Dollar Store Grow Lights!
- Thread starter THC-CK
- Start date
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
I would see what voltage the supply is putting out then do some basic math from there.
Where mine ran at 60V DC each bulb/disc of LEDs.
I hooked up a bridge rectifier to the 120V AC and got about 100-110V DC out...so I knew if I add 2 together they would need more then what I could give them and they shouldn't blow up...lol
I found they still got fairly warm so I dropped the voltage down a little more with some 10W resistors...gave me about 90-100V DC which allows them to run at very nice temps...~28-29 degrees.
For yours I edited your pic to show some points to test.
AC inputs go to the Neutral and Live points...careful of these with your fingers...you can get a nasty shock.
Like mine the AC goes in the rectifier and if you look close on the top of yours then you may see a + and - to follow along the circuit and test voltages...may start out around 110V DC and go through a few components before its at the final working voltage.
You may be able to take voltage reading across the cap IF its just a filter cap for the DC then that will prob be the working voltage for the LEDs.
Oh and a tip...only turn the light on for a few minutes at a time and cover each LED with a small piece of electrical tape to help save your eyes when taking readings.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
This is what I did, but mine were dimmable and they didn't have the extra stuff on the discs for voltage dropping...they had crappy little driver boards inside underneath the discs.
I'm trying them out on my seed making project and they seem to do very well so far...lol
Close up of 1 bulb.
Bottom view.
Top view. (Small 80mm PC fan to help with heat)
Power supply circuit. (Another small 80mm PC fan to help with heat)
Inside box lit up. (Small plants ~ 12" to 20")
Can get very close to plant with no harm. (Only about 1/2 inch away...if that)
I think I pain $1.40 per bulb at Canadian Tire, but you can also buy just the discs with LEDs from the sites in China...alibaba and aliexpress and so on.
I'm trying them out on my seed making project and they seem to do very well so far...lol
Close up of 1 bulb.
Bottom view.
Top view. (Small 80mm PC fan to help with heat)
Power supply circuit. (Another small 80mm PC fan to help with heat)
Inside box lit up. (Small plants ~ 12" to 20")
Can get very close to plant with no harm. (Only about 1/2 inch away...if that)
I think I pain $1.40 per bulb at Canadian Tire, but you can also buy just the discs with LEDs from the sites in China...alibaba and aliexpress and so on.
kmog33
Well-Known Member
$20 on amazon gets you these 150 watt fan leds. Doubt they’re 150 actual watts. But they grow plants probably a bit better than the dollar store ones.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
They wont ship to Canada...lol
Not sure if I trust much being said about that light either...414 LEDs for 150W = 0.36W per LED...most of the LEDs put into these type of lights are about 0.20-0.25W per LED...so light is prob about 80-100W
150W for $40-ish...mine was half that cost and it prob has same draw power or output.
Wonder if its 150W per light or both...be sure to use a quality socket due to possible draw amperage...most common sockets are only rated @ 60W max.
Wheres the driver ? Prob some cheapo thing hiding inside somewhere ready to heat up and blow...like most LED bulbs do.
It does look like a neat little light all in all...I'd like to open one up to see what makes it tick...lol
Oh and I'm no way a pro with lights or calculations of them...still learning myself.
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
The wattage on the 2835 chip they advertise is 0.465w (3.1V x 150mA), x 414 of them = 192.51 watts driven at full. Most likely they are not driven at full, as LED efficiency is best when drive at 50% max current or lower.They wont ship to Canada...lol
Not sure if I trust much being said about that light either...414 LEDs for 150W = 0.36W per LED...most of the LEDs put into these type of lights are about 0.20-0.25W per LED...so light is prob about 80-100W
150W for $40-ish...mine was half that cost and it prob has same draw power or output.
Wonder if its 150W per light or both...be sure to use a quality socket due to possible draw amperage...most common sockets are only rated @ 60W max.
Wheres the driver ? Prob some cheapo thing hiding inside somewhere ready to heat up and blow...like most LED bulbs do.
It does look like a neat little light all in all...I'd like to open one up to see what makes it tick...lol
Oh and I'm no way a pro with lights or calculations of them...still learning myself.
kmog33
Well-Known Member
No idea as I said, but it works.They wont ship to Canada...lol
Not sure if I trust much being said about that light either...414 LEDs for 150W = 0.36W per LED...most of the LEDs put into these type of lights are about 0.20-0.25W per LED...so light is prob about 80-100W
150W for $40-ish...mine was half that cost and it prob has same draw power or output.
Wonder if its 150W per light or both...be sure to use a quality socket due to possible draw amperage...most common sockets are only rated @ 60W max.
Wheres the driver ? Prob some cheapo thing hiding inside somewhere ready to heat up and blow...like most LED bulbs do.
It does look like a neat little light all in all...I'd like to open one up to see what makes it tick...lol
Oh and I'm no way a pro with lights or calculations of them...still learning myself.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
Must of missed where the LEDs used were shown...didn't see any being listed so I'm going on assumption they are cheapo ones like most of these lights are made with.
and this reply from seller makes me wonder even more...
" this 150Watt Plant Grow Light equivalent actual power consumption is about 40W "
Edit:...just noticed you posted the same quote after i hit post...lol
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
They said here which chip they used:
..but they also said:
Seems odd since their image of the LEDs used don't show that same range:
And then there's this, which is really odd to see that much infrared in a LED grow bulb, and we really don't need all that to grow plants.
Looks like crap to me.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
I have to agree...too many "hrmm what" everywhere you look...lol
And good eyes you have on the 2835 find...I totally missed that...I'm old, take pitty...lol
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
I'm getting old too. Just added a vision plan to my health insurance for 2020. Hopefully I look smarter in glasses.
Mak'er Grow
Well-Known Member
Got my eyes tested 3 years ago and was told I need glasses...still haven't bothered..lolI'm getting old too. Just added a vision plan to my health insurance for 2020. Hopefully I look smarter in glasses.
PJ Diaz
Well-Known Member
I just need them for reading the fine print in low light. Then again, I'm often close to drunk when the lights are turned down low, so maybe that's my real problem.
