Super Cheap Led Veg Light

[Thriv3]

Just wanted to post up a quick 71 watt Veg light set up I put together for about $15. I used a 7 to 1 bulb socket ( eBay or Amazon) and 7 led light bulbs mixed 2700k and 5000k spectrum (plastic covers removed). It fills a 4X4 tent nicely and the growth is awesome. These ladies are CSI Humboldt Bubba's Girl. One pheno is fast, stretchy and sweet smelling. The other is slow, stalky, and earthy smelling. They are just over 5 weeks old in 7 gallons of moonshine man soil mix. I'll be flowering under 480 watts of DIY citizen cobs.

 

[sixstring]

nice lil build :)

 

[Thriv3]

nice lil build :)

Thanks dude! Your build thread inspired my cob build. I'm just trying to find the minimum light I can run and still get decent veg growth. I'll be adding more light when my clones are ready

 

[MW7945]

Not trying to be an ass, generally curious -- why 2700K and 5000K instead of just getting all 4000K

 

[Thriv3]

Not trying to be an ass, generally curious -- why 2700K and 5000K instead of just getting all 4000K

It's what was cheap and available lol! I got these bulbs at an outlet store for just over a dollar each. I'm waiting for them to get more of the 14 watt bulbs. They're the same price as the 9.5 watters.

 

[MW7945]

It's what was cheap and available lol! I got these bulbs at an outlet store for just over a dollar each. I'm waiting for them to get more of the 14 watt bulbs. They're the same price as the 9.5 watters.

Right on, well if you can snag some 4000K next time it'd be perfect for veg

 

[kansabis]

Right on, well if you can snag some 4000K next time it'd be perfect for veg

I don't know id they make the bulbs for home use in 4000k,idk what his cobs are.

 

[kansabis]

Just wanted to post up a quick 71 watt Veg light set up I put together for about $15. I used a 7 to 1 bulb socket ( eBay or Amazon) and 7 led light bulbs mixed 2700k and 5000k spectrum (plastic covers removed). It fills a 4X4 tent nicely and the growth is awesome. These ladies are CSI Humboldt Bubba's Girl. One pheno is fast, stretchy and sweet smelling. The other is slow, stalky, and earthy smelling. They are just over 5 weeks old in 7 gallons of moonshine man soil mix. I'll be flowering under 480 watts of DIY citizen cobs.

I've been thinking of doing something similar,I've got 4 2700k bulbs(2 reflectors with bulb doubler),still have plastic covers I'm currently using for veg cuz I the light I want for veg is still out of stock everywhere,but its not enough,too much stretching unless bulbs are within a couple inches,maybe removing the covers will help?

 

[Thriv3]

I've been thinking of doing something similar,I've got 4 2700k bulbs(2 reflectors with bulb doubler),still have plastic covers I'm currently using for veg cuz I the light I want for veg is still out of stock everywhere,but its not enough,too much stretching unless bulbs are within a couple inches,maybe removing the covers will help?

If your plants are small-ish and the lights are directly above each plant, that should be sufficient light. The stretch could be genetic. Maybe get a 5000k bulb in each splitter to balance out your lights.
You're going to want to leave the bulbs on when using reflectors and splitters. The LED's will make weird bright spots on the reflector without the bulb diffusing the light. Check out the difference of foot print in these pics. Second pic has a bright spot and dark spot.

 

[kansabis]

Right on,thnx,ordering my new veg light tonight but thnx for the info.

 

[Thriv3]

Right on,thnx,ordering my new veg light tonight but thnx for the info.

No prob dude. Good luck on your grow!

 

[led grow]

Looks great setup.Awesome!!

 

[Ina]

Nice!I like that..thing that holding the bulbs(excuse me,i'm not sure about the word for that on eng)!:)I will try floodlights -100w for my outdoor seedlings this spring(i guess i will get daylight or something like 5000k and above) and i always prefer to try something...cheap:)But i would put those bulbs closer if i were you.

