Got a new light from Growdaddy - No Instructions?

Loco Grown

Active Member
It's sort of difficult to explain, but I will try.. In the center (or near it) you have light bars on both sides of center which throw light 120-degrees, so the light from multiple bars will overlap, however at the ends, you do not have any light outside the ends of the fixture (obviously), so you are only getting additional overlap of light from the interior bars, so less light on the ends. When you space the bars more like I showed in the previous pic, you will still have the issue, however it will be less prominent, and will light the canopy more evenly.
 

NoWaistedSpace

PICK YOUR OWN
I've heard that UV diodes also have a tendency to burn out faster than diodes in the visible spectrum.
Different diodes have different mA ranges. Reds and UV's run on lower mA's and full spectrum and blues can handle a lot more mA's. So they wire the diodes differently. For instant, they will wire 2 red's together in the circuit. Driver is 2000 mA, so both reds(paralleled) will each run at 1000mA while one full spectrum will take the full 2000mA.
Does that make sense?
I don't know if these strips are wired straight in series or if the reds and UV's are paired to split the power in 1/2 for each diode, then added in series.
 
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Old ST1R

Grow Yer Own Stone
It's sort of difficult to explain, but I will try.. In the center (or near it) you have light bars on both sides of center which throw light 120-degrees, so the light from multiple bars will overlap, however at the ends, you do not have any light outside the ends of the fixture (obviously), so you are only getting additional overlap of light from the interior bars, so less light on the ends. When you space the bars more like I showed in the previous pic, you will still have the issue, however it will be less prominent, and will light the canopy more evenly.
That makes sense! Thank you.
 

NoWaistedSpace

PICK YOUR OWN
Running 3 of the 240-Type A drivers with 3 Veros on each
Total is 916 watts. 9 Veros at around100 watts each and fully dimmed, 288 watts. That's 32 watts each.
I have a very broad range to play with.
I like 9 Veros on an HLG 480watt -1400mA constant current.
The lower you can run them, the more efficient they are, you just need more of them and closer to the canopy.
The set up on your table looks good. You can leave 8" to 12" gap in the center. I wouldn't go any more than that. The outside edges is what drops off fast. I made strip lights that I can slide on the outside heatsinks, can angle up or down like a reflector.
 
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Old ST1R

Grow Yer Own Stone
View attachment 100588
@Old ST1R
This is the veg light (5000k) that I use, and it has the HLG-185 driver. Myself I like the strips laid out like this versus the 18” attached segments, and I think this is what you also wanted? If you’re not in a hurry I’d contact him, and he’ll make it right.
Thanks man.

Yeah, I’m sure he’d work with me, but because this is an international deal, it takes a LOT of time shipping back and forth (it took about three weeks for the kit to get here in the first place) and I just don’t have the patience. I’m going to work with what I’ve got.
 

Old ST1R

Grow Yer Own Stone
I did some more mocking up this morning.

I’ve decided to go with the recommendation of two banks of four, side to side. Instead of 44” total width, I’m going to go with 42”, for some extra clearance for ducts and what not inside the tent.

I think wire management is going to be the toughest part. I want it to be somewhat professional. The OCD in me won’t allow wires everywhere and it’s got to be neat.

Here’s where Im at. I got a lot of ideas in my head on how to put this together in a way that Im happy with. I may need to make a run for some small parts.

648AE077-A901-4319-B6C7-91421255B9A3.jpeg
 

NoWaistedSpace

PICK YOUR OWN
I did some more mocking up this morning.

I’ve decided to go with the recommendation of two banks of four, side to side. Instead of 44” total width, I’m going to go with 42”, for some extra clearance for ducts and what not inside the tent.

I think wire management is going to be the toughest part. I want it to be somewhat professional. The OCD in me won’t allow wires everywhere and it’s got to be neat.

Here’s where Im at. I got a lot of ideas in my head on how to put this together in a way that Im happy with. I may need to make a run for some small parts.

View attachment 100589
Do you have any hydroponic water or air lines? A couple 1/2 lines and drills holes to insert the wires into the lines, makes a nice and neat way to hide your wires. Just a thought.
 

Old ST1R

Grow Yer Own Stone
Do you have any hydroponic water or air lines? A couple 1/2 lines and drills holes to insert the wires into the lines, makes a nice and neat way to hide your wires. Just a thought.
I actually went to Lowe’s looking for rubber grommets. They had them and they were $2.19 a piece! Fuck that!

So I went to Princess Auto (Canada’s Harbour Freight) and pick up a 70 piece variety pack for $14.95.
 

NoWaistedSpace

PICK YOUR OWN
I actually went to Lowe’s looking for rubber grommets. They had them and they were $2.19 a piece! Fuck that!

So I went to Princess Auto (Canada’s Harbour Freight) and pick up a 70 piece variety pack for $14.95.
I try and save $$$ any way I can. I use a lot of things lying around to DIY with.
Aluminum trailer underpinning is great to make light reflectors and raised platforms for containers to set on. Plus, you can heat them in the winter with heat tape and keep containers warm.
All my wire I get from no longer running vehicles. (high grade wire) There are DC fans and stuff like that also.
Be careful and don't get your light too close with those strips. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they're not potent. It's about those photons you're producing. Your setup should be highly efficient at 30 watts/strip
6500K's? For veg or both?
 

Old ST1R

Grow Yer Own Stone
I try and save $$$ any way I can. I use a lot of things lying around to DIY with.
Aluminum trailer underpinning is great to make light reflectors and raised platforms for containers to set on. Plus, you can heat them in the winter with heat tape and keep containers warm.
All my wire I get from no longer running vehicles. (high grade wire) There are DC fans and stuff like that also.
Be careful and don't get your light too close with those strips. Just because they're small, doesn't mean they're not potent. It's about those photons you're producing. Your setup should be highly efficient at 30 watts/strip
6500K's? For veg or both?
The Sun Boards are mixed spectrums. I’ll be using it for flower.

05F48741-CA5C-47CC-A9C8-66A55FE60BC3.jpeg
 
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