Lighting Project Cheapo LED Grow Lamp
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I've got no idea if it is accurate or not, it's not mine so I bear no responsibility for dodgy information gained.
What I do know is that I need something to keep me occupied since I can't work any more, off to see the disability control doctor next month, so I'm having fun experimenting. As I say, I know how much I've spent on this, the LED strip was under €12, a 4.5l pot WITH compost was had for under €5, seed was €5, 12v power supply was an old PC power supply I had lying around, metal to stick the LED strip was an old PC side panel I had lying around, so add €7 for solder and around €2 per week on electricity (light and a small fan heater with thermostat control which cost, erm, zero euros) so the reality is that anything over 5g is a profit for me.
What I do know is that I need something to keep me occupied since I can't work any more, off to see the disability control doctor next month, so I'm having fun experimenting. As I say, I know how much I've spent on this, the LED strip was under €12, a 4.5l pot WITH compost was had for under €5, seed was €5, 12v power supply was an old PC power supply I had lying around, metal to stick the LED strip was an old PC side panel I had lying around, so add €7 for solder and around €2 per week on electricity (light and a small fan heater with thermostat control which cost, erm, zero euros) so the reality is that anything over 5g is a profit for me.
An update for you.
The LED plate has had to be "opened" somewhat so there is not so much light concentrated at a single area thanks to the wee beastie growing quite a bit in the last few weeks. There's now several side branches and she's still going upwards with the plate having to be lifted quite a bit daily. Thinking of nipping the top off just to bush her more. Considered adding the second set of strip, decided against it just to see how this would go on it's own, a second panel can always be set up for next time round.
Speaking of second time around, as I mentioned I dropped in a photo Acapulco Gold which has been under a de-globed 100w-equivalent 6000k LED screw in bulb. Am trying to find the best level for that because she's not growing upwards much at all. She's growing outwards, there's no question about that, just not upwards (We've all been there, I sopped growing upwards but continued to grow outwards for years). Methinks that lamp may have to be raised again just so there's some sign of vertical growth. Ho hum, you live and learn.
The LED plate has had to be "opened" somewhat so there is not so much light concentrated at a single area thanks to the wee beastie growing quite a bit in the last few weeks. There's now several side branches and she's still going upwards with the plate having to be lifted quite a bit daily. Thinking of nipping the top off just to bush her more. Considered adding the second set of strip, decided against it just to see how this would go on it's own, a second panel can always be set up for next time round.
Speaking of second time around, as I mentioned I dropped in a photo Acapulco Gold which has been under a de-globed 100w-equivalent 6000k LED screw in bulb. Am trying to find the best level for that because she's not growing upwards much at all. She's growing outwards, there's no question about that, just not upwards (We've all been there, I sopped growing upwards but continued to grow outwards for years). Methinks that lamp may have to be raised again just so there's some sign of vertical growth. Ho hum, you live and learn.
Oh, this is "second time around". She's 17cm, just over 6.5", at her widest and 7cm, 2.75", tall. As I said in my other thread, for this one I'm thinking of a new, bigger, panel alternating blurple and white so we have double the "light" but with a wider spread in both physical size and LED colour. So that's going to add maybe €25 to the €11 I paid for the second blurple strip, including 300w driver with cooling (think smaller version of converted PC power supply, used that make before), a little bit of time and around 150-200w power depending on which white strip I get. Just got to decide which white, thinking 3000-3500K since there will be so much red from the blurple strip, then it's all systems go...
Edit: 12v 30A power supply ordered alongside 5m of 3000K 600LED/m SMD5730 strip which, allegedly, puts out 25-30lm/led. So there's something like 15000 lumens PLUS the blurple coming off a panel slightly smaller than a sheet of A3 paper. Cost, €25 with free shipping.
Edit: 12v 30A power supply ordered alongside 5m of 3000K 600LED/m SMD5730 strip which, allegedly, puts out 25-30lm/led. So there's something like 15000 lumens PLUS the blurple coming off a panel slightly smaller than a sheet of A3 paper. Cost, €25 with free shipping.
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![IMG_20171216_135442[1].jpg](/data/attachments/641/641166-9cc4a613712944656687cdba849290ac.jpg)
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Well, the moment of truth may well be approaching as there is a light but definite "smell" off the plant which I am assuming is the start of flowering. When you look at the earlier pics under the blurple, you see the size of the plant then and she is now a good 3-4 times the height she was then. Vertical growth seems to have slowed, based on half an hour ago, will know more later, but she's definitely heading into flower imo.
More to follow as things progress.
More to follow as things progress.
Ok, update time
The auto plant under the original panel is still going strong, plenty bud sites so now we wait to see how they go. One thing I have learned is that next time I MUST top the plant as this one has just grown straight up. Oh well, you live and learn, it was only my second ever plant so I'm still learning but, as I say, as long as I can pull 5g from this experiment then I've made a profit..
