"Next Generation" LED - For the Hobbyist

Tell me if this is a bad idea, but responses confirming it is a good idea would be more appreciated.


Copying these instructables and making a DIY 40w LED:



The object would be to pick a light that uses the optimum color ranges for what you want to do with it. I've never seen and LED measured in K before, so that seems interesting enough to test out. It would be nice to find some DEEP RED and RED in a 40w. I'll continue research.

I selected a manufacturer of 40w LED lights.
LEDengin has a bunch of different colors. The chart is on this page: http://www.ledengin.com/led_products.htm
Catalog of 40w: http://www.mouser.com/catalogviewer.aspx?page=98&highlight=897-LZCA0MA40&catalogculture='en-US'&catalog='642'
This can be built for a little over $100. Having spare computer parts could save you enough to put the project under $100.

Either a power cord or busted CFL could be used to connect the driver to an outlet.

$50: 40w Driver


$20: Expensive Heatsink


$60: 40w LED On Chip


$5: Diffuser Made for the 40w LED

I didn't make it, but Maybe a bigger picture will get people to drop opinions.

I'm imagining the one i'm going to put together will be something like a 1bulb UFO. Suspending the Diffuser/LED/Heatsink with a chain or hooks or something. After I put it together I'll be able to figure out the range of coverage the diffuser gives. The bulb I selected looks like the best choice for a good beta test. Anyone agree? Disagree?
I'll probably treat the driver like a remote ballast and plug it into an outlet with a decent power cable.

Supplemental Lighting... so at least I don't get wrecked.

My thread is doom3d!

What if this heatsink was used? Would it be any crazier?

What if I went crazy and Dropped a 300w LED? That's one intense bulb.

yo if you figure that out hook me up to

it looks so simple. But yeah, after I figure it all out, I'll post how I did It. Cause I'm going to do it. Maybe it will be a waste of money, but the information gathered will be valuable.

Specialty LEDs
Typical Performance (mW)
LZ1-00xx05 LZ4-00xx10
Deep Red (660 nm peak)
Far Red (740 nm peak)
Dental Blue (460 nm peak)

LedEngin Far Red LEDs add to the current portfolio of Red (635nm), Deep Red (660nm) and Blue (460nm) LEDs for horticultural grow lights. The Far Red wavelength simulates seasonal effects and the onset of sunrise/sunset to prolong perceived daylight. This product completes the family of desired wavelengths in the plant absorption spectrum of light believed to enhance plant growth. LED grow lights allow customers to optimize the light to promote accelerated and predictable plant growth while realizing high energy efficiency compared to traditional horticulture lamp sources.

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Far Red sounds crazy for growing. Haven't seen it used in any other products. I usually just see 630nm and 660nm. As far I can see, they only come in 15w LEDs. I wouldn't mind supplementing with some Far Red for experimental purposes. Anyone using Far Red 740nm?

the guys at growledhydro might be doing so
they are trying to keep their specs a trade secret since they work so well

wow, they use more than 12 different wavelengths. Sounds pretty cool. Too bad they are so secretive. Most customers might want to know the wavelengths they are buying.

please use the 300 watt ill pitch 10 on it wheres the outher 29 people huh

ClosetSafe said:

Far Red sounds crazy for growing. Haven't seen it used in any other products. I usually just see 630nm and 660nm. As far I can see, they only come in 15w LEDs. I wouldn't mind supplementing with some Far Red for experimental purposes. Anyone using Far Red 740nm?

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lumigrow has a far red led grow bulb - http://www.lumigrow.com/products/ecc-fr-far-red-led-grow-bulb/

AdamBlack760 said:

please use the 300 watt ill pitch 10 on it wheres the outher 29 people huh

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You are completely right. I have to see the 300watt with my own eyes. It must be done. I'm thinking of not even bothering with the 40w and doing the 300watt for the trial run. It's just something I have to see. It's probably going to just be a laser beam, but then I could still use it to build a saber.

http://www.2lighting.com/p/32493/.html?source=googleps

I had some of that bud! Its so rare and flame

HinduWiff said:

I had some of that bud! Its so rare and flame

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lol

Well I saw something interestingly off topic. I don't think it could work in any way. But Organic LED or OLED. Philips started selling some. They don't produce enough light, not even if you made cylinders around your plant. I just don't think it could work well. But its "organic"! Lol
Check it out:
http://www.lighting.philips.com/main/lightcommunity/trends/led/lumiblade.wpd


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_light-emitting_diode

I'll just stick to my 600w haha

what do you think a 300w led would equal to in hid light

AdamBlack760 said:

what do you think a 300w led would equal to in hid light

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A GOOD 300w LED from a GOOD company should perform at least as well as a 400w HID (but that will cost $999 or more depending on who you go to)

Don't believe anyone who says their less than 300w unit will perform better than a 400w HID

A lot of LED companies claim "Oh our 180w unit performs as well as a 400w HID!" = bullshit

AdamBlack760 said:

what do you think a 300w led would equal to in hid light

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As far as spread and coverage: 250w maybe less :/
As far as amount of usable light for the plant: i'm sure, much greater than the 250w

I honestly don't know, but sunshine systems claims their 300w panel is equivalent to 1000w.... Obviously that is a marketing exaggeration...
(also on a side note, I just read that they use "far red" 740nm specs in the growpanelpro) (on a side note to that, every chart I've seen on par excludes everything past the 700nm mark) (on top of that side note, par charts never include anything below 400nm either, so I think 405nm UV is what companies use when they use "UV")

I'm dying to build my own led. I'm just debating on what to do first. I want to build something that I believe will work amazingly and at the same time I want to build a monster.

If I build the monster (300w): I wont need to build an enclosure. I'll just mount the chip and reflector to a heatsink and hang it as is. Simple, one light, one diffuser/reflector, one heat sink, cable running to driver, driver running to wall. (biggest problem: finding a 300w led driver: the only one I can find isn't priced: http://www.powerpartners-inc.com/quote-request.php?prod=PIL300U-V )

If I build one of my own design with smaller(5w) individual colors: Ill have to pick out colors, wire them in series/parallel(not even sure right now), mount them in an array that is ideal, find an LED fixture to gut and or fill if i can find empty LED fixtures(i've been looking and could use a hand on that).
For the multi faceted fixture, here are my thoughts:
630nm Red
660nm Deep Red
740nm Far Red
400nm Ultra Violet
460nm Dental Blue
Two of each would make a pretty sweet 50w fixture. I just don't know where to buy a decent housing case.


I still want to build a 40w and it's probably the cheapest and easiest option.

Shit thinking about it, I'll have to build the 40w first. I'm confident the 300w will work to some degree, but I know the driver will cost more than the light. At $100, it's a hobby project. At $400, it's almost unreasonable, bad ass, but unreasonable for a first trial run. Making the 300w on the first go, could be a rookie mistake.


Edit: Holidays are almost over. New Job. $400 might actually be reasonable for a selfish little project. I might start a poll, if the 300w is still an option and I'm on the fence.

jdizzle22 said:

the guys at growledhydro might be doing so
they are trying to keep their specs a trade secret since they work so well

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I dislike that mentality. We, as humans, (especially lovers of the ambrosia) should share all advancements. Someone else can push their design further and help them out. Multiple perspectives and ways of thinking push things beyond what we believe to be their limits. This is how progress is made. Secrets make baby Jesus, whose power level was measured to be 1 at birth, cry while he's in the nursery next to baby Muhammed, whose power level at birth is 10,000.