Can 700 watts of LED strips grow trees???

[Big Green Thumb]

Here is the best setup I personally have:

The plastic project box I bought at Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-4-in-x-4-in-x-2-in-PVC-Junction-Box-E989NNJ-CAR/100404097
The ears on the box coincidentally are the right distance apart to mount directly to the power supply using 3mm x 10mm screws also from the depot. I cut the opening in the lid to fit the display and also the power plug/switch I bought from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018RSS7HO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have only finished this 1 display box though. The other power supplies are all just plugged into a power strip that is powered by a simple cheap timer.

Personally, I wouldn't waste time on switching between spectrums. Just run them all together. It seems to me the difference in yield between 3000k and 4000k is negligible.

 

[Rolla J]

Field trip to BGT place! Hahaha. Dope grow room! Innovative and creative!

 

[InTheValley]

Here is the best setup I personally have:
View attachment 4004851 View attachment 4004852
The plastic project box I bought at Home Depot:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Carlon-4-in-x-4-in-x-2-in-PVC-Junction-Box-E989NNJ-CAR/100404097
The ears on the box coincidentally are the right distance apart to mount directly to the power supply using 3mm x 10mm screws also from the depot. I cut the opening in the lid to fit the display and also the power plug/switch I bought from amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B018RSS7HO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I have only finished this 1 display box though. The other power supplies are all just plugged into a power strip that is powered by a simple cheap timer.

Personally, I wouldn't waste time on switching between spectrums. Just run them all together. It seems to me the difference in yield between 3000k and 4000k is negligible.

Ok, I see what your saying..

I just wanted to be able to dim down the 4000k when Flower was started, and have more of the 3000k.

How about these pigtails? They come in 9 splitter, so I will have to reduce the Strips to 18, which im fine with, so 10pc 3000k and 8pc 4000k. Which actually would be better now that I think about it, and then wouldnt have to dim the 4000k in flower, huhh.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IZC8VBE?psc=1
ANVISION 2-Pack DC 1 Female to 9 Male Way Power Splitter Cable 1feet 0.33m 5.5x2.1mm for CCTV Camera Led Light Strips

 

[Big Green Thumb]

Ok, I see what your saying..

I just wanted to be able to dim down the 4000k when Flower was started, and have more of the 3000k.

How about these pigtails? They come in 9 splitter, so I will have to reduce the Strips to 18, which im fine with, so 10pc 3000k and 8pc 4000k. Which actually would be better now that I think about it, and then wouldnt have to dim the 4000k in flower, huhh.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01IZC8VBE?psc=1
ANVISION 2-Pack DC 1 Female to 9 Male Way Power Splitter Cable 1feet 0.33m 5.5x2.1mm for CCTV Camera Led Light Strips

Don't waste your money on those -- your strips don't appear to have those ends so they won't be just plug and play. I have wired mine several different ways. My nicest looking method I soldered each 18 gauge wire from the strips to a 14 gauge wire that ran the length of the fixture and covered each connection with heat shrink tubing:


That way took a long time (and wow that aluminum channel is dirty), so my latest way I am using wire taps from Harbor Freight:
https://www.harborfreight.com/50-pack-quick-wire-splices-96230.html


You may notice I also stopped using the nice wire clamps screwed to the frame and now just use electrical tape. The tedium of wiring has gotten to me. LOL

 

[InTheValley]

Yeah, I would have to buy the other ends, but they are inexpensive. I was thinking, then if i had to take the light out, it would be simply unjacking them. I want all the boxes and crap outside the tent on a single board. So I was thinking I would just run 4 wires out into the tent and quick connect.

The way Im building the light panel, all the strips will be epoxy to a 24inx24in aluminum panel, and on the top side, id epoxy the female part to the panel, then just have to plug them in with the pig tails. I have some wire taps, but they arnt like that. Mine are pretty cool actually. I use them for my car alarms and such. It leaves just a pin hole in the wire if removed. pretty slick.

just dont think they are big enough. Think these are 20 awg.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lockitt-POSI-TAP-6-pack-wire-connectors-20-22-awg-New-/381365414929?hash=item58cb266c11:g:IrsAAOSwPWRZVfx6

also found this cool tool, to help with testing wires, same concept, might snag one just to havehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/TestHelper-Banana-Socket-Connection-Wire-Heavy-Duty-Insulation-Piercing-Probe-/302264911345?epid=623941227&hash=item46606485f1:g:4vEAAOSwCY9ZrF3n

I could literally tap a wire under my dash with 1 hand, found some that work with 12awg, but it would cost $70 to do all the connections.(40) Still, on smaller scale jobs, these are awesome.

