Newbie first grow using only white LEDs 223w

You might also want to make a panel for the floods/spot bulbs using thick cardboard or thin plywood. Just cut a bunch of hole an 1/8 smaller than the bulb and silicone the bulbs to the board.
Also, I was thinking about doing that but just using white bristleboard instead. Would that be fine to use? It seems like itd be the best material in terms of cost, weight, and easiness to work with, no?
 

doz

Well-Known Member
If there was 100g of wet, you will be lucky to have 25g dry. And it is important. You are paying for 223w of energy every hour but only yielding .1 gpw.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
Are Cree products really that much better than everyone else? It seems like they get a ridiculous amount of positive press on the forums. The only reason I don't use them is im In Canada and I haven't seen them in stores here.
Cree, Osram, Phillips. The bin #s are significant too. The problem is most consumer stuff is cheap epiwhatever LEDs. That situation is so bad that China mandated higher standards this year. I don't know if things have gotten better. But, it's a recognized problem.

In the post I linked to, I got 0.9g/w running 21 w/sq ft in a 9sq ft space for 20g/sq ft.

You 0.38g/w running 38w/sq ft in a 6 sq ft space for 10g/sq ft.

That's almost twice as much wattage for half as much yield.

But, if you didn't have reflectors that's a huge light loss. Being your first grow, skill could be a factor too.

If you're really into it, build a COB. I think the lightbulbs are better for single-plant, smaller spaces, etc. I like the bulbs because I can distribute light around the plant. I think sidelighting is one of the most productive things you can do. (That could be another factor between your results and mine.). But, you can make lower-power, lower-intensity COBs for more distributed, closer application than most(?) make. You'd get 30-40% more efficiency than the Cree bulbs. (I'm not into it that much, yet.).

I'm interested in LED strip lighting. I think something like SMD5630 ribbons would create interesting panels (hinged) that could be folded around a plant, or "winged" over the canopy.

Lots of fun things to do. But, yes, not all LEDs are made the same. (There are ribbons out there that wouldn't be good to use too.).
 
If there was 100g of wet, you will be lucky to have 25g dry. And it is important. You are paying for 223w of energy every hour but only yielding .1 gpw.
ill do the math on the lights for you shortly and show you exactly how much it would potentially add to my hydro bill (very little). My landlord pays the hydro either way.


Man you guys have super high standards for first grows, you should post up a link to yours.

*** edit: I did the math its actually pretty substantial (Ontario just jacked up their rates again nov 1, peaking @ 17.5c/kwh. insane :( ). Either way I wasn't/don't use that same array of bulbs for vegetative. Also, ill probably be switching to 18/6 now that ive done all the math. You are right Doz, I was wrong. Thanks for bringing that up I thought you were just being a dickhead
 
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az2000

Well-Known Member
Man you guys have super high standards for first grows, you should post up a link to yours.
I got 180g from an autoflower in a 2x2 4' tall space under 40w/sq ft T5HO and about 40w sq/ft of CFL (total 200w, 50w/sq ft). That was 0.9g/w and 45g/sq ft.

I don't have a link.
 

brettsog

Well-Known Member
ill do the math on the lights for you shortly and show you exactly how much it would potentially add to my hydro bill (very little). My landlord pays the hydro either way.


Man you guys have super high standards for first grows, you should post up a link to yours.

The guys here are just trying to nudge you in the right direction. Cobs will do u a solid. Read some of the diy led grows. All using white light. It will cost u a bit on the outlay but 2 cxb3590 or 2 vero 29 leds running at 50w a piece will light up your space fantastically. So 100w from the wall and you could pull 4-6 zips out of that space. About 4 times the amount for half the electricity cost.
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
The guys here are just trying to nudge you in the right direction.
Yeah. I respect that you posted your stuff and had the passion to try white light.

It could have been worse. You could have used one of the cheap epi-whatever LED fixtures. You should see what happens to those guys around here. :roll: (Or, worse, a rebranded Chinese import sold for a huge markup: (Kind, HydroGrowLED, BlackDog, GrowBlu.). You're in the top 20%. ;)
 

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
And if you want to be sure to pull more gpw with cob try amendments (organik is better for your health! )...just a bit of mixing...then you just add tap water (48h rest!)+ molasses 1/w you can't make mistakes (yes with watering! ) a blumat tropf and you just have to fill the tank!
You would double your yield even with Vero10!
Cxb 3590 3500º 36V CD @1400mA are 56% efficient and 183lm/w...not 83...183!...crazy lights! (1.3gpw mini in soil and 1.7 in hydro if you know what you do!)
I say that to let you know you could do much better. ..
CU
 
Yeah. I respect that you posted your stuff and had the passion to try white light.

