Cheap LED Panel for Cloning

[ZanzibarDawa]

Hey guys, I'm looking for a new cloning light and thought that one of these cheap recessed LED panels could be a good idea. It would be quite close (7"-11" or so) to the cuttings as I clone in a small cabinet.
Not talking about mass production here, I use one of these small propagators and rockwool. Now I'm not too sure how much light I should throw at them, I'm tending to the 800-900 lumen range but maybe that would already be a bit much as it will be so close.
I'd love to hear your oppinions.

ZD

 

[Starmstr]

Mars Hydro lighting is one of the best and cheapest options.

 

[MJPassion]

Amazon...
50 watts, $50, water resistant...

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

Thx guys, but I'm quite sure those would be waaay overkill. I just want to root the cuttings under these lights, no vegging, that's been done in a different cabinet.

Was more looking at sth like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/9W-12W-15W-...hash=item4d22775cb5:m:mnhM7eqr7-O3yMHlqNrLTXg
Any thoughts?

ZD

P.S.Hope it's ok to post this link, if not please delete.

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

Well, I went ahead and bought a 12w LED panel for next to nothing. Once I have it up and running I'll report back with my findings.<br />Will be nice to not have to work with shading which I did when I cloned in my veg area. But as even that was a bit much light I decided it was time for a mini cabinet for rooting, let's see how they root under the LEDs!<br /><br />ZD

 

[Collembola]

i think you chose well, did you get cool white ?

looks like it might have nice diffusion / spread.

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12w led should be more then sufficient, for a whole propogator full.

tbh i think ~4w+ is enough for a standard 30cm (?) propogator.

like you say, cuttings just need enough light energy to help grow roots, not try veg or get frazzled.

 

[Sforza]

Well, I went ahead and bought a 12w LED panel for next to nothing. Once I have it up and running I'll report back with my findings.<br />Will be nice to not have to work with shading which I did when I cloned in my veg area. But as even that was a bit much light I decided it was time for a mini cabinet for rooting, let's see how they root under the LEDs!<br /><br />ZD

You get what you pay for. Stick with Cree and Vero COBs. You can save money by building your own. Put a little sweat equity into your lights.

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

i think you chose well, did you get cool white ?

looks like it might have nice diffusion / spread.

------------------

12w led should be more then sufficient, for a whole propogator full.

tbh i think ~4w+ is enough for a standard 30cm (?) propogator.

like you say, cuttings just need enough light energy to help grow roots, not try veg or get frazzled.

Yes, I got the cool white one. I could well imagine that 12w (around 900lumen) is more than enough, let's see how they do, if they root too slowly I will reduce the light further.

You get what you pay for. Stick with Cree and Vero COBs. You can save money by building your own. Put a little sweat equity into your lights.

Of course you get what you pay for, but this is not really a high power light where efficiency and penetration are paramount. All I want to achieve with this light is showing the cuttings that they are not in a composter but in a propagator and that I'd like some roots.
And honestly, worst case would be $11 down the drain. Although I hate wasting money, I'm confident I'd get over it
If I'd be looking at veg or flowering lights I would agree. Probably would go with Cree in that case.

ZD

 

[Collembola]

that would be a good competition;

who could grow the dankest flowers with 10w of lighting ?

 

[exploziv]

hahahha.. I wouldn't put dank in same phrase with "10W". Let alone.. dankest..

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

that would be a good competition;

who could grow the dankest flowers with 10w of lighting ?

Made my day! That would be redefining micro grow! I'd probably even pay to see that!

ZD

 

[BobbyIronsights]

In the past, I've rooted clones under 20 dollar 4 foot double tube fluro's, worklights from home depot with good results.

 

[St. Phatty]

Walmart has 10 watt LED soft whites for $1.84 ... $1.88 ... something like that.

Maybe 8.5 watts, I keep buying whatever is selling in that price range LED wise.

Finishing up an HID grow, trying to go more LED direction myself.

 

[ZanzibarDawa]

LED panel up and running, so far the clones seem to like it, certainly doesn't dry them to a crisp
I'll post again when I can say a bit more after a few rooting runs under it.

ZD

 

[jesbuds]

Used those small/cheap panels in the past to play with and found I prefer CFLs over them but let us know how it goes.