Carambola LED Grow Lights? *UPGRADE*

Discussion in 'Growing Marijuana Indoors' started by shotnva777, Nov 1, 2023.

  1. So I had a tent given to me by a friend. A 2x4x5ft one... I had a 600w MH cooltube that I was going to use in it, but after getting it put up, I realized the hood would be much too big for this setup.

    So, i went on Amazon, looking for a steal on a new or used LED light, of about 1500-2000w. Thats when i found this light on sale from a guy on Amazon. It's made by a company called Carambola and the model is a "White Rose 2400" or something - it claimed 4000w on the ad, but its not lol. It's basically two 12"x12" aluminum panels, with lots of good quality Samsung LEDs, IRs, etc. mounted underneath (Refer to pictures - im VERRRRY new at this LED thing). Anyhow, they both have their seperate drivers mounted on top. Both are powered separately with a "daisy chain" (single split) 110v power plug. The two panels are held together using 2 small reflectors on the side, as a makeshift hood. The design is nice though and for the price, I couldn't pass it up... BUT, I knew it would need some upgrading. I've built all of my old HID lights and I'm familiar with electronics, so it was nothing I didn't think I couldnt handle.

    For starters, I knew this would need some upgrading for cooling. With 550+ LEDS, I knew the 1/8" piece of aluminum wasn't a good enough "heatsink", as the seller claimed. I did some test in my new 4x2x5ft tent and confirmed that this thing is BRIGHT AS HELL and puts off mega heat. I probably could've cooked an egg on the aluminum backing, after an hour of being on! So I've taken off the drivers and I'm in the process of applying actual finned heatsink across the entire top of the aluminum with thermal conductive paste. I also ordered two 4x4" cpu cooling fans, on top of 1" heatsink, to mount in the dead center of both lights. I went a step further and even bought small 2" fans on top of more heatsink, to put ontop of the drivers. Those are being moved outwards, as well as raised, to make room for the fans that will halfway take their place and to keep them off the heatsink ive applied. All 4 fans have their own 12v power source and will just be on the timer with the LEDS.

    So now that that's taken care of, who here has used or heard of these lights? They also make Apelila. If anyone has any info, it would be greatly appreciated, I'm looking for the master controller/dimmer, that didn't come with mine! Thanks.
     

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  2. #2 storz, Nov 1, 2023
    Last edited: Nov 1, 2023
    you must like to tinker bc after buying that light and then the upgrades, you probably could have bought a higher end chinese made light that did not require the upgrades you did and not spend much more money.
    With that said, you now have a good light source and we are looking forward to seeing it do its work. Enjoy!
     
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  3. Damn. Thats a lot for a Amazon led lol
     
  4. if you are commenting on the vivosun that is for 2 lights so $70 a light.
     
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  5. My Migrow arrays have the drivers separate of the board, makes it very cool indeed,
    along with the miles of cable ...its a killer for those 2 reasons,
    all you need to do now is figure out the DLI (daily light intragal) that will keep you pumping

    HERE: How to Increase "DLI" for Bigger Yields (Daily Light Integral Tips) | Grow Weed Easy

    good luck
     
  6. My concern the tent is only 5 foot tall ! Light hangs down min of 12 inches from the roof.
    Pot is what a foot tall . just three feet per plant max heigh will be touching the led.
    So there is not enough height room for plants ? Im not a tent expert . To me you need amin of 7 feet.
    If no more room why use such powerful lights ? You cant make make big plants . Just baby .
     
  7. A lot of what? Lol
     
  8. I do indeed love to tinker and build my own lights and such. This has been a fun project indeed! I only paid $40 for the light after a partial refund for the missing master controller. So I couldn't beat it! All in all, the light has exactly $87 invested in it! Lol
     
  9. And it'd not a gorilla grow. I have 4 small airpots that I'll probably do 4 autos in. It's the perfect size and amount of light for this size tent.
     
  10. I built my own Cree Cob set up from Timber Grow lights.. definitely one of my veg light workhorses


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
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  11. You can split the drivers and hang them outside the tent. You can use 18/2 (or similar) thermostat wire for this.It would keep the grow area cooler with the drivers elsewhere.
    I Love tinkering :D
     
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  12. i had a 4 Cree COB grow light 200 watts total from Timber. Great light. 7+ years old and still going strong. Built one of same spec also and it too is still going strong. I liked COBs. I guess they are becoming extinct bc I dont see them out in the market much anymore.
     
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  13. Yeah it’s definitely one of my favorite in the Arsenal. It’s definitely gonna be the one I used to veg my new plants starting next week.


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  14. fwiw I had to turn mine 1/2way down in veg or I had all kinds of light stress issues. Hung at 21to 24 inches.
     
  15. Yea I was going to do this, but trying to keep it compact for the moment. I'm waiting on the fans and rest of heatsink, but this is what I've done so far, with nylon spacers. Preliminary runs, without the fans installed has proven a DRAMATIC difference in heat, with just my two 8" fans blowing around the tent and the exhaust fan/carbon filter running. I still have the two 92mm fans/heatsink to apply in the "bare spaces" you see AND I have to connect the two small 2" fans on top of the drivers. Not to mention i have another 6" inline duct fan coming, to blow air INTO the tent. I think she'll be a-ok. Lol... But we'll know soon....

    I love tinkering too buddy!

    I found a really good deal on some on Amazon for like $100. I believe it's either 150 or 200w. I'll have to find it and link it to ya, see what ya think. I don't know what they are or how good they are at growing, or reallt anything at all about them... so I didn't pay it much mind when I saw it. I had my sites set on something pretty much set up the way mine is now... lol.
     

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  16. AND HERE'S THE FINAL RESULT....

    Hate it or love it, it works and it's safe!

    Happy growing!
     

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  17. nice :)
     
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  18. that is some serious ad hoc engineering. What is there not to love? Good work
     
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  19. Thanks fellas!

    Preliminary run last night showed that after 12+ hours, the tent never got over 86°F and the light was still cool to the touch on the plants side and every side, this morning! I think its good to go!

    I have 4 seeds in germination right now, I'll start a grow thread eventually.
     
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