Oh, yeah, I'm loving this!

awsome thread, great ideas, bravo!!!

damn thats crazy shit!

Me too, I'd be in for a more stealthy low-cost led grow more info + pictures

Here is where I get my LEDs
http://superbrightleds.com/leds.htm

625-660 Red and 470 blue.

You can also mix LEDs with a standard power supply, as long as you use the correct resistor between colors. (HM)

Good luck with the grow

Notes: This light has changed spec following some smoking..... the first change is the LED count is going to be 320, lower than originally planned, but the best solution. I have decided to make 6 other lights to be placed in the cabinet vertically to illuminate the sides of the plants the spare LEDS from this light should come in handy.

I have been asked about componenet supply. All the bits used in this project are available from Rapid electronics in the UK, a quick google search should enable you to find them. When the light is finished a full componenet list will be published (with part numbers).

Making the light Board

One of the considerations with this light ias good thermal efficiency, being alble to stay cool is important. Its a myth that LEDs run cool, to get lots of light output they run hot, so as I am work all day its got to stay cool. The finished light will have some fan cooling added, but the main requirement is to conduct the heat away from the LED itself. In order to do this I use the same method as laptop manufacturers, cooper heat pipes. Mine are made from heavy duty copper wire which will serve to conduct the heat way from the LEDs, as well as to act as electrical conductors, the finished light will use 8 amps at 12 volts, thats 100 watts of pure colour, which is more efficient than other light sources. The LEDs are designed so the legs are thier heat sinks this construction method makes sure there is a good thermal path for the heat to travel along.

The images below show the various stages of construction of the main light board, I am using pins on the board to make contact to the copper tracks below and the "pipe" is held above the main board by the pins. An electrical connector block is secured to the exact centre position of the board, the copper wire is then fed through the connector block and between the pins on the board, I like to make it as neat as possible, its nice to keep things tidy were growing is concerned.

Currently the board has had the first 2 rows or LEDs added, these really are very bright, you can not look at them but they just dont show up on the camera, I am operating them from a PP3 battery in the images below, just to test. I use a battery as a tester during construction, this way I can test each bank of 4 LEds as they go on the board, more of this process later.

The photo of the table shows some of the tools required during construction, including a large bud of you best stuff.

Thats it for now more construction photos later, as well as;

Full component list.
Circuit diagram.
Layout diagram.
Full out put specs.

More images

Where did you get 400 LEDS????

How much does this cost compared to ready made?

damn dude ur smart, and your bud is intensly crystally