What led is best value for small grow

[jimjim2609]

Bought one of these today to put in the led floodlight. http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271104667863?var=570127227130&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649#ht_5147wt_1037 It was only $10 so it was cheap enough. The 10w one is the only one that he sells at the moment so i asked him if he could make a 30w or 50w chip. He said he would have a go and get back to me when he has made them. Its going to be interesting to see how good it is. 8:1 ratio red:blue is pretty good. What does everyone think?

 

[Chronikool]

Oh yip....so are you replacing this for your cool white and installing it in your floodlight housing?

 

[Bumping Spheda]

I dig it! I've actually thought about LED's very similar to that. Here's some of the links I was looking at in no particular order. All this stuff is listed by the same seller. They're located in Hong Kong and usually have free worldwide shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-/271051126732?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1be7f7cc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-8W-630nm-Red-High-Power-420LM-LED-Panel-/270852025830?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1009ede6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-/220844846100?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336b60ec14

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Floodlight-Over-Heat-Protection-/270840428310?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0f58f716

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EPISTAR-48W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-w-Driver-/220978818129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33735d2c51

They've got a lot of stuff, you might wanna peruse through they're store, and although I haven't contacted them I feel they'd be willing to work with you on a custom order such as a 100W grow spectrum LED fitted inside a flood light fixture with driver, that sort of thing.

 

[jimjim2609]

Oh yip....so are you replacing this for your cool white and installing it in your floodlight housing?

Yeah, thats the plan, I pulled it apart today and it looks pretty easy to swap over. Just a case of unscrewing the old led, Desolder and re solder the new one in and screw back together.

 

[jimjim2609]

I dig it! I've actually thought about LED's very similar to that. Here's some of the links I was looking at in no particular order. All this stuff is listed by the same seller. They're located in Hong Kong and usually have free worldwide shipping.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-/271051126732?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1be7f7cc

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-8W-630nm-Red-High-Power-420LM-LED-Panel-/270852025830?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f1009ede6

http://www.ebay.com/itm/16W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-/220844846100?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336b60ec14

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Floodlight-Over-Heat-Protection-/270840428310?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f0f58f716

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EPISTAR-48W-Greenhouse-Fast-Grow-Led-Panel-w-Driver-/220978818129?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33735d2c51

They've got a lot of stuff, you might wanna peruse through they're store, and although I haven't contacted them I feel they'd be willing to work with you on a custom order such as a 100W grow spectrum LED fitted inside a flood light fixture with driver, that sort of thing.

Looks very interesting. I'll get incontact with them and see what they say

 

[Scroga]

Let us know how ya go

 

[FranJan]

Yeah, thats the plan, I pulled it apart today and it looks pretty easy to swap over. Just a case of unscrewing the old led, Desolder and re solder the new one in and screw back together.

Be careful there Jimjim. Did you check the driver/transformer output and make sure it's voltage is compatible? Spots sometimes use IC chips and transformers instead of just a driver to get some custom voltages. You may want to buy a driver that's compatible with your array to be safe. Then again you may not have to worry and it will work as a drop in solution. So the question is, can you afford to fry your new toy in the pursuit of knowledge? Take Care and Happy Growing!

 

[jimjim2609]

Be careful there Jimjim. Did you check the driver/transformer output and make sure it's voltage is compatible? Spots sometimes use IC chips and transformers instead of just a driver to get some custom voltages. You may want to buy a driver that's compatible with your array to be safe. Then again you may not have to worry and it will work as a drop in solution. So the question is, can you afford to fry your new toy in the pursuit of knowledge? Take Care and Happy Growing!

It's only $10 for the chip so it's worth ago. If it blows up ill just put the old one back in. At this stage its just a trial an error grow this time. It's my first time using led's so im giving some of the cheap options ago just to see what works and what doesn't. I have had a few Chinese companies give me prices on ufo's and par38 lights, i can get a 50w ufo with 25x3w leds in any ratio and color i want for $35 a piece and $15 delivery. I might have to get a taller grow area before i use the ufos but. They were saying it should hang 20 to 30 cm away from the canopy. Im only running with a height of 55-60 cm in total so not really idea atm, but thanks for the input and ill keep everyone posted when it arrives and how it goes.

 

[jimjim2609]

If i was to go for a ufo what way im i better off going. I can either get one 50w ufo with 25x3w leds or would i be better off getting one 50w ufo with 50x1w leds. Is there going to be much difference between the two. Ive heard 1w leds are better than 3w leds. Is this true or will 3w led give me better penetration even though they are only running at 2/3 there power.

 

[jimjim2609]

I bit the bullet and ended up buying a led panel from merry on ebay. I got a mixture of 1w and 3w LEDs. It works out to be a 7 different spectrum led. So the setup will eventually have 2 x par38 leds, 1 x led panel and and 1 x led floodlight. I think total wattage is around 70w which should be enough for the area i have. Ill post pics of my grow once it is all setup.

 

[jimjim2609]

My 10w led from ebay for the flood light arrived today. I stripped down the floodlight and changed over the led chip. Turned it on and it works.

 

[jimjim2609]

Heres a couple of progress pics from my grow. Hopefully they are both girls.

Cheese Bomb from Bomb Seeds (13 days old)

Master Kush from Spliff Seeds (13 days old)

The Master Kush has just taken off compared to the cheese bomb. Probably another 1-2 weeks of veg then switch to 12/12. The light on the kush is just the 10w red:blue floodlight led. I can only imagine what the 30w cree led would look like.

 

[Bumping Spheda]

Woot! Awww yea, here we go.

 

[Scroga]

Tutorial please! I know I need to do this!! +rep

 

[jimjim2609]

I just ordered another 2 of the 10w red:blue leds. It incredible how good they are. Here's another couple of pics.

Day 15.

The guy i bought the led off contacted me to let me know he is going to make me a 30w led made the same way as the 10w. Cant wait.4

 

[jimjim2609]

Tutorial please! I know I need to do this!! +rep

Are you talking about converting the floodlight?

 

[Bumping Spheda]

Yea, I believe he was talking about the conversion process of the floodlights.

Hey, the grow looks great so far, glad to hear it's working out. And a 30W fixture? Very cool. Did he say how much he'd charge you? Is he willing to negotiate spectrums and stuff? People might be interested in this sort of thing.

 

[Scroga]

Havnt done any.soldering since.high school but I know I can do this... I'm unsure of the type of flood used? If it matters? It sounds fairly simple..i just want to be sure so I don't create a fire hazard... Links appreciated..Cheers..

 

[budzrus]

I have been looking into led lighting and I am very interested how your grow turns out. Please keep us posted and hell yes a tutorial would be great.

 

[jimjim2609]

Havnt done any.soldering since.high school but I know I can do this... I'm unsure of the type of flood used? If it matters? It sounds fairly simple..i just want to be sure so I don't create a fire hazard... Links appreciated..Cheers..

Don't worry to much about it. I'm the same. I don't have a soldering iron(i have one coming). I just used a cheap $12.99 10w flood light off ebay. I think they are 85-265v so they will work everywhere. All i did was unscrewed the lens (4 screws), then unscrewed the reflector(2 screws, 2 were missing). Now you can see the led and a red and a black wire. I just cut the wires, unscrewed the the led and used a flat blade screwdriver to lift the old led off. I stripped the ends of the wire and connected the red to the positive and the black to the negative side. I got some solder and a jet lighter and gave a rough solder. Then all i did was screw everything back together. I have left the lens off because it looks like it lets out more light. I couldn't believe how easy it is. If you want to know anymore just let me know.