Originally Posted by ComfortZone

Hello Folks,

After some attempts at research on other forums with little luck, I had the very good fortune to stumble on this one. I admire the dialog and the focus 'cuss on some of the other forums I don't think they were able to string coherent thoughts very well and getting them written down appeared to be a chore...... At anyrate, I hope you will let me tag along and on occations ask a dumb question or two

In many ways I am alot like Justanotherbozo in that I did my electronics training in the military (Army) many years ago. I follow the discussion and the logic but am lost on the more technical aspects of the science.... weak on math being my biggest problem. Anyway I have been a fan of LEDs for little lighting projects for some time and have enjoyed the benifits of good herb for much longer so the coalescence of growing with such a wonderful little creations has caught my fancy. The use of pulsed light has me intriuged. Will be interested to see the outcome of work in that direction.

In formulating a plan for how I am going to use leds as grow lights I am focusing on heat. This is my enemy at the moment. I don't have a good way to vent it. While I am not opposed to the use of high output LEDs for efficient cultivation if I can develope the use of 5mm lighting for small grows (1 or 2 plants max), I will be happy. I am willing to sacrafice quanity for an intimate growing area for say 4sq that, except for minimal ventilation runs at near ambient temperatures. With that In mind and after having read this entire thread, I have a couple of questions.

1. I would like to know if barking up the 5mm led tree is a real dead end or is it just less efficient. I think I recall something being said about them being very poor for flowering but is that because 5mm leds are just no good or was it a poor choice of frequency band. Because of my situation, I am very heat averse in that even power leds might lead to a ventilation problem for me. Can anybody confirm good results from blue 5mm led arrays. I have tried to find information in other places but as you know, reliable info is sparse. Lots of claims by this product maker or that but little hard results for grow tests.

2. I find one part of the discussion about the right mix of emitters confusing. Phyicnole is intending to use a blend of several different frequencies in his array. This I agree with, as some of these lesser used parts of the spectrum may indeed have collaborative or supportive processes to the more generally agreed on 'important' frequencies. Where I have a problem is that while he is using several of the major frequency emitters which will 'blanket' the plant with reactive spectrum, the inclusion of say a couple of emitters of a specific range in an array will only put that part of the spectrum on a small portion of the plant(s). Will this, in the end, provide much of a benifit if for instance this part of the spectrum is photoactive with the flowering buds and these few emitters are focused on the plant's folage or vise a verse. For instance the 505nm emitters. While there are three of them, their total output is small. If these leds are focused in the wrong places. 1. it will ad nothing measurable to the experiment 2. will not forward the research 3. will be a waste of resources(Cash and Electric) I do realize that there are cost constraints to the project and given that, choices must be made. Where I am confused is where this experement will validate or invalidate the use of these sparsely used emitters.

Originally Posted by DarioT

It seems that the 5mm leds don't have the punch
for serious growing, and that the Crees and such do.
What's the best production so far from these high
power lamps, and how do they compare with the
halides?

Originally Posted by physicsnole

and national's LM5022 LED driver and 500W of high power leds

Originally Posted by chrisman1547

What are you using to convert AC to DC? I assume you plan to use a household outlet. I'm kinda new to electricity and was looking at different buck and boost's but wasn't sure how to convert the current from 120vAC to the required DC they use. If this is a dumb question, so be it.

Originally Posted by Weezard

Aloha Crisman

One handy source is laptop computor power supplys.
A common item, something I find around da house.
High current, tight regulation, small package, convenient voltages. What's not to like?
I use 'em to drive an LM317 constant current regulator.

Also have some 15V supplys layin' around. They were dirt cheap on e-bay so I bought a bunch.

Hope dat help.
WeeZard

Originally Posted by redline

I consider a digital display bench supply with both voltage and current regulation to be a must have item if you are developing and building LED arrays. Check on the Elenco for around $160.

They are the best wayl to check your construction as you hook up each LED. BH would have avoided some pain if he had one of these.

You can use them to do the 300 hour break in.

If you are using constant current drivers, they will allow you to make sure your array does not go over the max current limit of your drivers.

They are especially useful if you are using a voltage regulated supply and need them to set resistor values.

Originally Posted by Weezard

Aloha crisman,

Either way will work.

I use a plug and socket between the supply and the regulator to make it easy to move the lights or swap supplies.
I usually mount the LM317 right on the heatsink.
Hard drive power plugs will carry enough current and are easy to come by for custom setups they will also connect 2 different strings of leds to seperate supplies.

W.

Originally Posted by Febtober

Bit to much cash for me to be gambling on though.

Anyone got any links for decent already tried and tested led grow lights?. Cheap if possible haha

Originally Posted by chrisman1547

for the Vin you need to have enough to cover the LEDs and 3.2v for the LM317. then I read that you connect a resistor in series between the led and the lm317 and then connect it to the adj. input? to regulate the current. and it said when connected to adj it will put out a constant 1.25v. if its putting out a constant 1.25v how is that enough to power the LEDs which are usually around 3v. I think I'm looking at this wrong or just don't understand it. can anyone explain this to me. I think I understand everything but this. I am rather new to LED and electricity, but I've had some training in electricity and I want to start small and than move up to higher power LEd's.
Thank you for your help.

Originally Posted by Febtober

Bit to much cash for me to be gambling on though.

Anyone got any links for decent already tried and tested led grow lights?. Cheap if possible haha