1000W DIY LED GROW LIGHT

Johnsmithled · Apr 9, 2023

This is how I built an overpowered light worth $2500+ on the market for only $850. All currency is CAD.

*BEFORE STARTING*
Watch the 6 part growmau5 series to learn the wiring:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UlM5uvO7sao

For the grounding plug:

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Technical:

4x Hlg 185H 700ma in series drivers (i suggest you buy the newer 240H model) $250

40x 5000K $350

7x 3000K $25

(You can use less I used way too many)

All are bridgelux Gen 3/ C3 (Make sure theyre all plug in only dont mess around with the solder ones unless you have 100+hours experience in soldering)
The 3000k ones I used were soulder onlys. Lost a couple due to human error

Total Cost (TC): $575

Frame:
(Choose a better material for frame, I used wood composite because I was lazy)

Wood composite 2x2ft v

Matching plastic 2x2ft (painting frame) $50?

Thermal tape (sized to the width of the led bars) $20

TC: $70-100

Electric:

100’ length 20guage solid core wire $60

50 pack 2 wire wagos 221 $25

4x plastic junction boxes 4inch x 4inch x 3inch (make sure it comes with something to plug up the holes and hold the wire)$40

500 assorted pack heatshrink tubing $20 (good to help fit in junction box)

4x Leviton 515PV 15Amp 125Volt grounding plug $20

25’ 16guage wire (for the grounding plug) $20

TC:$165
-Everything is super flexible here just make sure your amps and volt calculations are solid.

Johnsmithled · Apr 9, 2023

SETTING UP THE DIMMERS

(Very easy if you do it like i did in these pictures)

All you need is:
•100k potentiometers (maybe an ohm meter if you want to make sure ur dimmers go all the way to 100, most dont they go to like 92 or 97)

•20 guage wire (same as the led strips)

•Plastic junction box (make sure its got rubber wire holders that you cut a hole through with scissors and put the wire/ potentiometer through)

•211 Wago wire connector

•soldering machine (temperature is dependant on what kind of solder you use) $25

• silver solder (find a lower temp soldering machine ~360f for silver) $20

PipeCarver · Apr 9, 2023

Johnsmithled said:
SETTING UP THE DIMMERS

(Very easy if you do it like i did in these pictures)

All you need is:
•100k potentiometers (maybe an ohm meter if you want to make sure ur dimmers go all the way to 100, most dont they go to like 92 or 97)

•20 guage wire (same as the led strips)

•Plastic junction box (make sure its got rubber wire holders that you cut a hole through with scissors and put the wire/ potentiometer through)

•211 Wago wire connector

•soldering machine (temperature is dependant on what kind of solder you use) $25

• silver solder (find a lower temp soldering machine ~360f for silver) $20
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Hey thanks for all the work putting that together for us....I'm sure there's a few that will follow along and create those lights, I re read it because I wondered why a wood frame...lol.....I've built a few things with hard plastic and a blow torch or heat gun.....would you stay away from metal frames? aluminum would look sharp...

BigBlonde · Apr 9, 2023

How's the heat dissipation? Has it been a problem?

I use ViparSpectra lights that have large heat sinks, and it still helps to add a cooling fan.

Johnsmithled · Apr 9, 2023

BigBlonde said:
How's the heat dissipation? Has it been a problem?

I use ViparSpectra lights that have large heat sinks, and it still helps to add a cooling fan.

With 1-2 fans blowing on the drivers and another 1-2 fans blowing on the light, both will be 30-35C at 100% power. I made this light too powerful, during the whole veg cycle I only need to run all the 4 drivers at 10-20% power so the heat stays at around 20C with a fan or two blowing on everything. Without fans and on 100% power (not reccomended unless you use less led strips) it gets to 40-45C max 50C, which is still technically in the safe range although this light was built for efficiency so the goal is to stay at 20C.

Johnsmithled · Apr 9, 2023

Johnsmithled said:
With 1-2 fans blowing on the drivers and another 1-2 fans blowing on the light, both will be 30-35C at 100% power. I made this light too powerful, during the whole veg cycle I only need to run all the 4 drivers at 10-20% power so the heat stays at around 20C with a fan or two blowing on everything. Without fans and on 100% power (not reccomended unless you use less led strips) it gets to 40-45C max 50C, which is still technically in the safe range although this light was built for efficiency so the goal is to stay at 20C.

Just be exactly clear. The heat dissipation is great and very easy to manage. You will never have to run this thing on full 100% power, it is too powerful.

Johnsmithled · Apr 9, 2023

PipeCarver said:
Hey thanks for all the work putting that together for us....I'm sure there's a few that will follow along and create those lights, I re read it because I wondered why a wood frame...lol.....I've built a few things with hard plastic and a blow torch or heat gun.....would you stay away from metal frames? aluminum would look sharp...

Id think aluminum would be the best choice. Thats what all the amazon led lights are made of. The frame is so light is wiggles a bit in the wind, not an issue but something that should probably be considered when choosing a frame; make it heavy enough.

1000W DIY LED GROW LIGHT

1000W DIY LED GROW LIGHT

Johnsmithled

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