Lighting Need LED expert's help.

[Timbo]

Hi fellas.

I am very new to the forum. First off just want to thanks everyone for the warm welcome again..
I have read and followed for months and finally joined the forum!
Super awesome people on here!!!!!

I need some LED expert opinions please...

I built a flowering cabinet out of an old armoir.. It is 3feet wide x 2feet deep x 5feet tall.
I have grown a couple Candy Kush with some 42watt CFLs, but I have the itch to upgrade to LED!

I plan on growing 3 plants in the cabinet..

I live in Canada and our dollar is the shits and everything is crazy expensive for me.
I am torn between buying a panel or making a DIY COB?

I am on a fairly tight budget.. $250 U.S. Range???
I have read and read and I just can't decide which way to go?? Will a home built COB destroy a Mars panel?
Is a mid range panel (advanced platinum led, etc) a lot better than a Mars panel??
Or is there a decent priced panel to buy that would save time and hassle of building one?


I want a cool running efficient setup.. Heat is my main worry...
Sorry if this is a repeat thread.... Just want a few experts to offer me their expert options.

Sway me one way fellas!!!!!

 

[G.Leave]

Hey..though I am not an expert I can say one thing. I have been running 2 100X3w panels(one is a mars 180w real draw and one is a 165w real draw galaxyhydro) in my limited sized space(54"longX18"deepX34"high) and have been able to keep heat in the optimal range, even with just X2 crappy pc fans expelling the hot air.

 

[Timbo]

Thanks 912GreenSkell! Good to know those work and stay fairly cool!
Thanks

 

[G.Leave]

Thanks 912GreenSkell! Good to know those work and stay fairly cool!
Thanks

If you follow this link you can check out the whole grow using those lights:
https://www.autoflower.org/threads/...oor-led-wars-begin-54-x20x34-microgrow.48110/

The ledlightseller/galaxyhydro are sold on ebay for $140 with free shipping to Canada. I don't believe you can buy the old version mars anymore, but I could be wrong. The mars was only $110 shipped to Canada.

Edit - Even with the vey limited vertical space I am confident can add another galaxyhydro panel and still keep the heat in check.

 

[Balarama]

Hi Timbo,
I'm a biased grower, I don't trust led sellers so I advise you to build your own light system, like I did
Using Cree CXB3070(or 3590), some cpu heatsinks and some drivers you will get more light for electric watt compared to any led you can buy on the market.

For your space you'll be fine with 200-300W of leds, meaning 4-6 cobs driven with 50W(1400mA) each.
If you're interested in DIY I can easily give you some advice and part-seller contacts.
Go check YouTube for DIY leds, users Growmau5 and Greengenes Garden have some great videos.

Cheers

 

[Timbo]

Hi Timbo,
I'm a biased grower, I don't trust led sellers so I advise you to build your own light system, like I did
Using Cree CXB3070(or 3590), some cpu heatsinks and some drivers you will get more light for electric watt compared to any led you can buy on the market.

For your space you'll be fine with 200-300W of leds, meaning 4-6 cobs driven with 50W(1400mA) each.
If you're interested in DIY I can easily give you some advice and part-seller contacts.
Go check YouTube for DIY leds, users Growmau5 and Greengenes Garden have some great videos.

Cheers

Hmmm very interesting..
I am heavily leaning this toward DIY.
Thanks for pointing me in this direction.

My wiring skills and knowledge are limited.... But I see lots of builds and help on here!!
I am going to look into the cree cob build... Seems like a very good light.

 

[jaymu104]

Hmmm very interesting..
I am heavily leaning this toward DIY.
Thanks for pointing me in this direction.

My wiring skills and knowledge are limited.... But I see lots of builds and help on here!!
I am going to look into the cree cob build... Seems like a very good light.

Hey gumbo go with the cxb3070 n use more it will give more coverage pluses fight the square inverse law

 

[Timbo]

Hey Balarama.
I am interested in pricing out a diy Cree cob..... Using 4 cxb3070's and one driver...

Can you send me some links and contacts... I would like to see what my costs would be shipped to Canada?

Thanks
Timbo

 

[Timbo]

Hi Timbo,
I'm a biased grower, I don't trust led sellers so I advise you to build your own light system, like I did
Using Cree CXB3070(or 3590), some cpu heatsinks and some drivers you will get more light for electric watt compared to any led you can buy on the market.

For your space you'll be fine with 200-300W of leds, meaning 4-6 cobs driven with 50W(1400mA) each.
If you're interested in DIY I can easily give

Very interested Balarama!!!!

 

[Balarama]

Yeah, no problem Timbo