher efficiency and very simple.

Thanks @BigSm0 for the reply,

So first step is to buy
4 x citizen 1212's
I am a complete nube with This and im sorry for stupid questions, what will i need for a complete conversion or is there a link,

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[AutoButch]

These ones?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/5x-Citizen...d-COB-Module-Clu048-1212c4-403m2k1/1881380706

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