5' x 2' LED Strip light setup, Pros please straighten my head

Hey guys,

I've read sooooo many threads and I'm now just more confused than I started. Half the threads start off informational then turn into 2 dudes arguing so if we could keep it on the narrow here it would be amazing, just need straight information.

Im building a 5' x 2' grow area, new setup Flood and Drain, with Raspberry Pi using MyCodo for growroom automation and will have about 4' canopy height maximum so just trying to keep everything slim line. I've built a 4 x CXB3590 setup before and it was causing light bleach on my previous setup and have now decided to go a full strip light setup to reduce those affects.

I plan on making a full aluminium frame for strip lights and welding aluminium U-Channel to an outer frame as a kind of heatsink for each strip. I'm an electrician and fabricator.

I want the most efficient and growth effective strip lights that will take a grow from veg to flower. Cost isn't a major concern for such a small area. I just want to do it right from the start.

I want to know your opinions on.

1. How many strip lights for this area is recommended?
2. What kind of strip lights? Latest technology Samsung lm301 vs Nichia 757 vs Bridgelux etc.
3. What Temperature and CRI and do I need a mix? (Some people say 3000k 70 CRI, some people say 3500k 90CRI vice versa)
4. Is it beneficial to chuck some supplemental or UV strips in there also? (I don't want far red because with limited space I don't want them to stretch.)
5. Once I've found the strips I can work out the driver and recommended drive amps.

I have been eyeing items from cutters

Any input would be muchly appreciated and I know this may be a repetitive post but I really want to get the best gear I can get. for my small area.

You'd be a bit easier off and more aethstetic if you used t slot 2020 extrusion as a spine and use a t nut to connect the middle of the strips/heatsinks to it.

Airwalker16 said:

You'd be a bit easier off and more aethstetic if you used t slot 2020 extrusion as a spine and use a t nut to connect the middle of the strips/heatsinks to it.

Click to expand...

I was really hoping that you'd comment on this! More so on the Strips themselves

I have all the aluminium at home to do it and I can stack dimes on aluminium, 2020 extrusion isn't cheap around here.

A very good place to start.

iPerculate said:

DIY LED Strip Build Designs for Samsung H-Series, F-Series, Q-Series, and Bridgelux EB Gen.2 - LED Gardener

DIY LED strip builds have become very popular recently. The mid-power section of our forum is full of threads created by DIYers looking to build their own custom lights, and new builds and ideas are surfacing every day. If you don’t live somewhere where you have easy access to premade lights...

ledgardener.com

A very good place to start.

Click to expand...

I have already been there but it was written over 2 years ago so I was trying to see what you guys thought of the latest strips available not 2 years old stuff. Thanks very much anyways

I like the Samsung F strips, others might chip in with the other options, Bridgelux, Cutter etc.

So a meanwell HLG320H 48A Driver and 3 x 4ft double row Samsung F Strips. lm561c diodes.
Or 6 single row 4ft ones. ~ 35 watts per Sq Ft.
I can get ~ 370 watts at the wall with that driver turned to max.
That's = to 3 x QB288s only with a far better spread. You could even use 4 or more strips, depending how much you are willing to spend for better efficiency.

Or 6 x 2ft double row Samsung strips, lm561c diodes. 560mm long, so make sure and measure your "2ft side" to ensure they'd fit first.

Or the 2ft Samsung lm301b double row H influx strips.

4ft

2ft

2ft H influx strips

Personally, I'd use the 4ft ones for ease of build.

Also don't forget about the Chinese knockoff builds - Alibaba- which are a viable option too.

@Chip Green is the Bridgelux Man, perhaps he'll drop by with some ideas
I hope that's helpful to you.

Cboyhehe said:

1. What Temperature and CRI and do I need a mix? (Some people say 3000k 70 CRI, some people say 3500k 90CRI vice versa)
2. Is it beneficial to chuck some supplemental or UV strips in there also? (I don't want far red because with limited space I don't want them to stretch.)

Click to expand...

I believe @Rocket Soul has seen very good results with dual temperature Bridgelux Vesta strips, 2700k and 5000k 90CRI.


Found it.....

I have racks of BXEB, Samsung F, 3000K, 3500K, on and on....
They all work about the same.
It's really easy to get caught up in splitting hairs over which is the "best".
I went with the BXEB long ago, and pretty much stuck with em, for most of the areas.
The diffences are really negligible in my opinion.

Chip Green said:

I have racks of BXEB, Samsung F, 3000K, 3500K, on and on....
They all work about the same.
It's really easy to get caught up in splitting hairs over which is the "best".
I went with the BXEB long ago, and pretty much stuck with em, for most of the areas.
The diffences are really negligible in my opinion.

Click to expand...

Yo, do you know the answer to the 660nn Red on/off switch on the KingBrite boards that I asked about?

Airwalker16 said:

Yo, do you know the answer to the 660nn Red on/off switch on the KingBrite boards that I asked about?

Click to expand...

No, I have no familiarity with that equipment at all.

Chip Green said:

No, I have no familiarity with that equipment at all.

Click to expand...

Where the hell's @ChiefRunningPhist

Airwalker16 said:

Where the hell's @ChiefRunningPhist

Click to expand...

