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 phychotron
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Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly) 
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 Day Build: LED grow cube 
#824904 - 03/19/17 04:28 AM (7 years, 9 months ago) |
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Woke up with a fit of rage and a need for a little flower chamber. I was looking at 2x2x4' grow tents for about 40 on ebay and that seemed kinda nice, but I have a bunch of panda film left over from the last garden I tore down prematurely. SO I decided to build a small frame and line the walls with panda film.
Basically I just need something to sex plants and for maybe a small seed operation. I was hoping to get some SOG, short plants in there. Its called the Grow Cube because I expect to have a 2x2x2' canopy area with all the equipment, pots, etc.
The actual container I built was with some 2x2" that come in 8' lengths. So I cut two in half, two into quarters and built the basic frame. Some 1x3" for side supports and slats. The actual dimensions of the entire cabinet is 27x27x48" but the inner grow area is 24x27x48 based on its construction.
I put some computer exhaust fans on the top blowing out and one at the bottom blowing in. I used a light switch box to house the power drivers for it. I thought I had 120mm fans but one of them was 140mm, so I had to mount the 120mm's sideways at the top to make the gap. Cardboard was put in place around as a seal.
I used panda film on the sides and planned on using cardboard to protect the thin plastic. I have the one piece on a side and around the fans but don't have a bunch of large cardboard boxes laying around to finish it off. I'll secure the other side and back as time goes on.
I had to light proof the exhaust port by overlapping layers of panda film with a cardboard slat to form an S type junction. Still working on light proofing the lower exhaust.
I need some sort of cardboard piece for the door. I was thinking of lining it with panda then velcroing it to the front. Or maybe get a piece of plywood on hinges. I aimed to keep this light, so the cardboard might be the way to go.
I also scored the yesterday when I took apart a projector TV at the dumpster for parts and grabbed some castor rollers. I threw those on too.
I built up a little shelf for the plants to sit on. I think a small res tank with an ebb and flow system might be in order.
Total cost was less than $15 for the lumber. I got a discount on the plywood which was normally $8 but the guy cutting it told me to tell the lady at the counter to do 70% off. The 2x2's and 1x3's were both under $2 per 8' and I had all the screws and small stuff laying around. The fan drivers are cheap as well as the fans. $2-3 per driver, same for each fan. Some fans were just extras sitting around.
And what better than to put my two custom built LED's in there to try it out? Its a total of 100w, but I'm getting another ~30w of red diodes coming to upgrade one of the lights.
I was hoping to maybe work on getting these lights hard mounted and then getting some side lighting built in as well. Since I'm already building LED's might as well build some sweet side lighting to go with it.
                 
I also just got a bunch of free samples of Elete Nutrients from the hydro store I'll probably be trying out. I'll post a grow log of that in the future when I get the rest of the thing finished. I need cardboard and a front door and it's ready to go.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
 Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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 Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#824905 - 03/19/17 04:31 AM (7 years, 9 months ago) |
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Also forgot to add that the circulation fans are built into the grow lights They blow downward on the lights and through the spaces between the rails to circulate the air. Sort of a dual purpose with the lights. When I do side lighting I'll make sure to have that as a feature as well.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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 TrueHerbCrystal
Uncertified Oregrowian
 
Registered: 02/07/09
Posts: 1,352
Loc: Emerald City
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#824966 - 03/22/17 09:56 AM (7 years, 9 months ago) |
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I like your Grow Cube. Catchy name too 
So that panda film is like space blankets right?
And that 100 watt LED u built that too?
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Thanks. Panda film is black/white poly that reflects 90-95% of light. I was about to buy a piece of space blanket for the front door so that It would have a window but I didn't want to have to build a light block for that if it needed it.
I put a door on it the next day but never got around to posting it. I also ordered some more diodes, aluminum, fans and power drivers for some side lighting. it'll take about another month or two to get the rest of the parts but it should be pretty decked out by the time I'm all done with it.
I decided on a top feed recirculating system and got a small tub to collect the run off. I had to cut the small white trays to drain over the lid with holes in it. The lid is like a perfect funnel.
 
