LED strip Lords. I need your guidance.

[Airwalker16]

Did you decide @Airwalker16 ?

I can't decide.. I'm really leaning towards just using led T8 replacements with single end power. They're encased so won't be able to have diodes touching leaves, and the single end power would allow me to just bullet connector to the bi pins right to a power cord without even needing a driver. They don't need to be super efficient as it's inner canopy, but I'll be damned if I can find what I need in 3000k.

 

[Humple]

Got 3 snapdragons that survived the winter showing signs of life. Liĺlies are shooting up now too, can't go wrong with them.
I've loads of container growing plants too.

I have got given 2 Autoflower seeds itching to go in, Dinafem white widow cross and Short Stuff purple Gorrilla.
A few options.
Start Grow indoors under 24 light then transplant outdoors in a couple weeks, might get bigger plants....
Some peeps say start autos in final container tho.
Pots seem best as I can move them round the garden to maximise the Sun light.
And the garden is full of solar leds that'll come in handy at night lol
Seems too cool outdoors at the moment. 4 - 5°C last night.
Taking some Gorrilla clones later on today.

You've grown autos before, right? Seem to recall so, but my memory isn't what it used to be. I've heard that same about starting them in their final pot, but don't know if it's legit or just grow-bro science. Might be interesting to do a side-by-side.

I tried an auto once. Turned out to be a freak. Grew literally ONE branch, with no offshoots. A single cola, that after months of growing, ended up about three to four inches tall. Absolutely ridiculous. Stupid little fucker. I've been auto-shy since then, but this year we're planning a mini-greenhouse for four 15-gallon pots, and I'm putting Dinafem Cookies autos in there. Fingers crossed!

 

[loco41]

So I couldn't help myself from the boredom and monotony these days and bought 20x 4000k 90cri eb gen3 strips. At $6 a piece I figured it would completely round out my led list as I have some cobs and boards already and now some strips on the way. The 4000k was also something that I didn't have in the arsenal, so used that as the final excuse/reasoning for purchasing them. I don't have a specific space or application to use them at the moment, but as more space opens up later this year, I know I can find a spot and some plants to throw under them eventually. I thought the 4000k 90cri would be pretty versatile.

I was planning on making 2x10 strip fixtures, each running on an hlg-120h-20a. Ideally each fixture will light a 2ftx2ft area. I figure running them at roughly 600ma would require minimal heatsinking, so would most likely source some cheap 1/8th inch aluminum or just use the 1" heatsinks from heatsinkusa.

Not set on anything at the moment and have never built a strip light before, so any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

 

[Barristan Whitebeard]

So I couldn't help myself from the boredom and monotony these days and bought 20x 4000k 90cri eb gen3 strips. At $6 a piece I figured it would completely round out my led list as I have some cobs and boards already and now some strips on the way. The 4000k was also something that I didn't have in the arsenal, so used that as the final excuse/reasoning for purchasing them. I don't have a specific space or application to use them at the moment, but as more space opens up later this year, I know I can find a spot and some plants to throw under them eventually. I thought the 4000k 90cri would be pretty versatile.

I was planning on making 2x10 strip fixtures, each running on an hlg-120h-20a. Ideally each fixture will light a 2ftx2ft area. I figure running them at roughly 600ma would require minimal heatsinking, so would most likely source some cheap 1/8th inch aluminum or just use the 1" heatsinks from heatsinkusa.

Not set on anything at the moment and have never built a strip light before, so any ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Hey man, may I ask where you bought the 4000k 90cri eb gen3 strips and do you think they have any stock left?

 

[loco41]

Hey man, may I ask where you bought the 4000k 90cri eb gen3 strips and do you think they have any stock left?

I tried to find some a while back and couldn't. I stumbled across some posts on a different forum and saw that futureelectronics.com had them (hope I'm not stepping on anyone's toes with all this). They had minimum 20 piece purchase and had 3 different kelvins in stock i think, the 2700/3000/4000 90cri's. I may have messed something up along the way or mixed up the product number and if I did, I apologize for the misinformation, but I think I was reading everything correctly.

edit: I know they still have 80 in stock of the 4000k 90cri, can't be sure on the others though as I just quickly glanced over those and not sure of what they had.

 

[Airwalker16]

Vesta strips give you almost 200 diodes for less than a tenner. Bloom and vegg spectrum, and running both at the same time gives you 4000k 90cri which grows the same as 3000k 80cri as far as what ive seen. I rec about 20w per strip for easy thermals.

If I had 6-9 of these what's a driver to use for a parallel build on these Vesta's? I can never decipher what the sheet says on Digikey referring the voltage and if its for one channel or both.
I wanna build 3 little fixtures with 2-3 of these each for veg area so each time has its own adjustable light.
I think HLG 120s would be even easier, but you can only buy 4 at a time.
But 2' EB 4000K are like gone everywhere. Cause I'd rather use those. Those or 22" single row f series.
Kicking myself for bot snagging a few of the arrow $5 special, cause they're gone for good now.

