LED Grow - Low Power

[Nucleus]

Yo

6 years ago i did a LED light, using Osram Golden Dragon Plus Leds,
with the goal of using as low power as possible, for flowering, in a closet.
It worked like a charm, for 6 years constant use, and still able to flower today.

But, it was a Ghetto solution, and i guess they lost 30% by now, as Osram specifications say.

It was very expensive, but after 6 years of constant grow, its been payed back a lot of times.

Now im going to do the same, again, with the same requirements, and will share my experience as i go along.

Max. 150 watt.
In a smaller closet this time. Width = 50cm , depth = 60 cm
Idea is to have 4 small plants, maybe even 5.
Soil grow - using BIOBIZZ nutrients. (grow & bloom)

Ive been through it all, regarding soil and a billion extra things to put in the soil, but today im lazy and just use plain soil. (lightmix - organic)
Maybe i get some extra energy for my grow, again, when doing a grow journal

My old grow back in 2011/2012, using double width closet, and 6 plants.
Osram golden dragon plus, 700ma.

This old light will be used for clones, early grow experiment, using only 350ma. (later)

My new grow/light, started seedlings with old light, and changed the light yesterday, to my new one.

Osram Oslon80, 700ma
8 x Deep Blue 455nm
48 x Hyper red 660nm



Im trying some new feminized seeds, "Wappa", type Indica.
Normally i like "White Widow" which is a 50/50 hybrid, but a friend wants to try Indica and since i have never tried that myself, im giving it a try.

So its all new to me, and im exited to see how it turns out.
My light is not finished yet, as i want some white light too, and maybe a bit more red.

Theres a big difference between Golden Dragon and Oslon80,
Golden Dragon has 170° angle, and Oslon80 has 80° angle.
I could only get worst bin with golden dragon, but i got the good bin with Oslon80. (mw output)

Also with Oslon i got 4 leds tight together at a time, taking up the same space as a single golden dragon !
And i was able to find some nice heatsinks , this time.

But its like a robbery, way way to expensive, still.

Lets the grow begin [...]

 

[Nucleus]

Day 1

Day 1

I use "Day 1" as a reference to the day my new light took over.
Lets imagine it was clones, and first day in veg

Next time i will turn off LEDs and use Blitz only, seems like Oslon is really strong.
Im exited [...] could use some of that Indica right now

ohhh, please remember that it is only 111.6 watt atm.

 

[Floridian]

Every time I se an LED grow I am impressed more and more.The power specs are unbelievable!Maybe you can answer a question for me,why does the color always look purple?Do they make any white or yellow LED fixtures?

 

[Nucleus]

Its getting better with LEDs, but there's been, and probably still are, a lot of low performance lights & LEDs out there.

Im still amazed that i can put 150 watt grow light in a small closet, behind my door in my bedroom, "totally stealth", and grow MJ

I guess red and blue makes purple

They make aluminium and black fixtures (as i translate into heatsinks), too.
Im going to get a aluminium for the white light im gonna get soon, and put between the blue ones.

There is 3 or 4 different sizes, there is one that is 2 cm longer than those i use, which would have been totally optimal for me to use, but they where not on stock, and i could not wait.

I use 2 small fans, with reduced power which is plenty to actually keep them "cold" (almost) and very low noise.
Need to vent air anyway, and plants move a little too.

 

[exploziv]

Good luck with your grow. Looks good so far.

 

[Nucleus]

Thanks

Im going 24 hours a few days, to make sure the light works as expected, then 16/8.

 

[Nucleus]

Day 3 Veg

Day 3 Veg

Not bad at all, looks like the Oslon Deep Blue LEDs are very powerful.
I have never started seedlings so far from the light before, but it looks fine.

I have ordered the rest of the LEDs / heatsinks today, so in a few days i can finish my light,
I found the dream of white light for DIY LED growers

I use 4 leds on each heatsink , so the white one wil be (drum solo) :
1 x 2700K, 1 x 3000K, 1 x 4000K, 1 x 6500K !!
(insane expensive)

BUT NOW, i can make sure i got the complete spectrum, not much but i dont think they need much , besides blue (455nm) and red (660nm).
Normally i stick to 2700K and 5600K , but i just had to try this new one out.

As all Blue and Reds are 80° (40° each side) the white, which will sit in the center of the light, got 150°, which is perfect !

Since all "modules" is aprox 8 watt, i expect the light to end up, using aprox 136 watt in final version.

 

[Floridian]

Man that is great.Is there a conversion from LED to HID like x amount of watts LED=y amount of watts HID?

