Flowering with Cree bulbs

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az2000

Well-Known Member
Just an update on my harvest post (2 above). Holding 63-64% in a jar, buds weigh 196g. At 192w total, that's 1g/w. At 9sq ft, that's 21.4 g/sq ft.

IMG_20150316_133538.jpg

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The space occupied by the plant was irregular. I'd say it was 9 sq ft (3x3'). Comes out to 21.3 w/sq ft.

These results match when I grew a smaller plant (2x2 space) at 21w/sq ft under a Blackstar 130w (85w actual) UFO. I got 0.9g/w and 20g/sq ft. When I stepped that up to 30-31w/sq ft (using Cree lightbulbs for sidelight) I got 1.3g/w and 38g/sq ft.

I'm pretty happy with the results. I know there are more efficient LEDs out there, but the ubiquity (interchangeable, ease of acquisition) causes me to like these lights a lot.

If I were going to fill a space larger than 2x2, I'd use 1x4" planks of wood. I'd use those adjustable outdoor spotlight sockets for $5 each from Home Depot. Attach them to the plank so they could spin side to side, allowing them to be pointed to any direction. That would be easier for a large space compared to my "flexible fixture."

I'm going to go back to my A51s for the next flowering. Then I may try a less glamorous fixture that's just 1x4" planks of wood.
 
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sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
Those buds look awesome! Nice work.

What is funny about LED bulbs is the manufacturers list that they last like 50,000 hours. However the technology changes every day so every few months we are buying new lights :) I think it's pretty exciting technology though.

I'm at 29 watts per sqft right now. Just one plant under a UFO.. Is it likely that I'll get better buds if I add 4 cree bulbs to the sides? I think so. So far the plant is loving the UFO for veg. I am running 24/7 on an auto Mango Kush Ryder. 50 true watts and 1.7 sqft. Light is now 9 inches from plant. 120 degree lens. She is maybe 10 days old now.

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A

az2000

Well-Known Member
sunny747 said:
Is it likely that I'll get better buds if I add 4 cree bulbs to the sides?
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I think distributed lighting in flower is always advantageous compared to delivering all the watts from a single source. It may not be feasible in larger operations. But, for a space with 1-2 plants, I think it's the best way to do it.

I want to play with SMD5730 strip LEDs. I'd like to make hinged panels using aluminum sheet. Something I could shape around the plant.
 
sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
az2000 said:
I think distributed lighting in flower is always advantageous compared to delivering all the watts from a single source. It may not be feasible in larger operations. But, for a space with 1-2 plants, I think it's the best way to do it.

I want to play with SMD5730 strip LEDs. I'd like to make hinged panels using aluminum sheet. Something I could shape around the plant.
Click to expand...
What's crazy is how much the box stores want for the strip lights... Way cheaper online.

i am imaging running the strip lights all around the sides. i'll have to see how tall she gets first.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
az2000 said:
I think distributed lighting in flower is always advantageous compared to delivering all the watts from a single source. It may not be feasible in larger operations. But, for a space with 1-2 plants, I think it's the best way to do it.

I want to play with SMD5730 strip LEDs. I'd like to make hinged panels using aluminum sheet. Something I could shape around the plant.
Click to expand...
I agree with this.......multiple light sources should beat single every time, this thread proves that too ;-)...Still one of the most impressive grows under 200w..

sunny747 said:
i think I'd just drape them around my plant like christmas tree lighting..:)
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We don't like the term "Christmas lights" in here......Lol
 
GreenThumbsMcgee

GreenThumbsMcgee

Well-Known Member
sunny747 said:
Those buds look awesome! Nice work.

What is funny about LED bulbs is the manufacturers list that they last like 50,000 hours. However the technology changes every day so every few months we are buying new lights :) I think it's pretty exciting technology though.

I'm at 29 watts per sqft right now. Just one plant under a UFO.. Is it likely that I'll get better buds if I add 4 cree bulbs to the sides? I think so. So far the plant is loving the UFO for veg. I am running 24/7 on an auto Mango Kush Ryder. 50 true watts and 1.7 sqft. Light is now 9 inches from plant. 120 degree lens. She is maybe 10 days old now.

