Materials:
- 10x 2.4m ( 8ft ) 2x4s
- 1x OSB sheet 240x120cm ( 8x4 ft )
- 12x two led light fixtures for 120cm (4ft) LEDs, 24 cool daylight 18W led lights
- 3x double light switches - one per shelf, half of each switch controlling every other light fixture
- Some screws, wiring, wagos
- Bonus: tapo p110 or other smart plug to turn the lights on/off on schedule
Total cost under $200
What lights are you using? I have a set of lights but they seem to produce way more heat than usable light? If I put the lights closer, they burn the seedlings, if I move them too far away, the seedlings get leggy.
Nothing fancy - T8 LED tubes, cool daylight (6500K). IIRC some are Philips corepro 865, some are Osram equivalent - I used whatever I had left from installing new lights in garage. Brands you recognize, but their value product lines.
Are those as good as “real” grow lights? Hell no. Do they get me 80% there for 20-30% of the price? They sure do!
I certainly don’t have “grow lights” which is why I think I’m having the heat issue. I am certainly in the camp of getting 80% there for a fraction of the price!
Thanks for the reply!
LEDs might emit much more energy as light compared to incandescent lights, but that light will get absorbed by plants and surrounding and will eventually end up mostly as heat, no matter what light you have. This rack has 24x18W = 432W worth of lights, which is equivalent of a small space heater running on low.
2 of those racks in a small room in the basement is enough for me to have 24C (75F) in that room while the rest of the basement is closer to 12C (45F). The fanciest of growlights may have saved me 1-2C, or not.