Thanks for the encouragement
I will definitely make a how-to thread. And I definitely agree, gotta learn from your mistakes one way or another!
And as for the scrog thing, I really believe that this is the only true method for getting LEDs to produce good. People go on and on about how they don't penetrate like hps blah blah blah. Well if you have a densely packed canopy you don't NEED penetration at all. That's the point of the whole scrog thing
Plus I find them to be really efficient. From the one I'm growing right now, and the ones I've seen on the net. And I have to say, I probably shouldn't have waited nearly so long to put the screen in. As you can see, there's still a ton of undergrowth. This was probably a mistake on my part for not recognizing how large the indica could get just by herself. I tell ya, if I could have put my sativa outdoors then the indica would have taken up my whole grow tent! Really robust strain and she's hardy as hell.
One thing I'm going to forewarn you about the whole LED panel thing. I'm designing it to be strictly for micro growing. It's going to be tailored to my grow area specs. Roughly 1'L x 2'W x 3'H. It's really not that big at all. People will find that my light has intensely bright light, but it won't cover nearly as much space as a 90w UFO. And it will only be drawing about 31w total. It will also be more expensive than a 90w UFO, so I really don't expect too many people inspired to build their own unless it really proves its worth.
Really it's just an experiment of mine, learning a bit more about all things electrical, and also designing a light that can grow a plant. I mean really, how many people can say, "oh yeah I made the light that grew my homegrown bud, and it's way more potent than shit you find on the street". Everyone buys their lights from someone else, and then uses them. I think I'm going to be one of few who can actually say I built my light for my plants. Not so much an ego sort of thing, but more a personal goal.
I love the satisfaction from making a design for something and knowing it works. Also, in all of my previous grows I've had some space to work with. My tent right now is 3' x 3' x 6.5'. There's really tons of space that I didn't utilize. This time I will be micro growing, something I have been a little eager to do. And I will also point out that this is the first grow I plan on using a carbon filter with and whatnot. So it's as much of a learning experience as an experiment.
After adding up the numbers I'll only be running ~85w in my LED cab. I think most people would rather save their money and go the easy way, to buy a UFO. What I want to accomplish in the end is 1g/w. If I could pull even 2 ounces off 85w I would be extremely happy. But really my goals are, design light for plants, make true stealth cab, and harvest 1g/w. So call me a pioneer, I will be marching into the depths of the unknown and I hope to return with nice dank sticky icky buds
I think people will be interested in watching my progress, but I don't believe that many will put forth the effort and do the same.