Mau5Capades: builds & grow journal

[Growmau5]

@Airwalker16 another dank ass looking strain. but man, its sold out already on dankteam
@Way Of The Bud best way to check amperage of the driver to the cob is to get one of those little $7 red multimeters from harbor freight, set to DC amp, and connect inline with the cobs. then, as supraspl did, he created some hash marks for different drive currents around the potentiometer. take a look at his 1500w CXB 3590 thread. as suggested by @BuddyColas

@Thorhax I have made a lot of arduino progress. but making a GUI (graphical user interface) is a mother F'er. hundreds of hours of coding beyond my abilities. I bought some software (aka a sketch). for aquariums. Il post some pics later.

@Norcalknugs is on to something. Hydroponics greenhouse controllers are expensive. we can get the same functionality (minus CO2) from an aquarium controller like a ReefKeeper lite, or even better a Neptune Apex. https://www.neptunesystems.com/
to answer your question, does Reefkeeper Lite offer DIY break out boxes for dimming multiple drivers.

someone correct me if this is wrong: analog dimming pots, you can connect two meanwell drivers that would take a 100K ohm pot each. and dim them simultaneosly on a single 50K ohm pot. we know this. And I believe, when running a PWM 0-10v digital dimmer, you can wire many drivers in parallel to one PWM output, and they will all dim simultaneously?

 

[Growmau5]

Ah, I see. Do you mean something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-56-DC-0-1A-10A-50A-100A-Ammeter-LED-Panel-Amp-Meter-Digital-Gauge-Display-F-/161334234219?var=&hash=item2590450c6b:m:m3_55vwolcbV-zkB1C1IWzw

a must for any DIY'er

 

[Airwalker16]

@Airwalker16 another dank ass looking strain. but man, its sold out already on dankteam
@Way Of The Bud best way to check amperage of the driver to the cob is to get one of those little $7 red multimeters from harbor freight, set to DC amp, and connect inline with the cobs. then, as supraspl did, he created some hash marks for different drive currents around the potentiometer. take a look at his 1500w CXB 3590 thread. as suggested by @BuddyColas

@Thorhax I have made a lot of arduino progress. but making a GUI (graphical user interface) is a mother F'er. hundreds of hours of coding beyond my abilities. I bought some software (aka a sketch). for aquariums. Il post some pics later.

@Norcalknugs is on to something. Hydroponics greenhouse controllers are expensive. we can get the same functionality (minus CO2) from an aquarium controller like a ReefKeeper lite, or even better a Neptune Apex. https://www.neptunesystems.com/
to answer your question, does Reefkeeper Lite offer DIY break out boxes for dimming multiple drivers.

someone correct me if this is wrong: analog dimming pots, you can connect two meanwell drivers that would take a 100K ohm pot each. and dim them simultaneosly on a single 50K ohm pot. we know this. And I believe, when running a PWM 0-10v digital dimmer, you can wire many drivers in parallel to one PWM output, and they will all dim simultaneously?

My god... it was in Stock when I posted that. F'n A...

 

[ttystikk]

You know what I was saying about UV before, that UV-A alone may increase potency? Well a couple blacklight CFLs did seem like it may have increased it slightly but it still doesn't seem as potent as it should be, and could even be the same as with no UV for all I know. It's hard to tell subjectively. So anyway now I have to bite the bullet and buy a couple reptile lights to get some actual UV-B and see how that works out. The article I linked earlier about UV did say that UV-A reduces damage done by UV-B though, so apparently it's best to have both. A reptile light also puts out white light so I'll also benefit from a little extra PAR.

The downside of course is the high price of reptile CFLs and the fact that the UV-B drops off so fast that you have to replace them about every 6 months. Oh well, if it makes the difference between mediocre and premium then it'll be worth it. White LED would be good for growing the most weight of vegetable matter but it's not great for production of secondary compounds, like cannabinoids. You'll just get a lot of weak product, something like with original Big Bud.

Uh, I sure don't hear anyone complaining about weak product coming from their white COB LED setups.

 

[2ANONYMOUS]

Uh, I sure don't hear anyone complaining about weak product coming from their white COB LED setups.

Its not about Complaining its about full potential of resin production any light will grow a plant flash light, i would bet a candle would grow a plant ,
Whats needed is actual lab results from plants grown under Cobs one with UV and one with out to fully understand if it makes a difference i would bet it does
You Can have the frostiest looking bud around but got nothing there just pretty looking right ..
I personally think adding UV into the equation is a smart idea being Cobs do not have it remember were really trying to mimic the sun,,
And although most of the UV is reflected away in our atmosphere some still hit the ground
To think that UV does not play a role in anything i would say your Wrong a wave length even at that low can stimulate something Science is just begining to understand soil let alone plants biology truthfully speaking were in the novice stage when it comes to understanding nature

 

[Astro Aquanaut]

Uh, I sure don't hear anyone complaining about weak product coming from their white COB LED setups.

From the numbers it seems your COB LED's are going to produce the same side by side as an HPS THC%'s.. At least that is what the data shows from what people have posted with lab results ( it is proven UVB increases THC%'s in multiple papers, and in the scene). However, data has shown 2-5% gains in total THC with uvb exposure which doesn't seem like alot, however if you are going from 18% to 23% that is a 27% increase which is massive....