 

[InTheValley]

Yeah bro, I bet the tedious of it got to ya, I was looking at it like , "Ugg, you know how many sesh's U can get in for this project, lol..

Its awesome tho bro.

Your sht is sooooo spread out, sooo many connections, where mine is condensed by 7000%, BHAHAHA and localized at that..

 

[InTheValley]

Now that i think about it, with your set-up, Ill probably just take the 14awg like you the lenght, and just use wire stripper/separator and solder the wire from the LED straight to it, then shrink wrap. then that would leave me with 2 wires, HUH!

lol,

 

[Big Green Thumb]

Lots of ways to skin that cat. I originally planned to mount all my drivers on the outside of my grow area to keep as much heat out as possible. But my laziness got the best of me as I was building lights so I just hooked them up and ran 'em. If you have 20 ga wire on the strips, you can probably just double it and use the taps I used. Some of my strips have stranded 18 or 20 ga and that's what I did. I just folded about 1/2" of those wires back on themselves and inserted it into the terminal. That is the fastest cheap way I have found so far to make the connections. I don't know any tweeker that I would trust to wire them up unfortunately. That would keep one busy for a night or 2!

 

[Big Green Thumb]

Now that i think about it, with your set-up, Ill probably just take the 14awg like you the lenght, and just use wire stripper/separator and solder the wire from the LED straight to it, then shrink wrap. then that would leave me with 2 wires, HUH!

lol,

That's exactly what I did when I made my first one. It looks pretty nice. If you get adhesive lined heat shrink, it would be the bees knees.

 

[ttystikk]

I'm learning a lot about this style of lighting. Lots of good DIY tips.

What's the overall cost per 100W of light?

How big are these frames? How did you decide on the size of the frames you used? Did I miss a light calculation somewhere?

I'm looking forward to seeing how these work! I'm also looking forward to seeing how one works on the plants around them.

 

[Big Green Thumb]

I'm learning a lot about this style of lighting. Lots of good DIY tips.

What's the overall cost per 100W of light?

>>>>>>I haven't calulated, but for an overhead 4' x 2' light, I use 1 360 watt power supply (Cheapo Amazon $20 special), 15 of the 22" 24v strips (about $30 off ebay. They are new strips from damaged Acuity lights.), and 3/4" aluminum channel for heat sinks from Home Depot ($11 x 4 sticks), 3/4" aluminum angle from HD ($11 x 1 stick), watt/amp/volt display from Amazon ($15), miscellaneous wiring, connectors, etc ($20). So around $140 for 360 watt light fixture (or $38.89 per 100 watts). That is driving each strip at a modest 1 amp each.

How big are these frames? How did you decide on the size of the frames you used? Did I miss a light calculation somewhere?

>>>>>>>>>>>> I built these frames 23" x 43" only because the strips 22" and 15 of them spaced 3" apart is about 43"! No big theory behind it other 2 of them fit perfectly in my 4x4 area. I bought some strips that are 46" long that I used for the perimeter of the 4' x 4' area that I made 4' long since that works. The width (height actually) on these are 30" IIRC but am only using about 22" of that as of now. I put the 4- 46" strips 7" apart for now but can mount them wider to accomodate a taller plant as they grow. It's not easy to put into words....



I'm looking forward to seeing how these work! I'm also looking forward to seeing how one works on the plants around them.

>>>>>> I made 2 side lights so they will pivot open like a gate. I have not needed to do that yet since there is 7" between the horizontal strips so I can fit my scrawny arms in okay so far.[/QUOTE]

>>>>Light calculation? As in par watts or something? I don't have a par meter, but all of my listed wattages are OUT of my power supplies, not before. I ASSume these lights should be operating in the 150+ lumens per watt.

Full disclosure: I have no idea how well these will work but with the way my mind works, I must constantly be learning something new and building or there goes my sanity. I am not a seasoned grower, just an obsessive hobbyist. Last hobby was building horn loaded subwoofers and line array speakers, next stop Ethereum mining rig!

 

[ttystikk]

@Big Green Thumb
So each 22" long LED strip is $30? That's $450 for 15 of them. I'm trying to get a handle on cost. Obviously I'm missing something because that's a lot higher than the number you mentioned.

I'm very interested in how this system works. I like the gate access idea, that will make it possible to pull plants out to work on them.

I appreciate the discussion and I'll be watching closely. The technology is moving so quickly it's hard to keep up with all the innovations!

 

[Rolla J]

He stated (15)× 24v strips for 30 dollars on ebay

 

[ttystikk]

He stated (15)× 24v strips for 30 dollars on ebay

That's crazy cheap.

