Pictures of your DIY lights - Post your pics!!!

BigYellowCob

Well-Known Member
Latest Passive Veg Light
8x Vero 18 5000K @ .7 A (single driver)
8 Chunky CPU coolers with very thick bases
12v 5A switching power supply to run extra tent fans (for plants)
50k pot
It runs very cool and plants are loving it.
View attachment 3506202 View attachment 3506202 View attachment 3506203 View attachment 3506204 View attachment 3506205
I'd like to know the cost and a link on those heat sinks too - they look bulky enough to handle a few watts passively. Also, how does a 50k pot vs 100k pot on a single driver affect dimming? Can you only dim 50%?
 

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
And what kind of driver do you use?
Did you try it already?
How far from light you have to put the plant?
Have a great day ★
 

Sxott

Well-Known Member
I'd like to know the cost and a link on those heat sinks too - they look bulky enough to handle a few watts passively. Also, how does a 50k pot vs 100k pot on a single driver affect dimming? Can you only dim 50%?
DELL Heatsink Shroud Assembly 0J7109 0G9096 0H9073 0P211D 0Y4574 H7058 is what the ad said.

I found 20 of them on Craigslist for 50 bucks. They have 20 watts of LED on each and only get slightly warm. Thats in a 77° room with no air movement.

The 50k pot only dims it down to 50% I couldn't see needing lower than that with these 18s. It dims smoother than if I were to use 100k.

HLG-185H-C700B is the driver.

My lux meter is reading 15,000 lux. Thats about 225 ppfd at 18" Higher numbers than my 400 MH.

It has not been over my plants long but Im seeing new growth every day.
 

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Bonjour
Are you sure that the pot dim down to 50%?
I would say it goes from 50% to 0 (if you do not have resistor 10k)!
And your hs are cheap...
CU
 

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Sorry but I am pretty sure that I am right...
But you should ask someone who know better than me...like supraspl...
Sorry I am not 100% sure and I don't want to say bullshits!
CU
 

Sxott

Well-Known Member
When I put 100k on there it dims all the way down to nothing. I was under the impression that the higher the resistance, the lower it goes. The pot goes from zero resistance - 50K ohms.

I hope your right because then my light will be 2x brighter if I swap out pots.

The light looks just as bright without a pot on it at all.
 

Stephenj37826

Well-Known Member
When I put 100k on there it dims all the way down to nothing. I was under the impression that the higher the resistance, the lower it goes. The pot goes from zero resistance - 50K ohms.

I hope your right because then my light will be 2x brighter if I swap out pots.

The light looks just as bright without a pot on it at all.
It is the other way around. If you didn't hook up potentiometer at all it would be 100% which is infinite resistance. Hook wires together 0 resistance. So 100k is 100% 50k 50% so on
 

Sxott

Well-Known Member
Thanks for straighten me out fellas. I was thinking the 50k pot would only let me dim it down to 50% (not start at 50) I do have almost 5v across the pot. Thats great news. Ill see if I have a 100k in my build boxes somewhere or swing by radioshack tomorrow. I will prob still keep it at 50% because it seems to be a good spot for my veggers and they seems happy.

The only down side is if I ever turn it up, the heat sinks might get too warm but, I already was planning for that to happen before the build. Part of the reason the 12v supply is there. Im going to take some large aluminum rain gutter with holes cut out on the bottom for the heatsinks and a fan in the top middle and make a channel on each side for air flow.

Thanks again guys
 

GFS_Nic

Well-Known Member
Very nice build and sufficient power for the grow area, i like it a lot. Can you tell me the model of the reflectors and where did you get them ? Thanks
 

cdgmoney250

Well-Known Member
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