Battery Powered 730nm Initiators and Micro Cabs

Mr John

Active Member
I just read it in one of my 3 MJ grow books that those far red spectrum's do help even at just a few minutes. Just can remember which book it was in, Ed Rosenthals maybe.. But anyway it is documented and apparently not a new trick but one that has been around for sometime.
 

bbspills

Well-Known Member
Or just use halogen incandescents. Cheap and easy to wire up. I use the GE Reveals. Work great. I run my flower lights up to 13.5 hours.
 

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
^ nice same one @ Steve's which are going for 3.49 Apiece!

Merry on Ebay might have them cheaper, but you have have to buy 50-100 diodes...eek


Thanks bb......for my space, these are probably too big. Even in my big box. But I have been looking and has anyone seen small ass halogen heat lamps some of the 2-3 inch variety, not sure what they refer to those as?........

Or just use halogen incandescents. Cheap and easy to wire up. I use the GE Reveals. Work great. I run my flower lights up to 13.5 hours.
 

Scotch089

Well-Known Member
Me too. Anyone used this cheap of emitters? 13 bucks... idk.... specially 730nm "Epistar's" lol. Figured im not out too much if its a hoax.

I see a few "vendors" that are offering 730 and 840nm for closer to $50 for x10 of either.

EDIT:

there IS a listing from China that is for 5w 730's (1400ma cap.) that we could get to a full 3w/led. With 90* angle...
 

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
^They are Selling similar ones @ Steves @ $3.50 apiece [but don't know about bin# :)]

Steve's doesn't carry much, but the stuff they do, seems to have a fairly reliable rep.


Damn y'all, now I got to keep up! :peace:
 

Scotch089

Well-Known Member
Eh 'taker, you have the cheapest driver option for those emitters too? Found one "UL listed" on eBay that seems in spec (350ma, 24.5maxV), but should I be concerned about min V's? Surely not? Driving anywhere for 6-12 emitters.

they are rated 1.8-2.0 and 350-700

edit: I don't mean to jack
 

caretak3r

Well-Known Member
Eh 'taker, you have the cheapest driver option for those emitters too? Found one "UL listed" on eBay that seems in spec (350ma, 24.5maxV), but should I be concerned about min V's? Surely not? Driving anywhere for 6-12 emitters.

they are rated 1.8-2.0 and 350-700

edit: I don't mean to jack
I haven't spent the time searching for drivers - I have some laying around that should work. I may be wrong, but i think you always have to make sure the minimum voltage isn't more than ((voltage per chip) X #chips) or you run the risk of frying them. I've certainly fried 1 LED hooking it up to min voltage of 8V
 

lax123

Well-Known Member
I bought this 20W Driver (600-650mA) for those IRs http://www.ebay.com/itm/161062121092?var=460188350726&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 if i dont reach Minimum voltage Ill add some other leds...
I may be wrong, but i think you always have to make sure the minimum voltage isn't more than ((voltage per chip) X #Chips)
i dont quite get what you are saying but i think thats wrong. On the other Hand im talking about constant current Drivers...which you r supposed to use. If u dont reach the Minimum voltage e.g. 18V of the Driver in the pic: 18-36V. it might start to flicker, because i goes into "fail protection mode" and resets itself all the time. You only fry ur leds if you exceed the constant current of 700mA for These leds.
 

caretak3r

Well-Known Member
you understood what I was trying to say - I took a 700ma constant current driver rated for 8-24V (17Watt) and connected 1 LED to it - it flickered, and was no more. I now use 2 AA batteries for a safe test of single LED chips
 

Scotch089

Well-Known Member
I bought this 20W Driver (600-650mA) for those IRs http://www.ebay.com/itm/161062121092?var=460188350726&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649 if i dont reach Minimum voltage Ill add some other leds...
Thanks for the direction Lax, rep to you bruv.

I tend to make things harder than they need to be.. but I really need some clarifying words if anyone has some insight. Since these emitters are rated @ 700mA, 1.8-2.0V:

(1.)Driving x12 @ 650mA is 15.6w, under the capacity of the driver (20w), but, the driver is rated in "Output:" 650mA, 28-40V DC

So would it actually HAVE TO run at least x14 @ 2.0V? if not x16 for 1.8, to meet the minimum?? Or can we ignore this and stick to IC=P

(2.)it IS the amps that determines how hard a diode's driven/the lifespan, right? So would it be reasonable to say that running a 350 or 500mA driver would be reasonable? 730's are not going to be on enough to burn em up quick, but are there any other benefits of this that's worth doing?

I miss my buddy fran jan... hope all is well and people are staying WARM.
 

lax123

Well-Known Member
In the pic of the Driver its showing 18V-XXX, so i guess u dont have to be afraid to gamble torwards to what u will actually get ;-)

1. yea it may vary on whats actually neccessary and might still work with 12x, but be prepared to add some random leds to meet the requirement. While invsible to the human I think any camera will make those 730nm visible, to see whats going on.
2. lifespan strongly depends on max temperature+time it gets this temp, within the rating of 700mA i d not worry too much, ++ if you will let it run on like e.g. 30mins a day id even be less concerned, as in not at all.
2. the less current you use the more efficient leds will be, but in this case i just want to maximize the effect of those 730 ->while decreasing in efficiency more current means still more W output of 730nm... so im going with that.
 

Positivity

Well-Known Member
Yah ill second that..you can see some red coming out of 735nm.

In the process of making a flower trigger now. Two 10w 735nm ledengin leds and a 25w driver, should pull about 13w. Thinking of just mounting it on a 2' x 1" strip of aluminum that can be hung on a wall and angled at the canopy
 
Top