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

Here is the grow info.
12 plants (max allowed in my area for meds) under the mainframe in a 3 x 4 array. You could also go with 6 larger plants. I use 7 inch square buckets placed in a 2 x 3 cement mixing tub from Home Depot.
I grow in CoCo and hand water since it very forgiving of screwups and I don't have to worry about equipment failure. I can't say enough good things about CoCo.
I don't use a scrog net since I like to be able to move individual plants for maintenance, trimming and more important being able to place them for optimal lighting as the grow larger.
The buckets have slots on the sides making it very easy to train the plants and keep them low using wire ties. I train them in a circle around the perimeter of the bucket. If I go with larger plants, I use a wood trellis (pics somewhere on this forum).

I am definitely with you. Definitely. Taking the shopping list and sourcing / getting parts numbers and ordering this weekend. Thanks so much.

I hope that others will find this as beneficial as I do.

Again, I'll be looking at maybe 5-6 square feet. 2x3 or so. I'm really excited.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redline

1. Main Power Supply. I am using a commercial 24 volt 180 watt LED driver to power the entire frame. I can supply circuit design if you want to go with something else like a 12 volt supply. At the risk of being blackballed from this forum, I am going to pimp out some of my extra power supplies. I had to buy a large quantity of them to get a good price, so got a bunch of extras. $40 for the 120v units. I also got four 220 volt units, for $20 each and whatever shipping runs. I think I posted a picture of them earlier in this string.

Can you PM Me?

2. Secondary power supply, some kind of 12 volt unit at least 2 amps, or you can use several smaller current units.Even a big wall wart will work. Not really critical since it will be used to power fans and illuminate some digital volt and amp panel meters which will be used for monitoring.

Is there a model / part # and source?

2. Heat sinks. I got them from a guy on Ebay. I buy a whole slab and he will cut them to size. Really good price. I have posted links several times on both strings. The slab will cost you a little over $100 bucks with shipping and you will have enough for two frames. The size is 4 1/8" measured across the fins and 4" in the direction of the fins.
You got 120 square inches of cooling surface or enough to cool 12 watts without any airflow, so we will have to get something going to get them cooled down. I am going to start engineering the cooling system towards the middle and end of the project. Worst case, I can strap a computer fan on the top of each module.

Found your previous link. None available on ebay right now.

3. A crap load of K2 emitters (from Future Electronics). Let's say 60 percent red, 20 percent royal blues, 10 percent cool white, 10 percent warm white. But feel free to use whatever you think is going to work. You will be using between 8 or 11 of them per board. I will work up some different combos, but your guess is as good as mine.
Might as well pick up a handful of 5 watt 660nms also (Mouser) if you are feeling expansive and got a few bucks to blow.
Holler at me before you order the LEDs and I will make sure you are getting the right bins. I go with the highest ones available.

I'm hollering... Ready to order

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Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by redline

List continued:
5. Digital Panel meters. You can get these cheap on EBay from a large distributer in China. You need a 200 dc meter, a 20 amp meter and one or two of the 3 amp meter.

I see Asia Engineer selling a lot...

Like this: 200 V DC BLUE LCD Battery Panel Digital Volt Meter - eBay (item 330260572812 end time Aug-19-08 02:22:05 PDT)

and

3 1/2 Blue LED Digital AMP Panel Meter + Shunt AC 20A - eBay (item 370075393653 end time Aug-09-08 10:14:28 PDT)

No 3A meters, but they have 2 and 5.

6. 12 Cinch-Jones male and female plugs. The female are panel mount, the male are cable mount.

Any recommendation on where to acquire these?

That should take care of all the goodies needed to construct the modules. Let me know if any help is needed sourcing the items.

I will post pictures and details of the metal needed for the mainframe construction. You can pick that stuff up locally.

A couple of nice items to have if you think you are going to be playing around with LEDs are a variable voltage/current adjustable power supply with a digital readout... about $160. And an infrared remote thermometer... $60 to $150.

If I'm less innovating and more following, would I need these?

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Thanks again

I don't seem to be authorized to check my PM page... Not sure if I haven't hit the critical # of posts yet or what...

Arctic Silver Alumina Thermal Adhesive

Is that enough Arctic Silver? I don't know if I need syringes or pails of the stuff.

God, I feel that I'm asking the dumbest questions. Please don't give up on me... :icon506:

I am guessing 3 tubes of the artic silver adhesive. Be sure to get the adhesive not the grease.
.
For the heat sinks go to EBAy and enter "HEATSINK ALUMINUM EXTRUSION 8 1/2 WIDE PROFILE" into the search. Once you get to the ad contact the guy by message and tell you a whole slab chopped up just like I described.

Proj, Do you have a digital multimeter?

Proj,
I sent you a PM. Let me know if you get it.