LEDgardener

Hello,

I'm looking into using LED strips on a basic shelving unit(link). I would only use lights on the two middle shelves.

It is for diverse carnivorous plants and/or cacti. Right now, there is two Sunblaster 36" T5HO (6400K, 2450 Lumens, 39 Watts) per shelf and it is slightly insufficient.

I saw this post which inspired me to look into LED strips. I also saw this kit link which seemed interesting to use 2 strips/shelf. Would it be too much? Not enough?

Do you have any suggestions for this type of build?

Figure out your approximate necessary output, first. What is the lux at the tops of the plants, right now, FI, and at what distance from the tube? How much does it need to increased?

For typical 80 CRI stuff, 4000k-5000k should be good. CCTs aren't directly comparable between different tech.

If that kit is what it says it is, it may be a good choice. But, I don't know if 80W will do the job. That's the first thing to try to figure out.

What drivers are you using?

You could double your output by using higher efficiency leds. Don't know if that would be enough, but should be good for herbs, and a bit too much for salads.

2x 2foot Bridgelux eb gen2 or gen3 strips per shelf should be good for 40w with minor heatsinking. 3 strips would not need heatsinks.

At digikey theres a cheaply priced batch of 40w Thomas Research Products drivers, maybe 6$ each, or for a tiny bit more efficiency HLG and XLG lines from meanwell have 80w models.

Thanks for you replies!

If I need around 25000 lux at a distance of 6-8 inch, what build would you suggest?

If I were to buy the EB Gen 3 590mm with a HLG driver, should I go for 6 strips (3/shelf) with HLG-120 or 6 strips HLG-80 no heatsink or something else? I would like to use it with a dimmer so I guess I should go for the more 120 option? Or would it be too much?

In MCPCB panels (PFD boards, QB132, and QB132v2), I need about 80W to meet that on 48"x18" shelves, by memory (open sides lose a lot). Dense strips will probably need just a little bit more. A 100W or 120W dimmable driver would give some flexibility, and still be quite efficient at 60-80W. At 6-8 inches, though, coverage might be a bit sparse with the kit in the OP. I would go with 4 strips per shelf, if not 6.

I'd like to recommend the mars hydro sp250,it's Meanwell driver, white color full-spectrum, better growing. but I'm afraid taht it will be a little powerful for your plants, the draw driver is 250w

slayking0113 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:36 am

I'd like to recommend the mars hydro sp250,it's Meanwell driver, white color full-spectrum, better growing. but I'm afraid taht it will be a little powerful for your plants, the draw driver is 250w

get your mars hydro shilling ass out of here.

Mar's makes shit lights.

The new Mars fixtures seem to me to be pretty solid budget solutions for someone who does not want to build themselves. The output is lower then they promise, so its still very easy to build something more efficient. That said, I have multiple friends who grow with cheap shitty chinese lights that would likely pale in comparison.

I don't think anyone here is very interested in the 1-2umol/w chinese fixtures, and I even think its a little out of place proposing it as an alternative to DIY... but lets try to stay polite and inclusive. If you must, then bash the light, not the person.

Labgrown wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 18, 2019 10:37 pm

slayking0113 wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 18, 2019 8:36 am

I'd like to recommend the mars hydro sp250,it's Meanwell driver, white color full-spectrum, better growing. but I'm afraid taht it will be a little powerful for your plants, the draw driver is 250w

get your mars hydro shilling ass out of here.

Mar's makes shit lights.

bully shit, once again, I just use their light, if you don't like it, just say your words, ok?

It's just no fun when all your posts are about Mars lights. there is just no way in hell that a light like that is suitable for a shelving unit. It would make no sense to recommend it. You even said it yourself. At least recommend mars lights where it makes sense.