Lighting No money, no common sense, no problem

[Puddentane]

Cash is at a premium Since I am between jobs (and wives). But I wanted to see if I couldn't increase the amount of light in my current grow. I stepped up from using a 20x30 cabinet I built last winter to a 2x4 tent. So I started scrounging around for some short term solutions and ran into this:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/LED...32699004706.html?spm=2114.13010608.0.0.ihGqvU

The 110v units have intrigued me. And with the 11.11 sale they were 2.50 each for the 50W units. I have a robust variety of CPU coolers sitting around the house and thought I might be able to repurpose them and get something that would work for this winter. And if they work out they could become supplemental lighting down the road. The idea that these would not need a driver has really got me thinking about possible uses. The CRI is only 75 but again the price is right. And if it turns out to be a bust I will not be out any great amount.

They are on order and will likely take a month to get here. Until then, I have begun to work on a frame from recycled materials and a slider system to allow for moving the lights on the frame to pinpoint spread.

If you have thoughts, ideas, or just want to laugh hysterically at the whole thing you are welcome to chime in. I look forward to being a canary in the coal mine and am positive that my something from nothing attitude will some day pay off.

 

[BigSm0]

I'm currently tied up but would like to point out that not all cobs are created equal. It boils down to efficiency again which is the photon to heat ratio and these less expensive aliexpress cobs are inefficient. Check out the citizen 1212 cobs, they will most likely double if not triple the light output of these, are backed by a long warranty, tried and tested and cost $12 each.

Maybe @pop22 can take over as I think he has tried these. I also remember him saying he checked them with glasses on and multiple strings were out on brand new cobs.

If not I can check back in a few hours. I'd be happy to assist you in something that will give your valuable dollar a fair value. Unfortunately I don't think this is it.

 

[Puddentane]

Yea good to know they are junk! Well, I will be using them to light the work bench when the experiment is over. I was looking to go to 1212'as eventually but I am presently not working so I am willing to try a stop gap. And I am never too big to admit my failings. Once I get back to work I plan on running two Vero29's and 4 1212's in a 2X4X5 tent for the remainder of the winter. But I gotta get through Xmas with family and all before I will have money to burn.

we go to war with the army we have, not the army we want.

And having read through a good number of posts I would have to say you are one helpful member of the community. A great deal of GREEENNNN... has been produced through your generous posts.

Pudden

 

[nudd]

Pudden yes you can use those to grow herb
they are not as efficient as the bigger name cobs but they are as efficient as 70w hps/mh so not really as bad as you might think
so get building and let us know how good/bad they are
atb nudd

 

[BigSm0]

Yea good to know they are junk! Well, I will be using them to light the work bench when the experiment is over. I was looking to go to 1212'as eventually but I am presently not working so I am willing to try a stop gap. And I am never too big to admit my failings. Once I get back to work I plan on running two Vero29's and 4 1212's in a 2X4X5 tent for the remainder of the winter. But I gotta get through Xmas with family and all before I will have money to burn.

we go to war with the army we have, not the army we want.

And having read through a good number of posts I would have to say you are one helpful member of the community. A great deal of GREEENNNN... has been produced through your generous posts.

Pudden

Hey thanks man. It's nice to one folks are reading and learning.

 

[Puddentane]

I be reading, I aint so sure I be learning.

But I am trying lol... and in 80 days I will be smoking again.

 

[BigSm0]

I be reading, I aint so sure I be learning.

But I am trying lol... and in 80 days I will be smoking again.

If you have any questions all you have to do is ask. I have spent plenty of time researching and now more than happy to pass along what I picked up.

 

[BigSm0]

I was also wondering if you had a driver for those cobs? I didn't look to deep into them earlier but had a thought. As far as choosing a driver if you have to you could possibly get one that would fit the current cobs and also fit the citizens as well. This would save you some money down the line if you choose to upgrade.

What strains are you planning on growing?

 

[Puddentane]

Good Morning Sm0,

One of the things that intrigued me about these chips was that they do not need a driver. The circuitry to power the chip is built onto the chip. That is the reason I wanted to take a look at them. If they work it would be nice to use them down the road to drive additional light into the sides of the canopy. That would be even more useful when I move up to a Bigger Tent. And if they prove to be unsuitable to this application I could really used some more lighting in the shop in my garage. Dark and dank it is.

Down the line when money is no longer a large concern I would like to be able to run a combination of the Vero 29's as the main lights and use Citizen CL048's as the fills. I am currently in a 2X4X5 space so I don't have a great deal going at any given time. I would like to see that change over the coming summer to something at least twice that size. I have no interest in commercial production but I would not be adverse to storing and sharing with someone local that might have need medicinally. I am a Vet so I am partial to the idea of helping other Vets.

As for what I am growing? Now at present I am running 3 Cv's. Fast Buds Girl Scout Cookies, Pyramid New York City, and World of Seeds Northern Lights X Big Bud. I have some Vision Seeds Northern Lights which I grew last winter and liked quite a bit. And somewhere around here (I have misplaced them!) is some Pyramid Hash Plant.

Having said that I am REALLY interested in thoughts and suggestions on different strains because I have been out of this so long I feel like my knowledge on the subject is nil. Like most of us I read and read but in the end I find myself looking through the catalogs online and biting into the hype while wiping the drool from my chin. So I am quite Open to recommendations from others who have first hand knowledge. If I twernt a poor man I would run out to Colorado and sample things until I had a good idea of what I really liked. But it frankly all looks good here in the cheap seats.

Puddentane

 

[BigSm0]

As always hats off to the vets and to you for serving sir. I guess I'll have to take a deeper peek st these chips, didn't realize there was anything of the sort available. I do feel the need for a Ac/D.C. Conversion leads to allot of losses and extra power being needed. That's the future. I'm all for trying new things, that's how and why cob tech is now available to us now. Let me know how you make out, I'd love to see a few build pics as well.

As for seeds go I prefer to go for tried and true breeders that have solid results. Dinafem is known for some massive strains especially the xxl versions and my all time breeder is mephisto. Very resilient with amazing yields and top notch quality.

If you need any help in the build please feel free to ask away. I'd love to see this thread continue