I would just like to share my DIY fixture with you guys as a way of giving back to this community for the countless information I have learned here.
I'm currently on my first grow with my DIY cheap Chinese cob plus monos fixture. Planning to upgrade to 4*CLU048-1212 for my cab as I want it to be a cheap build. Then the Quantum Boards craze hit with results to back it up. But then it's always out of stock so I thought maybe I could do it myself.
(Also thank you to the HLG for bringing these diodes from the shadows, no one on their right mind would go from "high" power cobs down to these "mids", but you guys did all the hard work with your research proving that it's the bomb. So thank you!)
I was thinking if maybe I could source some Samsung LM561C diodes on a flexible LED strips the ones being used on mood lighting, maybe I could build one specifically for my cab. Then I searched and I did really found a supplier. Also saw The LED Gardeners blog and that's he's also going to DIY these QB's but with rigid led strips so that made me more excited for my upcoming project since it's really doable.
So my plan was to build a fixture with evenly spaced diodes compared to the QB's so that the light intensity would be spread out and that I could lower it further to the canopy. Then the Fluence SPYDRx form factor hit me. So that's what I built, a mini SPYDR measuring 21"x 28" for my 24"x30" cab.
I ordered 5 meters of 3000k and 5 meters of 3500k flexible LED strips with a Samsung LM561C 24V 80CRI S6 bin diodes. 60diodes/meter for a total of 600 diodes powered by 1 HLG-185-24A.
This strips has adhesive 3M tape at the back.
Reason for the mixing of spectrum was that on the spec sheets of the LM561C, combining these two would be the nearest to the PhysioSpec spectrum of Fluence minus the deep reds which they do have a separate diodes for those. Also 24V strips over 12V to lower the amperage and that it's less prone to voltage drop. As these LED strips voltage' drops after 5 meters. So I wired mine on parallel every 2.5 meters.
Look at the difference of 300k and 3500k of these Samsung diodes.
I bought 10 pieces of 0.5 meters in length of 1 inch square aluminum bar, glued and riveted them to a 4 inch wide aluminum C channel. Drilled some holes for the wiring, slapped two 0.5 meter strips for every bar and did hours of soldering.
At it's lowest amperage.
Currently I'm running them on full for testing and the bars are warm to touch and that's it's really bright.
Total Cost:
1*3000k 5m strip - $25.95
1*3500k 5m strip - $25.95
1* HLG-185-24A - $39.00
DHL Shipping - $30.31
TOTAL: 121.21
Plus another more or less $20 for the frame and wires.
GRAND TOTAL: $140 for a mini SPYDR with 600 LM561c diodes for 185 watts.
