E como mai brah. (Welcome)

Quote Originally Posted by CapitalG
ok weezard, i made it. i thought i'd have to wait a day or two before i could post but, i guess that's not the case. i really wanna switch over to leds but, with all these company selling these over priced units from china i figured i'd skip the middle man and just buy direct.

First, I need to ask, why LEDs?

I know you've done your homework.
But, if you live somewhere where energy is cheap, and you don't have heat issues, all that's left is the coolness factor.

Which is, after all, the most legitimate reason.

i always figured i could but, i don't know anything about the spectrum's necessary for growing herb. this is the panel i want to get i just don't know what specifications to go with. this is the first 600w i came across on their website but, i'm sure there are other types if i look a little harder. i know you expertise is substantial, what wavelength and ratios would you suggest i specify when ordering a custom panel?

660 nm. and ~460nm.


Second, I'd suggest avoiding that vendor.
Actually any vendor that claims 600W out of 576 1W. emitters, is just bursting with excrement!
Getting one honest Watt out of a 1 W. diode is very difficult without exceeding either the Vf. MAX or the I. Max.
So, for a safe and efficient design, we seldom see 80% of the rated max diss.

So, it's actually a bit less than 460 Watts. (Fans, power factor, etc.)

Moreover, my grow tests tell me that 1W. diodes just don't have the "point-source muscle" that weed needs.
My lights have evolved from 300. 10 mm. 20 degree, leds to 12. 15W. emitters. per panel over 3 years time.
I did not get fat buds from 1. and 3 W. emitters.
But my first array of 5W. 660nm. emitters impressed the hell out of me.:thumbsup:

Now, all a 15W. emitter is, is a die with 4. 5W. chips under one lens being under-driven to manage heat.
But, it's the concentration of those chips to a small area that approaches "point source" emission and starts to give us decent penetration.
As for the R:B ratio, that depends on the wavelengths and relative intensity, blah blah blah.
You can make a career out of "doing the math".
And, the ratio varies for veg and bloom, different strains, and ambient temps.
So, Ideally, the ratio should be adjustable.
Let the individual plants tell you what they want.

From excellent results, I've settled on an initial R:B of 5:1.
10. 660nm. red and 2. 460nm. blue (or "royal blue, the blue wavelength is not critical. )
That's "red heavy" which is great for building buds, but will cause stretch while vegging.
So, I inserted a dimmer for the reds, and trim them down for "short internode" vegging. Works a treat.

For fabrication instructions, you can "follow da bouncing ball" in Crunchy's thread.

"Calling out to Weezard for led advice".

Everything ya need to know to build a kick-ass light is in there.

Here, we talk about what you can do with the advantage of wavelength and ratio control.:stoned: Among other ramblings.

Actually, the "rambling are the best part.
There's a dark and brilliant humor to Hermies posts.
If you prefer silly, and off-the wall, I'm your 'zard.:rastasmoke:

Aloha,
Weezard




600W Grow Light - 2 - China Grow Light,Grow Lights,Grow Lighting in Rope Light

Lemme look. um, no!
See above.