Indoor Northern Grow Lights - Test Team Home - DIY build and Grow

[Arty Zan]

Hey there fellow AFNers.

AFN, Northern Grow Lights & Dinafem have teamed up for a DIY LED Build and grow show.

Amit has kindly donated a majority of the parts to build a DIY LED COB grow light and we will supply out own LED drivers and wire.

The members of the NGL test team will each be building a different light with different sized drivers, LED COB chips and either reflectors or lenses.

Look out for the NGL COB frame, they are really cool and help make the build that much easier.
Some of the team will be building their own frames too, so you can see how they do that too!

Whats in store I hear you ask?

We will list our components and the price of components from Northern Grow Lights.

We will show you the build in a in full photographic step by step process.

Then we will start our grows, The seeds have been donated by Dinafem and the strain is "Fruit Auto".

The grows will be slightly staggered as different members will receive their kits at different times, due to availability of parts.

This is going to be awesome, the team are amazing and so are Amit,Bobby & Dinafem Mark.
A more wonderful and decent bunch of blokes you could not find!

The NGL Test Team are:-

@Eyes on Fire - LED Builder & Grower
@Ripper - LED Builder & Grower
@pop22 - LED Builder,Grower & Safety Officer
@The Elvis - LED Builder & Grower
@budelee - Test Team Leader in Trainging and all round good bloke!
@arty zan - LED Builder, Grower & Team Leader

With assistance from:-

@PhotonLabs -Amit - Sponsor, Advisor and Safety Officer
@Bobby from Mi - Advisor
@Dinafem-Mark - Dinafem - Seed Sponsor & Strain Growth Advisor

Here is the list of parts each member will be using - The team members will add any extra parts they use and which driver they choose to use in their updates!

Design 1 - Cree - Silicone Lens - Option Available Now - ARTY
4x140mm heatsinks
4x Khatoud Silicone Optics
4x Cree 3590 3500K 80 CRI @36V
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240 @eyes
Compatible Driver HLG-320H-C2100 orHLG-240H-C1750 or HLG-185H-C1400 or HLG-120H-C1050
I recommend HLG-320H-C2100 or HLG-240H-C1750 for max power

​

Design 2 - Cree - Reflectors - Option Available Now - EYES ON FIRE​

4x140mm heatsinks
4x Reflectors
4x Cree 3590 3500K 80 CRI @36V
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240
Compatible Driver HLG-320H-C2100 orHLG-240H-C1750 or HLG-185H-C1400 or HLG-120H-C1050
I recommend HLG-320H-C2100 or HLG-240H-C1750 for max power

​

Design 3 - Citizen CLU048 1812- Reflectors - Option AvailableNow - RIPPER​

4x SST120 Pin Heatsink
4x Reflectors
4x Citizen CLU048 1812
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240
Compatible Driver HLG-240H-C1050, HLG-320H-C1400
Glass lens can be used instead of reflectors
I recommend HLG-240H-C1050. HLG-320H-C1400 may also be used
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI
​

Design 4 - Citizen CLU048 1825- Glass lens - Option Available 08/31 - POP22​

4x SST120 Pin Heatsink
4x Glass lens
4x Citizen CLU058 1825
4x Ideal holder
Compatible Driver 2xHLG-120H-C1400 . Note 2 drivers needed and will give 300 watts total. 2 drivers because holder is rated for only 2 cobs in series.
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI
​

Design 5 - Citizen CLU048 1825- Glass lens - Option Available 09/15 - THE ELVIS​

4x SST-X Pin Heatsink
4x Glass lens
4x Citizen CLU058 1825
4x Ideal holder
Compatible Driver 2xHLG-185H-C1750 . Note 2 drivers needed and will give 400 watts total. 2 drivers because holder is rated for only 2 cobs in series.
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI

This is what the frame looks like

These frame will retail for $60 each

Let the building commence and we hope you will join us on this exciting journey, we know your gonna love it!!
Eyes on FireRipperpop22the Elvisbudelee & arty zan AmitBobbyDinafem Mark

The gangs all here, wiggling with the AFN Vibe, come and wiggle with us!

 

[Dudeski]

i will pull up a chair between budelee and ripper. Thanks Northern Grow Lights and Dinafem!

 

[Ripper]

Wow I am excited to get this going. I have finished building my light. I elected to build my own frame as I wanted a linear frame and the one being designed by northern grow lights is not completed yet.

