Buy it or DIY it?

[rob333]

i live in the highest price power country in the world my mate refitted his whole grow room with leds only saved 83.80$ off his power bill from hps to led and now his out of pocket cant sell his lights and losing about a pound every 3 months

from making 33k every 3 months to 14 k every 3 months that tells me alot

 

[rob333]

from making 33k every 3 months to 14 k every 3 months that tells me alot

and same thing with every led growing leds are so good then theres a grow room with bout 7 leds hanging from the roof yea there soooooo gooood

 

[diggs99]

Ok guys,

i ordered the H-influx strips and 2x 600 drivers

could you guys give me a quick run down of the little things?

wire being used?
frame material
connectors


anything that ill need, im assuming ill be able to find most of the smaller stuff on my own.

 

[1212ham]

18ga. solid wire for the push-in connectors on the strips. Get your cousin involved in the wiring, it will save us a lot of explaining.
Aluminum angle or u-channel is often used for frame/heatsink.
I like this to mount the strips, some use screws. https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ceatech-20mm-x-25m-Double-Side-Adhesive-Thermal-Conductive-Tape-for-Heatsink-LED/202112306674?epid=24002731050&hash=item2f0ed50df2:g:wm0AAOSwk1haCbN5
I've also used dirt cheap Chinese heat sink paste and zip ties.
Most use Wagos for connectors. If you bought the B version drivers, you'll need 100k potentiometers for dimming.
Have fun.

 

[diggs99]

ugh just checked email and now the H-influx strips are also on back order, so my order has not been completed.

Gonna have to find them from another site.

Digikey is out of stock on 600 drivers and the h influx strips.

 

[Major Blazer]

ugh just checked email and now the H-influx strips are also on back order, so my order has not been completed.

Gonna have to find them from another site.

Digikey is out of stock on 600 drivers and the h influx strips.

Did I mention DIY was out of love already? Lol I've been trying to get PLC strips for months. >.<

 

[diggs99]

Did I mention DIY was out of love already? Lol I've been trying to get PLC strips for months. >.<

Lol more and more I appreciate that post of yours about diy love

Timber starting to look good again lol

 

[ANC]

I fucking hate those connectors. Mine always start messing about when temps change a lot.
Thinking of just soldering everything up. Haven't felt the need to change anything in a year, so I guess I could just lock things down.

 

[zblade]

I build my 3590 panels and have been very pleased,
I get more out of 450watts out of wall than I did using 750watts plus 50% savings in electricity because of cooling savings.
If I vented everything properly I’d save even more but cutting up walls or ceilings I can’t do.
Try watching growmau5 YouTube videos on building cob panels.
Cobs are simple and once you learn about them you can apply it to other leds.
Growmau5 also proves what he builds by growing and he’s easy to follow.
Rapid leds has better prices than China now.
I ordered from China but that was before tarriffs.
You will save 50% by building your own system.

 

[TheTinkerer]

I’ve spent at least 30 hours this week reading about diy led and my brain is about to explode! I see why HID are so popular. I still want to build some led lights, but it’s a lot of work to figure out what to get and where to get it. Whew.

 

[Chip Green]

30 hours this week

Buckle up, you've just barely peeked over the edge of the rabbit hole.....

 

[Humple]

I’ve spent at least 30 hours this week reading about diy led and my brain is about to explode! I see why HID are so popular. I still want to build some led lights, but it’s a lot of work to figure out what to get and where to get it. Whew.

That's half the fun, man! Tinkering, customizing, making it your own. Can't get the same sense of satisfaction and accomplishment from just hanging a bulb. Though I know some people just don't care about that aspect and would rather not have to think about it, but for me it's a huge part of the whole growing experience.

 

[Gary031]

I’ve spent at least 30 hours this week reading about diy led and my brain is about to explode! I see why HID are so popular. I still want to build some led lights, but it’s a lot of work to figure out what to get and where to get it. Whew.

Likewise!! And the week before that..Haha I now just want to run 5x 2ft h influx strips on a A type driver with u channel as heatsinks so don't want to run them too hard...And I still can't figure out what driver to use or how best to wire.

 

[nonameguy321]

diggs99 - Please continue to update.

You (tried to) go with the H inFlux strips rather than the F-Series under the assumption they are cheaper. They are not. I believe you were comparing the price of 1120mm long strips to 561mm strips -- or you were comparing half widths. Either way, the strips are essentially the same price with the difference being - F-Series is in stock, while inFlux appears out of stock everywhere.

 

[diggs99]

I am still researching this project and will still be having a couple of these built in the future.

It all got a little overwhelming and then annoying , so I went ahead and bought 2 x cmh for now to go with my hps

Great thread tho, so much good info in here for anyone wanting to go this route.

 

[kotobide]

from making 33k every 3 months to 14 k every 3 months that tells me alot

>losing about a pound every 3 months

this tells me you fail to understand basic math

 

[rob333]

>losing about a pound every 3 months

this tells me you fail to understand basic math

that tells me that leds are a waste of money and time

 

[Chip Green]

Only in the hands of simpletons.

 

[diggs99]

lol

 

[Keesje]

from making 33k every 3 months to 14 k every 3 months that tells me alot

It tells me your friend is a loser and lousy grower.