DIY EB Series Gen 2 Strip Light Build

[Canabliss]

Welp I just pulled the trigger on 8X 3500k 560mm(2'), 4x 5000k 560mm(2'), and a Meanwell HLG-320-20A driver to run it all. I'll be building it with things I got layin around so she won't be pretty but she will be cheap and that's what DIY is all about for me. I'll be using drop down ceiling cross braces as the heat sink, some electrical stuff I got laying around to hook it all up and some sort of way to make it all stick together, not sure what yet lol. Probably be buying some thermal tape and the main electrical cord portion as well. I'll be updating this thread as I put it all together.

 

[Canabliss]

While waiting for parts to arrive I have decided to start trying to get things ready. One thing I started to look into was a power cable, it looked like I would need to spend $20-$30 CAD to get the cable and connector. Seeing as I cheaped out and went with 12 strips instead of the 16 I wanted I really couldn't justify it, so with the power of my Dad bod I got to thinking. I had an old broke PS3 downstairs so I got to tearing that apart. Now I got a cable a nice connector and an on/off switch to go with it. God I love a good deal, free being my favorite.

 

[Canabliss]

I'll be running the lights at an estimated 1.1amps x 20 volts for a total of 22 watts a strip or 264 total watts. This will give me 29.3 watts a square foot which is just shy of the 30 min recommended for LED's. I have room to drive them a little harder if my DIY heat sinks work, as well I have room with the chosen driver to add more strips if required in the future. All I know is that it will be better then the 400 watt hps/mh setup I currently have, dealing with the heat produced by that light turned out to be impossible unless the door was left wide open with a 12" fan running on full speed directly below the light.

 

[Tommy Bahama]

I have a few questions, if you don't mind:
1) Why twice as many flowering LEDs as vegetative LEDs?
2) Do you intend to include a switch for vegetative/flowering, or are you going to run them all at once?
3) How much space will you be lighting with this?
4) Could you post the part numbers for the LED strips you are using?

 

[Canabliss]

I'll do my best to answer:
1) The 3500k's actually work fine as a dual purpose, I added the 5000k in hopes of a bit more explosive vegetative growth as well there is scattered evidence suggesting some blue light in flower aids in the development of trichomes.
2) No switching between the 2, just on or off as a whole light.
3) I'll be lighting a 3'x3' space or about 1 meter square.
4) 3500k 560mm led strip: BXEB-L0560Z-35E2000
5000k 560mm led strip: BXEB-L0560Z-50E2000-C-B3
Power supply: HLG-320H-20A

 

[Canabliss]

Some parts have arrived so I got to work on the frame tonight. I'm using drop down ceiling cross braces that almost seem like they were intended for the purpose. 1 section cut in half does two 560mm strips perfectly. So I used 7 total pieces. 6 for the lights, and one I cut a couple small sections out of for the top side to mount the power supply to.
- Just used tin snips, cut down until you reach the flat white part then bend the section back and forth until it snaps.

-Couldn't ask for a better fit, I'll be using thermal tape and screws but the question is whether or not to sand off the white paint for a bit better thermal transfer or if it won't matter i.e 1 deg dif. Thoughts on this welcome.

-I used a 1/4" threaded rod cut to 24" and 1/4" nuts to hold everything together. It worked great though I got my brackets for the power supply on the wrong side of the strips they are adjacent to causing a bit of bunching in the middle.

The entire frame cost less then 10 CAD pesos due to having the drop ceiling braces laying around for years. If you have any questions feel free to ask, I'm making this up as I go so my guess may be as good as yours lol. Cheers

 

[Free Flow]

That light looks totally awesome.

 

[Canabliss]

Thanks @Free Flow , should be getting it finished up next week providing the thermal tape arrives. Also ordered a digital meter to wire in with it today so I'll be able to see amps, volts and watts ant total consumption in real time. Really excited to get some plants under her.

 

[Free Flow]

I need to get a killawatt and a few pneumatic switches so I can wire the dimmers on my drivers and start to be smart with my consumption also

 

[Canabliss]

Put this into your amazon search bar:
DROK Digital Multimeter DC 6.5-100V 20A Voltage Amperage Power Energy Meter DC Volt Amp Tester Gauge Monitor LCD Digital Display with Blue Backlight Measuring Volts Current with Built-in Shunt
That's what I ordered, I was checking out my fluke multi meter and realized it only had an AC Amps setting, so I got into one of those internet worm hole searches and stumbled upon that. I'd link it but I don't think we're aloud to link stuff on Amazon here. That's the full description on the Canadian Amazon page so not sure if it will be worded differently elsewhere.