Off the shelf retail store screw-in LED and CFL bulb comparisons

[Boocoodinkydow]

I’ve digested every word of this great thread and enjoyed it in its entirety. This is the apotheosis of low cost lighting options research by Blynx and all the contributors. Thanx.

I was motivated enough to shelve my 600w HPS/MH in lieu of 20) 12w SIL’s for my last grow. While not the most productive, one of my plants was the most massive I’ve ever grown, reaching a height of about 4’.

I decided to try something a little different this go around and procured a pair of these from Jeff Bezo’s online hardware store for $17 ea.



Each one measured 20000 lux at 9” as compared to 2700 for my SIL. I’m 4 weeks in today and will take a couple of shots of the progress. I’ve been super stoked with the results thus far.

 

[Boocoodinkydow]

Thank you sir. I used some solder from days as an electronics tech from years gone by. I think if was flux core but will have to check and make sure. I did use some paste flux, however. My problem may have been my timid ness to use a sufficient amount of heat. I’ll drag out my old solder gun rather than the pencil style and give it another go.

Thanx
BCDD

 

[PCBuds]

The tip of my soldering gun was turning red.

I only had to touch it to the metal for about two seconds.

 

[Boocoodinkydow]

Sounds like the lack of heat intensity was probably my downfall. Thanx for the tip!

 

[PCBuds]

Your welcome.

Post a pic of what you come up with.

 

[Boocoodinkydow]

I’ve digested every word of this great thread and enjoyed it in its entirety. This is the apotheosis of low cost lighting options research by Blynx and all the contributors. Thanx.

I was motivated enough to shelve my 600w HPS/MH in lieu of 20) 12w SIL’s for my last grow. While not the most productive, one of my plants was the most massive I’ve ever grown, reaching a height of about 4’.

I decided to try something a little different this go around and procured a pair of these from Jeff Bezo’s online hardware store for $17 ea.

[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=80752&pictureid=1960665&thumb=1]View Image[/url]

Each one measured 20000 lux at 9” as compared to 2700 for my SIL. I’m 4 weeks in today and will take a couple of shots of the progress. I’ve been super stoked with the results thus far.

Life got in the way a bit today and didn’t get current pix but here’s some shots of the first three weeks.

WEEK 1



WEEK 2



WEEK 3

 

[repuk]

PCBuds: the only thing I'm not that easy with is having a boatload of wiring held by twisting and duct tape inside a growing tent...

I'd go with either cleat sockets, or to keep costs and flexibility, if you prefer to solder straight to the SILs, I'd use a pair of 2way WAGOs on each SIL wire, this way will be secure and convenient.

Bear in mind also that unless you really thoroughly clean the flux afterwards, all those solder points will get corroded inside a humid grow tent...

 

[PCBuds]

PCBuds: the only thing I'm not that easy with is having a boatload of wiring held by twisting and duct tape inside a growing tent....

I think you're right.
I was going to make 3-4 strings with 4 bulbs on each string and dangle them from the ceiling but it would all be in the way.

I'm just going to install more sockets up the walls in the corners and stop using the flexible extenders and splitters... they're kinda in the way too.



PS. Those Wago connectors are pretty cool.
I've never seen them before.

 

[Boocoodinkydow]

Thanx, Repuk. The wago terminal blocks are new to me also. I’ve always used wire nuts and sometimes have been guilty of trying to squeeze more wires in than I should. The wagos look like a comfort alternative.

By the way, I think rosin core solder, generally used in electronics applications, is non corrosive. It’s the nasty acid core used in plumbing that’ll eat yo shit up!


PCBUDS: I drug out my old soldering gun to give it a go and found it’s not getting nearly hot enough. This is a unit I purchased when I enrolled in radio and tv school back in the mid-seventies and used throughout my career. Seen little use in the last 16 years since I retired. Probably time for a new one, right!?!

I decided to go an alternative route and just ordered one those 7 socket octopus looking adapters from amazon for 8 bucks instead. Taking the lazy way out.

 

[PCBuds]

By the way, I think rosin core solder, generally used in electronics applications, is non corrosive. It’s the nasty acid core used in plumbing that’ll eat yo shit up!....