 

[Nucleus]

To be honest, i have only done LED grows, since it was Osram Golden Dragon LEDs that made me think about growing, myself.

But according to Osram, about their "Zelion HL300", i quote :

Dynamic 600W horticultural LED fixtures with remote spectra and intensity control. Alternative for 1000W HPS and Metal Halide fixtures.

And late on :

Up to 50% more efficient than traditional HPS and Metal Halide systems

But LEDs are made in 3-4 qualities, during manufacturing.
Thats how it works, and the LEDs get sorted after production according to quality. And priced by that too .....
Also LEDs keep getting developed, where other lights do not.

That means that you cant really have a "spreadsheet" in LED vs HID, HPS etc.

ex. The golden dragon LEDs i used in my first light, where impossible to get, and only the worst quality was released to "the public" (you and me)

Quality in LEDs are mw output,(biggest IS best) and there can be a huge difference in the same type LED.

Also ... the spectrum .... if i where to make a veg light only i could remove some reds and still get the same growth in this stage, im sure.
So maybe i could do the same result with 80 watt ?

Maybe i could feel like Einstein , and waste LEDs on green, UV , Yellow and what not, and raise the wattage ..... i think i made my point

The worst part is that people is forced to buy a premade LED light, and if you notice, theres not many equal spectrum's etc. between different manufactures.
So its all just guessing and selling imo, and thats why im a DIY dude

Im Biased, but Osram actually make , use, and sell their LEDS for industry horticulture ... [just saying]

 

[starke]

Looking good so far. Think I'll tag along.

 

[Nucleus]

Welcome

Im not going for a long veg. since i want "small plants", due to restricted space.
Its designed for 4 plants, but i pop 5 seeds to make sure,

I dont know this plant "Wappa" or Indica types, so im in for total new experience
But i >>guess<< around 5-6 nodes, i will take cuttings and set to 12/12.

I need to start making clones again, and keep the flowering going.

Also i keep it simple, so the result is as much the light, as it can be.
Organic light mix soil and organic nutrients with every watering, thats it, no rocket science.

That way the result can always be improved if needed

My big scare, is the flowering .... do i have enough red vs blue , and seeing a fast veg like this actually makes me a bit worried, about that

Anyway, 8 new red leds is in the mail with the 4 white leds, so we will see soon enough.

 

[Nucleus]

Clone - Veg Room

Clone - Veg Room

I need to test if it is possible to do clones, and slow veg, with my 6 year old Golden Dragon LEDs, running only 350ma.

I think its doomed to fail, but i need to give those loyal leds a last chance, before the garbage can.

Im taking the plant from the middle of my main grow, as it is a bit taller that the rest, so my main grow is more equal, and since it is designed for only 4 plants, i feel its now optimal.

If this plant can live and maybe even grow slowly, then its a success, as i feel sure that it would be enough for clones.

Now this setup draw 80 watt , which is a waste of power , but ive used a lot of money on the main light, and the pockets is empty, so im trying this way, until i get rich again, and do a brand new clone-veg light, still based on 350ma. but with the same leds as my main grow.

I use 350ma for no heat, and cuz i have an identical LED driver as the main grow, just at 350ma.
But i also got a lot of 750ma drivers at lower watt, so if it all fails, i will do a 750ma solution

Pray for the little girl, which volunteered to be my test pilot

(sorry for the quality of the pic)

 

[Nucleus]

Grow Room

Grow Room

For completeness, here is a pic of my "stealth" grow room.

A closet in the corner behind the door, and beside other closets

 

[Nucleus]

Day 06 Veg

Day 06 Veg

I think this light can veg, just fine
Girls seems very happy.

And my "Wappa" testpilot is growing just fine, too, in the clone room.
I am making a White Widow seed ready, to see if it can grow in the clone light.

Could be cool to keep 2 "mothers" in that space or something.

Dont know exactly how it will turn out, but i need to keep my flowering going,
once it is started, since 4 plants at a time is to little if i have to wait 3 months every time

 

[Nucleus]

Complete Light - 136.2 watt

Complete Light - 136.2 watt

Just got the rest of the parts to my light by mail today.
So here is my final light, completely as the idea i had in my brain.

And look at this little beauty here
2700K - 3000K - 4000K - 6500K

And was i close or was i close, in my guess about wattage
136.2 watt

 

[Nucleus]

Im sorry, i found my old grow buddies in another forum, and is moved to that forum.
If i remember it, i will put a photo in here for those that wants to see the result, along the way.

Thanks.