Lighting Northern Grow Lights - DIY build and Grow

Ripper

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Wow I am excited to get this going. I have finished building my light. I elected to build my own frame as I wanted a linear frame and the one being designed by northern grow lights is not completed yet.

Here is my parts list

4 SST 120 pin heatsinks $14.75 each

4 LEDil reflectors $6.00 each

4 citizen CLU 048 80 CRI COB with ideal holder $19.00 each

1 SST junction box $30.00

Various Wago connectors

ALL ITEMS ABOVE WERE PROVIDED BY NORTHERN GROW LIGHTS.

1 HLG-320H-C1400B Meanwell driver $107.00 shipped to my door

16 gauge solid core wire $4.99

2 4 foot pieces of 1/8 inch thick angle aluminum $6.00 each

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I was excited once I had everything so I started building my light. Only tools I used were a hacksaw, pliers and a Phillips screwdriver.

First thing I did was mark my holes on the Angle aluminum and drill them ( I spaced each pin heatsink out 12 inches). I then took the second piece of angle aluminum and a marked the holes using the first piece I already drilled as a guide.

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After all of the holes were drilled I attached the pin heat sink with the already drilled and taped holes.

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The next thing I did was cut off the excess and sized it to fit both ends of the frame I drilled holes and attached those pieces.

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I then attached the driver. I did this with two 1/4 inch pieces of aluminum that I cut and drilled holes I attached it to the frame first and then attached the driver I used nuts and bolts for this.

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I then attached the SST Junction box.. I simply drilled 4 holes and used zip ties to attach this.

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Next I wired everything up. I would give what color goes where but each driver could have different colors so read the driver and it will tell you what goes where.

Working was a snap with the SST junction box and the supplied Wago connectors. On the Wago connectors you just pull that orange tab up and insert your wire then close it. Then open the other one and insert the wire and close it and those two wires are now connected.. Simple and easy. The picture below is all the wiring except for the wires the run to the holders.

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The COB's are run in series so you just run one wire to each from pos to neg then keep doing so till you connect it to the driver. I started with red and ran it to positive then just went neg to pos till the last wire ran to the driver neg.. Easy job.

Here is the finished light running at 10% as I have a b version driver and it is dimable. The SST junction box has a built in potentiometer.

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Last thing I built was the cable holders.

I used 2 24 inch pieces of cable

4 eye bolts that were attached to the frame

And 4 cable locks ..

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Last edited:
updated some pictures
 
Nice rig ripper! Very similar to what i do, except the j box. I use the eye bolts at each corner to hold the angle aluminum together. 2 birds 1 stone. Thanks for sharing.
 
I was just wondering what sized space you are lighting with your DIY? Looks like it cost you about $300. I have a 4x4 tent that I would like to put COBS in instead of the MarsII. I don't mind buying higher quality parts. Not sure the best route to go. Nice job on your DIY, how is the heat with it? Thanks Slow
 
I was just wondering what sized space you are lighting with your DIY? Looks like it cost you about $300. I have a 4x4 tent that I would like to put COBS in instead of the MarsII. I don't mind buying higher quality parts. Not sure the best route to go. Nice job on your DIY, how is the heat with it? Thanks Slow
The heat is lower than with the two mars 300's I replaced and that light is running half of my 4x4 the other half has two converted mars 300's with 2 COBs each.. so 8 COBs in a 4x4 6 would work just fine.
 
Thanks for the quick reply! So 6 of of those would be about $450 to build? What would you compare the intensity to compared to HPS? I am really impressed with the results these cobs produce and do not mind upgrading. I have 12 MarsII drivers, but do not mind upgrading to better driver/drivers. Thanks for the advice! Slow
 
Thanks for the quick reply! So 6 of of those would be about $450 to build? What would you compare the intensity to compared to HPS? I am really impressed with the results these cobs produce and do not mind upgrading. I have 12 MarsII drivers, but do not mind upgrading to better driver/drivers. Thanks for the advice! Slow
There are a lot of options but the citizens are a great price and come with a holder at northern grow lights . I would run them 3 COBs to one driver I would get meanwell driver (the b version ones so you can dim then lights and then crank them up diring flower.. I would use the bigger 140 size heat pin heat sinks..
 
Thanks for the info! I just don't want to be disappointed if I spend the $ and time to upgrade..ya know what I mean?
 
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