LED FAQ) Building and DIY

[xet]

I can't find any 9 gauge wire lugs.

This is why this project makes my eyes tired but it will be worth it.





I wonder if those bottom lugs can fit two wires into that run and then be fastened down or if that would cause catastrophic failure. I have a lot of things to still research.

 

[exploziv]

Crimping is very important. You can buy the most expensive shit and make it as lame and even more dangerousthan the cheapest stuff but installed right. Pay a pro to do it, or spend real money on real tools and learn to use them. (Hydraulic crimper)
Hopefully your plan wasn't to hammer it into submission or something like that! For real man, do the stuff proper, it'a much more important in the end than the super expensive parts you buy when the regular ones would do as well.

 

[Three Berries]

I believe current code is one wire, one terminal, one lug. Strips with clamp type terminals are used on DIN rails as lugs aren't needed. Configurations are universal and can share a common source or be individual.

CUTLER HAMMER XBUT6 Terminal, Feed Thru, 8.2MM Wide, TB 24-8 AWG, Gray

 

[xet]

I believe current code is one wire, one terminal, one lug. Strips with clamp type terminals are used on DIN rails as lugs aren't needed. Configurations are universal and can share a common source or be individual.

CUTLER HAMMER XBUT6 Terminal, Feed Thru, 8.2MM Wide, TB 24-8 AWG, Gray

I am soaking all of this in. Other than being here on the forums I would not know how to go about a crash course on these topics. The MikeHolt forums are fascinating and tons of greek for me. It will take some time to familiarize myself with it's format. What I thought was just a study on photosynthesis turned into extreme electrical lighting LED hobbyist lol

 

[Three Berries]

It's a great field of work, Industrial Electronics. Slap a little PLC in there and it's all up to you want you want. Always someone looking for those who understand it.

The NEC class I was is was a requirement for the Local IBEW union. Many hadn't been to school if 40 years if they ever went.....

 

[xet]

It's a great field of work, Industrial Electronics. Slap a little PLC in there and it's all up to you want you want. Always someone looking for those who understand it.

The NEC class I was is was a requirement for the Local IBEW union. Many hadn't been to school if 40 years if they ever went.....

I really want to program the PCB to control the patterns of each of the 1 watt LEDs. I have some files and some how-tos on it. I wonder how this correlates, youtube time. Thank you for showing me the big cliff edge.

I recall my high school Physics teacher showing us how to use physics to calculate and validate electrical work and components for a circuit plus the error margins which can occur from not using physics. Wish I understood that then and today.

Man just send me down the whole rabbit hole

 

[xet]

Dude my mind is being blown right now.

I could use a PLC to scan the temperature of my heat sink, activate the fan attached to the heatsink, and then monitor the temperatures to achieve the lowest constant temperature of the heatsink thereby achieving optimal photon output from the LED's by automation alone!!!
frikkin next level

 

[xet]

I guess if I wanted to I could have some sort of liquid cooling setup on the heatsink instead of a fan. lol we have entered wacky days.

 

[Three Berries]

I guess if I wanted to I could have some sort of liquid cooling setup on the heatsink instead of a fan. lol we have entered wacky days.

I'm been thinking of a liquid cooling for a tent. Glycol mix and some old refrigerator coils. If I had a two story house I could make it all passive except for the fans.

 

[xet]

I'm been thinking of a liquid cooling for a tent. Glycol mix and some old refrigerator coils. If I had a two story house I could make it all passive except for the fans.

This sounds like some redneck engineering I need to learn about.

 

[xet]

Kind of kicking myself, I paid the same price for my UFO as this sick piece of equipment here https://www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/advanced-thermal-solutions-inc./ATS-CP-1002-DIY/10491157

I digress though. Running a 1000w cold plate at maybe 10 watts? lmao

 

[xet]

Why do I want a Meanwell LED Driver vs a DC Power Supply like this with switches/GUI etc? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GCJ5QHF (only an example, not saying this is the right power for my application)

 

[Ca++]

The meanwell will be optimised for the specific job. Offering maximum efficiency at the power levels it's targeting. It might also be happier in the hot and humid environment of a grow room. With group dimming a standard feature.

As a decent item, you can expect a better service life from the meanwell. There will be datasheets giving those sort of figures. It's built for long hours in bad conditions.

 

[xet]

The meanwell will be optimised for the specific job. Offering maximum efficiency at the power levels it's targeting. It might also be happier in the hot and humid environment of a grow room. With group dimming a standard feature.

As a decent item, you can expect a better service life from the meanwell. There will be datasheets giving those sort of figures. It's built for long hours in bad conditions.

Thank you kind fellow.

I already have my Meanwells. I didn't know these other devices existed.

In theory then, as far as growing goes, it is possible to have this other driver type device in a separate A/C room. Or even use it for a living room lighting or audio setup.

Looks like a neat option for smaller applications nonetheless. I am thinking of using that DC power supply for ahead in the future when I toy around with the LED strips and some PCB programming action.

 

[Three Berries]

I used 36vdc 5A power supplies when I made my own LEDs. Got them off eBay. I drove 2-100 w cobs off each. Ran great for 3 years till I moved on to retail lighting.

 

[exploziv]

Keep in mind a PSU is not same as a led driver. They will work sometimes when the voltage faĺls in the right range for the leds, usually with 12V leds that have the resistors on them already, or with leds that need just a bit more than 12/24/36V for operation, and can be underdriven by the psu (they will need more power than the max amps the psu can provide, so there is the max power as a hard limit). (Cob type arrays)
You are just powering leds, tho, not "driving" them.

 

[Koondense]

That power supply is for lab work, it gives you many more flexibility compared to a driver with purpose.
For led fixtures get the right MeanWell, for "lab" research get one of the PSUs.

Cheers

 

[MrBreeze911]

Are these recommendations still up to date? I am planning a 4x8 grow tent for both veg and flower and am planning on making my own diy grow lights.

 

[Ca++]

Are these recommendations still up to date? I am planning a 4x8 grow tent for both veg and flower and am planning on making my own diy grow lights.

Not quite sure which recommendations you mean. However, building your own isn't really cost effective, now the competition between manufacturers is so stiff. It might be fun or you might need a special item which would lead towards a build. I make lights that sit on the floor looking up, so simply have to make them, as they don't exist. A 4x8 is textbook stuff though. 1000w+ divided between two lights. You might be better to just buy from Mars

 

[xet]

buy from Mars

Or cut out the middle man and buy direct from the source: alibaba.com