Breaking Brix: Buck's DIYs

[Buckshot317]

Few months ago when I started looking at cobs, everyone recommended 36v cobs. But if I had to do over, probably would have went with B or C series and drive them at least 1400ma, but 2100 would be best fit. Especially if you have enough height. I'm very happy with my d series, plants love it. I'm getting good stretch, and it's 100% easier to see problems.

I'm happy those veros are working great for ya bob. Last year was all about Cree, this year it's vero. If your building a big array, vero is way to go. I've heard great things about the citizen chips also. Cree kind of hurt themselves some with their pricing.

My electric is weird, for years it never went out. But past couple years,every big storm it goes out. I have a disabled uncle that stays with us, he's on oxygen. When I had opportunity to get a big generator I jumped all over it. Just wish it could get my internet back up lol, but I do still have cell service. There's no way I could've afford to buy new, just cost me a weeks labor and few dollars to get it moved.

 

[bobrown14]

Awesome to hear... how big is the generator.. asking for a friend! Reason I'm asking is we are thinking about moving to upstate NY and they get serious storms that knock out power... plan B..

 

[Buckshot317]

It's 36-100kw cat 208-600v. They used it for backup at a hospital, to keep lights on. 3 phase, had to get converter to single phase. Way too big, but it runs everything. If I was buying one, I would look into a natural gas one if you have access.

 

[Justwannagrow]

I just ran 2 BIG plants under 3 VERO 29s B type in a line array.... just trimmed one and it weighed 140g dry weight - thats the best I've done for a while ... The other plant in still going and will likely be 160-180g dried. Was soo sticky it was ridiculous.... talking I could throw a bud at the wall it would stick sticky.

I Only could put one lamp (3 COBs) due to already having plants in flower. Can't or not a good idea to change lighting 1/2 thru flower cycle so I only had room for I linear array the rest of the room was full of flowers.

2 COBs ... yeah might but you can get 3 COBs with a 2100mA driver and its only the extra cost of the 3rd COB so like +$35ish or so then you have something that for sure will work. I run 3 COBs for every 2 plants ... can fit a smaller plant in the middle that's just getting started ....

I ran some COBs in VEG and my VEG plants got pretty big. Cooked a few too!

Buck sorry to hear about your electric... I'm guessing you have a generator? If so I bet you're glad you have COBs now!!

Thanks this is the kinda info I need as I don't plan on being scarface or anything just wanna grow like 1 or 2 for personal. So with the B series I was under the impression that they would be to bright and have to either dim them down and or raise the light real high? Is that what you ran into or did you rock them wide open the whole way? How high did you keep the light from the canopy?

 

[Buckshot317]

Should put dimmer on it, especially for veg. You can always take reflectors off that will slow ya to keep closer to plants.

 

[Buckshot317]

Allow, damn I've drunk too many beers

 

[Buckshot317]

Gonna re arrange my frame in the next few weeks. It's still going to be 54 x 54 inches, but just one piece. Also will be taking a few cobs away and adding 6 90w 3 channel boards. Those will be wired so I can adjust each color individually(white,red,blue/uva). Not 100% pattern yet, but I'm thinking something like this half ass drawing.

This should be good for 5x5 area.

Hope everyone has good Memorial Day weekend .

 

[ShiggityFlip]

Wow that's a lot of high efficiency watts for a 5x5! Gonna be like 1500PPFD. Yeah go strong!

 

[bobrown14]

Thanks this is the kinda info I need as I don't plan on being scarface or anything just wanna grow like 1 or 2 for personal. So with the B series I was under the impression that they would be to bright and have to either dim them down and or raise the light real high? Is that what you ran into or did you rock them wide open the whole way? How high did you keep the light from the canopy?

Wide open in flower about 15" from canopy. I did the same in VEG but it was too much for small plants so dialed down to 1/2 power and raised the 20ish" above plants. Definitely burned a few VEG plants but lesson learned.

 

[Buckshot317]

I'm building a 4x4 table this weekend. So I won't have to hang it back up in the tent, but at that size I could still use tent to add co2 down the road.

Yea shiggs, that thing should be bright. I thought about making 4x6 table, but still same sq ft. I figured my problem, I gotta have something to work on, that's why the change, costly habit lol

 

[ShiggityFlip]

I'm now looking at the cutter Cree XPG-3 PCB strips they have that are 18V and the XPE far red strips. Found some good 2.08" heatsink that will match the long heatsinks I already have. Will add royal blue, far red, and UVA on different drivers.

 

[Buckshot317]

I have 2 of the 4ft kits your using, but far red (730nm). Going to try to put that in the frame too. Thought about just building new frame, but that's $200 bucks that could get 2 more packs of seeds, lol. Cutter has some nice products at good prices too. Those xpg's are sweet. That's only reason I got the chil boards, kind of expensive but everything is in one package. Simpler to wire and install. I'm going to get few of sun boards later this year if I get my little veg room built, or I could save $ and just use my 5x5 tent for veg. That way I can just leave tent in grow room. That would be smartest move, save money. I'm glad I don't have any credit cards lol, they would be maxed on grow equipment.

 

[Buckshot317]

Here's a little pic of table I'm building, it's going to be made mostly out of aluminum. All I had to purchase was 4 casters, so I can roll it around. It's 42in sq, I am going to have about a foot of overhang on each side.

It should hold 1000lb or more, serious overkill

 

[Buckshot317]

Here's a great tool for metal cutting

 

[Buckshot317]

Got it bolted up, the 3in channel is pretty stout. Just have to attach the wheels, then couple 2x6's and sheet of plywood. I think I'll take it back apart, and paint everything white. I found all the material in my scrap pile behind my house. Was going to cash it in, but this seems like a better use

 

[Buckshot317]

Got wheels on, now ready to disassemble, sand, paint, and put back together. Going to put wood on top, maybe laminate flooring or linoleum. I just want something on top that's easy to clean up

 

[Buckshot317]

The girls on day 17. I gave the auto same nutes as the photos. Now her leaves are all jacked up, I flushed her, should fix her. So far they have doubled in size since flip.

 

[Buckshot317]

Took my table back apart, painted it white. Just gotta put the wood on.

It's gonna be nice to get out of the tent. Table is 24" tall, 45"x45" aluminum frame, only weighs around 30lbs. I wanted table on wheels so when I foliar spray, I won't be spraying lights.

 

[nobodyhere]

nice project. Maybe just call a corian installer and get a white scrap sheet. That would look sharp and reflect.

 

[Mikeof8]

Hey buckshot317 I think I got it but will like ur opinion u know better than me about this about to order

20-vero 35k
2-hog-320h-c700b
Will dat setup work good my space to cover is 4'x11' going to do 1/2 now n later on wen I get the rest of the money get the same as the first 1/2.