Help me build 4 vertical strips for my tent

Big Green Thumb

Big Green Thumb

Well-Known Member
I like where you are going with your build! It's too bad I didn't wander into this thread earlier, I would have given you a few ideas, like:

- find a local metals supplier for the aluminum. I began using HD and Lowes for aluminum channel and angle and later discovered it's about 1/3 the price from a wholesaler.
- I don't see any reason for channel - just use 3/4" angle, 1/16" thick, unless you are running the strips at max amperage. These strips don't produce all that much heat to need that much surface area, let alone putting a piece of channel inside another one. That is just overkill. In fact, I bet you could just hang the strips in there with no aluminum heatsink at all - but don't do that. lol
- I'm still using my chinese $20 power supplies, but they are only 85-86% efficient vs those Meanwells 93+%.
- Pop rivets are a lot cheaper than self tapping screws. I even pop riveted some of the strips to the channel/angle (before I too bought some thermal tape, which has worked very well so far)
- It's a pain in @$$ wiring in a lot of strips. You only have 6 now, but you will be very happy with the strips and will build more. Mark my words!
- Personally, I also think the 24" strips would be adequate for side lighting, unless you run your 48"ers horizontally around the plants (like I did). In fact for my next grow, I am going to space my side lighting closer together than the 7" spacing I currently have.
- I predict your next build will be some 'divider' type lighting to go between your plants, unless you are growing 1 monster plant in the middle of your grow area.

Good luck with your build! You will be happy with the results!
 
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Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
Big Green Thumb said:
I like where you are going with your build! It's too bad I didn't wander into this thread earlier, I would have given you a few ideas, like:

- find a local metals supplier for the aluminum. I began using HD and Lowes for aluminum channel and angle and later discovered it's about 1/3 the price from a wholesaler.
- I don't see any reason for channel - just use 3/4" angle, 1/16" thick, unless you are running the strips at max amperage. These strips don't produce all that much heat to need that much surface area, let alone putting a piece of channel inside another one. That is just overkill. In fact, I bet you could just hang the strips in there with no aluminum heatsink at all - but don't do that. lol
- I'm still using my chinese $20 power supplies, but they are only 85-86% efficient vs those Meanwells 93+%.
- Pop rivets are a lot cheaper than self tapping screws. I even pop riveted some of the strips to the channel/angle (before I too bought some thermal tape, which has worked very well so far)
- It's a pain in @$$ wiring in a lot of strips. You only have 6 now, but you will be very happy with the strips and will build more. Mark my words!
- Personally, I also think the 24" strips would be adequate for side lighting, unless you run your 48"ers horizontally around the plants (like I did). In fact for my next grow, I am going to space my side lighting closer together than the 7" spacing I currently have.
- I predict your next build will be some 'divider' type lighting to go between your plants, unless you are growing 1 monster plant in the middle of your grow area.

Good luck with your build! You will be happy with the results!
Click to expand...
thanks man...

yea, i could have built this thing a little cheaper for sure.

i wasn't sure on the heat produced and was just following other ideas i have seen on here regarding the U-channels. if the second U-channel I planned on gluing in the first won't really help, i will eliminate those from the build. no need for extra weight.

i grow 4 plants in that tent, and at times a few reach 3.5-4 feet. i decided to cover the sides in lights to cover even the largest plants i grow.

appreciate you stopping in, always open to advice and ideas...
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
FSeriesFrame2.jpg

since less aluminum seems to be the call, my extra aluminum can be configured to make the final two (for now, lol) vertical frame pieces..

i just laid a couple of pieces up top to show where the final stages of (horizontal) strips will go. however they will be slightly shorter than this square frame so they can be lowered down to the plants when i start flowering. either 6 or 8 strips up top, haven't decided yet.

in the picture the verticals are just wired to frame, when finalized they will be rigid mounted.
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
What do you guys recommend for connectors?

for lights to driver and driver to wall plug?

my thermal tape, thermal glue and 18 gauge wire arrives tomorrow :blsmoke:

thanks
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
and believe it or not, Amazon prime f'd up my tape, glue and wire order. was supposed to be here today. now it wed and thurs....

anyone else having trouble with amazon prime shipping? this is twice they have done this too me in the last month. not cool !!!!
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
strips ready

stripsmounted.jpg



since we are wiring for AC on this side of the driver, i can connect these wires to either side, correct? i assumed green was ground.

wiring1.jpg


and, what do these arrows indicate? DC current directional flow?

f-seseriesarrows.jpg
 
Sour Wreck

Sour Wreck

Well-Known Member
Stone_Free said:
Nice dude! That frame looks cool and that driver is a beast :)
When is the big switch on? Which celeb have you got to flick the switch :D
Click to expand...

the BIG SWITCH ON IS NOW !!!! You're the celeb dude, don't look directly at the light. :blsmoke:


Holy Sh*t, nearly blinded myself when i turned these 6 strips on. for a couple mins after i first turned it on, when i closed my eyes i had 6 led strips embedded into my retina's :fire:

hope i have it wired right. definitely wired in parallel, and i assumed arrows were DC direction. giving them full power. should i dial it down a bit?

firstfireup.jpg
 
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