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Unfortunately, it looks like only 3000k won't be an option: this grow bench will be open in the kitchen and the lights used as (indirect) illumination. Since I'm planing a vertical kitchen garden (against a wall), I'm considering tracking lights. Has anyone some experience with it ?
Those look pretty sweet:

loSm0E


Ronse_led_track_light_COB_40W_high.jpg


I asked the manufacturers, and could get the housing/shell alone for $10 a piece. Than fit them with nice cree/bridgelux chips and fine tune the driver to run them soft. I'm aware about the tradeoffs of passive cooling, but I just can't have wild wires running through the kitchen, and chains hanging around...
 
Meinolf said:
You should read this thread for understanding why high CRI chips suck (for plant lighting, at the moment): https://www.rollitup.org/t/cree-cxa-analysis.743645/

Besides I only said it won't hurt to combine different spectra, but IF I was to do it I would try optimising the spacing to bring an even mix to the canopy, just like you wouldn't throw a spoon of sugar into your coffee without stirring. I also said I am not yet convinced by mixing (mono) spectra because of the labor and probably higher material cost, although I am generally interested in adding in deep red as long as it keeps up with the white cob's (red) efficiency.

I have to admit that my own lights have Vero 3500k and 3000K in it. That happened because I wanted to hit the "magic" 40% with the 3500K Vero 1.2 back then, which was also possible with the 3000K Vero 2.0 when it became available mid-construction of the second panel. I told myself that the 3000 3500 3000 3500 3000 bar was shaping the canopy in a certain way but I think it didn't matter, as the spectra are very close to each other. After all, I now favour an all-3000K version because of the relativly higher red, although I read reports claiming that even 4000K is delivering fine. There is a tradeoff between higher red and higher efficiency but it is probably negligible in terms of yield. A lot of people here now choose 3500K because they hate agonising over this dilemma.
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Thank you for the clarifications; makes a lot of sense put this way. I'm very interested into 4000k or higher, as the light looks much better. Until now, I though it would be too much waste on the greens, on to little power on the reds, but if there are convincing tests proving it works, it would be a nice solution. As stated, I'm not interested into marijuana growing, but all kinds of flowering plants.
 
Wait for his answer... I am not sure that's what he meant!?
But for the red monos he surely meant 660nm and 730nm
Go read the far red thread and for the 660 there must be a thread too.
There's one on UV too
CU
 
qwerkus said:
Can you translate for the noob I'm am ? 60% efficiency (I guess) by running 5000k cxbs soft - and what about red ?
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A light with 5ks driven at 350ma are 66.4% and reds at 700ma are 42.4%,

Depending on the ratio you use and how you drive them... you can come out anywhere in between

Mine is roughly 57.8% efficient. (8 5k, 19 660 driven at the ratings above..)

Edited the reds numbers I meant 700ma

Edit II: CREE XPE photo reds
 
Scotch089 said:
A light with 5ks driven at 350ma are 66.4% and reds at 500ma are 45.86%,

Depending on the ratio you use.... you can come out anywhere in between

Mine is roughly 55.17% efficient. (8 5k, 19 660)
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This is great! A couple of years ago, when I first read about leds, people would target 30-40%... What reds are you using ? Osram Olson or Cree XP-E (or anything else) ?
 
Looking at replaceing or even out performing my current 600 hps is a meter squared area.

Looking at two diy builds and would appreciate feedback and opinions on each. Any par watt math breakdown would be appreciated as well, not my strong suit.

Ok, idea 1: 8 Cree CXB3070 3000k
2 MW HLG-185H-C1400B
8 Alpine 64 heatsink/fan
$520

Idea # 2: 9 Cree CXB3070 3000K
9 MW LPC-60-1400
9 Alpine 64 heatsink/fan
$ 600

Any ideas, efficiency numbers or mico mole estimations for a meter squared would be great. Thank you and props to Gaius, Supra SPL, GreenGenes 707, Pet Flora and so many others that have helped to exploit and expose this technology to the masses...
 
I am thinking about switching to LED. I use a 2'dx4'wx4'h tent with a 250w or 400w hps now and I was wondering what I could replace the light with to keep my girls cooler.

Can you guys recommend a few things. I like DIY stuff and the cheaper the better.
 
I have yet another question. If I had 4 x 100w of the chips on the pic which driver would suit them best, same for 4 of the 50w versions

Screenshot_2015-09-13-18-01-20.png

The 100w chips I would want at 200w total and the 50w chips to run at 100w total.
 
nevergoodenuf said:
Those are garbage. If you look at the lumen output compared to the wattage, you are at about 80 lumen per watt. Just use Vero 29s if you are on a budget. If ran at 80 watts you are over 130 lumen per watt.
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Appreciate the input, I know they ain't great but I would still like to know what drivers I would need to power them. Cheaper alternatives to the hlg range preferably.

Also how many vero 29s can I fit in series on a hlg 185h c1400 driver
 
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brettsog said:
Appreciate the input, I know they ain't great but I would still like to know what drivers I would need to power them. Cheaper alternatives to the hlg range preferably.
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20w/ 30w /50w
www.ebay.com/itm/Hot-New-20W-30W-50W-Watt-Waterproof-High-Power-LED-
Driver-AC95V-240V-50-60HZ-/221514817725?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item33934fe0bd
Also how many vero 29s can I fit in series on a hlg 185h c1400 driver
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x3



Also this for a fan supply less than $5, tap into driver mains
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Constan...ght-12V-18W-/380968028279?hash=item58b376c877
 
brettsog said:
Would I need one driver for each of those cheap cobs or could I string a few together.
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Yes, well maybe, I don't know what the Voltage forward [Vf] of those cheapo's are....

I would run the 30w [$10] version with a Vero 18 @ $22 [$10 Driver + $12 Vero 18]..probably about the same price as the cheapo setup and double the output.....

Don't waste your TIME with cheapo's,Please!.................... they are not Grow Quality LED's imho, but they make a great light when hung 50 feet above an indoor basketball court :peace:
 
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