I was looking at branded LED lighting and did some research ended up DIY LED grow light saving $$

[Big Perm]

And those are better than MH/HPS?

It's really what you want to do. I was going to go flower led, and still am eventually. I saw that everything compares itself to a 1000w hps (the ones I was looking at). I also wanted to run uv, as a personal preference (what I mean by 'what you want to do'). They do make led's that emit uv. So, I just went 1000w hps, and that will work just fine for me. I could have gone with just about anything. I chose hps because it's tried and true, and I could manage the heat. Plus I get the uv.
It sounds to me like you need to research lighting in general. I'd go do that, then make an educated decision, not just what someone tells you to get.

 

[Big Perm]

Just go to the led section and look at led builds.

You can either order a kit or parts separate.

There are sponsors here that sell kits. Cobkits.com, tasty led, timber grow lights, Pacific lighting group and others I'm missing.

https://www.rollitup.org/f/led-and-other-lighting.124/
Have fun!

I actually thought this was it's own thread for some reason, probably because it went so far off the rails. A great start at diy led is....also this exact thread hahaha.

 

[TheGreenGreek]

Just go to the led section and look at led builds.

You can either order a kit or parts separate.

There are sponsors here that sell kits. Cobkits.com, tasty led, timber grow lights, Pacific lighting group and others I'm missing.

Some of those kits are 3-4 times the price. Ouch

 

[Big Perm]

Some of those kits are 3-4 times the price. Ouch

Check out the link in the first post on this thread.

 

[TheGreenGreek]

Check out the link in the first post on this thread.

So Quantum board?

 

[Big Perm]

So Quantum board?

It's an example of a DIY, what to expect going in, etc. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.

 

[coreywebster]

So Quantum board?

Try looking at strip builds.
http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

 

[TheGreenGreek]

Try looking at strip builds.
http://ledgardener.com/diy-led-strip-build-designs-samsung-bridgelux/

Was just looking at something like that. I wanna fill up my 4x2x6 tent with as much light as safely as possible to cover both plants i plan to SCROG. I do not see pricing on that link.

 

[coreywebster]

Was just looking at something like that. I wanna fill up my 4x2x6 tent with as much light as safely as possible to cover both plants i plan to SCROG. I do not see pricing on that link.

If you go further down the page he lists various ways to build for various size grow spaces, if you click on 2x4 then there are a few examples to choose from and in each is a breakdown of the costs for the strips and all parts needed.

 

[GBAUTO]

Was just looking at something like that. I wanna fill up my 4x2x6 tent with as much light as safely as possible to cover both plants i plan to SCROG. I do not see pricing on that link.

240W of Samsung F-strips will crush that space. Cookie sheet/baking trays are great as a frame/heatsink. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fAwTmYH19VUG02N5S0CQ1UWoNX-_ZC-d4g/view?usp=sharing

 

[TheGreenGreek]

If you go further down the page he lists various ways to build for various size grow spaces, if you click on 2x4 then there are a few examples to choose from and in each is a breakdown of the costs for the strips and all parts needed.

Yea I’m going COB

 

[TheGreenGreek]

240W of Samsung F-strips will crush that space. Cookie sheet/baking trays are great as a frame/heatsink. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fAwTmYH19VUG02N5S0CQ1UWoNX-_ZC-d4g/view?usp=sharing

I’ll check it out. I will be sending my “1200w” LED back to BESTVA

 

[mewne]

https://www.rollitup.org/f/led-and-other-lighting.124/
Have fun!

Thanks

 

[Big Green Thumb]

Here is Timber's suggestions for a 2x4.
http://timbergrowlights.com/fixtures/flower-footprint/2-x-4/

I realize these may be more $ than you were expecting to spend, but believe me, their lights are amazing. You can use their lights as inspiration for your own - all the parts are listed and readily available, or buy one of theirs. Some other sites you may want to check out for true quality lighting fixtures or parts:
https://www.rapidled.com/
http://timbergrowlights.com/
cobkits.com
https://www.omegalight.net/
https://horticulturelightinggroup.com/


I'm sure there are others, but these are some I use to do research quite regularly. I stay away from the Chinese knockoffs of these since the actual leds may not be what they claim. The above are LEGIT!

 

[Bz Dreamcatcher]

Hey is PPM the same as U'Moles.. I see people are saying 1000' to 1500' but that's not Umole's is it..? I got a nice PPFD reader but can't get the U'mole's part above 600' no matter how close the reader is to the light.. fml! Any input helps) cool) and I'm using nice 1000'watt DE's.. my plants are always good but when I put that Reader up it said 220' like wtf...

 

[Bz Dreamcatcher]

Hey is PPM the same as U'Moles bro.. I see people are saying 1000' to 1500' but that's not Umole's is it..? I got a nice PPFD reader but can't get the U'mole's part above 600' no matter how close the reader is to the light.. fml! Any input helps) cool) and I'm using nice 1000'watt DE's.. my plants are always good but when I put that Reader up it said 220' like wtf...

Lol on par with viparspectra lmao those are junk too man. Sorry but 240 Watts isn’t close period. These companies I swear. “1200” Watts comparable to 800 Watts while only pulling 240 Watts wow. Double chips that’s even better.

 

[GBAUTO]

Can you link a description of the meter you're using?
PPM is parts per million-it measures concentration of a solution.
PPF-Photosynthetic Photon Flux(the amount of usable light a fixture produces in umoles/second)
PPFD-Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density( Amount of PPF per meter(2) in umoles/m2/second)
Your meter should give you PPFD readings-that is what you need to use to get an accurate intensity reading in your canopy.

 

[Bz Dreamcatcher]

Yes it's a PPFD reader.. like a nice one like 400$ bucks.. here's a picture of it.. there's also a mode FC and LUX.. doesn't even make sense people are saying 1'k to 1500" u'moles when that's impossible! I'd have to have the Top of the Canopy like 2inches from the light to get that! And that would burn everything! Fuck! Hay super appreciative on the replys and any other info! Much love for sure!

 

[Bz Dreamcatcher]

Hey is PPM the same as U'Moles bro.. I see people are saying 1000' to 1500' but that's not Umole's is it..? I got a nice PPFD reader but can't get the U'mole's part above 600' no matter how close the reader is to the light.. fml! Any input helps) cool) and I'm using nice 1000'watt DE's.. my plants are always good but when I put that Reader up it said 220' like wtf...

No not 240watts bro.. it's a 1000'watt DE king Wing super nice light.. big reflector and all.. all my plants are major as fuck but I was just curious on the reading and when I checked it's like 200-300 only.. and I keep reading everyone's saying 700 to 1500' is where it should be at like wtf.. ha

 

[GBAUTO]

Yes it's a PPFD reader.. like a nice one like 400$ bucks.. here's a picture of it.. there's also a mode FC and LUX.. doesn't even make sense people are saying 1'k to 1500" u'moles when that's impossible! I'd have to have the Top of the Canopy like 2inches from the light to get that! And that would burn everything! Fuck! Hay super appreciative on the replys and any other info! Much love for sure!

Unless there is some other function button, this says it displays lux and foot candles. The website doesn't give any info oh whether it will display PPFD.