But I now have all the bits for panel number 2, which will be, as I said, made of 5m of 5050 blurple strip and 5m of 5730 3000K strip alternating blurple/white across a 25x40cm, 0.1m²,. panel on a 360W power supply (PSU will be running at under 50% capacity, even though it's got a cooling fan), meaning I can use panel 1 for vegging whilst panel 2 can do flowering. The amount of light that will come off panel 2 should be of a level that it will need to be quite a bit away from any plant, so will be made in such a way that it can be bent in more ways so the spread and intensity can be varied more as the plant grows. The total cost of panel 2, including the extra cable and connectors I bought today, is coming in at around €38 (5m 3000k, 5m blurple, new PSU, a bit of cable, some 5A connector strip. Metal is something I have lying around, solder I have, string to suspend the panel is something I have, Earl Grey and coffee are things that would be consumed in copious amounts anyway and my time is something I have in abundance nowadays). Once made I'll try to get some readings of the lux at, say, 20 inches and take things from there but, in reality, if I need more than that, 150w of LED strip, for one plant then things will just be getting silly.
Pictures to follow once panel is built, which should be tomorrow, and this time there will be pics before the bugger is hung up.
The auto plant under the original panel is still going strong, plenty bud sites so now we wait to see how they go. One thing I have learned is that next time I MUST top the plant as this one has just grown straight up. Oh well, you live and learn, it was only my second ever plant so I'm still learning but, as I say, as long as I can pull 5g from this experiment then I've made a profit..
But I now have all the bits for panel number 2, which will be, as I said, made of 5m of 5050 blurple strip and 5m of 5730 3000K strip alternating blurple/white across a 25x40cm, 0.1m²,. panel on a 360W power supply (PSU will be running at under 50% capacity, even though it's got a cooling fan), meaning I can use panel 1 for vegging whilst panel 2 can do flowering. The amount of light that will come off panel 2 should be of a level that it will need to be quite a bit away from any plant, so will be made in such a way that it can be bent in more ways so the spread and intensity can be varied more as the plant grows. The total cost of panel 2, including the extra cable and connectors I bought today, is coming in at around €38 (5m 3000k, 5m blurple, new PSU, a bit of cable, some 5A connector strip. Metal is something I have lying around, solder I have, string to suspend the panel is something I have, Earl Grey and coffee are things that would be consumed in copious amounts anyway and my time is something I have in abundance nowadays). Once made I'll try to get some readings of the lux at, say, 20 inches and take things from there but, in reality, if I need more than that, 150w of LED strip, for one plant then things will just be getting silly.
Pictures to follow once panel is built, which should be tomorrow, and this time there will be pics before the bugger is hung up.
Sorry for the delay, other things got in the way but I FINALLY got the panel built. Had to change my plan slightly as the metal I had was not big enough for anything 40cm in length so it was changed to 28 strips at 35cm lengths, alternating 3000K/Blurple. So we have 9.8m, 32 feet, of LED strip on a 360W driver, split evenly across each output as I found out the hard way that there was too much in the way of voltage drop if I connected it all up in one hit, and, according to the trusty meter on my phone (I know, it's not accurate) is clearing 18,000 lux at 40cm, 15 inches, above the phone. Bugger knows what the PAR will be, that's going to be too complicated for me to figure out since there's, effectively, 3 different colours (red, blue and 3000K)
That's with the panel as you see it, flat and not bent into the "reflector" shape like the first panel I made.
So there you go, something that could be classed as a small "quantum panel" pumping out a guesstimated 18k lux at 15" for a whole €38 plus a bit of my own time and an old PC side panel. Do you think that's enough for one plant?.
Oh, the reason one type of strip looks "different" is because the blurple was waterproof and I buggered one small piece when trying to pull the plastic off the strip. After that I decided to leave it even though it will have an attenuating effect on the LED strip. Lesson for today, don't buy waterproof strip even if it is cheap.
PS. Height for measuring Lux chosen purely because that's the height of my PC monitor and is a good reference point as there was no way I could look at any sort of meter with that thing fired up, it would be a bit painful on the eyes.
That's with the panel as you see it, flat and not bent into the "reflector" shape like the first panel I made.
So there you go, something that could be classed as a small "quantum panel" pumping out a guesstimated 18k lux at 15" for a whole €38 plus a bit of my own time and an old PC side panel. Do you think that's enough for one plant?.
Oh, the reason one type of strip looks "different" is because the blurple was waterproof and I buggered one small piece when trying to pull the plastic off the strip. After that I decided to leave it even though it will have an attenuating effect on the LED strip. Lesson for today, don't buy waterproof strip even if it is cheap.
PS. Height for measuring Lux chosen purely because that's the height of my PC monitor and is a good reference point as there was no way I could look at any sort of meter with that thing fired up, it would be a bit painful on the eyes.
