Cree XML Custom 120w DIY

Long time creeper...blah blah. LEDs.

From what I have read, LEDs are at a point where we can use a CREE Warm White and Neutral White combo, as they put out enough 660, 630...470..blah blah. These LEDs can be run at 3000ma max.

I am planning 4xCREE Neutral White XML @ 1750ma (Meanwell driver)
16XCREE Warm White XML @ 1750ma (Meanwell driver)
=100w-120w of LED and about 8,977lm ON a 6in X 10in Alum heatsink with 1X 120mm fan.
Angle on the XML is 125 degrees.....i was considering 4-6 lenses at 80 degrees (this is an option).

All this would run you...300ish. Why have we not seen this done before? Im pretty sure the research supports it. At least a trial run by the DIY community

My situation is this: Day 45 veg Dinafem Blue Widow, Blackstar 240w with 2 23w CW cfls hanging, Developed what looks like a severe cal/mag deficiency, i have been feeding all organic teas, (mex bat guano, worm castings, epsom, molasas,). PH i feel is a bit low, 6.0 runoff with about 6 entry. SO......i feed a light dose of cal/mag and moved the light as high away as i could and will take it from there.

Any takers?

Oh, I'm ready.

EDIT: Welcome to RIU.

Google "building a home made led"

This is pretty much the direction I am going.
It works pretty damn good so far.

Pics please.

The interveinal chlorosis could be a byproduct of the limited spectrum of the BS light, but maybe not.
Hard to tell without pics. Also do you have the grow dialed under your usual lighting?

Subbed and interested. Here's hoping for your ladies.

Welcome to RIU. I have been wondering the same thing since the XTE and XML whites are so impressive. I came to the conclusion that XTE is better for growing than XML. XTE does have a wider angle but that will improve spectral mixing which allows us to get the LED modules closer to the canopy. The XML cost $6-$10 each while the XTE are $3.25 each. Finally the XTE bins we have available are equally efficient as the XML. Here are the calculated minimum output numbers based on a Tj of 50c and assuming typical Vf. The last column is radiometric efficiency.

SupraSPL said:

Welcome to RIU. I have been wondering the same thing since the XTE and XML whites are so impressive. I came to the conclusion that XTE is better for growing than XML. XTE does have a wider angle but that will improve spectral mixing which allows us to get the LED modules closer to the canopy. The XML cost $6-$10 each while the XTE are $3.25 each. Finally the XTE bins we have available are equally efficient as the XML. Here are the calculated minimum output numbers based on a Tj of 50c and assuming typical Vf. The last column is radiometric efficiency.

Click to expand...

Could someone break this down into hippie/stoner talk please thanks

dolamic said:

Could someone break this down into hippie/stoner talk please thanks

Click to expand...

Dude,

XTE - Wider angle but lets light mix better, and we have access to higher quality units (bins) that are just as efficient as XML.
XML - Cost twice as much, but are more efficient and have a lower angle.

i've got a 32 chip XMl, with 8 cree 630nm, in it and its produces around 22,000-30,00 lumens at 253 watts. defiantly the way to go.. I would recommend adding cool white Xml's as they have good spectrum and high lumens..

Highocaine said:

Dude,

XTE - Wider angle but lets light mix better, and we have access to higher quality units (bins) that are just as efficient as XML.
XML - Cost twice as much, but are more efficient and have a lower angle.

Click to expand...

Ok, I can process that. What about the charts? Numbers fail me.

The last column is the radiometric efficiency which is the amount electricity converted into light. The rest is heat. It is a difficult number to calculate for white LEDs. Those are estimates based on the CREE graphs. It is a useful number for comparing LED output and for determining how much heatsink you will need.

Warm vs cool white is debatable. I made a long post about that on my thread. Everything below is regarding warm white.

The XML ($8 ) can be run twice as hard as the XTEs ($3.25) which explains the cost difference but the XML is not more efficient than the XTE until you pass beyond 700mA. At 1750mA the XML only drops to 28% which is still higher than the white LEDs we were using not long ago. I run at 700mA because I want the extra efficiency so in my design the XTE makes more sense.

It is a tall order to compete against a 600HPS ($200). The XTE and XML along with Luxeon ES will help us get the job done and really make it worthwhile to build a DIY LED. Running soft we might be able to replace a 600 HPS with 200w of LED ($800).

For lower hanging fruit use LED for vegging a perpetual grow. With 100w of old LEDs we were able to veg more than enough for 2400 watts of HPS on the flowering side. With the new LEDs running soft you could do the same job with 50 watts. That adds up to very significant savings in electricity especially because they run for 20 hours/day.

Soo is this a DIY, journal, or problem thread?

Id like to see it progress.

good info Supra!

thats crazy expensive $800 for 200w is more than it costs to buy a premade led. if you run 4 cobs it will be half the price for same power

It's a thread from 2012 though

Haha I'm stoned idk how I came across this

If your interested in discrete solutions, XHP50 might be worth considering.

This is a 1000 lumen Bin at 1400ma CCT 5000k on a solderless Star, this version we tested at 96CRI. Benefit is if you want to crank these up to say 3A, your getting close to 2000 Lumens albiet at lower efficacy
Cheers
Mark