 

[Airwalker16]

what cutter has to do to their strips this is where im like are they doing this really right those metal connections suck dick period

View attachment 4543656

What's wrong with the wago connectors?

 

[loco41]

If I had 6-9 of these what's a driver to use for a parallel build on these Vesta's? I can never decipher what the sheet says on Digikey referring the voltage and if its for one channel or both.
I wanna build 3 little fixtures with 2-3 of these each for veg area so each time has its own adjustable light.
I think HLG 120s would be even easier, but you can only buy 4 at a time.
But 2' EB 4000K are like gone everywhere. Cause I'd rather use those. Those or 22" single row f series.
Kicking myself for bot snagging a few of the arrow $5 special, cause they're gone for good now.

futureelectronics has both the 80cri and 90cri gen3 4k strips in stock, roughly $6 and $7 each respectively. I know you looking for a smaller number of strips than the minimum 20 required on their site. Maybe you could find some other use for the remaining left over strips. Just figured id try to help since I have gathered a lot of information through you over the past few months.

BXEB-L0560Z-40E2000-C-C3 in Tray by Bridgelux | Linear Mid Power LED Modules | Future Electronics

EB Series Gen 3 2ft 4000K 80CRI 2700lm 200lm/W

www.futureelectronics.com

BXEB-L0560Z-40G2000-C-C3 in Tray by Bridgelux | Linear Mid Power LED Modules | Future Electronics

EB Series Gen 3 2ft 4000K 90CRI 2200lm 160lm/W

www.futureelectronics.com

 

[Airwalker16]

futureelectronics has both the 80cri and 90cri gen3 4k strips in stock, roughly $6 and $7 each respectively. I know you looking for a smaller number of strips than the minimum 20 required on their site. Maybe you could find some other use for the remaining left over strips. Just figured id try to help since I have gathered a lot of information through you over the past few months.

BXEB-L0560Z-40E2000-C-C3 in Tray by Bridgelux | Linear Mid Power LED Modules | Future Electronics

EB Series Gen 3 2ft 4000K 80CRI 2700lm 200lm/W

www.futureelectronics.com

BXEB-L0560Z-40G2000-C-C3 in Tray by Bridgelux | Linear Mid Power LED Modules | Future Electronics

EB Series Gen 3 2ft 4000K 90CRI 2200lm 160lm/W

www.futureelectronics.com

Well I appreciate the link, my dude but i really only need 9 maximum.

 

[Gond00s]

What's wrong with the wago connectors?

Their not worth it if I’m going to be paying 12 bucks almost a strip then like a extra 90 just to ship the damn things then I fucking have to solder how many wires to pads. I just fucking don’t. It’s because I’ve had to do like 16 out of 24 just no.

 

[Rocket Soul]

If I had 6-9 of these what's a driver to use for a parallel build on these Vesta's? I can never decipher what the sheet says on Digikey referring the voltage and if its for one channel or both.
I wanna build 3 little fixtures with 2-3 of these each for veg area so each time has its own adjustable light.
I think HLG 120s would be even easier, but you can only buy 4 at a time.
But 2' EB 4000K are like gone everywhere. Cause I'd rather use those. Those or 22" single row f series.
Kicking myself for bot snagging a few of the arrow $5 special, cause they're gone for good now.

Each vesta strips channel is 25ish V. So yoou can use 2 in series with a 48A driver, adjusting voltage up a bit. And after that wago/parallel. Separate the channels to different wagos and then keep a 3 way wago so you can run power to warm white/coldwhite or both. My recommendation is around 20w 25w max per strip. Not per channel they just get real hot. But if you out then 2 x wide over a sink you still get 40w and can manage with any selfadhesive tape as long as its thin. Or thermal if you wanna finnese.
Glad youre trying them. Keep them tight and close, we had good results with 12 strips, 6 sinks and a 4x2 or sorta 4x2.5.

 

[Gond00s]

Their not worth it if I’m going to be paying 12 bucks almost a strip then like a extra 90 just to ship the damn things then I fucking have to solder how many wires to pads. I just fucking don’t. It’s because I’ve had to do like 16 out of 24 just no.

not gonna lie the strips are banging it’s just the connectors.

 

[diggs99]

not gonna lie the strips are banging it’s just the connectors.

Im Not sure why, but you def got the old batch of strips with the existing connector problems....my new Cutter strips have zero issues at all with the connectors or solder pads. They dont even look the same as the old strips in regards to solder pad and connector. Night and day.

I would be irritated if i were you too, i went through all that shit myself, soldering strips non stop, sometimes above the plants ffs.

