'Redline's LED - DiY - Build' aka"GROW LIGHT"

I just fired up the LEDEngin 660nm array and am going to have to do some modifications.
The LED spec sheet gives a typical forward voltage drop of 3 volt at 1100ma to 1200 ma which was my design current range.
Everyone of my LEDs measured out below the minumum voltage value of 2.48 , with an average of 2.43.
This means I have to add another 2 to 3 LEDs (which I don't have room for) or use a big friggin power wasting resistor since I am running a 24 volt power supply
This also means they are going to max out at 3.8 watts per LED and realistically run them between 2.5 and 3 watts.

Using other brand LEDs, they always are close to the mid-range typical value and I have been able to base designs around this.

Anyone scratch building with these LEDs really needs an adjustable digital readout power supply with voltage and current regulation in order to check specs of each LED before assembly.

OK sometime soon I will read this thread in it's entirety, but for proper LED testing you need an analog multi meter, not digital.

more power to you you guys...lol, I am a plug n play kinda guy...
whiskeytango

Hey Redline,

Don't know if you are planning on doing this for commercial purposes, but is there any chance you will do a step by step with the exact parts you ordered and how to assemble.
I'm pretty mechanical and have plenty tools, and patience, I just need instructions.

No problemo,
I got several different designs going on. Just let me know what you want to do and I can work you through the whole enchilada.
By the way, in case you have not already picked it up, I am still out to lunch as far as what wavelengths and combos work the best. Everything is very experimental at this stage as far as I am concerned.

Hey there redline, I have been researching growing plants with LEDs for about 4 to 6 months, done a lot of research, read all the forums on this site and others, and am ready to commit to actually making some arrays. I have a 2x4 flowering area and am thinking about using 100 or more high power LEDs. My problem now is I am not sure of how to make the drivers, or what i should do. Do you have any advice or suggestions on cost effective power supplies and driver solutions? Help is very much needed. Thanks!

Hope you don't mind me interjecting, but I found this interesting thread on another board. Hopefully it's allowed, if not I apologize in advance.

Marijuana Growing - - LR2 LED/CF guide - LED building instructions (spider lights)

They do seem to have come up with some good solid ideas. I especially like their design using the high power leds. Looks like their "main strip" on the top has no heat issues at all.

They are playing around with different wave lengths and looks like they have some solid r&d going on. Too early for me as wanna get down growing normal plants first...

That's me on the other forum.. "McQueen".

For drivers the best advice I can give is to not to bother trying to build them from scratch. You can use a computer power supply if you want to run 12 volt or a commercial LED supply if you want to run 24 volt.
I am commited to 24 volt because I bought a bunch of commercial LED drivers. But I think 12 volt may work better in some circumstances.

You might want to hang loose in your project for a week or two. I have a new design on the way that will address the major issues that I see with using LEDs for grow lights.

I don't think the leading commercial configurations are heading in the right direction. They are still using "HID thinking" trying to compact the lights and power into a small area and then hang them a couple of feet above the plants to get a bigger footprint.

Current LEDs simply do not have the penetrating power to do this. Compare 3 watts of light originating from a single point vs. 400 watts from a single point. Plus everyone is still trying to grow 2 foot to 3 foot plants with LEDS.

My current design is a modular- plug and play system. It is a 2ft x2.5 ft aluminum frame. It is designed to cover 5 to 6 square foot growing area.
It will use 16 to 20 small arrays. Each module will be individually adjustable for height and angle. Plus I will be able to change out light configurations for veg and bud.

This will allow me to closely follow the top contour of a SCROG and be able to get the lights within 2" to 6 inch" It will also allow me to make easy changes to accomodate growth.

Hi redline
srry I dissappeared I had some really bad things happen.
gonna try and get back maybe next month or so .
I am broke now so I can't get anywhere.
keep up the hard work and I hope I will beable to rejoin U soon

Veggi, Hope things get better.