Diy FOTOP grow board 280x900x2.0mm (L29.52"xW9.18")

silvio140

Active Member
true....... but find me a another pre-fab board where you're almost guaranteed to get the same chips/ mcpcb/electrical connections/etc=== purchase after purchase with no unadvised alterations(cost cutting) down the road? you know, the ones you can recommend to the masses and such;)..............I'll wait
good quality box then. i don't want to open a debate which is obviously settled here, but i'll be back to you when i'll received these fotop boards and keep you in check for issues ;-)

back to the boards...4 of these in a 4x10, what do you think @Moflow ?
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
CAVEAT EMPTOR
the principle that the buyer alone is responsible for checking the quality and suitability of goods before a purchase is made.

I'm just a grower

I Cannot say what the internal copper is in these FOTOP Boards.
I Cannot say what diodes are used.

I can only show the readings I got while testing them and it's up to individual to interpret the findings and decide if it might suit your needs.


I am Not endorsing these boards for Meijui.

But I suppose there's no harm in showing them my findings in a vain attempt to get a discount lol lol
 

leviosa

Member
@Moflow - Any plans to get par maps with in an enclosed reflective space? I think I saw you had measured for it and saw higher values (as expected) but haven't seen a map yet.

Seriously, THANKS for doing the work to measure the par values on these things. You're a legend, man.
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
@Moflow - Any plans to get par maps with in an enclosed reflective space? I think I saw you had measured for it and saw higher values (as expected) but haven't seen a map yet.

Seriously, THANKS for doing the work to measure the par values on these things. You're a legend, man.
No spare tent to do that I'm afraid lol
I'l have room in a week or so to hang it in flowering area, I just need to chop the Wappa.
9 weeks flowering, gonna run it 10 weeks
 

htbj

Active Member
2 x FOTOP Boards on Meanwell HLG 320H 48A DRIVER

250 Wall Watts on kilowatt meter

Ambient room Temperature 18.2oC
View attachment 4115165

Back of board Temperature 34.1oC
View attachment 4115167 View attachment 4115168
Kilowatt reading
View attachment 4115170

And a PAR MAP at 250 watts
View attachment 4115173
Enjoy
That's awesome the data I was looking for from looking at your readings at 12" is comparable to what the hlg300 achieves at 18" but it seems while still pretty great doesn't have the same output of the hlg boards but close, either way still blows away a lot of the over priced older tech leds on the market would you mind doing readings at 18"? To compare the results maybe with more data we can prove they are true lm561c or even the differences din light output between the boards
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
That's awesome the data I was looking for from looking at your readings at 12" is comparable to what the hlg300 achieves at 18" but it seems while still pretty great doesn't have the same output of the hlg boards but close, either way still blows away a lot of the over priced older tech leds on the market would you mind doing readings at 18"? To compare the results maybe with more data we can prove they are true lm561c or even the differences din light output between the boards
Unfortunately the meter is out doing the rounds at moment but if I get a chance I will.
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
I chopped the Wappa, cleaned the room a bit and tidied up.
Hung the new light up in the middle.
I've doctored a Tower fan and put it on ceiling blowing on top of boards in the Center, the warmest part.

I had a mild thrip problem last round so I'm waiting on the thrip predators 'Amblyseius' - 10 Sachets arriving today, hopefully.
4 x Paradise Seeds Sensi Star 2s are chomping at the bit to go into the room and maybe a CBD Critical Mass or 2.
20180412_112644(0).jpg 20180412_112940.jpg 20180412_113003.jpg
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
I put the Sensi Star 2s under the lights last night.
4 plants that were 19 days in from switch to 12 12 under 200 watts of cxbs in an
80cm x 80cm tent.
I spread they branches out a bit with wire to even out the canopy .
The lights on the left side and front are growgreen boards 384 Samsung leds 3000k/5000k mix per board at 90 wall watts apiece and the light on the right side is a qb288 at 40 wall watts.
I think the FOTOP Boards are running at 125 watts per board.... I think lol.
The lights are around 14" away from the canopy for now20180412_112940.jpg 20180413_182051.jpg 20180413_182100.jpg 20180413_182111.jpg
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
@Moflow looking good, nice to see them in groom.
Are you running them without a heatsink?
Yes, that is correct, No heatsink. I've thon tower fan blowing on warmest part of the boards.
I'll take some temp readings later but it feels cool enough to touch.
The room temps after 2 hours are 21°C.
Max temp in room last night 24.8°C
Min temp in room today 5.8°C
These temps do not concern me as I can tinker with the evolution fan speed controller.
 

zypheruk

Well-Known Member
@Moflow once again thanks for the updated info.
I'm now going to get my head together and work out do I go with F-strips, or these boards. Will boil down to how may diodes I can fit in the cab and run the most efficient. 400 - 450 Watts of either boards is the most I would need.
Cheers
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
The plants are loving the light......
20180414_180759.jpg

The lights are 14" - 15" 40cm above the canopy.
I have a Lux Meter app - don't know how good it is but I took readings anyway.
20180414_182701.png

Over a 75 second period of moving the meter over the canopy the average lux was 51000.
It'll be interesting to see what the apogee par meter reads
 

Ryante55

Well-Known Member
I'm going to guess 600ppfd average at that height curious to see what you get I've been too lazy to plug mine in an test it
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
I'm close to placing my first order. Would a setup of 2 HLG-320s be more reliable than 1 HLG-600 for two boards?
I believe you mean 'better option'.... rather than more reliable
I don't think there'd be much difference, only 2 x hlg 320s are slightly cheaper than 1 x hlg 600 and you'd only need 1 plug on a.c. side - that's if you're sourcing the drivers separately.
Also 2 x hlg 320 drivers means you can have 2 separate lights for 2 different grow areas.
Maybe others could chip in with their thoughts on 2 drivers v 1 driver setup.

Hlg 320 is my biggest driver, I prefer smaller lights that I can drop in when needed but that's just me :bigjoint:
 

bdigi

Member
Would 2 HLG-320s give you more wattage? I asked about reliability because I was wondering about how hard I can/should run the boards and if 1 600w vs 2 independent 300w drivers would create more/less stress. I guess that doesn't matter between the two setups but if you have any suggestions based on what you would do I would appreciate it. Sorry if I am over thinking it... just new to LEDs
 

Moflow

Well-Known Member
Would 2 HLG-320s give you more wattage? I asked about reliability because I was wondering about how hard I can/should run the boards and if 1 600w vs 2 independent 300w drivers would create more/less stress. I guess that doesn't matter between the two setups but if you have any suggestions based on what you would do I would appreciate it. Sorry if I am over thinking it... just new to LEDs
What area are you wanting to cover?

1 Board will produce 377 watts on full blast but will require a heatsink.
Probably run them around 300 watts rather than full blast

I'd get 2 x 320 kits. Then when/if I'm satisfied they do the business, I'd purchase another 2 boards and heatsinks, no need for more drivers and hook them up in parallel to original drivers for a nice bump in efficiency with twice the amount of leds.
Lots of options.
I'm just experimenting to eventually get a blanket of even light with 1000s of leds.
 
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