View attachment 3384407
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how did this turn out by the way? I am curious about those led's you are using. I am still just using straight cree bulbs, about 20 of em in a grow box I made, works great. almost to good, I need a bigger box in fact, they work fine, and shit, I thought that this was cool, I bought a thermometer, and never had it anywhere but in this box, and it appears as if it sat in the sun for 20 years...sun bleached to hell, so that tells me I am getting proper light, I would assume anyhow...my plants seem to like it.
 
sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
GreenThumbsMcgee said:
how did this turn out by the way? I am curious about those led's you are using. I am still just using straight cree bulbs, about 20 of em in a grow box I made, works great. almost to good, I need a bigger box in fact, they work fine, and shit, I thought that this was cool, I bought a thermometer, and never had it anywhere but in this box, and it appears as if it sat in the sun for 20 years...sun bleached to hell, so that tells me I am getting proper light, I would assume anyhow...my plants seem to like it.
Click to expand...
I'm only ten days into veg. Just running 1 plant with 50w LED UFO.

I guess that currently it costs about the same to buy LED household bulbs as it would to buy a chinese grow light.
 
sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
Doer said:
I found some low power UVB strings that I was thinking the same thing. :)
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After researching these LED Strips for a while last night I learned that
A) they are not very efficient. Half as efficient as a Cree Bulb or CFL
B) I saw reports that they get very warm.
C) They dim very quickly
D) They do best when placed on aluminum sheeting to act as a heat sync.

I actually ordered some, but quickly cancelled the order.
 
A

az2000

Well-Known Member
sunny747 said:
After researching these LED Strips for a while last night I learned that
A) they are not very efficient. Half as efficient as a Cree Bulb or CFL
B) I saw reports that they get very warm.
C) They dim very quickly
D) They do best when placed on aluminum sheeting to act as a heat sync.

I actually ordered some, but quickly cancelled the order.
Click to expand...
To be clear, you were looking at SMD5050. That's what you linked to above. SMD5730 are supposed to be more efficient and work well for growing. There are a couple threads about them in the LED forum.
 
sunny747

sunny747

Well-Known Member
Do you like the spots and flood par 38's better than the traditional light bulb shaped led's? Of course they would reflect light downwards better.
 
A

az2000

Well-Known Member
sunny747 said:
Do you like the spots and flood par 38's better than the traditional light bulb shaped led's? Of course they would reflect light downwards better.
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I like the 9.5w (60w equiv) lightbulb for sidelighting. It's the right intensity and size for a corner in a 2x2 space. It doesn't require much distance with the clamp-on reflector.

I like the 18w PAR38 as top lighting.

I think the SMD5730 strips would be better for both purposes. The diodes face forward, no need for reflecting omnidirectional light (which is what's happening inside the PAR38 too.). But, I don't know enough about them to make suggestions. I don't know what is a trustworthy brand (if there even is a brand. The 5630 is supposed to be the Samsung original. But, they're about 10x more expensive than the 5730.

I have too many lights now and have to use what I have for awhile instead of chasing technology. The Cree residential bulbs work good enough for me. I'll give it a year before I play with something else. Maybe by then there will be a better strip light.
 
subb

subb

Well-Known Member
Hey guys, anyone check out those new 4Flow Cree bulbs? Any thoughts on them?

I was getting some 2700k 9.5w Cree's for side lighting and was wondering if those new ones would be better. The package says its more omnidirectional, but a quick search said they may be a little less efficient. They have a plastic dome instead of glass and the interior is different, looks like it's divided into 4 vertical sections (looking through the top the walls look like a + sign).

I just want the best for my ladies so I will gladly replace my Crees with the 4Flow design if it is better.

I have a small box, 6' high x 3' wide x 1.5' depth with both flower and veg chambers. Veg has 8x 9w Crees [full Cree for veg] and flower has an Area 51 RW-75 and additional 2700k 9.5w Crees (I'm adding 2-4 of them depending on room) - going for a perpetual SCrOG.

Also I'm working off info from last year so are these still the bulbs to get or are there better ones out there now I can replace my setup with?
I still want to get into the DIY LED game but for now I am sticking to the basic bulbs.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
 
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