Bridgelux EB Series Build

I bought 4x 44" Bridgelux e series strips and a elg 200 c1050a driver wired in series. Rig isn't lighting up did I get the wrong driver? Should I wire in parallel?
 
So i think im finished but bit concerned about the amount of flex. I have another 6 strips to use and build so any suggestions are welcome on how to improve this. Not sure if I just scrap this one aswell since it's flexing so much but at its current height it's 35inches from the top of the pot and does 20k lumens, at 18 inch its 30k. Anyway I can convert these lumens into something usable like ppfd etc? The flex doesn't seem to make much difference in that way but I still think it would be better if all are pointed down instead of these outer ones pointing sideways also. Been a bit of a clusterfuck trying to do this on the cheap since I don't have any tools but I now have a decent drill i can use so might just go with some thicker aluminium for less flex. Thoughts?
 

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rayuki said:
So i think im finished but bit concerned about the amount of flex. I have another 6 strips to use and build so any suggestions are welcome on how to improve this. Not sure if I just scrap this one aswell since it's flexing so much but at its current height it's 35inches from the top of the pot and does 20k lumens, at 18 inch its 30k. Anyway I can convert these lumens into something usable like ppfd etc? The flex doesn't seem to make much difference in that way but I still think it would be better if all are pointed down instead of these outer ones pointing sideways also. Been a bit of a clusterfuck trying to do this on the cheap since I don't have any tools but I now have a decent drill i can use so might just go with some thicker aluminium for less flex. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Maybe it's jut my tired, old eyes, but I can't tell what I'm looking at in your photos. Perhaps if you describe your materials and how it's put together (or did you do that earlier?). Is it just that the end cross-members are too thin?

edit: Ah, I looked back and found your materials. I think if you just attach your aluminum sheet to a rectangular frame of 1/8 x 1 x 1 angle aluminum of equal dimensions it would stiffen it up significantly in all directions.
 
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rayuki said:
So i think im finished but bit concerned about the amount of flex. I have another 6 strips to use and build so any suggestions are welcome on how to improve this. Not sure if I just scrap this one aswell since it's flexing so much but at its current height it's 35inches from the top of the pot and does 20k lumens, at 18 inch its 30k. Anyway I can convert these lumens into something usable like ppfd etc? The flex doesn't seem to make much difference in that way but I still think it would be better if all are pointed down instead of these outer ones pointing sideways also. Been a bit of a clusterfuck trying to do this on the cheap since I don't have any tools but I now have a decent drill i can use so might just go with some thicker aluminium for less flex. Thoughts?
Click to expand...

Can you use 2 pieces of alu angle to brace it. I cant see that you have anything perpendicular to the strips?
 
rayuki said:
So i think im finished but bit concerned about the amount of flex. I have another 6 strips to use and build so any suggestions are welcome on how to improve this. Not sure if I just scrap this one aswell since it's flexing so much but at its current height it's 35inches from the top of the pot and does 20k lumens, at 18 inch its 30k. Anyway I can convert these lumens into something usable like ppfd etc? The flex doesn't seem to make much difference in that way but I still think it would be better if all are pointed down instead of these outer ones pointing sideways also. Been a bit of a clusterfuck trying to do this on the cheap since I don't have any tools but I now have a decent drill i can use so might just go with some thicker aluminium for less flex. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Either move your driver to a remote spot, or use a couple pieces of angle to stiffen it.
 
Cheers guys I'll have a look at adding some more along the ends also, the angle I have is just along the sides I thought that would be enough to stiffen it but the whole thing just flexes lol. Also can I just use pop rivets on these thin bits of ALU?
 
Yeah typical dumb cunt I am got home put this all together with fucking timber screws all while fishing thru my toolbox with the ol pop rivet gun right there. I'm gonna go get some rivets tomorrow and just do that lol.
 
Got my 2nd light up, will fix the other one at some point lol. How do I go about working out watts per square metre/foot? I have a lux app on my phone that says I'm getting 30k lux across the conopy with lights at around 80cm from tops of the pots. Closet is 9ft x 2f. Anyone know how i can work it out lol each board is 6 strips, 300w each so 600w total.
 

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rayuki said:
Got my 2nd light up, will fix the other one at some point lol. How do I go about working out watts per square metre/foot? I have a lux app on my phone that says I'm getting 30k lux across the conopy with lights at around 80cm from tops of the pots. Closet is 9ft x 2f. Anyone know how i can work it out lol each board is 6 strips, 300w each so 600w total.
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600W / (2*9)sqft = 33W/sqft

Nice veg numbers. Just 1 more light to have optimal flowering specs.:cool:
 
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rayuki said:
Got my 2nd light up, will fix the other one at some point lol. How do I go about working out watts per square metre/foot? I have a lux app on my phone that says I'm getting 30k lux across the conopy with lights at around 80cm from tops of the pots. Closet is 9ft x 2f. Anyone know how i can work it out lol each board is 6 strips, 300w each so 600w total.
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I would like to say a couple a things...first 33w a sq/ft will get you piles a smoke. Just lower your light and your lux/par will go up.

I run my EB strips about 4" apart and about 4" from the canopy...then I just dim them down as needed. If you run them as high from the canopy as there is space between them, you will get a very even blanket of photons across the canopy.

I run about 10k lux for seedlings and clones. About 20k lux to veg, and about 50k lux to flower. (My experience...your results may vary)

Secondly, things like, "Holy crap! I put my power supply in the middle of my light and it's all bowed out!" That is normal diy to have to redo things after trial and error...often several times. Don't be too hard on yourself.:mrgreen:
 
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rayuki said:
Got my 2nd light up, will fix the other one at some point lol. How do I go about working out watts per square metre/foot? I have a lux app on my phone that says I'm getting 30k lux across the conopy with lights at around 80cm from tops of the pots. Closet is 9ft x 2f. Anyone know how i can work it out lol each board is 6 strips, 300w each so 600w total.
Click to expand...

Your space is also narrow. Make your walls as reflective as possible even if it means grabbing some panda film to line them with. 600w in that space will be fine for flowering, especially if you run a scrog.
 
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