SolStrip LED lighting: Product info and announcements

Buy solstrips??? @Baudelaire is who created the strips and runs a USA business selling them. If your UK the go to guy used to be @anon58740919 but I’m sure all his stock may be gone now. Give either one a pm and see what you can work out

1 Like

Thank you…i will do

2 Likes

Your welcome mate. You won’t be disappointed. It’s my single best grow purchase ever :+1:

2 Likes

I used the last 4 of 200 for my own light. All solstrip sales to be directed to @Baudelaire directly whether you’re UK or Uzbekistan. Pm me if you want a custom cob rig though

1 Like

Five SolStrip X2s at full power on an HLG-240, probably about 250 watts, is well within their operating specifications for full lifecycle operation, or about 50,000 hours. Roughly 10 years of continuous grow lighting operation. You should be fine. -b420

2 Likes

Thanks that’s excellent news mate.
Gaz

I think @Esrgood4u has got it right almost right. I’d recommend going with two sets of 7 X2 SolStix, each running on an HLG-320H-24A driver. With the Mean Wells’ top end hitting 350-360 watts, you’d have 700+ watts over, say, 16-20 s.f. of actual canopy, or 40-45 w/sf.

2 Likes

WW from under your build -


the bud on the left is the one that searches for the blue from the cola cube :+1:

3 Likes

Hi Gaz pal hope you are keeping well. I have that same driver running my 9 strip rig just now. At max it draws 300W from the mains but it looses around 20W in heat so you should get close to 280W.which would push 6 strips to their max and they will get pretty hot. If your running less than 6 strips it could damage them if you turn it right up. I aim for a max of around 35W per strip to keep temps down in the tent. Some folk run them flat out which is fine of you can deal with the heat :thumbsup:

3 Likes

You have to take driver loss into account bro so add around another 20W. Four strips at 40W each is 160 + 20 = 180W :thumbsup:

4 Likes

I don’t have the lights ( 5 strip rig) at full but nearly, and I have no heat issues, i have a small clip-on six inch fan aimed at the rig and an extraction fan running nonstop.
I am gonna run them at max ( i need to get me one of those plugs to see what im drawing from the wall)…
The driver i showed is for a six strip rig and was wondering about if it needs adjustments when it’s wired to the six strips or it automatically takes them to wattage/voltage needed for whatever is wired to it .??
Anyway thanks for your advice and any other advice is welcome pal …
Btw im doing ok but not brilliant , hopefully your Mrs and yourself are keeping well.
Gaz

3 Likes

Not that exact one mate but yes I run one :+1:

1 Like

Cheers for correcting me @Albannach. I’m not an electrician so keep me right please mate :wink:

2 Likes

That driver should do just fine running 6 strips bro, you can turn both of those wee screws (trim pots) right up and if it does get too warm you can always back the current (the one marked i) off a touch. It will automatically hold the current and voltage within range so no worries there. We’re doing ok too i think, ups and downs as usual. We’ve both had a stomach bug thing but getting over it now (i hope) and trying to put the bad shit from this year behind us. We have the hi-tech lighting now so next year we concentrate on growing :grin:

2 Likes

In my previous grows where the preflowering lights were led bulbs, 6.330 lumen in a 0.2109 m² (does that equals 30.000 lux?) , the plants had a stretch ranging from 250% to 480% (and that’s with LST and super cropping).

Now that I’m using solstrips for the first time (3 2700K solstrips x² at 100 watts more or less since I haven’t meassured the power draw) and from what I’ve gathered from this thread should give me around 202 lumen/watt, around 21.000 lumen; I’ve kept the canopy at 6 inches I’ve had like zero stretch, My plant was 4 inches tall before flowering (granted with training) and been 20 days after switching to 12/12 the plant’s stretched a whole 1 inch.

2 Likes

@Baudelaire it someone doesn’t beat me to it I will fix your thread up for you this evening :slight_smile:

3 Likes

There may be a safe and efficient alternative to Mean Well drivers out there somewhere, but make no mistake. SolStrip Photon Solutions, at this point, does not recommend any other brand of driver to power SolStrip systems than Mean Well drivers. The only exception is a single-strip 70w driver we have tested and stocked for low-wattage applications. We tried and threw away drivers from almost a dozen different suppliers over a year’s time before settling on those we stock. More on my reasons for using Mean Wells versus cheap generic LED power supplies in this thread in the grow room design forum.

2 Likes

SolStrip X3s back in stock

Just wanted to let everybody know that we’ve restocked the X3 strips, just in time for your holiday shopping pleasure. Free shipping on $50+ orders to the US, $100+ worldwide. Available as components in our SolSheet X and SolStix Racks as well.

We cleaned up the PCB graphics and added our CE and RoHS certs, printed on a bright white mask. I think they’re prettier.

11 Likes

Making a new veg light, wanted to show just how easy it can be. For the design of this light, I wanted to replace my 4-bulb 2’ T5HO veg light. I decided to use three SolStix (5000K) and a 120-watt dimmable driver (HLG-120H-24B). I probably could have replaced the lamp with two SolStips attached to baking sheet on an 80-watt driver for a lower price.

First thing first, I opened the box and had to split two of the strips. They are already scored, all you have to do is gently bend them back and forth a few times. Make sure you received everything in your order.

Next, use the included nylon screws to connect the strips to the heat sinks. No thermal compound is necessary, though you can certainly use it.

The aluminum angle iron was cut to length with a chop saw. Then the holes were measured and drilled for the heat sinks, (measure twice, drill once). Finally, I attached the heat sinks to the angle iron.

Next, I cut some lengths of 18-gauge thermostat wire. The ends were stripped and gently inserted into the connectors on the strip. These were run along the inside of the angle iron and connected in parallel with the lever connectors.

Finally, I connected the light to the driver. Using the lever connectors, I was able to connect a power cord and the dimmer to the driver. The driver was then connected to the strips for a test fire. Here she is all the way dimmed down.

All that’s left is to install the driver in my cabinet and hang the light.

16 Likes

Nice, sleek, simple SolStrip rack build. 5000K should be a great replacement for those T5s.

@ReikoX you’ve done a few of these racks now, ever thought of using 80/20 extruded aluminum for the frame? I’ve bounced it around- it’s no more expensive, and there’s a whole ensemble of associated hardware and molding attachments that could make for a very attractive finish, but I can’t figure out a good way to attach the SolStix.

4 Likes