Lighting Welcome to the AFN DIY LED Building Forum!

[ClockworkOrange]

@KonopCh @ClockworkOrange i'm not in europe but i'm in a similar situation. best thing i've found is to do some research about the local distributer of whatever parts you're looking at. you may be surprised to find that you can make some good deals; this is industrial lighting equipment, and there's need for it everywhere. you can also check the bigger electronic supply warehouses like arrow, digikey or mouser, although none of them are the cheapest and none of them is a 'one stop shop' for everything you need.

best option is probably kingbriteled on alibaba (not aliexpress). they just quoted me 250$, incl. 7 day fedex shipping, for a 150w driver and 3x3590+holders+predrilled heatsinks. everything i need except for some cabling, a knob and a frame. could get it together a bit cheaper piece by piece, but this is as close to plug and play as diy gets. if you futz around with it enough you can get the prices down by quite a bit - same if you order big.

The one thing why i dindt try a DIY Led yet is because im frightened to waste my money on something not working, we could argue same can happen with finished product, but i when i checked the price for all components of a hs1 from grownorthern (which i was interested in at that time but couldnt afford) i ended up with like minimun 2/3rd of the sale price- without the knowing if i can bring it together as good as i want it...did your stuuf work out, may even some pix of the plants?

 

[InexpensiveBeret]

no, i'm still in the research stage as well. just sharing what i've learned.

 

[pop22]

I've done it, I know....... But, how many people will do DIY? The cheap lights serve a purpose, they are reasonably good and now, better tech is coming along, and prices are going down, for chips at least. Look at Norttherngrowlights.com prices, he's building a good light at a damn good resale price. If some guy working out of his basement can do it, lets see what happens when a company or someone with money, starts build COB based lights with GOOD chips at a fair price, It will kill the junk lights hitting ebay now!

It's almost stupid if you think about it. Not bashing but how can these companies make such bold claims and show zero evidence that they are accurate. Type in led on eBay and change the search to auction only and the bid numbers are sickening.

 

[pop22]

Not useful for a COB, it could drive one but its a 3000ma ( 3amp ) driver and I don't know of a 36 volt cob that wouldn't self destruct at that amperage

can anyone help me out with this driver, not sure its good enough quality!


View attachment 617403

 

[BigSm0]

I feel the 3500k cobs are a great compromise for price and absolutely the easiest and cheapest way to get into diy but...Check growmau5 phantom. There is a reason he spent ass loads of time working with the extra LEDs around the cobs. He is one of the pioneers of DIY and helped thousands produce better more efficient lighting. He told me once he looked to a specific company as an inspiration who also uses a lot more than just cobs.

I feel a lot of plain cob fixtures for sale are over priced. These retailers are getting cobs, sinks and drivers much cheaper than we are and also selling them for a profit. Now build the lights with these prices as well. Since there is such a high markup and people are catching on to the efficiency of DIY I think the trend is unstoppable.

A lot of work left but it's sort of together. Cxb 2530's and Mars drivers. Heat dissipation isn't going to be the best with only 2 fans mounted on the back side but I really don't think there will be much of an issue.

 

[Baxterwolfe]

And now you have TRIPLE the PAR! Not a bad upgrade, I'd say!

Yea especially since I have about $120 in upgrading all 3 Mars 300s and I have 2 CXA2530 left over because of the drivers. So far in veg with my photos I am insanely happy I have about a 2-4 weeks before I can flower. I will make sure to document heavily in flower to see just what these cheap little guys can do lol.

 

[BigSm0]

i wish I had the space to do a legitimate side by side with a 300 or 600 watt panel vs a converted panel. No variables. I think doing a small build documentary on how to do the conversion then sticking each light in a tent. The wattage in the converted panel would be half the wattage of the original. Then documenting the grow with temps, and results. I bet 90% of the owners would be converting.

 

[pop22]

I've seen some tests and the 3500 and 4000k and the both produce well and are more efficient than the 3000k. Also from tests I've seen, high CRI doesn't matter, no real improvement seen that is documentable. I too have been buying 3500k chips, seems to be the best compromise, as you say.

I see Growmau's new light. Wish I had the tools..lol!

I feel the 3500k cobs are a great compromise for price and absolutely the easiest and cheapest way to get into diy but...Check growmau5 phantom. There is a reason he spent ass loads of time working with the extra LEDs around the cobs. He is one of the pioneers of DIY and helped thousands produce better more efficient lighting. He told me once he looked to a specific company as an inspiration who also uses a lot more than just cobs.

I feel a lot of plain cob fixtures for sale are over priced. These retailers are getting cobs, sinks and drivers much cheaper than we are and also selling them for a profit. Now build the lights with these prices as well. Since there is such a high markup and people are catching on to the efficiency of DIY I think the trend is unstoppable. View attachment 617527

A lot of work left but it's sort of together. Cxb 2530's and Mars drivers. Heat dissipation isn't going to be the best with only 2 fans mounted on the back side but I really don't think there will be much of an issue.

 

[purplestuff]

I so love afn

 

[Waximus]

I so love afn

[emoji1303]me, too![emoji41][emoji260][emoji445]


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