Search the Community

This is how I built an overpowered light worth $2500+ on the market for only $850. All currency is CAD. *BEFORE STARTING* Watch the 6 part growmau5 series to learn the wiring: For the grounding plug: Technical: 4x Hlg 185H 700ma in series drivers (i suggest you buy the newer 240H model) $250 40x 5000K $350 7x 3000K $25 (You can use less I used way too many) All are bridgelux Gen 3/ C3 (Make sure theyre all plug in only dont mess around with the solder ones unless you have 100+hours experience in soldering) The 3000k ones I used were soulder onlys. Lost a couple due to human error Total Cost (TC): $575 Frame: (Choose a better material for frame, I used wood composite because I was lazy) (I would think aluminum would be the best material but all have their pros and cons) Wood composite 2x2ft v Matching plastic 2x2ft (painting frame) $50? Thermal tape (sized to the width of the led bars) $20 TC: $70-100 Electric: 100’ length 20guage solid core wire $60 50 pack 2 wire wagos 221 $25 4x plastic junction boxes 4inch x 4inch x 3inch (make sure it comes with something to plug up the holes and hold the wire)$40 500 assorted pack heatshrink tubing $20 (good to help fit in junction box) 4x Leviton 515PV 15Amp 125Volt grounding plug $20 25’ 16guage wire (for the grounding plug) $20 TC:$165-Everything is super flexible here just make sure your amps and volt calculations are solid. -Dedicated extra fans (required): With 2 medium fans running on the light, and another 2 small fans running on the drivers everything is 20C-25C. SETTING UP THE DIMMERS (Very easy if you do it like i did in these pictures) All you need is: •100k potentiometers (maybe an ohm meter if you want to make sure ur dimmers go all the way to 100, most dont they go to like 92 or 97) •20 guage wire (same as the led strips) •Plastic junction box (make sure its got rubber wire holders that you cut a hole through with scissors and put the wire/ potentiometer through) •211 Wago wire connector •soldering machine (temperature is dependant on what kind of solder you use) $25 • silver solder (find a lower temp soldering machine ~360f for silver) $20 (This light is truly 800w if you use the exact parts, if you use more or less drivers and led strips or different brands then the wattage can vary from 600-1000, materials are very flexible just try to make sure volt/amp calculations are correct) (Always be cautious with electricity, build this whole thing without being plugged in to any wall outlet/power source️)

Quick question guys: which lights do you prefer? Im looking at a light for my first proper indoor grow. I was going to use LED, but got told some good info from from someone at one of the grow shops. He recomended THE HPS setup. Cause its tried and tested always gets good results, is is the best bang for buck. I was looking at an LED but only have max 4500 to spend and that's pushing my budget. So the led i found was small, and the guy selling the HPS SETUP made a good point that those wont have guarentee and will probably break, because its cheap. He does not sell cheap LEDS and and other reputable grow shops follow the same lead they only sell LEDS above 6K Then comes to the CMH light which is in the middle at 4500 which they say gets much better results because of the ligth range. Using a more white light than orange like the HPS. Which iv heard the hps works better for flowering, than growing. So your choice 1. HPS SETUP- R2000 with a warrenty thats with a ballast and its 600W 2. CMH setup R4450 globe alone is 1400 of that 4450 so if i break a globe its expensive unlike HPS WHICH IS LIKE 600 3. Cheap FULL spectrum Led with flower spectrum for R3000 and no warrenty https://www.somhydro.co.uk/blog/cdm-quality-over-hps-quantity. Good info on that site

Hi - I have a small space (shower cubicle) not used 1.2m x 1.2m. I will line the inside walls with reflective mylar. I'm on a tight budget so I'm currently researching my options regarding led lighting. As you know this is the most expensive part. It seems possible to construct a LED light source with these LED cobs fairly easily so I'm wondering how many of these cobs will I need per plant if I have 1 or 2 plants in a small space like that. The cobs are full spectrum LED 50w from https://m.lightinthebox.com/en/p/1pc-cob-new-design-creative-led-grow-bulb-cob-chip-aluminum-for-diy-plant-flower-seeding-light-50-w_p6747851.html?prm=1-2.2.1.1&from_cid=52653 Thank you