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![IMG_20180112_150050[1].jpg](/data/attachments/650/650813-33d03bccbb7699fc715de30a4a08943d.jpg)
Regarding plant and panel 1.
Obviously I ain't seeing big buds just now because the bugger got too tall and skinny. Plenty flowers, frosting nicely, just small. Had I topped her or tried to LST (I'm a coward in that respect, want to get basics right first) then things could have been different as she wouldn't have stretched so much. I did think that the lack of light would have been offset by using better wavelengths of light, and got that wrong, same as allowing it to go vertical like it did does not help. The other issue is that I had to drop the lights on hours to flip a photo plant, now starting to see pistils on her, so the auto lost 6 hours a day which will not have helped.
So plenty mistakes from me, as expected, lessons to learn, as expected. Next batch of auto seeds will also be coming from a better place instead of a smartshop where seeds are of an indeterminate age, better lighting will be used, and topping/LST will be done to stop the bugger going all beanpole on me.
Ho hum, still going to get something smokeable, but you never learn without making mistakes. The important thing, in all aspects of life, is not to make the same mistake or mistakes twice. Panel 1 will be used for young plants or as supplementary lighting. Sure as hell ain't going to put me off, just have to make some changes and soon there may be a "Panel 3"
Obviously I ain't seeing big buds just now because the bugger got too tall and skinny. Plenty flowers, frosting nicely, just small. Had I topped her or tried to LST (I'm a coward in that respect, want to get basics right first) then things could have been different as she wouldn't have stretched so much. I did think that the lack of light would have been offset by using better wavelengths of light, and got that wrong, same as allowing it to go vertical like it did does not help. The other issue is that I had to drop the lights on hours to flip a photo plant, now starting to see pistils on her, so the auto lost 6 hours a day which will not have helped.
So plenty mistakes from me, as expected, lessons to learn, as expected. Next batch of auto seeds will also be coming from a better place instead of a smartshop where seeds are of an indeterminate age, better lighting will be used, and topping/LST will be done to stop the bugger going all beanpole on me.
Ho hum, still going to get something smokeable, but you never learn without making mistakes. The important thing, in all aspects of life, is not to make the same mistake or mistakes twice. Panel 1 will be used for young plants or as supplementary lighting. Sure as hell ain't going to put me off, just have to make some changes and soon there may be a "Panel 3"
Well, just had a test bud from plant 1. Took the quick way and gave her a nasty dry in my vaporiser, a few mins at 420° as found somewhere else here, and I can certainly say that the potency is there although the yield wasn't, let's just say I have a very nice buzz going and I don't mind that. How much was down to a bad seed (two others from the same shop didn't germinate, so there is a possibility of something wrong there) added to my own huge mistake regarding the led strip I used (Maybe I should change my name to Bergholt Stuttley Johnson) which, simply, did not work, is very much open to question, but light, or lack of it, was definitely by far the biggest issue when I see what is next to it under what is definitely a better panel. So some may think of it as "not a success" but I would disagree as I did learn a considerable amount and I reckon I'll break even regarding cost of everything from seed to compost to the panel to electricity on this plant, with the learning being the most important part.
Meanwhile, the other rascal under Panel 2 is like it's from a different world with a stem easily pushing 3/8" thick, nice big flowers developing and most of the leaves praying at 45°. I can visually see the difference compared to the pics taken this morning (see my thread in the photo section) so now it's time for some serious TLC so I can get a load of serious THC. Keeping a close eye on her as I noticed a single yellow point on a fan leaf, which is probably nothing in itself but if I see more then it's time to act quickly. Thankfully there's more than enough info here for me if there is an issue.
So there we go, experiment 1 was not the failure even I thought it would be, although some would call it such a thing and I know people who would have given up altogether weeks ago instead of following the old adage of "If at first you don't succeed..."
Onwards and upwards, chaps, thanks for all the input, and, well, illegitimi non carborundum
Meanwhile, the other rascal under Panel 2 is like it's from a different world with a stem easily pushing 3/8" thick, nice big flowers developing and most of the leaves praying at 45°. I can visually see the difference compared to the pics taken this morning (see my thread in the photo section) so now it's time for some serious TLC so I can get a load of serious THC. Keeping a close eye on her as I noticed a single yellow point on a fan leaf, which is probably nothing in itself but if I see more then it's time to act quickly. Thankfully there's more than enough info here for me if there is an issue.
So there we go, experiment 1 was not the failure even I thought it would be, although some would call it such a thing and I know people who would have given up altogether weeks ago instead of following the old adage of "If at first you don't succeed..."
Onwards and upwards, chaps, thanks for all the input, and, well, illegitimi non carborundum
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Live and learn. Your in the UK, right? You should have many choices. Been using Mephisto and Nirvana. Both have amazing genetics and I've had a 100% germ rates from both. I am on the middle of my first all led& first all organic grow, fucking up alot too! Oh yeah, it's my first tent grow too. Keep on keeping on! It's worth it. Good luck!
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