 

[Big Green Thumb]

These are some of what I bought...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Acuity-Rigid-DBL-56-LED-N-D-Light-Strip-KS-6-Replacement-8-Pack-BONUS/262916650691?ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

$20 for 10 strips. I bought 45 of the 46" strips for $105 shipped.

 

[InTheValley]

Hey BGT, hows it going?

While wiating for the strips, Im looking at a 30A p/s, 360watts. SO in parellel, I have 30,000 mA? or 20ma per diode?

30,000 divd by 1440 ( diodes ) = 200ma each diode?

lol, idk,,

but ill tell ya this, 216 lumens per watt is insane, cxb3590 is like 185lumens per watt i think it was.

 

[Big Green Thumb]

Hey BGT, hows it going?

While wiating for the strips, Im looking at a 30A p/s, 360watts. SO in parellel, I have 30,000 mA? or 20ma per diode?

30,000 divd by 1440 ( diodes ) = 200ma each diode?

lol, idk,,

but ill tell ya this, 216 lumens per watt is insane, cxb3590 is like 185lumens per watt i think it was.

Yep you have the potential for 30 amps (30,000 mA) if you have the power supply cranked up. Actually it is probably capable of 400 watts, but I wouldn't push that high long term.

216 lumens per watt is amazing if true. I'm not saying it is not true, but I don't really hear of any 200 lumens per watt light setups. Maybe there are some. My strips are being run at less than 500 mA each so should be quite efficient, but I doubt mine are pushing 200. Even if your number is 20% exaggerated they will still be damn efficient.

 

[ttystikk]

Yep you have the potential for 30 amps (30,000 mA) if you have the power supply cranked up. Actually it is probably capable of 400 watts, but I wouldn't push that high long term.

216 lumens per watt is amazing if true. I'm not saying it is not true, but I don't really hear of any 200 lumens per watt light setups. Maybe there are some. My strips are being run at less than 500 mA each so should be quite efficient, but I doubt mine are pushing 200. Even if your number is 20% exaggerated they will still be damn efficient.

I'm not buying that number for a hot second.

 

[Father Ramirez]

A tip of the cannabis cap to you, sir! This appears to be the grow room of the future, once it is made as a modular, snap and connect system, offered in a variety of sizes. It looks so cool! Excellent work.

When my electrician sees your pictures he will smile and drool.

 

[nfhiggs]

I'm learning a lot about this style of lighting. Lots of good DIY tips.

What's the overall cost per 100W of light?

>>>>>>I haven't calulated, but for an overhead 4' x 2' light, I use 1 360 watt power supply (Cheapo Amazon $20 special), 15 of the 22" 24v strips (about $30 off ebay. They are new strips from damaged Acuity lights.), and 3/4" aluminum channel for heat sinks from Home Depot ($11 x 4 sticks), 3/4" aluminum angle from HD ($11 x 1 stick), watt/amp/volt display from Amazon ($15), miscellaneous wiring, connectors, etc ($20). So around $140 for 360 watt light fixture (or $38.89 per 100 watts). That is driving each strip at a modest 1 amp each.

How big are these frames? How did you decide on the size of the frames you used? Did I miss a light calculation somewhere?

>>>>>>>>>>>> I built these frames 23" x 43" only because the strips 22" and 15 of them spaced 3" apart is about 43"! No big theory behind it other 2 of them fit perfectly in my 4x4 area. I bought some strips that are 46" long that I used for the perimeter of the 4' x 4' area that I made 4' long since that works. The width (height actually) on these are 30" IIRC but am only using about 22" of that as of now. I put the 4- 46" strips 7" apart for now but can mount them wider to accomodate a taller plant as they grow. It's not easy to put into words....

View attachment 4005023

I'm looking forward to seeing how these work! I'm also looking forward to seeing how one works on the plants around them.

>>>>>> I made 2 side lights so they will pivot open like a gate. I have not needed to do that yet since there is 7" between the horizontal strips so I can fit my scrawny arms in okay so far.

>>>>Light calculation? As in par watts or something? I don't have a par meter, but all of my listed wattages are OUT of my power supplies, not before. I ASSume these lights should be operating in the 150+ lumens per watt.

Full disclosure: I have no idea how well these will work but with the way my mind works, I must constantly be learning something new and building or there goes my sanity. I am not a seasoned grower, just an obsessive hobbyist. Last hobby was building horn loaded subwoofers and line array speakers, next stop Ethereum mining rig![/QUOTE]
Funny you mention Etherium. I was holding Etherium on a trading site (just a few bucks worth to start with) that went from $8 per coin to $300 over just a few weeks, then the Feds shut the trading site down! Arrg!