CFL vs LED veg

NinjaMaster · Sep 25, 2017

Hey dudes.

I already have an LED for flowering and im happy with it - but now im using CFL for VEG.

The CFL's take up a lot of space as its a hanging fixture i built. i can't use the CFL and LED together as the
CFL fixture is too big.

I was thinking of replacing my 100w CFL (5x20w) with a cheap LED running at real 60w (3w epistar diodes)
I can build the LED myself. It will be cheap to do as well.

1x2 foot space

Would it even be worth it or should i just leave the CFL's to veg my plants?

KrazyG · Sep 25, 2017

Hi I use 90w of 3w epistar diodes @ 5k for my veg with great results, short bushy ladies with really close nodes. No heat my cab stays at 20°c. I recycled mine from an old shop sign, can't beat a skip raid.

NinjaMaster · Sep 25, 2017

so would a REAL 60w LED (thats a 60w input running 3w diodes) outperform my 5x 20w cfls?
the cfls just take up so much space... the LED panel would be tiny in comparison.

Rolla J · Sep 25, 2017

I was using 2-3 65w cfls and yeah it was pretty bulky! I built a diy veg light out of led strip reel. Used 24 ft of 6000k-6500k 5630 led strip. I just cut em layed em out on flat .064" aluminum panels and built a frame. The frame was easy but laying em out was fun. Soldering was ok lol. Took me about 2 hours to cut the strips lay em and solder em. now i have a light that is super slim and works well. Doesnt produce the heat like them cfls do!

About halfway on the voltage adjuster. Pretty bright turnt up. Have pc fans for cooling

Rolla J · Sep 25, 2017

NinjaMaster said:
so would a REAL 60w LED (thats a 60w input running 3w diodes) outperform my 5x 20w cfls?
the cfls just take up so much space... the LED panel would be tiny in comparison.

If u r running 10watts a sqft with decent led you can get away with it for veg. I think 50 watts of led to 100w of cfl will do just as good if not better

sallygram · Sep 25, 2017

Rolla J said:
I was using 2-3 65w cfls and yeah it was pretty bulky! I built a diy veg light out of led strip reel. Used 24 ft of 6000k-6500k 5630 led strip. I just cut em layed em out on flat .064" aluminum panels and built a frame. The frame was easy but laying em out was fun. Soldering was ok lol. Took me about 2 hours to cut the strips lay em and solder em. now i have a light that is super slim and works well. Doesnt produce the heat like them cfls do!View attachment 4016673About halfway on the voltage adjuster. Pretty bright turnt up. Have pc fans for cooling

That is real nice I thought they were QB120's (I just bought 4 of them) what type of driver are you using?

Rolla J · Sep 25, 2017

sallygram said:
That is real nice I thought they were QB120's (I just bought 4 of them) what type of driver are you using?

Im just living the fantasy of owning a qb lol congrats on your purchase!
16 strips a panel (240x 5630 diodes)each panel hooked up to their own channel (2 channels) on the led power supply
Its a 12v 15amp 180w Power supply i snagged for 8 bucks on amazon. After purchase it went up to 18$ lol
15$ for 2 x 16.4 reels led lights
8$ for the ps
20$ for the aluminum.
4 bucks for hardware about 50$ cost.
Stoner math would be like ~55w a panel at full voltage
Here is a previous run 1st run with it

b4 transplant to flower 6week veg

NinjaMaster · Sep 25, 2017

dude thanks! loving that setup its killer!

Rolla J · Sep 25, 2017

Thanks man. I appreciate it! If im struggling to keep the temp up in the box during winter ill add a cfl for sure. I gutted a 5 drawer cabinet lol. And just slab a 2x4 infront perfectly with super duper strong velcro

I originally was guna use these 2 fixtures and make a frame out of it

And install led bulbs with the diffuser cut out. But said fuuuuccckkkkk iiitttt DIY a led light

CFL vs LED veg

NinjaMaster

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KrazyG

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NinjaMaster

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Rolla J

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Rolla J

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sallygram

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Rolla J

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NinjaMaster

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Rolla J

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