Here is my parts list

4 SST 120 pin heatsinks $14.75 each

4 LEDil reflectors $6.00 each

4 citizen CLU 048 80 CRI COB with ideal holder $19.00 each

1 SST junction box $30.00

Various Wago connectors

ALL ITEMS ABOVE WERE PROVIDED BY NORTHERN GROW LIGHTS.

1 HLG-320H-C1400B Meanwell driver $107.00 shipped to my door

16 gauge solid core wire $4.99

2 4 foot pieces of 1/8 inch thick angle aluminum $6.00 each

I was excited once I had everything so I started building my light. Only tools I used were a hacksaw, pliers and a Phillips screwdriver.

First thing I did was mark my holes on the Angle aluminum and drill them ( I spaced each pin heatsink out 12 inches). I then took the second piece of angle aluminum and a marked the holes using the first piece I already drilled as a guide.

After all of the holes were drilled I attached the pin heat sink with the already drilled and taped holes.

The next thing I did was cut off the excess and sized it to fit both ends of the frame I drilled holes and attached those pieces.

I then attached the driver. I did this with two 1/4 inch pieces of aluminum that I cut and drilled holes I attached it to the frame first and then attached the driver I used nuts and bolts for this.

I then attached the SST Junction box.. I simply drilled 4 holes and used zip ties to attach this.

Next I wired everything up. I would give what color goes where but each driver could have different colors so read the driver and it will tell you what goes where.

Working was a snap with the SST junction box and the supplied Wago connectors. On the Wago connectors you just pull that orange tab up and insert your wire then close it. Then open the other one and insert the wire and close it and those two wires are now connected.. Simple and easy. The picture below is all the wiring except for the wires the run to the holders.

The COB's are run in series so you just run one wire to each from pos to neg then keep doing so till you connect it to the driver. I started with red and ran it to positive then just went neg to pos till the last wire ran to the driver neg.. Easy job.

Here is the finished light running at 10% as I have a b version driver and it is dimable. The SST junction box has a built in potentiometer.

Last thing I built was the cable holders.

I used 2 24 inch pieces of cable

4 eye bolts that were attached to the frame

And 4 cable locks ..

 

[Dudeski]

That is a beautiful job ripper!

Do you mind sharing where you got your wire from?

 

[Ripper]

That is a beautiful job ripper!

Do you mind sharing where you got your wire from?

I got it locally at frys electronics

 

[trailanimal]

Hey there fellow AFNers.

AFN, Northern Grow Lights & Dinafem have teamed up for a DIY LED Build and grow show.

Amit has kindly donated a majority of the parts to build a DIY LED COB grow light and we will supply out own LED drivers and wire.

The members of the NGL test team will each be building a different light with different sized drivers, LED COB chips and either reflectors or lenses.

Look out for the NGL COB frame, they are really cool and help make the build that much easier.
Some of the team will be building their own frames too, so you can see how they do that too!

Whats in store I hear you ask?

We will list our components and the price of components from Northern Grow Lights.

We will show you the build in a in full photographic step by step process.

Then we will start our grows, The seeds have been donated by Dinafem and the strain is "Fruit Auto".

The grows will be slightly staggered as different members will receive their kits at different times, due to availability of parts.

This is going to be awesome, the team are amazing and so are Amit,Bobby & Dinafem Mark.
A more wonderful and decent bunch of blokes you could not find!

The NGL Test Team are:-

@Eyes on Fire - LED Builder & Grower
@Ripper - LED Builder & Grower
@pop22 - LED Builder,Grower & Safety Officer
@The Elvis - LED Builder & Grower
@budelee - Test Team Leader in Trainging and all round good bloke!
@arty zan - LED Builder, Grower & Team Leader

With assistance from:-

@PhotonLabs -Amit - Sponsor, Advisor and Safety Officer
@Bobby from Mi - Advisor
@Dinafem-Mark - Dinafem - Seed Sponsor & Strain Growth Advisor

Here is the list of parts each member will be using - The team members will add any extra parts they use and which driver they choose to use in their updates!

