FrozenChozen
Well-Known Member
First and foremost I am not a novice grower by any means! I am "novice" to micro growing, cfl, and LED though.
After a few minor attempts at CFL growing and using CHEAP LED panels alongside, I have been reading a lot about LED's. I have decided to test cheap screw in cobs.... As lighting requirements change I will add a few more bulbs here and there but still retain the goal of "CFL budget". Though most of my LED growing experience comes from Chinese cheapo panels, it can be applied here.
I have also hand made a couple of panels. Nothing to brag about, only ever tinkered with cheap shit. 50 packs of "3 watt" red inconsistency starboards for only $20. 25 pack of blue "3 watt" slightly less inconsistent starboards for $12... An old HP laptop charger (21v @ 3.1 amps), some resistors and thermal adhesive from radio shack, a couple xbox 360 heatsinks and fans and a 12"x12" piece of aluminum.... It lasted from start up (with no equipment to call my own) until I bought my second 600 watt HPS (4-5 months) and gave it away ( I really hope he has something better now...)
We'll start with the "pre-veg" cabinet and the lights I'm using:
The cab is a mini fridge that I cleverly gutted and fit with a few of the requirements (power strip, light sockets, fans, etc.). Its about 2'x1.5'x1.5' it looks and sounds like any typical mini fridge, perfect stealth. My issue with it though, is that runs way too hot with six 23 watt cfls (80F+).... I recently grabbed these pre-fab screw in LED cobs from Feit electric. They say 9.5 watts... opened up the diffuser to find a single soft white cob. A 10 watt run low?
Anyway, for now I'll be using one. I'll have a single 1996 white widow clone going under it for as long she'll fit. Or if she decides to stretch too much (soft white)....
To retain a "cost" requirement, I'm running a folgers coffee can mini DWC and I'll be using miracle grow African violet liquid concentrate ($4 a bottle and I've heard $0.13 worth gets the job done!)
The clone:
Her mother was originally grown back in '96 by a close family friend who has given pounds of her cuttings away. I received a poor cut a couple months back and have managed to get her going again. Within the last few days, I have nurtured a single small branch (still attached to the plant) into rooting, and recently cut and transplanted it into a 3" net pot, currently situated under said feit soft white led cob in a mini dwc. Roots started to protrude yesterday, today they have shot out. I will be HSTing this one as I know the strain responds well to getting "rhianna'd"!
Comments questions and ideas are tolerated if not appreciated!
After a few minor attempts at CFL growing and using CHEAP LED panels alongside, I have been reading a lot about LED's. I have decided to test cheap screw in cobs.... As lighting requirements change I will add a few more bulbs here and there but still retain the goal of "CFL budget". Though most of my LED growing experience comes from Chinese cheapo panels, it can be applied here.
I have also hand made a couple of panels. Nothing to brag about, only ever tinkered with cheap shit. 50 packs of "3 watt" red inconsistency starboards for only $20. 25 pack of blue "3 watt" slightly less inconsistent starboards for $12... An old HP laptop charger (21v @ 3.1 amps), some resistors and thermal adhesive from radio shack, a couple xbox 360 heatsinks and fans and a 12"x12" piece of aluminum.... It lasted from start up (with no equipment to call my own) until I bought my second 600 watt HPS (4-5 months) and gave it away ( I really hope he has something better now...)
We'll start with the "pre-veg" cabinet and the lights I'm using:
The cab is a mini fridge that I cleverly gutted and fit with a few of the requirements (power strip, light sockets, fans, etc.). Its about 2'x1.5'x1.5' it looks and sounds like any typical mini fridge, perfect stealth. My issue with it though, is that runs way too hot with six 23 watt cfls (80F+).... I recently grabbed these pre-fab screw in LED cobs from Feit electric. They say 9.5 watts... opened up the diffuser to find a single soft white cob. A 10 watt run low?
Anyway, for now I'll be using one. I'll have a single 1996 white widow clone going under it for as long she'll fit. Or if she decides to stretch too much (soft white)....
To retain a "cost" requirement, I'm running a folgers coffee can mini DWC and I'll be using miracle grow African violet liquid concentrate ($4 a bottle and I've heard $0.13 worth gets the job done!)
The clone:
Her mother was originally grown back in '96 by a close family friend who has given pounds of her cuttings away. I received a poor cut a couple months back and have managed to get her going again. Within the last few days, I have nurtured a single small branch (still attached to the plant) into rooting, and recently cut and transplanted it into a 3" net pot, currently situated under said feit soft white led cob in a mini dwc. Roots started to protrude yesterday, today they have shot out. I will be HSTing this one as I know the strain responds well to getting "rhianna'd"!
Comments questions and ideas are tolerated if not appreciated!
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