I agree.

That's what I used in school. We were soldering electronics and didn't want to dissolve our circuit boards.

 

[PCBuds]

PCBUDS: I drug out my old soldering gun to give it a go and found it’s not getting nearly hot enough. This is a unit I purchased when I enrolled in radio and tv school back in the mid-seventies and used throughout my career. Seen little use in the last 16 years since I retired. Probably time for a new one, right!?!...

Try cleaning up the contact points were the soldering tip bolts on to the gun.
There's lots of amps running through it and it needs good contact.

My gun is 230 Watts.

 

[Lyfespan]

Are you going to take one apart?


And, are the HD 23W t5's 2'?

no and yes these were purchased at homedepot. they only have 2 t5 leds 5000k and 3500k

 

[Lyfespan]

Do they have plastic lenses and end caps ?

yes theses phillips from homedepot are all plastic construction

 

[Lyfespan]

I checked my local Canadian Home Depot to see if they had those bulbs here.

Then I found these...



[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/SQ7Lt5qk/Screenshot-2019-07-28-22-29-42.png]View Image[/url]

[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/Jztb0zXz/Screenshot-2019-07-28-22-30-08.png]View Image[/url]



[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/J4r3wq4J/Screenshot-2019-07-28-23-13-53.png]View Image[/url]

[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/3JtX3vdq/Screenshot-2019-07-28-23-14-16.png]View Image[/url]





Now I'm thinking about retrofitting my 4' fluoro T8 fixture instead of retiring it and installing Walmart LED's ??

I'm thinking two of each bulbs but that would cost me $122 for the four bulbs.

But then again, that's about equivalent to 8 ten watt Walmart bulbs, which along with sockets is about $25.

I don't know what to do ??

PS. What does toggled mean ?

that means you have to cut the ballast out of the circuit and rewire the fixture to be a simple circuit. toggled means direct power from switch.

these are interesting to me, no heat from ballast and you could wire them up to make big fixtures

 

[Lyfespan]

In keeping with the spirit of this thread, I decided to stick with the SILs and make my own light.

[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/x80V7kw3/20190729-102004.jpg]View Image[/url]

[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/ZnVzhbZt/20190729-102828.jpg]View Image[/url]

The bulb was $1 and the cord was $1.25 plus I can string 4 bulbs on one cord so that's a 40 watt LED "fixture" for 5 bucks.

non polarized plugs thats scary

 

[Lyfespan]

Thoroughly scratch the surface with a file and use flux.

clean surfaces and flux

 

[Lyfespan]

The bulb was new so the metal was clean and I have flux core solder.

Get the old school solder that's 60/40 lead.
The new "toxic free" silver stuff sucks.
I hate that stuff.

takes patients to work with the nes solder and have that wicker near by for clean up

 

[Lyfespan]

PCBuds: the only thing I'm not that easy with is having a boatload of wiring held by twisting and duct tape inside a growing tent...

I'd go with either cleat sockets, or to keep costs and flexibility, if you prefer to solder straight to the SILs, I'd use a pair of 2way WAGOs on each SIL wire, this way will be secure and convenient.

Bear in mind also that unless you really thoroughly clean the flux afterwards, all those solder points will get corroded inside a humid grow tent...

they sell screw lead sockets, you can crimp forksor eyes on the wire and make a mechanical connection too

 

[Lyfespan]

I think you're right.
I was going to make 3-4 strings with 4 bulbs on each string and dangle them from the ceiling but it would all be in the way.

I'm just going to install more sockets up the walls in the corners and stop using the flexible extenders and splitters... they're kinda in the way too.

[URL=https://i.postimg.cc/hjhj67gq/20190731-085422.jpg]View Image[/url]

PS. Those Wago connectors are pretty cool.
I've never seen them before.

those wago connectors also create issues if you dont use them properly. over stripping,and ringed copper can cause shorts.

but they are nice for speedy connections

 

[Boocoodinkydow]

Try cleaning up the contact points were the soldering tip bolts on to the gun.
There's lots of amps running through it and it needs good contact.

My gun is 230 Watts.

Yeah, that’s the first thing I tried but no glory. I think it’s like me, just over the hill!!