 

[Gond00s]

Im Not sure why, but you def got the old batch of strips with the existing connector problems....my new Cutter strips have zero issues at all with the connectors or solder pads. They dont even look the same as the old strips in regards to solder pad and connector. Night and day.

I would be irritated if i were you too, i went through all that shit myself, soldering strips non stop, sometimes above the plants ffs.

yup and I messaged mark via email for a replacement for a strip that has like 16-20 diodes out at the end no word(This Order was in March). idk I ordered the three channel ones like in October those weren't as bad as the ones I got in march only one of the strips had a problem with it. but in general I would rather have the plastic connectors that the bxeb uses. yeah I had to solder one when just one of my solder joints broke which was prob because I didn't use enough solder. When paying a lot of money for strips I shouldn't have to solder how many of them also with having a strip that looked fine but once I hooked it up whole bunch of diodes out. never had good luck with these connectors for the strips from cutter. plus if I go the arrow route cheaper shipping and I get the plastic connectors on them. for all those cutter fan boys im not dissing just not happy with the purchase was over 300 just for strips.

 

[diggs99]

yup and I messaged mark via email for a replacement for a strip that has like 16-20 diodes out at the end no word(This Order was in March). idk I ordered the three channel ones like in October those weren't as bad as the ones I got in march only one of the strips had a problem with it. but in general I would rather have the plastic connectors that the bxeb uses. yeah I had to solder one when just one of my solder joints broke which was prob because I didn't use enough solder. When paying a lot of money for strips I shouldn't have to solder how many of them also with having a strip that looked fine but once I hooked it up whole bunch of diodes out. never had good luck with these connectors for the strips from cutter. plus if I go the arrow route cheaper shipping and I get the plastic connectors on them. for all those cutter fan boys im not dissing just not happy with the purchase was over 300 just for strips.

stating facts is never dissing, its being transparent and honest about the situation.

As i said, my first lot of Cutter strips all had connector/solder pad issues, so i completely agree with everything you said.

Im more curious about why/how you ended up with the old model strips when you ordered yours after i already had gotten mine. That dont seem right at all. Probably a question for Mark to answer for sure.

 

[Gond00s]

stating facts is never dissing, its being transparent and honest about the situation.

As i said, my first lot of Cutter strips all had connector/solder pad issues, so i completely agree with everything you said.

Im more curious about why/how you ended up with the old model strips when you ordered yours after i already had gotten mine. That dont seem right at all. Probably a question for Mark to answer for sure.

yea I did ask him about it got nothing back from him about it. just some people act like shills sometimes if u know what I mean.

 

[diggs99]

yea I did ask him about it got nothing back from him about it. just some people act like shills sometimes if u know what I mean.

Oh i know exactly what you mean.

I love my Cutter strips but not to the point that i wont be honest about my experiences with them. The first batch drove me fkn crazy, constantly soldering strips non stop.....I was seriously considering not going back to Cutter again, but then Mark and Teknik both assured me that the new strips had upgraded solder pads and wasnt ever gonna be an issue again.

They were true to their word as far as i can tell. These new strips arent nearly as delicate as the first lot.

 

[Gond00s]

Oh i know exactly what you mean.

I love my Cutter strips but not to the point that i wont be honest about my experiences with them. The first batch drove me fkn crazy, constantly soldering strips non stop.....I was seriously considering not going back to Cutter again, but then Mark and Teknik both assured me that the new strips had upgraded solder pads and wasnt ever gonna be an issue again.

They were true to their word as far as i can tell. These new strips arent nearly as delicate as the first lot.

their really hit or miss with them if anything I kind of wish they would use the better connecters that are on the bxeb.

 

[Airwalker16]

Each vesta strips channel is 25ish V. So yoou can use 2 in series with a 48A driver, adjusting voltage up a bit. And after that wago/parallel. Separate the channels to different wagos and then keep a 3 way wago so you can run power to warm white/coldwhite or both. My recommendation is around 20w 25w max per strip. Not per channel they just get real hot. But if you out then 2 x wide over a sink you still get 40w and can manage with any selfadhesive tape as long as its thin. Or thermal if you wanna finnese.
Glad youre trying them. Keep them tight and close, we had good results with 12 strips, 6 sinks and a 4x2 or sorta 4x2.5.

I'd use em both at the same wattage I'm sure for an even 4000k if I used them.
But I have a spare HLG-185H-C1400B I'd like to use so I need to find some 2' strips with really low voltage.
Any ideas?

 

[cobshopgrow]

not aware of any 2´ with low voltages.
EB 3 slim, 340mm, they run at a 10-11V if that info is any help.

EB 3 2 foot regular ones would be some fit for the driver, 7 in series.
at 1400mA they will need cooling for sure.
future electronics just sell em at 20pcs i think, not so ideal maybe.