CMH + Strips Coco Cavern

ReikoX · August 17, 2020, 4:08pm

The potentiometers are not being hooked up to the DC power to the strips. They are being hooked up to the dimmer leads on the driver. This is essentially 10V and a few mA.

GramTorino · August 18, 2020, 5:16am

Ready for strips.

Changed my mind. F the thermal tape. It’s just overkill sticky.

Strips will be gently bolted directly to the bare ass naked 1" aluminum. Better cooling than with tape anyway. Top frame drilled for #4 screws.

GramTorino · August 20, 2020, 12:36am

Coolio. Looking for my soldering stuff…Found these xt30’s in my RC chit.

Plan to use them for connecting driver output to strip arrays. External dimmers, etc…

Edit…
Hmmmm. Looked them up. The wire is only 18awg.

Albannach · August 18, 2020, 9:50pm

After going through a few crappy connectors i now use inline SP21 types like in the link below for the high current DC from driver to lighting rig. They allow for heavy cable so an external driver still delivers it’s full current with no voltage drop.

I think mine came from a different seller though lol

I fit a small waterproof junction box like these to each frame and use solid core from it to the strips.

GramTorino · August 18, 2020, 10:00pm

Thanks @Albannach
I’ll check out those type of cables, I like the ip68 rating too.

GramTorino · August 20, 2020, 12:35am

Strips attached.

GramTorino · August 20, 2020, 12:45am

Wired…

Please - if you see something silly - say something. Respect.

GramTorino · August 20, 2020, 12:48am

Almost ready for testing…
(temp cabling/connector)

(waiting for shorter #4 screws)

Prepping an XLG-150-L-AB with DROK meter and dimmer.

lefthandseeds · August 20, 2020, 12:51am

I like those. I wish I had used them to rig up my lights!

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 3:39am

Driver - DROK - Dimmers

This is when my ass starts to pucker. Applying first power… I’m skeered.

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 3:39am

Full throttle.

Cruising speed.

GramTorino · August 20, 2020, 4:03am

giphy (5)

giphy (7)

lefthandseeds · August 20, 2020, 4:26am

let there be weed

ReikoX · August 20, 2020, 5:23am

the first time you plug them in and pray… i did the same today when I powered up my veg rack.

Albannach · August 20, 2020, 2:32pm

Congrats dude, soon you’ll have the unique satisfaction of smoking nice buds you grew under a lighting rig you built. Another advantage is if it does go wrong you’ll know how to fix it

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 3:39am

Prepped for testing.
Attached dimmers and droks.

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 3:53am

Incomplete…

Inspired by OG clan.

EB Gen3 3.5k strips, 1/2" foam board, and that super sticky icky thermal tape.

Next…cross member support rods.

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 3:52am

prototype…

Used a pipe cutter to chop the garden rods.

Inspiration by @ReikoX - tyvm

GramTorino · August 24, 2020, 6:00pm

Flyweight stripper - how not to do it.

End caps - thermal tape applied

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Strips placed - here 1 1/2 gap between each.

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PIA. My method - knife and finger

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Squared - Attached Top and bottom strips first.

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Center support last

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Done deal - well almost - still need to cobble cross-members.

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5x EB Gen3 560mm 3.5k 80cri 13.4w

Planning to hot-glue the garden rods to the sides.
Dammit - If only I could find my hot-glue gun.

GramTorino · August 23, 2020, 11:16pm

This is one reason I quit outdoor.

Getting smoked out by stoopid cali fires. (this is downtown)

(Did 17 years of IT for the entire 24 story building on the right. The dark square looking one. Luxurious 5th floor cubicle overlooking the parking lot.)