Cheap flower initiation diodes (end of day treatment, far red 730nm)
Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2019 4:41 pm
Hey there, here is a cheap way to add a flower initiator to your grow light. Maybe some idea.
You can use these diodes
from uncle Ali
With 10 of these diodes you can cover about 2m², maybe more
I have 3 types of color leds on star boards from this store. In total I have tested 50 diodes and they all work. You can test them with a multimeter using Diode setting.
I use them in 2 series of 5 diodes currently at ~0.91A.
I have surplus TRP LED-40W driver laying around so I use those to power them. These cheap drivers function well for house lighting, supplemental fixtures, etc.
I don't really know what other driver to recommend. You can do it in so many ways.
The diodes can take up to 1A but they'll get really hot. 2 parallel connections of 5 diodes in series get 0.91A from the TRP driver. This uses 22 watts.
What I gather, 5-8w of far red is enough for 1m². At any rate, really minimal amounts are enough. It's not about causing photosynthesis but about converting these chromoproteins called phytochrome.
You let these lights run for ~5 minutes after lights out and the idea is that the far red light converts the state of phytochrome to its inactive form
To learn more about phytochrome you can read here.
Well, I'll let the pictures do the talking. Good luck finding a side-by-side of end of day treatment. This post in a 80 page thread is the only photographic evidence I have seen. Anyway, it's a small investment, and a fun little project. Save some $ have some fun.
You can use these diodes
from uncle Ali
With 10 of these diodes you can cover about 2m², maybe more
I have 3 types of color leds on star boards from this store. In total I have tested 50 diodes and they all work. You can test them with a multimeter using Diode setting.
I use them in 2 series of 5 diodes currently at ~0.91A.
I have surplus TRP LED-40W driver laying around so I use those to power them. These cheap drivers function well for house lighting, supplemental fixtures, etc.
I don't really know what other driver to recommend. You can do it in so many ways.
The diodes can take up to 1A but they'll get really hot. 2 parallel connections of 5 diodes in series get 0.91A from the TRP driver. This uses 22 watts.
What I gather, 5-8w of far red is enough for 1m². At any rate, really minimal amounts are enough. It's not about causing photosynthesis but about converting these chromoproteins called phytochrome.
You let these lights run for ~5 minutes after lights out and the idea is that the far red light converts the state of phytochrome to its inactive form
To learn more about phytochrome you can read here.
Well, I'll let the pictures do the talking. Good luck finding a side-by-side of end of day treatment. This post in a 80 page thread is the only photographic evidence I have seen. Anyway, it's a small investment, and a fun little project. Save some $ have some fun.
60 660nm photo reds, 16 730nm far red and 12 infrared in 2p2s. (along side 445nm and 2200k citizen cobs; 4000 and 5000k f series and solacure)(vegging in a flower tent at the moment)