My issue is attempting to get all the numbers gathered in the attempt of not having to buy 2 different sets of UVB bulbs and fixtures ( pure Broadband medical UVB vs Reptile UVB) and having to do a few runs just for testing...

This is probably the best video I have seen so far behind the science

and from research papers on general plant reactions to UVB and UVA it seems it doesn't simply have an impact on the last 2 weeks of flowering as many would suspect... Basically, you are changing the DNA of the plant and the plant is adapting hence over several generations of long exposure you can actually increase the overall production capacity/capability I suspect hence the low thc strains from low uv index locations... You can also see on youtube, and various other research papers that plants exposed to uva/uvb have changes in regulatory systems, dna, etc etc which were not flowering...

Someone has to run side by side measuring uvb / uva then run the results through a GC or HPLC( chromatograph) to validate any results. However, UVB increasing THC %'s that has been proven the gory details need to be figured out.. UVA vs UVB Ratio of UVA & UVB how much UVB, and does certain spectrum distribution ratios effect this that etc, which bulbs are the best etc etc...

Additional Note: Some LED spectrum distributions have indicated more/higher terpene production, so the question is can LED+UVB produce better results than for example LEC, HPS+UVB etc etc. I believe that Berfelo character on youtube that has his own chromatograph shows that his led grows produce terpenes that he doesn't get with his hps...

 

[Way Of The Bud]

a must for any DIY'er
View attachment 3612645

Many thanks. I have a multimeter, but I wanted to have a little digital display on each light. I think I've sussed it now.

 

[Norcalknugs]

@Airwalker16 another dank ass looking strain. but man, its sold out already on dankteam
@Way Of The Bud best way to check amperage of the driver to the cob is to get one of those little $7 red multimeters from harbor freight, set to DC amp, and connect inline with the cobs. then, as supraspl did, he created some hash marks for different drive currents around the potentiometer. take a look at his 1500w CXB 3590 thread. as suggested by @BuddyColas

@Thorhax I have made a lot of arduino progress. but making a GUI (graphical user interface) is a mother F'er. hundreds of hours of coding beyond my abilities. I bought some software (aka a sketch). for aquariums. Il post some pics later.

@Norcalknugs is on to something. Hydroponics greenhouse controllers are expensive. we can get the same functionality (minus CO2) from an aquarium controller like a ReefKeeper lite, or even better a Neptune Apex. https://www.neptunesystems.com/
to answer your question, does Reefkeeper Lite offer DIY break out boxes for dimming multiple drivers.

someone correct me if this is wrong: analog dimming pots, you can connect two meanwell drivers that would take a 100K ohm pot each. and dim them simultaneosly on a single 50K ohm pot. we know this. And I believe, when running a PWM 0-10v digital dimmer, you can wire many drivers in parallel to one PWM output, and they will all dim simultaneously?

Yes best part is I grabbed it used for like $50 years ago. Check the reef forums people are always selling them. The thing with the reefkeeper is you have to buy a separate controller they call the alc for dimming, like $80.
As long as my heatsinks come today I will try it out today or tomorrow. I think worst case cobs will just run at half power?

 

[Norcalknugs]

This is the alc

 

[BuddyColas]

Ah, I see. Do you mean something like this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/0-56-DC-0-1A-10A-50A-100A-Ammeter-LED-Panel-Amp-Meter-Digital-Gauge-Display-F-/161334234219?var=&hash=item2590450c6b:m:m3_55vwolcbV-zkB1C1IWzw

Yup. You do not need a Fluke, one like in post 1082 would be good. As mentioned a "must have" for the DIY COB builder! I always check the polarity to fans, cobs, etc. and that the A.C. hot and neutral are correct going to the drivers. A good multi-meter will save you smoke and tears.
*A little side note: after you measure amps, be sure to put your test lead back in the voltage hole. Otherwise you will blow the fuse to your amp meter. I never did it myself , but I heard a few others have!

 

[BobCajun]

From the numbers it seems your COB LED's are going to produce the same side by side as an HPS THC%'s.. At least that is what the data shows from what people have posted with lab results ( it is proven UVB increases THC%'s in multiple papers, and in the scene). However, data has shown 2-5% gains in total THC with uvb exposure which doesn't seem like alot, however if you are going from 18% to 23% that is a 27% increase which is massive....

My issue is attempting to get all the numbers gathered in the attempt of not having to buy 2 different sets of UVB bulbs and fixtures ( pure Broadband medical UVB vs Reptile UVB) and having to do a few runs just for testing...

This is probably the best video I have seen so far behind the science

and from research papers on general plant reactions to UVB and UVA it seems it doesn't simply have an impact on the last 2 weeks of flowering as many would suspect... Basically, you are changing the DNA of the plant and the plant is adapting hence over several generations of long exposure you can actually increase the overall production capacity/capability I suspect hence the low thc strains from low uv index locations... You can also see on youtube, and various other research papers that plants exposed to uva/uvb have changes in regulatory systems, dna, etc etc which were not flowering...