I found the pallet liners the next day when i went to the hydro store to check out trays. The cardboard liners were free out of the cardboard bin and make it look nice and clean.
 
Got the water system somewhat in place. I still need to decide the exact configuration for feeding.
 
Cardboard and panda film loosely taped over the vent to stop the light at the input fan. I still have a light leak at the base from the plywood and a little around some of the cardboard but I'm working on that next.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#824972 - 03/22/17 12:28 PM (7 years, 9 months ago) |
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https://www.growery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/821642
That's the info on the one light. I'll be adding the diodes to that one. The side lights are different diodes, just cheap 1w diodes. Should be around 100-120w of side light. The 100w on top will be upgraded to around 130w.
Lumber and building materials were less than $20, lights and other stuff around $180. I'd say a total cost around $225 when you factor in all the small stuff I didn't count like the roll of duct tape I nearly burned trough, or the screws I already had laying around.
Home depot sells a mylar-bubble-wrap for insulating. They had a 4x10'piece for $10. it'd be a good alternative to panda film if I didn't have any. However most hydro stores sell panda for ~$1/foot for a 10' wide section if I wanted to save $6. I'm not sure it'd be worth spending the extra cash, but the stuff is thicker and more rigid, less bowing or no need for cardboard reinforcement. Sourcing cardboard can be tough so it might be easier to get that stuff next time.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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TrueHerbCrystal
Uncertified Oregrowian
Registered: 02/07/09
Posts: 1,352
Loc: Emerald City
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#824974 - 03/22/17 02:58 PM (7 years, 9 months ago) |
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Wait, 3D lighting?!
Thats dope as fuck 
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Got the diodes and drivers for the light on the top on the same day so I put them into work. Got it so that the white is always on with the fans, then blue and red on switches.
Can't wait for the side lighting to come in now.
 
White, white/blue, white/red, white/blue/red
   
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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TrueHerbCrystal
Uncertified Oregrowian
Registered: 02/07/09
Posts: 1,352
Loc: Emerald City
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#825057 - 03/26/17 01:33 AM (7 years, 8 months ago) |
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Very cool.
Im glad u are using white ones.
All the store ones have only red and blue ones which seems odd since no other light is so limited in color. Seems bad for plants to just have two colors IMO.
Cool stuff. How hot do those white LEDs get?
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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The cree get warm without cooling fans but the aluminum is cool the the touch when the fans are running. I might need to cut down the fans to just one cause it doesn't seem like its warm enough in there. I haven't check the temperatures when sealed but it wasn't warm feeling at all when I opened it. The other light also stays cool to the touch because of the fan.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#825662 - 04/30/17 06:02 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Got the last of the parts for the side lighting. Should be hooking it up within the day or so. I might need to get more fan drivers or find the one's I already have.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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Theman
Stranger
Registered: 10/06/16
Posts: 344
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#825718 - 05/03/17 05:35 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Because its more efficient to target photosynthetic active radiation. The way whites work is absorb alot of light after using larger range of led colors so appears white. So it wastes alot of energy. Infact its whole basis of led being more efficient becuase energy is only used to creat photons used by the plant  google white led grow. And PAR led grow
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: Theman] 2
#825720 - 05/03/17 10:36 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Google white LED's... lol, you must be new to the boards. 
Ya, they use phosphors to make white, loosing some PPF & PPFD... But one less-efficient step in a large system doesn't make the entire thing completely useless. 
The reason for white is to not have to buy a bunch of smaller micro bands of light that white is suppose to target. When your building the cheapest possible grow light spending the extra cash on all these smaller bands of light is not feasible.
There are a multitude of reasons why you would want to include white in your build that I wont go into at the moment, goog's should help you out if you need.
The premise behind LED lights is to provided the best possible light source for the plant, not just have the lowest ppd/ppfd ratings.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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TrueHerbCrystal
Uncertified Oregrowian
Registered: 02/07/09
Posts: 1,352
Loc: Emerald City
Last seen: 6 years, 2 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#825741 - 05/04/17 12:24 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Exactlty.
White leds are the cheapest therefore ideal for this application.
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Theman
Stranger
Registered: 10/06/16
Posts: 344
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
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Well each there own. But led are to be highly efficient using energy therfore heat aswell. When u have whites no matter what type they create more heat and use alot of energy not used by the plant. Anyone who says otherwise is selling tge led panel get 400wats but then 200w is only used in par well u might aswell be using hps.
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Theman
Stranger
Registered: 10/06/16
Posts: 344
Last seen: 4 years, 6 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: Theman]
#825762 - 05/05/17 08:27 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: Theman]
#825763 - 05/05/17 09:06 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Basically your saying the PPFD and PPF ratings on the fixture are completely ruined because of one internally less-efficient component. That's false.
I understand why you'd get this wrong, its takes a lot of understanding to design an LED fixture properly. Its a combination of individual parts cost, total cost, operating cost, diode selection and availability, application, diode spacing and density, lenses, drivers, dimming options, etc.
One thing your probably not factoring in is that the market is geared toward white LED's and therefore the technology is further researched and developed than just monochromatic diodes.
It sounds like you have a long way to go before you understand efficacy of LED lighting.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: Theman]
#825764 - 05/05/17 09:10 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Quote:
TrueHerbCrystal said:
White leds are the cheapest
Quote:
Theman said:
Whites are more expensive???
Seriously?
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron] 1
#825802 - 05/07/17 03:27 AM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Got some work done over the past few days. Built the frames and had the fans mounted a few days ago, then the wiring harness. Today I finished the actual fixtures but still need to mount them better.
The frames were easy going this time as its becoming more natural to work with the drill and aluminum. I could have thought it out a little better for consistency but its all together much better than the last two. Its even set up to be able to take a third bar in the center.
 