Design 1 - Cree - Silicone Lens - Option Available Now - ARTY
4x140mm heatsinks
4x Khatoud Silicone Optics
4x Cree 3590 3500K 80 CRI @36V
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240 @eyes
Compatible Driver HLG-320H-C2100 orHLG-240H-C1750 or HLG-185H-C1400 or HLG-120H-C1050
I recommend HLG-320H-C2100 or HLG-240H-C1750 for max power


Design 2 - Cree - Reflectors - Option Available Now - EYES ON FIRE
4x140mm heatsinks
4x Reflectors
4x Cree 3590 3500K 80 CRI @36V
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240
Compatible Driver HLG-320H-C2100 orHLG-240H-C1750 or HLG-185H-C1400 or HLG-120H-C1050
I recommend HLG-320H-C2100 or HLG-240H-C1750 for max power


Design 3 - Citizen CLU048 1812- Reflectors - Option AvailableNow - RIPPER
4x SST120 Pin Heatsink
4x Reflectors
4x Citizen CLU048 1812
4x Ideal holder
Compatible with 12" Frame as long as you use 120/185/240
Compatible Driver HLG-240H-C1050, HLG-320H-C1400
Glass lens can be used instead of reflectors
I recommend HLG-240H-C1050. HLG-320H-C1400 may also be used
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI

Design 4 - Citizen CLU048 1825- Glass lens - Option Available 08/31 - POP22
4x SST120 Pin Heatsink
4x Glass lens
4x Citizen CLU058 1825
4x Ideal holder
Compatible Driver 2xHLG-120H-C1400 . Note 2 drivers needed and will give 300 watts total. 2 drivers because holder is rated for only 2 cobs in series.
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI

Design 5 - Citizen CLU048 1825- Glass lens - Option Available 09/15 - THE ELVIS
4x SST-X Pin Heatsink
4x Glass lens
4x Citizen CLU058 1825
4x Ideal holder
Compatible Driver 2xHLG-185H-C1750 . Note 2 drivers needed and will give 400 watts total. 2 drivers because holder is rated for only 2 cobs in series.
Choice of 80 and 90 CRI

This is what the frame looks like

These frame will retail for $60 each

Let the building commence and we hope you will join us on this exciting journey, we know your gonna love it!!
Eyes on FireRipperpop22the Elvisbudelee & arty zan AmitBobbyDinafem Mark

The gangs all here, wiggling with the AFN Vibe, come and wiggle with us!

View attachment 631298

going to be big light schooling for this nerd

 

[trailanimal]

Wow I am excited to get this going. I have finished building my light. I elected to build my own frame as I wanted a linear frame and the one being designed by northern grow lights is not completed yet.

Here is my parts list

4 SST 120 pin heatsinks $14.75 each

4 LEDil reflectors $6.00 each

4 citizen CLU 048 80 CRI COB with ideal holder $19.00 each

1 SST junction box $30.00

Various Wago connectors

ALL ITEMS ABOVE WERE PROVIDED BY NORTHERN GROW LIGHTS.

1 HLG-320H-C1400B Meanwell driver $107.00 shipped to my door

16 gauge solid core wire $4.99

2 4 foot pieces of 1/8 inch thick angle aluminum $6.00 each

View attachment 631391

I was excited once I had everything so I started building my light. Only tools I used were a hacksaw, pliers and a Phillips screwdriver.

First thing I did was mark my holes on the Angle aluminum and drill them ( I spaced each pin heatsink out 12 inches). I then took the second piece of angle aluminum and a marked the holes using the first piece I already drilled as a guide.

View attachment 631389

After all of the holes were drilled I attached the pin heat sink with the already drilled and taped holes.

View attachment 631398

The next thing I did was cut off the excess and sized it to fit both ends of the frame I drilled holes and attached those pieces.

I then attached the driver. I did this with two 1/4 inch pieces of aluminum that I cut and drilled holes I attached it to the frame first and then attached the driver I used nuts and bolts for this.

View attachment 631400

I then attached the SST Junction box.. I simply drilled 4 holes and used zip ties to attach this.

View attachment 631401

Next I wired everything up. I would give what color goes where but each driver could have different colors so read the driver and it will tell you what goes where.

Working was a snap with the SST junction box and the supplied Wago connectors.

The COB's are run in series so you just run one wire to each from pos to neg then keep doing so till you connect it to the driver. I started with red and ran it to positive then just went neg to pos till the last wire ran to the driver neg.. Easy job.

Here is the finished light running at 10% as I have a b version driver and it is dimable. The SST junction box has a built in potentiometer.

View attachment 631402

let there be photons

 

[Dudeski]

The light from cobs is amazing! I just listened to ripper, and grateful that i did, again.

 

[dcat0921]

Hey @Ripper what coverage you expect with that light?

 

[BigSm0]

Ripper what cobs? 1212,1812,1818? Judging the driver hlg-320 Going up to 229v I assume your using atleast 1812's which are 50v cobs but @1400ma will be at 75 watts so you might have considered the 140mm heat sink since the 120mm is only rated for 50watts

Great job arty zan! This is excellent