 

[Thriv3]

Nice!I like that..thing that holding the bulbs(excuse me,i'm not sure about the word for that on eng)!:)I will try floodlights -100w for my outdoor seedlings this spring(i guess i will get daylight or something like 5000k and above) and i always prefer to try something...cheap:)But i would put those bulbs closer if i were you.

Those flood light led bulbs are great but I get what's on sale and usually only lose about 5 watts per bulb. I think the light was only 20 inches above the canopy. I actually added another light and raised them a few inches higher. I'll post an update.

 

[Thriv3]

Here's a quick update. I added another light and changed the bulbs alil which bumped up the wattage 1 watt!!!! Now its 72 per fixture 144 total watts in a 4X4. The second fixture was definitely necessary and nearly doubled growth rate. Both plants have been topped and cloned twice since the original post. FYI These together destroy my 200 watts of T5's.
The second fixture cost:
• 7-1 socket $14 Amazon prime
• Bulbs $1.15 each from the local discount store ( got a couple 15 watters)
• 110 AC socket plug from Home Depot $10.
Still pretty damn cheap. I could've used eBay for the 7-1 and saved $4 but shipping would have taken 10 days instead of 2.
I plan on paying full price for 15 watt dimmable LED bulbs for my next fixture. I'm shooting for 105 watts per fixture.

 

[JakeyBakey]

Here's a quick update. I added another light and changed the bulbs alil which bumped up the wattage 1 watt!!!! Now its 72 per fixture 144 total watts in a 4X4. The second fixture was definitely necessary and nearly doubled growth rate. Both plants have been topped and cloned twice since the original post. FYI These together destroy my 200 watts of T5's.
The second fixture cost:
• 7-1 socket $14 Amazon prime
• Bulbs $1.15 each from the local discount store ( got a couple 15 watters)
• 110 AC socket plug from Home Depot $10.
Still pretty damn cheap. I could've used eBay for the 7-1 and saved $4 but shipping would have taken 10 days instead of 2.
I plan on paying full price for 15 watt dimmable LED bulbs for my next fixture. I'm shooting for 105 watts per fixture.View attachment 771813 View attachment 771814 View attachment 771815 View attachment 771816

Looks great man I use these too, how can you go wrong for litteral $1 per bulbs (for 15 true watts) , and insides are mini cobs of sorts?
Nice topping job too, in no time thell be bushed out

 

[Thriv3]

Looks great man I use these too, how can you go wrong for litteral $1 per bulbs (for 15 true watts) , and insides are mini cobs of sorts?
Nice topping job too, in no time thell be bushed out

Thanks dude. I know right they're so cheap! I took one apart completely. It does have a small "driver" and heatsink with some thermal paste. Have you tried flowering with these? I was thinking of doing a side-by-side with equivalent cobs for shits and giggles.

 

[JakeyBakey]

Thanks dude. I know right they're so cheap! I took one apart completely. It does have a small "driver" and heatsink with some thermal paste. Have you tried flowering with these? I was thinking of doing a side-by-side with equivalent cobs for shits and giggles.

Haha that would be crazy doing a side by side! I have flowered with them as sidelights... but obv. dont know for certain what they did, I might just do the same now, i got 100 watts to spare lol

 

[Thriv3]

Haha that would be crazy doing a side by side! I have flowered with them as sidelights... but obv. dont know for certain what they did, I might just do the same now, i got 100 watts to spare lol

I was thinking of 480 watts of cobs vs 486 watts of bulbs in separate open 4X4 tents in a sealed grow room. We'll see.

 

[JakeyBakey]

Cree also makes these bulbs too but are about 3per - I wonder what those can do

I was thinking of 480 watts of cobs vs 486 watts of bulbs in separate open 4X4 tents in a sealed grow room. We'll see.

I like it, lol you would need 32 of the 15w