Someone has to run side by side measuring uvb / uva then run the results through a gas chromatograph to validate any results. However, UVB increasing THC %'s that has been proven the gory details need to be figured out.. UVA vs UVB Ratio of UVA & UVB how much UVB, and does certain spectrum distribution ratios effect this that etc, which bulbs are the best etc etc...

Additional Note: Some LED spectrum distributions have indicated more/higher terpene production, so the question is can LED+UVB produce better results than for example LEC, HPS+UVB etc etc. I believe that Berfelo character on youtube that has his own chromatograph shows that his led grows produce terpenes that he doesn't get with his hps...

Maybe somebody could talk Berfelo into doing the experiments, since he grows and also has his own analysis equipment. I know that white LED weed tests out at seemingly reasonable THC levels but I've grown a few crops now, with several good strains, and it doesn't seem very potent to me. HID weed never seemed all that potent either actually, probably for the same reason. For instance, CFLs put out 1/40th of the sun's UV-B, so HIDs are probably pretty similar to that.

If reptile lights bump the percentage up by 3-5 points then obviously they weren't putting out what they were actually capable of before. So I got a couple of these today. Gonna try out these non Zoo Med brand ones first. They're a bit cheaper. Couldn't find a spectral graph though. Potent weed upcoming, hopefully. Probably won't do shit but just maybe. Gotta try it anyway, so I get some firsthand experience. Might also help prevent budrot.

From my looking around I found that the bulbs I bought are probably pretty weak in UV-B, since it says "tropical", which is the lowest type. I compared the spectrums of the Exo-Terra 100, 150 and 200 and the difference is that the lowest ones have less UV-B and more yellow. As you go up the bulb types the UV-B increases and the yellow decreases. So if you buy the 100 or 150 you're just wasting money on yellow light, which won't even do much as PAR. Even with the 200 it would have to be no more than 8" away to be similar to sunlight UV-B levels. Maybe these little CFLs aren't really enough to do much unless you have them up close. Anyway, I'll leave the subject at that, since it's not really LED related other than to supplement it.

 

[trichomatic]

Has anyone tried these ARCTIC silicone thermal pads? Finally getting ready to build and thinking this will easier than thermal grease. I see Cutter selling the pre-cut graphite material for the CXB3590s, but it's out of stock. This silicone pad has a 6.0W/mK thermal conductivity rating.

 

[Airwalker16]

Has anyone tried these ARCTIC silicone thermal pads? Finally getting ready to build and thinking this will easier than thermal grease. I see Cutter selling the pre-cut graphite material for the CXB3590s, but it's out of stock. This silicone pad has a 6.0W/mK thermal conductivity rating.

Buy them from graphteks actual website. I did. Come in sets of 10.

 

[djbluephoenix]

Kind of coming out of know where but why hasn't anyone mentioned tanning bed lights? They have UVB and UVA? Wouldn't it work or is it different?

 

[Queece]

Daily reminder to take the optics off your COBs and run them <5 inches away from your canopy in a tent.

 

[klx]

Daily reminder to take the optics off your COBs and run them <5 inches away from your canopy in a tent.

You run totally bare, no reflectors? Got any pics?

 

[Queece]

And what in the hell are you guys talking about, my Dr. Who? grown under 3070s clocked in at 27% but feels like 80. Look at the tests GreenGene's did back in the day between COB and HPS, pretty sure higher cannabinoid levels all around were the result.

I always get rid of my Who before anything else, I don't even like the stuff, I've been vaping flower rosin pretty much all day every day for over a year now, I think my nail is on 20 of every 24 hours, and that shit is way too strong for me. I can't even take the body load, it feels like I'm coming up on San Fran Electra. Is there some mono I could implement to reduce potency? I keep having people coming to me with the same problem: it's way stronger than anything they're used to.

You run totally bare, no reflectors? Got any pics?

yeah, here's a couple.

 

[Queece]

Seriously though, there is a growing demographic of people that are begging for less-potent stuff. My business partners are a bunch of old Jewish guys and they frequently kvetch that everything I grow gets them offensively stoned. I think the CBD thing is a start, I just want to see more stuff like Peyote Purple with super low THC but a bunch of other really weird synergistic effects.

 

[Airwalker16]

And what in the hell are you guys talking about, my Dr. Who? grown under 3070s clocked in at 27% but feels like 80. Look at the tests GreenGene's did back in the day between COB and HPS, pretty sure higher cannabinoid levels all around were the result.

I always get rid of my Who before anything else, I don't even like the stuff, I've been vaping flower rosin pretty much all day every day for over a year now, I think my nail is on 20 of every 24 hours, and that shit is way too strong for me. I can't even take the body load, it feels like I'm coming up on San Fran Electra. Is there some mono I could implement to reduce potency? I keep having people coming to me with the same problem: it's way stronger than anything they're used to.



yeah, here's a couple.

Is that that alien blues?

 

[Airwalker16]

Kind of coming out of know where but why hasn't anyone mentioned tanning bed lights? They have UVB and UVA? Wouldn't it work or is it different?

We have mentioned it and yes it would work.