Thoughts on Roleadro 2nd Generation.

Just wondering if you guys thought that this full spectrum was better than the blurple. (I know it's a POS and that a cob is better.)

https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Upgrade-Developed-Spectrum-Generation/dp/B01HI3AFYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1486309458&sr=8-1&keywords=roleadro&th=1

I see where they are going with this.. Trying to be more like a COB at 1/3 the price. If it were more efficient I'd be more interested. What are your thoughts?

Spectrum
420-780 (No spectrum graph)

Diode
5w

Efficiency
124w actual draw
12600 lumens according to the clown that posted the ad

For 70 bucks it's a pretty good deal for for a 5w diode light. That's assuming they send you the correct light and that you get a few years out of it without losing half of your lights

About 100 lumen/watt with a loud as fuck panel.
Nicer than the blurples. Decent for the price.

Not as cheap as more efficient Philips LED bulbs though.(depends a little on deals though)
Probably about the same cost if you include cost of sockets + a bit of wood to act as a panel.

sunny747 said:

Just wondering if you guys thought that this full spectrum was better than the blurple. (I know it's a POS and that a cob is better.)
View attachment 3894008
https://www.amazon.com/Roleadro-Upgrade-Developed-Spectrum-Generation/dp/B01HI3AFYM/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1486309458&sr=8-1&keywords=roleadro&th=1

I see where they are going with this.. Trying to be more like a COB at 1/3 the price. If it were more efficient I'd be more interested. What are your thoughts?

Spectrum
420-780 (No spectrum graph)

Diode
5w

Efficiency
124w actual draw
12600 lumens according to the clown that posted the ad

For 70 bucks it's a pretty good deal for for a 5w diode light. That's assuming they send you the correct light and that you get a few years out of it without losing half of your lights

Click to expand...

If I needed it I would buy it. I think it has spectrums that would add value to a micro.

frica said:

About 100 lumen/watt with a loud as fuck panel.
Nicer than the blurples. Decent for the price.

Not as cheap as more efficient Philips LED bulbs though.(depends a little on deals though)
Probably about the same cost if you include cost of sockets + a bit of wood to act as a panel.

Click to expand...

Cool setup. what bulbs are those that you are running? How's the heat?

sunny747 said:

Cool setup. what bulbs are those that you are running? How's the heat?

Click to expand...

Bunch of 8w and 13.5w ones.

Heat is fine.

My introduction to LEDs was the 2nd Gen 600w version. After I bought it I started reading more and realized I should have started with COBs. I gutted the Roleadro in an attempt to find some usable parts for the COB build but found nothing. After it was gutted and I saw how small the heatsinks were i ended up upgrading the heatsinks to a slab of the 7.984" heatsink from HSU. I cut the corners in so it would fit into the case and upgraded the fans from 3 little guys to one big 200mm Thermaltake case fan. Even now it runs pretty warm and a more substantial heatsink would make me feel better.

In the end, the light works and it did a fine job for me (just growing veggies right now). The problem with these cheap-o lights is you don't know what bin the LEDs are in or even who makes them sometimes, and they'll use less efficient drivers so there is always going to be more heat to deal with. A DIY route lets you research components and compare datasheets to make a well informed purchase and you can always plan your light around upgrading later. For example, starting with a heatsink that exceeds your needs so in the future you can upgrade or run your lights harder.

A word of caution! all your fans are hooked up to one driver, if those fans fail this thing gets stupid hot. I unplugged the fan the other day for a while to use the outlet for an air pump and thought it would be fine as I don't have a cover on it blah blah blah that shit got stupid hot. It got hot enough that i could smell it, it smelled like an iron that is heating up on the ironing board. I unplugged the light and pointed a floor fan at it to dissipate the heat. My digital thermometer was registering 250+F around the drivers.