Advice on LED Speaker Cab Build

Hey guys! As the topic states, I'm looking at building a box dressed as a vintage floor standing speaker for a soil led set-up for self-sufficiency (hopefully), but I'd be happy with anything and enjoy the idea of doing everything myself.

I would like to use LED lighting.

Budget is fairly flexible. Smell is most important.

My internal growing space should be no less than 40H * 15L * 15W inches.

400W Mars Hydro Panel - http://www.mars-hydro.com/mars-ii-led-grow-light-400w.htm

Fanning and filtration: 1 x 4inch fan + 1 x 4inch carbon filter: http://www.ebay.com/itm/271463971808

Will 400W LED be too much for a space this size?

Any suggestions/advice would be greatly appreciated!

For that space i think the led is to powerful. The best light/cost for that space imho would be to do some diy led's. Two CREE cxa3070 @ 1400 mA would put you at ~66w/sqft. In the LED forum the standard reccommendation is 30-50w/sqft. This would also run cooler than the mars hydro, so less need for air circulation. And if you are worried about putting them together, that part is surprisingly easy, i am not a master of electronics, but i had no problems. There are many guides, and even a video or two that will guide you through the process. I would also steer away from most pre-built panels, there are a few reputable manufacturers, but sorting through the bad ones can be hard. The panels that are badly built will not last long, and they use sub-par quality diodes, that emit less light than those of higher quality, and produce more heat.

Here's my take:

You have a high ceiling and a only 2.25 sq. ft. of space.

Ok....


The Area 51 RW-75 and the Hans Panel 65 or 80w's, would also be excellent choices to research....

THen.......


The mars might actually work in this scenario as all of its best light would be concentrated in the 1.5' space [no choice really ], which I think it is actually suited for. But not 40 inches and doubtful @ 18".

So then finding the height will be key....some will be taken away by a filter and fan, [which I suggest, since you can put them in the upgradde].....

I think you could knock a home run with a Bridgelux Vero 18 Setup. Use 4 of them on a single heatsink and use LENSES from LEDIL. This is the only way to increase your saturation, while having penetration at that distance. And they are a couple of bucks for 2 or so.

Then you can create your own spread and your ouput could be .10,000 lumens @ 91 watts.

You could build this for $100 easy.......

Much more efficient than the Mars.....

Known spectrum, known efficiency etc etc. In the led's, those are #'s that count. The 300w Mars pulls about 170-190 watts at the plug as puts out about 10-12,000 lumens. Maybe less, since they are less than honest usually in describing output, but who is going to tell, since no Data is released??????

Thanks to both of your replies. After more research I've definitely decided going against MarsHydro and the likes, not to put them down as I've never tried them, but for +$50 I could get something much more suited to my needs. ie the A51 and Hans panels. I'm probably leaning towards the Hans only because they're currently in stock as A51 has run out of stock until early next year I believe.

As for building something myself electrical, I have no skills in that department what so ever, nor the time to learn right now, may be at a later date. I'd rather pay that extra with a piece of mind.

The kessil might also be worth a look. But both the hans and the a51 are quality lights.

thegreatbeast said:

Thanks to both of your replies. After more research I've definitely decided going against MarsHydro and the likes, not to put them down as I've never tried them, but for +$50 I could get something much more suited to my needs. ie the A51 and Hans panels. I'm probably leaning towards the Hans only because they're currently in stock as A51 has run out of stock until early next year I believe.

As for building something myself electrical, I have no skills in that department what so ever, nor the time to learn right now, may be at a later date. I'd rather pay that extra with a piece of mind.

Click to expand...

Just saw that after the recommendation!

They are opening a warehouse in Michigan right now I guess. You can email or call Area51 for a panel though. They apparently are shipping them from Hong Kong, while we wait for Michigan to open, but you have to pay more for HK shipping and wait times.

The Hans Panel is unique in that it is one of the last to really build on a R/B blend, but supplemented with NW. They are excellent lights.


I would stay away from Kessil for main lighting. They have great specs, but it is only taking Dead Center into consideration in their specs. Once you start going off the main beam pattern by 6", forgot about it.


Honestly, the DIY thing will take you about 5 mins to learn, ever played with Lego's when youger . Literally, that might be harder.

I am working on a light build today and hopefully tonight I will put up a blog post. Pre made panels IMHO are no indicative notion of quality and time saved. They can be, but most "good" lights are just covered by warranty that covers their ass, when it fails. That's not quality, that's QC.
Most aren't even using the latest Tech, which is dissapointing, Hans and A51 included here.

Abiqua said:

Honestly, the DIY thing will take you about 5 mins to learn, ever played with Lego's when youger . Literally, that might be harder.

I am working on a light build today and hopefully tonight I will put up a blog post. Pre made panels IMHO are no indicative notion of quality and time saved. They can be, but most "good" lights are just covered by warranty that covers their ass, when it fails. That's not quality, that's QC.
Most aren't even using the latest Tech, which is dissapointing, Hans and A51 included here.

Click to expand...

Look forward to your blog!

The more I actually look at these DIY light builds, the more I'm even leaning towards them. It will add to the satisfaction of my whole build and cash in my pocket!

Go for DIY man!
You will find yourself sometimes very weak, because can't do something, but then think, and trustyourself and then you're startint to create ur own problem solution, and there starts fun - learning, brain teasing...
It's such fun!
Also, my mother says i'm lazy, but she don't know how i've made growbox, repaired that, made for my friends boxes, haha , you kno..

@thegreatbeast

Started a little late on a journal entry for the light and not quite finished due to "operator error" , but should be finished tommorow. 90%

I am then going to start a [6x] Vero 10 3500k ..........50w Flower/ Veg Light for a similar dimension space [Mini-Fridge!] 32" high and 1.5 ft x 1.5ft floor.
Just waiting to place an order over the next few days and then shipping.

....and then, also starting another light with Cree CXA cobs, the 3000k AB's. This probably won't get done until after Christmas, but working on it slowly, nonetheless.
165 watts probably max, for a 2x2 space, most likely a tent.