Are LED's "Cool" Enough for Cardboard Micro-Grow Boxes??
As far as I'm aware, they're the first light source without a heat source which will ignite paper. A light source which will also grow cannabis. :) The last 15 years I've been growing cannabis I've never had a light with such a low heat output. Even CFLs have glass hot enough to ignite paper or other flammables, has growing truly turned a corner in the micro space?
I'm building one for the production of seeds and I live in a dry environment, cardboard doesn't get mushy with humidity here.
Is it possible for an LED to 'pop' and catch paper on fire with the pieces?
This is a 17w LED replacement bulb, for standard north American lamps. The plastic 'globe' has been removed, they're held on with silicon or caulking. Here you can see I've screwed the lamp into the ceramic base, with the roof of the cardboard box in between. The room for this box is slightly on the cool side, so the fan is blowing the warmth from the LED 'down' into the box. Normally the heat needs to be vented from the box. I also live in Colorado and won't need odor control for this particular run.
The fan is attached using screws and hot-glue. Actually quite solid. :)
The temperatures are simply warm and will not get hot enough to soften the glue or other issues.
I'll Need A Couple More LED's
Though I have one mounted in the middle, I really need 2 or 3. These lights throw approximately a 12" circle of usable light, up to about 12" away. This light is actually enough to flower out cannabis and also to produce healthy seeds. (Edit: I just measured it and the box is 14"x14" on the 'floor,' so the single lamp will be sufficient) Nice :)
Suggestions on Light Proofing?
It's a box. I'll be able to take care of the static areas around the fan and light fixtures. I'm looking for ideas on how to close the box and have it be light tight. Intake and exhaust of air will also be taken care of, the 'door' on the box flaps area needs to be opened and closed for 3 months, without leaking light. I need all the seeds produced to be from the same pollen, not from pollen due to a light leak. :)
So, Is it Safe? Can I Light Proof It?
Anyone? Anyone? Anyone??
I Upgraded the LED to 17w It was actually a 14W
The Spectrum is whiter than the other LED. I've also put in a few plants, to test out the environment. They're doing well, I'll be posting a picture this evening.
No Suggestions For Easy Light-Proofing the Entry?
Still haven't done anything on light-proofing the door. I have until the initiation of flower, for finishing this part.
I DO want 100% light proofing though, since I'll be crossing Canna-Tsu and Gorilla Glue #4 with some pollen I've been saving.
Any pollen chuckers out there? :)
Depends on the LED. I custom made an LED setup for my reef tank. Those probably would get hot enough. I have to have a actively cooled aluminum heatsink.
The real advantage of LEDs in your case is the ability to very efficiently and effectively produce specific wavelengths of light without wasting energy producing wavelength the plant doesn't utilize
I've seen some custom jobs, they do get pretty hot, especially if you have a fan fail. These are simply the low wattage, off-the-shelf ones. The 14w ones run even cooler.
Well the issue there is lower power = less energy transferred to the plant. The reason the high power LEDs are used is because they work better. I use these low power ones for growing actual grass as well as herbs/garlic/etc in my house and they work well
Thanks, I'm Fully Aware of Power Differences
Again, this is simply a 17w, off the shelf, LOW power LED. The 'Grow' is a simple seed run, nothing for production/quality purposes. I'm crossing a few strains.
Low Power is Fine
Though it's low power, it's perfectly capable of flowering out cannabis, within the 12" dia/12" distance restrictions. It also cost about $12 for the LED. :)
The one I linked below should be ideal then @14 watts. $26 though. I have 10 or so of them and can tell you they don't produce any heat I can feel with my hands
So; "your crossing a few strains", how would cannabis crossed with crack cocaine or methamphetamine's sell ? ? ?
Sales would be brisk in socially disrupted places like Ferguson Missouri and especially a lot of a super hybrid Cannabis crosses with PCP : )
/ hugz ; )
Challenges like that often bring out the adventurous entrepreneurial skills in most people : )
@crok I'm crossing strains of cannabis, not genetically modifying cannabis to produce adderal (meth), ritalin (cocaine) or pcp. Sounds like a crack pipe dream. I don't do drugs, not interested in producing them.
@hunterisgreat possibly, I can get 4 14w lamps for $26. Did you see my other post on the CFL/LED write up thread on icmag? The off-the shelf lamps I'm using are also a fuller spectrum, closer to CFL output.
low power LED's rarely cause an issue but I am not an expert, simply they use so low voltage that the current cannot flash over or arc.
But looking at your photos I think you can save money by cancelling your property insurance because I am of the opinion if you have an issue with this you will never see serious money from your insurance company.
A friend of mine worked for an insurance carrier years ago; company policy was the 3D's, DENY, DEBATE, DELAY (payouts).
If you get professional advice be sure you get it in writing, just an opinion from someone who lives with a bunch of lawyers lol : )
/ hugz ; )
Why pay good cash to an insurance carrier who will most likely never pay out in this scenario; just my ignorant opinion . . .
Cute :)
Should there be an issue, I assure you it won't be from my electrical skills. I don't work pretty, I work safe though. Unless there's some issue with LED's I'm unaware of 'failure wise,' insurance regarding this won't be an issue anyway. lol
The insurance racket is definitely a racket. Nice to see people like yourself spreading the info though. Ty :)
Thank you for the Cute : )
Living with lawyers is rarely ever cute; you ask them " did you take the rubbish bin out ? "
They reply ' It depends . . . '
This is where I am forced to say " look this convo is not billable; did you take the bin out or not ? "
They reply ' maybe '...
Good luck with your project, how will cardboard handle moisture the plants give off ? ? ?
Is plastic not an option; just an uninformed, unpaid opinion : )
/ hugz ; )
At a 17w output, this will not be a high energy grow, transpiration rates will be fairly low. The local RH is also between 20-28%, great environment for it. Very dry air will be moving through at all times. Even so, I'll be able to produce several hundred seeds. :)
Plastic should be fine as well. I've always avoided it before, due to the high temps of the lighting, now I don't see where it would really be an issue. With multiple lamps, the heat would definitely be higher, I would look to wood, however thin, instead. Lots of possibilities with these new lamps. :)
The Base of the 17w LED
gets too hot to hold comfortably. It's not burning hot though and the cardboard doesn't get warm.
Anyone know of a ceramic disk or something which would work as a heat-sink/insulator between the LED lamp and cardboard itself? There's really not that much heat to dissipate.
Would lining the box with a reflective material or white paint be better for the plants as more light will be reflected onto them?
Yes.
Mylar and flat white paint would be my first choices. This isn't going to be a high tech grow though. :) The LED's are also very directional, not as much light is being thrown to the sides like a CFL or HID lamp would. Neat stuff. :)
The Nicer Looking Plant is GG #4
These were a few plants I had in windows around the house. The nicest looking plant has fresh soil.
I am not a soil grower. lol Nearly everything I know about properly growing cannabis is in hydro. This area is too warm for hydro, without extra equipment, so I'm messing with soil.
Since this is also for seeds, not flower to smoke, quality is not a concern. The end seed quality is the only focus I have.