I added two switches for the side lighting and didn't want to add more plugs for all the stuff. I used 3 screw together connectors that are in strips of 10 and you can cut away as many as you need. Pain in the ass getting it up but it shouldn't be an issue later. I tried cutting as much cost as I could in the building of the wiring harness.
 
I'm running all the fans off one DS100 fan driver. It keeps them slow but thats nice cause I don't want a bunch of wind burn on the plants. I'll check the temperature later to see if I need to bump up the current.
The diodes were all taped on. Most worked from the start but 3 of the 8 circuits had faulty diodes. One also had one backwards on accident. Taping was a bitch cause I cut the squares to 9 parts each to save the double sided heat sink tape.
    
Testing the sides out
 
Gonna put some bungee cords or something across the front to keep them held against the walls. The screws are kept long on the cooling fan to allow room for air flow. I might get shorter one's and remove the 1/2" gap between the heat sink and the fans.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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ashfiken
im home
Registered: 09/25/14
Posts: 285
Last seen: 2 years, 7 months
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: phychotron]
#825818 - 05/07/17 04:46 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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BADASS! Bro, I can't wait to see how bushy the plants get in this thing.
Awesome job man!
Just finished first month gettin settled into new spot, should be building on mine when I get a weekend free... Very excited
Cheers
Edited by ashfiken (05/07/17 04:47 PM)
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phychotron
Medicated
Registered: 02/17/11
Posts: 1,995
Loc: Earth (mostly)
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Re: Day Build: LED grow cube [Re: ashfiken]
#825819 - 05/07/17 07:21 PM (7 years, 7 months ago) |
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Thanks, I cant wait to see what she can do as well. The plants with just the top lighting seem to be doing amazing for inter-nodal spacing and overall bushiness.
I'm gonna try and get something in there ASAP.
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Any help given is for educational purposes only. Its your responsibility not to break any applicable laws
Bamboo Bongs I make | Perfect Dry and Cure | Grapegod under LED
“Human beings, vegetables, or cosmic dust, we all dance to a mysterious tune intoned in the distance by an invisible player.” ~ Albert Einstein
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