Help with lighting.

budsmoker247

budsmoker247

Well-Known Member
It's been some time since I had to deal with lighting, so im not really sure where to start. I've been using MH and HPS for years, but i'd like to try and cut down my cost of electricity without going broke trying to do it. I've been trying to find some T5's on my local buy and sells, but im not having much luck there so I decided to take a look on amazon. While trying to find some cheap T5 fixtures there, I came across these. I'm wondering what's peoples professional opinion on these? Would they suffice for veg? I know HPS is always going to be my best bet when it comes to flower but if I can at least cut my cost by using different lights in veg, i'd like to do that.

I'm not sure if they're 2200 total lumens or per light bar. any help is appreciated!

(Pack of 8) Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 6500K (Super Bright White), 20W, Utility Shop Light, Ceiling and Under Cabinet Light, Corded Electric with Built-in ON/Off Switchs: Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden

(Pack of 8) Barrina LED T5 Integrated Single Fixture, 4FT, 2200lm, 6500K (Super Bright White), 20W, Utility Shop Light, Ceiling and Under Cabinet Light, Corded Electric with Built-in ON/Off Switchs: Amazon.ca: Patio, Lawn & Garden
www.amazon.ca
 
budsmoker247

budsmoker247

Well-Known Member
or if these aren't suitable, if anyone could link me some cheap led's that would work, it would be greatly appreciated.
 
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piratebug

Well-Known Member
Let's see... 8 x 20watts = 160 watts, minus about 8% of those watts because there is no such thing as a 100% efficient driver. So you will end up with 8 strips putting out roughly 1564L/18.4 watts per strip. So if you were to space them at 1" a part, you coverage area would be 18" x 42", or is roughly 5.25 sf, which comes out to 223 lumens for every 6" x 6" area. or for a 18" X 12" it would be 223 lumens x 6 = 1338 lumens which would only be enough to veg 7 seedlings or clones in half gallon pots, one in each 18" x 12" area. And that would only be good for like 21 days, cause after that, in that same size area 18" x 12" you will need to provide at least 4000 lumens to allow the seedlings or clones to continue to flourish. So to me, those lights are not real growing lights, they are better for maybe a mother room, where you want your mothers to get enough light, but not so much that they would get out of hand to quickly!
 
budsmoker247

budsmoker247

Well-Known Member
piratebug said:
Let's see... 8 x 20watts = 160 watts, minus about 8% of those watts because there is no such thing as a 100% efficient driver. So you will end up with 8 strips putting out roughly 1564L/18.4 watts per strip. So if you were to space them at 1" a part, you coverage area would be 18" x 42", or is roughly 5.25 sf, which comes out to 223 lumens for every 6" x 6" area. or for a 18" X 12" it would be 223 lumens x 6 = 1338 lumens which would only be enough to veg 7 seedlings or clones in half gallon pots, one in each 18" x 12" area. And that would only be good for like 21 days, cause after that, in that same size area 18" x 12" you will need to provide at least 4000 lumens to allow the seedlings or clones to continue to flourish. So to me, those lights are not real growing lights, they are better for maybe a mother room, where you want your mothers to get enough light, but not so much that they would get out of hand to quickly!
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply! Im terrible when it comes to all this new lighting that's come to the market over the last few years so im completely clueless on what to buy. All I know is i'd like to find something reasonably priced, that also won't drain my wallet when it comes time to pay the electric. Do you have any recommendations for either cheap pre built lights or something I can easily put together?
 
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piratebug

Well-Known Member
What do you have to spend? But before you answer that, think about how much you want to save in electricity every month! What I mean by that, you can go cheap, but that will usually mean your electric bill will be more each month. So it always better to spend a bit more on lighting that may cost a bit more initially, but will soon make up for that because your monthly electric bill could be up to 60% cheaper from then on.... Anyhow as I asked before... what do you have to spend, and what size area is your vegging area?
 
budsmoker247

budsmoker247

Well-Known Member
it's about a 6x6 area in the corner of my basement where my mh and hps are set up. ideally, right now I wouldn't wanna spend any more than 150$ on one if possible, as im about to go broke with a new batch of nutes, soil and amendments lol. which is why I was initially thinking T5's would be my best bet for my money, but even those online seem a little pricey for a 2 - 4 bulb setup.

but im also pretty tech savy and can macguire pretty much anything. so if i can build a set up for reasonably cheap, that would also be good.
 
cobshopgrow

cobshopgrow

Well-Known Member
forget about these T5 led replacements, not much lumen for the moeny.
6x6 is big and 150$ isnt much.
May try to get some Bridgelux EB 2, theyre dirt cheap and quite good, for the reduced price and try to get a as cheap as possible driver for it,.
Browse arround here, you will get the picture for what you need for a diy strip build.
Those strips are almost cheaper then the aluminium to mount on and need no cooling when driven low.
 
cobshopgrow

cobshopgrow

Well-Known Member
checkout what 1212ham posted a few pages back.

CHEAP strip light and cabinet

Just thought I'd throw this up... Bridgelux EB series strips running off an old laptop supply and this dimmer. The frame cost nothing, the strips are simply hung from the top of the cabinet with pieces of 18 ga wire, no heat sinks. Total cost, about $25 for 90w. The cabinet also cost...
www.rollitup.org

he also posted that the eb 2 are back in stock

stock looking good

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LED Lighting - COBs, Engines, Modules, Strips are in stock at DigiKey. Order Now! Optoelectronics ship same day
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