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Usefull components from old redundant led lights ?

foomar

Luddite
ICMag Donor
Veteran
This was what we had to work with 15 years ago , useless disco lights that could barely grow a lettuce yet claimed to relace a 600w HID.
Feels like stripping something made much earlier like the 70s , so many components and hand assembly.

stripdown01.JPG


After a decade rusting away in the garage it sparked up fine but sounding like a leaf blower.



stripdown02.JPG

stripdown03.JPG



stripdown04.JPG


The actual wireing looks safe with a properly earthed steel caseing and good connectors.

The suplied mains cable had a fake earth prong on a three wire cable makeing it a potential deathtrap which kind of spoiled it.
Weighing twenty five pounds its a hefty chunk compared to modern.
Six computer fans were loud from new.
Steel case is crazy thick guage for what it does but adds weight and percieved value.

stripdown05.JPG

Not sure if the three led drivers are of any use in future builds or even the 12 volt transformers.

stripdown06.JPG


Not sure if the three led drivers are of any use in future builds or even the 12 volt transformers.

Thought it might be simple to swap out individual leds but dont see how on this setup.
Are they crimped in or soldered or both.
stripdown07.JPG


stripdown08.JPG


184 screws held the pcb to the heatsink , 3mm thick and finned weighing 1500g should be of use for something.
430mm by 270mm by 10mm.
25 by 13 rows of threaded holes.
stripdown09.JPG

Took an hour to take apart , this type of waste is hard to recycle.
 

Creeperpark

Well-known member
Mentor
Veteran
This was what we had to work with 15 years ago , useless disco lights that could barely grow a lettuce yet claimed to relace a 600w HID.
Feels like stripping something made much earlier like the 70s , so many components and hand assembly.

View attachment 19117575

After a decade rusting away in the garage it sparked up fine but sounding like a leaf blower.



View attachment 19117576
View attachment 19117578


View attachment 19117580

The actual wireing looks safe with a properly earthed steel caseing and good connectors.

The suplied mains cable had a fake earth prong on a three wire cable makeing it a potential deathtrap which kind of spoiled it.
Weighing twenty five pounds its a hefty chunk compared to modern.
Six computer fans were loud from new.
Steel case is crazy thick guage for what it does but adds weight and percieved value.

View attachment 19117581
Not sure if the three led drivers are of any use in future builds or even the 12 volt transformers.

View attachment 19117583

Not sure if the three led drivers are of any use in future builds or even the 12 volt transformers.

Thought it might be simple to swap out individual leds but dont see how on this setup.
Are they crimped in or soldered or both.
View attachment 19117584

View attachment 19117585

184 screws held the pcb to the heatsink , 3mm thick and finned weighing 1500g should be of use for something.
430mm by 270mm by 10mm.
25 by 13 rows of threaded holes.
View attachment 19117586
Took an hour to take apart , this type of waste is hard to recycle.
Be careful and safe friend.
 

Ca++

Well-known member
That's a lot of screws. The LED board soldering is neat, but they didn't fix the capacitors, while they were right beside them with the fixing gunk. The soldering in the driver looks ready to fail at a few points too. Some different standards of work are apparent.

The heatsink might have a future. One ready for a QB is about 20$ delivered, but a DIY builder might cover it in smaller cobs. Probably best to put it back together now you have pics. Get it on eBay. There are no fee's anymore.
 

exploziv

pure dynamite
Administrator
Veteran
Nah, just sell it like that, it's a lego set now. Otherwise you are never getting the money back on the time it took to dissasemble.
 

aCBD

Well-known member
Interesting insights, you make me wanna open my old one too. :biggrin:
It's like you say, why bother with something that uses electricity but is just good for lettuce and bleaching tops.
 

exploziv

pure dynamite
Administrator
Veteran
Actually, I found my blurple ones better than small hids or cfl's for small grows, but only if you supplemented the white. Once I started adding floros around the leds i doubled their yeld.
 

Rocket Soul

Well-known member
D
Actually, I found my blurple ones better than small hids or cfl's for small grows, but only if you supplemented the white. Once I started adding floros around the leds i doubled their yeld.
Flouros supply a little heat thru IR aswell which allways helps with led yields.

On the board itself: Hydro grow led penetrator was supposedly one of the better bad leds. But the company is dodgy AF, calls the cops on disgruntled customers and does not keep returns promises. They were advertising both here and on RIU and where banned from both sites. Its was a serious popcorn drama, you may still be able to find some traces by googling "hydro grow led scam". Beware and be safe, there are better ways to light your crops.
 

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