He has been banned ffs

Moflow said:

He has been banned ffs

Click to expand...

OMFG WHY

Do you understand how this on/off switch works for the 660nm reds on KingBrites boards? Is it just the reds and LM301s both being on a ConstantCurrent driver, to where when the reds are turned off, is still within the voltage range to where it runs the driver fine?
But for a CV driver, they'd get a boost in current if the voltages were the same using a ConstantVoltage driver, right? Whatever series parallel circuit needed to have them both be 54v.
With a CC driver, where the current stays constant, turning OFF the reds, the driver would be a little bit less efficient because that voltage is lost from being closer to the Max therefore less efficient? The red circuit would be wired to keep voltage as low as possible with a CC I'd assume?
Sound right? @Moflow or whoever you think I should ask? Since all the fucking smart people on here are getting banned for some GD reason.

Moflow said:

I like the Samsung F strips, others might chip in with the other options, Bridgelux, Cutter etc.

So a meanwell HLG320H 48A Driver and 3 x 4ft double row Samsung F Strips. lm561c diodes.
Or 6 single row 4ft ones. ~ 35 watts per Sq Ft.
I can get ~ 370 watts at the wall with that driver turned to max.
That's = to 3 x QB288s only with a far better spread. You could even use 4 or more strips, depending how much you are willing to spend for better efficiency.

Or 6 x 2ft double row Samsung strips, lm561c diodes. 560mm long, so make sure and measure your "2ft side" to ensure they'd fit first.

Or the 2ft Samsung lm301b double row H influx strips.

4ft

SI-B8VZ91B20WW Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. | Optoelectronics | DigiKey

Order today, ships today. SI-B8VZ91B20WW – LED Lighting COBs Engines Modules LED Module series White, Warm Linear Light Strip from Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.co.uk

2ft

SI-B8V521560WW Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. | Optoelectronics | DigiKey

Order today, ships today. SI-B8V521560WW – LED Lighting COBs Engines Modules LED Module series White, Warm Linear Light Strip from Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.co.uk

2ft H influx strips

SL-B8V4N90LAWW Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. | Optoelectronics | DigiKey

Order today, ships today. SL-B8V4N90LAWW – LED Lighting COBs Engines Modules LED Module series White, Warm Linear Light Strip from Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.co.uk

Personally, I'd use the 4ft ones for ease of build.

Also don't forget about the Chinese knockoff builds - Alibaba- which are a viable option too.

@Chip Green is the Bridgelux Man, perhaps he'll drop by with some ideas
I hope that's helpful to you.

Click to expand...

Righto so since Im a 5' area. Id like to go with the 2' strips instead of 4' strips and span them across the 2' dimension as they will definitely fit. Is there much advantage to getting dual row strips? I don't mind the extra work to spread out more strips.

Anything from cutters store that you could also recommend?
Where I am digikey is a bit hard to get.

Also would anyone recommend supplementing the area with anything else? Looking to get the highest quality stuff out of this area that I can.

Cboyhehe said:

Righto so since Im a 5' area. Id like to go with the 2' strips instead of 4' strips and span them across the 2' dimension as they will definitely fit. Is there much advantage to getting dual row strips? I don't mind the extra work to spread out more strips.

Anything from cutters store that you could also recommend?
Where I am digikey is a bit hard to get.

Also would anyone recommend supplementing the area with anything else? Looking to get the highest quality stuff out of this area that I can.

Click to expand...

2' strips across the 5' of spaces definitely more effective. And there's no advantage to to a double row. Especially in your case where you're using 2'ers to span 150% of they're own length. Single rows spread out evenly, except for the edges, you want them a bit closer there, is best.

Airwalker16 said:

OMFG WHY

Click to expand...

I'm not 100% sure but maybe something he'd said in the politics section.
A great pity as he is a great guy.

Airwalker16 said:

2' strips across the 5' of spaces definitely more effective. And there's no advantage to to a double row. Especially in your case where you're using 2'ers to span 150% of they're own length. Single rows spread out evenly, except for the edges, you want them a bit closer there, is best.

Click to expand...

Okay so what is your recommendation on what kind of 2ft single row strips then please Airwalker?

Here's single row 2ft strips 24v

H influx single row 2ft strips l04

L06 h influx 2ft single row

I've never used Arrow but a lot of peeps say they're great with very fast delivery.

Moflow said:

Here's single row 2ft strips 24v

SI-B8V261560WW Samsung Semiconductor, Inc. | Optoelectronics | DigiKey

Order today, ships today. SI-B8V261560WW – LED Lighting COBs Engines Modules LED Module series White, Warm Linear Light Strip from Samsung Semiconductor, Inc.. Pricing and Availability on millions of electronic components from Digi-Key Electronics.

www.digikey.co.uk

H influx single row 2ft strips l04

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/sl-b8v2n80laww/samsung-electronics

L06 h influx 2ft single row

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/sl-b8v3n80laww/samsung-electronics

I've never used Arrow but a lot of peeps say they're great with very fast delivery.

Click to expand...

Sorry to be a pain Moflow but whats the difference between these 2? the L06 and L04 stand for?