Building Toward a 600w LED Beginning With 2/4 Solar Spec 150s

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by Peflora, Nov 3, 2014.

  1. #1 Peflora, Nov 3, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 3, 2014
    I've been a student of LED grow lights for >3 years, having worked my way up from crappy R/B UFOs, while using a 432w Quantum Bad Boy (8 bulb hot5s of various PAR to simulate what leds can do). More than $700 invested. It worked pretty well, but bulb replacement cost is > $150/year. It is now gathering dust.
     
    My last major led light was a BML SPYDR 600 ($999), not specifically designed for mj, but adaptable.
     
    I got pretty decent harvests, but its' shortcomings for growing mj, hold it back. It was in a BML grow thread I was doing on another site that I met Amare
     
    Amare Technologies is a new comer with considerable knowledge on both growing and lighting
     
    He is one of us, a mj grower, but with a considerable background/understanding on what PAR light mj wants, when, and as importantly how much intensity mj needs to maximize mjs' potential (umoles/m^/sec)
     
    In addition to careful diode spectrum selections, each panel has 2 separate o/o switches to control veg and flower, so one light does both. This is terrific for small budget minded closet/tent growers. AND, they're adaptable into a multi panel system
     
    He realized many growers are working on tight budgets, and so designed his panels to morph into 2- 4 panel systems, where multiple panels can be connected electrically via piggyback connections (see photo), needing only one power cord to the timer
     
    You can buy a ~ 4 x 4 tent today (~ $120, including shipping) and one panel to start vegging/cloning. Then, in say one month (when more funds are available) buy more panels to eventually fill out the space; 2 SS 150s in a 2 x 4 tent would rock, but the tent height needs to be > 6ft because these panels are intense
     
    His customer rewards program offers multiple panel discounts. So, they can be purchased one at a time, and yes, the discounts are available no matter when you add more.
     
    ****
     
    This thread is about showing what 2 SS 150s can do. I may even pit them against the SS 260
     
    I have been vegging seedlings mostly under an Amare Technologies Solar Spec 260 for ~ 5 weeks
     
    I hooked up 2 Solar Spec 150s yesterday, and moved the plants from under the smaller foot print SS 260 this morning
     
    It should be obvious from the picture, but I am running 2 totes/trays in a DIY Mini-Me Flood & Drain set up
     
    Nutrients is Hydroponic-Research  one part dry formula. Been using them for ~ 2.5 years now. Recently they introducd a flowering amendment called +Size, which I forgot about and only added during the last 2 weeks of my BML grow
     
    Hope to see you following along
     
    Oh, their website is almost done, and will be one others look up to

     

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  2. Somehow, this thread did not make it into New Posts area. Neither does it show in up My Content
     
    What's up with that?
     
  3. #3 Peflora, Nov 5, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 5, 2014
    Ok, well, clearly people are viewing it. so apparently it's a go...
     
    This morning I added both reds
     
    Wondering whether it might be better to add one now, then the second one once buds set
     
    Hmmmmmm
     
    Seems to me the H connectors should be wider, to separate the panels ~ 2-3" more
     
    Also, by only using one screw per panel (top screw) provides flexibility to tilt the panels for better canopy penetration
     
    I pulled 2 more males this morning
     
    Pretty sure the rest are females
     

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  4. Buds are setting on the tops of the 3 plants (presumably Big Mex) in the left tote :yay:
     
    I remembered to start adding +Size :smoking:
     
    I decided to flip only 1/2 of the red switches
     
    Since BM stretches like a mofo, I flipped the red over the right tote, which has the presumably Blueberry Cheesecake- Indica Dom
     
    Of course some reds will be splashing onto the BMs, too.
     
  5. I cut the light cycle back from 13/11 to 11/13
     
    Once I move the BBCC Indicas to their new home they will go under 10/14
     
    I planned to do that today, but the drill battery needed charging, so I couldn't cut the hole for the bulkhead fitting
     
    This means more work: a second rez system, which I have but, it also means double the nute mixing, and right around the corner I am waiting for another light for my 3rd tent
     
  6. Is the owner of Amare on this forum?
     
  7. Why do you ask?
     
  8. #8 Peflora, Nov 7, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 7, 2014
    BM (sats) remain under 2 SS 150s

    Sat buds are setting now

    #4 I moved 3 BBCC (Indica) to their own tent under SS 260 (one might be BM) and reduced light hours to 10

     

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  9. #9 Peflora, Nov 9, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 9, 2014
    As I suspected, the one plant in the front left is BBCC. Now in the BBCC tent
     
    So, 2 BM females... Yeah :hello:
     
    They should start plumping up now
     
    The screen is mosquito netting
     
    Little fuckers are attracted to the open rezes and totes
     

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  10. Canopy Adjustment: I just snipped the top nodes from plant on the right
     
  11. I'm still seeing red stems and veins after bumping my nutes with 200ppm Epsom Salt
     
    So I just bumped it another 100
     
  12. As I am looking for more stretch, late yesterday I began alternating red only on the right side; this morning on the left
     
    Once they start taking off I will flip the whites back on
     
    I love the flexibility multiple panels provides 
     
  13. I shut the lights off
     
    Don't panic
     
    Med-Man has a tutorial of grow tips, which includes no light for 1.5 days
     
    The stress is supposed to send them into budding overdrive
     
    We'll see
     
  14. #14 Peflora, Nov 13, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 13, 2014
    And we're back...

    Lesson learned, the hard way, as always

    Sats want a lot more red than provided by the SS 150s in veg mode only

    The beauty of the SS panels is they can be either white, red/white, or red.

    I will be running just red a few hours each morning to promote more growth and leaf development, then flip to RW for the rest of the day

    After taking pics, I added a second tote to the BBCC tent, and separated 4 plants into 2per tote, but one plant is much fuller and will need its' own space soon

    Also removed lower shade leafs

    Hope to be receiving a new SS 300w panel in time to accommodate

     

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  15. #15 Peflora, Nov 17, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 19, 2014
    Sats have recovered from Mg deficiency, well at least the one on the right has.
     
    My dumb ass did not realize that Epsom salts is Mg only. There was no Ca deficiency
     
    New growth has no red stems. She's also filling out nicely since clipping the top nodes
     
    Still alternate red only over one of the plants for ~ 1 hour at days end. Since that is done manually, I may miss it from day to day
     

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  16. #16 Peflora, Nov 19, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 19, 2014

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  17. A couple days ago I moved the Indicas from the SS 260 to the 2 SS 150s
     
    The BBCC (Indicas) combined canopy is bigger than these sats, and the sats want more reds
     
    Both are benefitting
     
    Pics tomorrow
     
  18. #18 Peflora, Nov 23, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 23, 2014
    I don't know about anyone else, but, I gained valuable experience on how NOT to use the Solar Specs
     
    The BBCC (Indicas) handled having very little reds in veg much better, but they too would have benefited from more reds during veg
     
    Pretty simple
     
    I am going to finish them, but dropped new seeds in water yesterday
     
    I will begin future vegging with both sides on, and monitor stretch
     
    Amare will be adding more reds to the veg side of his panels
     
    Looking forward to a fresh start
     

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  19. #19 Peflora, Nov 26, 2014
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 26, 2014
    Apologies if you are following my insight thread...
     
    Things are looking up
     
    My girls appear quite happy these days :hello:
     
    Looking forward to the next 3-4 weeks
     

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  20. ive heard of these, but im so confused about them r what they r or where to buy them and that...
     
    is there a link to see wtf these Amare lights are? 
     

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