Apollo Series LED panels from Cidly

[ChrisGGG]

How do these compare to the e.shines? Both seem very reasonable for prefab units. I would love to clone a Evo grow light and do 6:3 660nm and 10000k white.

 

[squarefodder]

How do these compare to the e.shines? Both seem very reasonable for prefab units. I would love to clone a Evo grow light and do 6:3 660nm and 10000k white.

its a grow light that you can customize to your liking. They are a good value and are quite affordable imo. They have good email correspondence, however they are not located in the usa and I have no idea how they handle returns etc. The unit is modular though.

this http://www.proledsystems.com/led-grow-lights/3rd-generation/pro-grow-150.html unit is 400 for a 150w while an apollo4 draws around 135w. Its not listed how much this 150w led is actually drawing. The apollo4 is 200 shipped, half the price of the other unit.

If you want pre fab check the link in my previous post they are around 200 shipped.

 

[ChrisGGG]

The e.shines seem very similar and I'm guessing comparable quality being from China. I think my choice between them would be solely on price.

 

[Psytranceorgy]

I exchanged emails directly with e-shine rep about their gen4 'nano' technology... cool stuff! but ultimately I didn't find the design I was looking for, and the cost was higher. The e-shine gen3 panels are by far more common, and are probably what most people are familiar with when they think of e-shine (these designs can be found everywhere) I have not looked into the gen3 stuff, so you might have an inclination to do so... if you do, please keep us updated!

Of course the Apollos are the current 'next gen' for Cidly as well, and their previous model is also very common and is what most people are familiar with ('Blackstar'... 'UFO' type systems)

 

[cowboyjunkie]

Just received a quote from Cidly on two (2) custom Apollo 6's.

One for Veg $219
One for Flower $239
Shipping to Canada $135

Total $593

 

[Psytranceorgy]

^ ^ ^ nice man you should start a thread here and let us know what you think when yours arrive/you get them running in your garden! good luck and happy growing

curious, what wavelengths are you speccing out?

 

[hölynpöly]

I got a quote on an Apollo4.

I calculated the unit prise, posting (Europe)and banking fees, currency conversion losses and approximate taxes.
The total prise for me is about 220€. That´s not bad. I think I´m going for it!

I found this site where is lot of interesting info on the Apollos.
It looks to be mr. Sing Lees site. singledgrowlight.blog.com

 

[mikejhh]

Very informative thread.

Big thanks to Psytranceorgy, for the informative information on the Apollo series.
I just ordered myself an Apollo 12 ($520 / shipping included). Also let me design my own spectrum!

I spoke with Sing, and we was nice enough to give me a growers discount and talked on Skype for a half hour.
That being said they seem like great lights for the price and the customization they offer.

Long time lurker sorry

 

[wadz]

Is this the same outfit the produces the LED panels for Area 51 also? i know area 51 isnt US made and it seems all led come from only 2-3 manufacturing centers regardless of what name its branded with

 

[mikejhh]

Is this the same outfit the produces the LED panels for Area 51 also? i know area 51 isnt US made and it seems all led come from only 2-3 manufacturing centers regardless of what name its branded with

I don't believe so. Area 51 LED's look like re-branded e-shine lights from their pictures.
http://www.eshinesystems.com/grow/3g-led-grow-light.html

In my opinion though, I think LED design is moving towards these multiple orbicular units with (15 led clusters) from the traditional e.g. 3x100w.
I believe there is a user also on this board testing a new blackstar LED that used orbicular clusters.
From

To

 

[ChrisGGG]

Yeah the new BlackStars are their "Chrome" series. I really like the modularity of the design. Plus with the Cindly you can swap out the lenses individually.

 

[Psytranceorgy]

Sing Lee's answers about the fans in the Apollo, as promised:

The Apollo 12 is built with 6 fans (input Voltage 12V and input Current 0.25A at each one)

The conversion rate of the Apollo LED driver system is 90%, it means the Apollo driver system and thermal system have an inner comsuption about 10% of its total actual power.
This is why the Apollo 12 total actual power is 410-430W (according to different spectrum ratio), but the actual LEDs output power is 365-390W, because the driver system and thermal system consume 10% of its total energy.

also, Sing offered this advice to me while considering the construction of my Apollo 12s:

I have just re-calculated your spectrum, 11 pcs Red and Orange LEDs, 4 pcs Blue and White LEDs:
3 Red 660nm
3 Red 650-670nm
2 Red 630-640nm
2 Red 620-630nm
1 Orange 610-615nm
2 Blue 450-470nm
1 Blue 420-430nm
1 White 6000K

It seems if we build the Red and Orange LEDs as 2.7V Input voltage, the output is very close to our limitation(45V).
Here:
11x2.7+4x3.8=44.9V.


To consider a long lasting and safe performance, i would recommend to reduce 0.1V in the Red LEDs, build them as 2.6V Input voltage.
11x2.6+4x3.8=43.8V.
If so, you have to sacrifice 11x12x0.1x0.7=9.24W in the Apollo 12. But for a prolonged lifespan, i think it is worthy doing so.


Well, I agree with this, and was impressed with this level of customer care in dealing with my panel customization. The fact that Mr. Lee addressed this with me honestly before building the panels says a lot to me... Just figured I would share...

 

[mikejhh]

^
Doh! I pretty much used your old spectrum you posted with 1-2 more blue leds if I recall. Since I wanted to use my light for my whole grow start to finish.

 

[Psytranceorgy]

^
Doh! I pretty much used your old spectrum you posted with 1-2 more blue leds if I recall. Since I wanted to use my light for my whole grow start to finish.

hrmmm well hope that I did not throw you off in any way... I do know that with Apollos you can only have a maximum of 5 white/blue/green/UV per 15-LED module because they run at higher input voltage (3.8V)... but yeah I am sure that you are fine if yours has another blue LED in it, that will be no problem my friend

 

[jubiare]

Psy, if I was u I'd use one less blue for one extra red! Even the white you choose is cool, so will give u blu spectrum! I've seen impressive things with very little blue, I've seen problems with too much blue (es.spectra)

 

[Psytranceorgy]

Psy, if I was u I'd use one less blue for one extra red! Even the white you choose is cool, so will give u blu spectrum!

yeah that's fair... there is probably plenty of blue if I take one of those 450-470 out... and I go back and forth on it... lol decisions, decisions... I go back and forth on that white LED color choice too... I mean, I still plan to use my 2700K CFLs to supplement during flower, and they also have some blue

Let me ask you jubiare, what ratio of 660nm to 630nm in your opinion is ideal? I go back and forth a little on that one too... so that I end up feeling that I will just go with something right around 50/50 on that... some seem to like more 630 than 660... and the latest trend seems to be to prefer more 660 than 630...

anyways, I appreciate your thoughts...

 

[Psytranceorgy]

^^^ I guess I am actually leaning towards 60/40 on the 660/630 ratio...

 

[jubiare]

Even when u need the light for full cycle, the use of blue is overrated... too much blue won't hurt but it stunts the grow somehow? But it will hurt for flowering, cos you sacrifice reds for them! Mind little amount of blue is mandatory for swallen buds up and thc production (it does what uvb would do)

 

[jubiare]

Pay, I would lie to you if I had a def answer on the reds ratio ahah! It's def good u are using both, some strains do not tolerate nicely all 660. I personally went for 1/3 630/660 lately, but that has to do with efficiency too.. I too keep changing my mind ahah!

 

[Psytranceorgy]

^^^ understood! thanks