[svalli]

I found much easier way to build energy efficient LED grow lights than my previous projects with separate the LEDs. A guy from our office had ordered two super bright 5m flexible 12V LED strips from China. One was cool white and he did not need it for his home, so since cool whites work well with plants, I bought it from him. I cut the strip so that I can glue the pieces to 30x20cm aluminum plates. I soldered wires to power all the pieces and connected a 12VDC power supply to it. There was enough material for 2 of these panels. The strip uses about 14W/1m, so one panel is about 34W. The back side of the aluminum plate gets quite warm and is about 40°C when it has been on for few hours. To be extra energy efficient I'm planning to use the warmth to start my tomato seeds.

I have had one over some pepper seedlings and fuchsia cuttings for two weeks now and those are growing fine and have not become leggy at all. Today I built the second one to light my store bought flower cuttings.

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