SolStrip LED lighting: Product info and announcements

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

No, the angle iron is easy to get at Lowes so I’ve just used that. Maybe a mounting bracket that is compatible with the Rapid LED rail systems could be made easily?
https://www.rapidled.com/substrates/

1 Like

8 x SolSheetX putting in the work…a mix of 5 x 3500K/ 2 x 5000K/ 1 x 2700K , you can see the 2700 on the front right corner… pretty nice growth considering its only about 1300 watts at the wall in total… I have most powered by 320 Meanwells running dual X-Sheets…I don’t even have them fully cranked up…Anyways I am super happy as these sheets just work perfectly in my particular grow space.The grow area is roughly 10’ x 7’ …as you can see I have 2 separate rows down each side of the room with a nice walkway down the middle, just perfect for the room … I will eventually power up another 2 or more sheets… This crop had a rough start and the plants got a little stretchy on me, took me a little bit to get a handle on the plants and by the time they got their vigor back they had grown a little too big… I am using 2 gallon square pots roughly 2/3 filled, drippers and coco…seeds are some no name brand seeds from a local store, Blueberry Cheezecake and Diesel …BBCC is a taller Sativa. the Diesel has a range of hybrid Indica style growth from medium height and slightly lanky to super short and compact… exactly 4 weeks into flower right now… substantial resin formation all over the crown leaves… I was planning to wait to post any pictures till things were finished but I figured it was worth the picture…

21 Likes

Nice work! :thumbsup: :seedling:

2 Likes

Would love to build my light :frowning: I’m sure my plants would dig them as well

2 Likes

All you would need to do is add more drilled holes in the ends of the sol sinks. Maybe make them a little longer then we would totally be rail mountable. So sell a 2 inch longer solsink with holes for rail mounting

4 Likes

All that loose hardware violates my KISS design sensibilities. I like 80/20 rails, but not that much. I think I just need to find a different rail profile that mimics the interior-lip feature of angle stock. The tech is really developing in this space, it isn’t that expensive (relatively) to design your own extrusion dies anymore.

4 Likes

My little plant at 30 days of flowering under 2700K solstrips



Comments?

16 Likes

That’s deffo a cannabis plant bro :thumbsup:

6 Likes

Had a quick look into this for you and i believe that many folks could make a nice frame from this profile. They would still need to drill holes in the flange to attach the strips but it would look very neat. Especially with the wiring run inside the tubing so it was concealed :thinking:
https://8020.net/shop/9005.html

2 Likes

I like that profile a lot. Thanks for pointing it out.

@Athos that’s great looking bush.

5 Likes

@Albannach
I am missing something here… If I attach a solsink to my strip how do I then attach to this tab?

3 Likes