Quote Originally Posted by ledtime
Weez,

How did you get all those parts for around $250?

Clever shopping!

Aren't those 15W reds $31 each? Eight of the reds takes us to $248. Then two blues is another $58.

Bought a few, got a small discount But, you're right.
The red leds were about $270 by themselves.
Plus $ 20 for my 12V source $10 for the 15V source, $30 for the 'sink w/shipping, $12 for the fan and $15 for the ducting.
Actual parts cost? about $400!
.
Guess if I really paid attention to the cost, I wouldn't have done it.

Meanwell for blues is $55,

Nope.


Heatsink is $30, Mastech to put it all together and drive most of the reds is $165?

That's in da tools budget.

I had the cost of your light around $540. If you could put one together for less than $350 I'd pay you to do it for me.

No can!
Would not have built it for me, If I could have just bought something decent.
I'm hoping that the new 126W. panels test well. They run 'bout $400. ea.

I'm not too good with soldering and would probably waste way too many LED's. I had to supplement my 120W 1W base LED lamp with eight 23W CFL's. Not too happy with my results. Did alright, but nowhere near yours.

Did you use 660nm emitters?
That's what made the difference for me.


I have contemplated just going to a 400W HPS for flowering due to cost. I'd much rather stick with the LEDs due to power consumption and heat disbursion.

Please light the way....


Dunno 'bout dat.
But, I will say I'm not thrilled with one Watt emitters, or with 625nm. red emitters.
Plant's optimum wavelength is at 652nm.
So, 635 will work, but 660 nm. does more with less.
Just my opinion based on my observations.
Even the "cake pan" grew good bud with only 56Watts!

Always willing to read different opinions 'bout everything.
And thanks for makin' me look at da real numbers.

Aloha,
Weeze