It could have been worse. You could have used one of the cheap epi-whatever LED fixtures. You should see what happens to those guys around here. :roll: (Or, worse, a rebranded Chinese import sold for a huge markup: (Kind, HydroGrowLED, BlackDog, GrowBlu.). You're in the top 20%. ;)
I wouldn't call it passion so much as I basically got given the lights for almost nothing :) Funny story: Someone actually anonymously gifted me a 600w hps a few weeks after I started that grow as well. Maybe I should keep promoting this ridiculous set up and people will take pity and buy me stuff :)

Ive noticed a lot of people really take it to heart if you are lighting your grow with anything other than their favourite model HPS. I plan on switching up my light source for each future grow until I have experience using all the more common grow lights :) Right now I have some 5w pink LEDs vegging one of my clones. Curious to see how itll turn out. Thanks for the respects dude
 
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Bonjour
And if you want to be sure to pull more gpw with cob try amendments (organik is better for your health! )...just a bit of mixing...then you just add tap water (48h rest!)+ molasses 1/w you can't make mistakes (yes with watering! ) a blumat tropf and you just have to fill the tank!
You would double your yield even with Vero10!
Cxb 3590 3500º 36V CD @1400mA are 56% efficient and 183lm/w...not 83...183!...crazy lights! (1.3gpw mini in soil and 1.7 in hydro if you know what you do!)
I say that to let you know you could do much better. ..
CU
Allo, est francais ta langue primaire? J'avoir du mal à comprendre ce que vous etes attachant à dire
im having a hard time understanding you. If French works better, I speak it. lol
 
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Cree, Osram, Phillips. The bin #s are significant too. The problem is most consumer stuff is cheap epiwhatever LEDs. That situation is so bad that China mandated higher standards this year. I don't know if things have gotten better. But, it's a recognized problem.

In the post I linked to, I got 0.9g/w running 21 w/sq ft in a 9sq ft space for 20g/sq ft.

You 0.38g/w running 38w/sq ft in a 6 sq ft space for 10g/sq ft.

That's almost twice as much wattage for half as much yield.

But, if you didn't have reflectors that's a huge light loss. Being your first grow, skill could be a factor too.

If you're really into it, build a COB. I think the lightbulbs are better for single-plant, smaller spaces, etc. I like the bulbs because I can distribute light around the plant. I think sidelighting is one of the most productive things you can do. (That could be another factor between your results and mine.). But, you can make lower-power, lower-intensity COBs for more distributed, closer application than most(?) make. You'd get 30-40% more efficiency than the Cree bulbs. (I'm not into it that much, yet.).

I'm interested in LED strip lighting. I think something like SMD5630 ribbons would create interesting panels (hinged) that could be folded around a plant, or "winged" over the canopy.

Lots of fun things to do. But, yes, not all LEDs are made the same. (There are ribbons out there that wouldn't be good to use too.).
Is there a way I can tell what I have going on inside my bulbs quality wise?

My skill level was definitely not anything near what it could have been, that goes without saying. Pretty important part of learning is by making mistakes though. Im surprised the plant did as well as it did considering I stressed it enough to hermie a third of it lol. Also made plenty of wrong moves with nutrients as well.

I already know for sure that my nutrients were wayyyy off at best. That likely had a huge impact on my results for sure. Would I be able to ask you a few questions regarding stepping up my nutes game via pm?

I know this is a lot of questions to throw at you, I appreciate youre taking the time to help me out.
 
If there was 100g of wet, you will be lucky to have 25g dry. And it is important. You are paying for 223w of energy every hour but only yielding .1 gpw.
The guys here are just trying to nudge you in the right direction. Cobs will do u a solid. Read some of the diy led grows. All using white light. It will cost u a bit on the outlay but 2 cxb3590 or 2 vero 29 leds running at 50w a piece will light up your space fantastically. So 100w from the wall and you could pull 4-6 zips out of that space. About 4 times the amount for half the electricity cost.
is there any difference between the cxb or vero?

also, I don't think ill be building any diy LEDs with MORE fucking white light lol that's probably the last thing I need to have more of. I was going to try my hand at building a single 50 or 100 red, then testing multiple leds at various wattage until I get something im happy with.

A single 100w white cob is good for 4-6 birds you say? that makes my grow look like im farming peanuts :( would you be able to link me with a thread where someones achieved something similar to what you described?
 

brettsog

Well-Known Member
I have just chopped this week. 180g from 153w link in my sig. I'm using vero leds running at 1.4a about 51w per chip. 3000k colour temp. I'm only in a 4.5 sq ft space.

And they only look white to the naked eye. They have peaks in the red and blue spectrum you just don't end up with blurple light.

Cxb are made by cree and are highly efficient. Vero are a bridgelux chip. Both very good. There are plenty of posts in this section of the forum demonstrating the power of cob led arrays. Just have a browse. There are people pulling 1.5 - 1.8 gpw
 

az2000

Well-Known Member
Is there a way I can tell what I have going on inside my bulbs quality wise?
People here tear down a bulb and post their findings. People on CandlePowerForums do teardowns.

Would I be able to ask you a few questions regarding stepping up my nutes game via pm?
Sure. But, if you start a thread in general->nutrients others could give their input too.
 

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
You should really try at least one Vero29 @1050mA or 1400mA it is 25 $ plus driver, hs, fan, etc it would be 80 $ for 35/50 w who mean 35/50gr mini in soil + amendments (to avoid mistake with nutes!!) More weight with less electric bill!
CU
 

dandyrandy

Well-Known Member
Vero 29's initial investment is low. They last forever as do the cxb series cobs which are 15% or so more efficient. If you really stick some money in a build you could reach 60% efficiency. The gurus here are very knowledgeable. To many to name. Way above my head. I will build such a passive cooled high dollar beast when I retire. I will still use a hood cooled design as it suits my needs and keeps the room cool with little air flow even at 800w. In an area 46" x 42" even in soil with the right variety you can get 800 to 1000 grams dry. Buds are still nice 26" down in the canopy. No lens or reflector. I tried both but for my application in a small area it seems better with no lens. I jam 4 to 6 5 gal buckets in there and shoot for 4 to 6 mains.
 
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