InTheShed Grows Inside & Out: Jump In Any Time

[Amy Gardner]

I like one of LED gardeners wiring ones, if you’d like me to share it here (assuming you’re doing series wiring)...

 

[Graytail]

That sounds like a winner to me - very simple and effective. It’s actually more light per sqfoot than I currently have - cause my rig was designed for a slightly smaller space. And mine is doing it’s thing perfectly

If it were me I’d stop researching right now and move on to how am I gonna build it.

I would have thought you could get a driver prewired with a power cable in the US, but maybe not it sounds like...

You'll be a valuable resource, having just gone through a first-time project yourself.

 

[Graytail]

I like one of LED gardeners wiring ones, if you’d like me to share it here (assuming you’re doing series wiring)...

LEDGardener probably thought this all through a couple years ago. I should have checked his recent stuff. I distinctly remember his first strip panels.

 

[Amy Gardner]

I was thinking about one from last year which is a build using 4 quantum boards. The wiring would be just the same with strips though.

I have it bookmarked so this is easy.

If you watch it, note that he is using a B type driver so is wiring in a little dimmer pot, which the A type driver doesn’t need. He shares some nice snippets of info here n there about the drivers in general too.

I love wagos! You only need 2way ones. You can do the power with them as well I think but this waterproof connector is, IMHO, much better

i decided to edit out the video - just in case it was outside the bounds of the guidelines about non sponsor lighting content. It’s an LED Gardener vid from sept 2017 on building a 4panel QB kit.

Fun times!

 

[Amy Gardner]

Hmm - now I’m wondering if posting that video is ok within the guidelines

It’s for wiring reference purposes but it does kind off feature a non sponsor product. Mebbe I’ll check...

 

[Graytail]

... I was just remembering what's it's like to fire up one of these rigs for the first time ... it's a God-like moment ... ... you hear soaring choirs in the background ... ta DAAAAAHHH! .... "And there was LIGHT!" ...

... then you try to blink all the little dots out of your eyes ... ... and still, there is LIGHT!

 

[Amy Gardner]

So damn true!

 

[CraZysWeeD]

Ordered anything yet?

 

[InTheShed]

I'm seeing a ladder design with the long sides supported with L-bars, the U-channel sitting on them. It'll be a tight fit, though - better measure. 22" doesn't leave any room.

It's going to be hanging in the shed I built so it's not a tight space. I think that's probably the best design. I'll sketch it out in a couple of days and run it by you if you don't mind. At some point in the next week I'll need a wiring diagram or something.

I had a bunch of drivers to wire, so I bought a pack of computer power cords online - just be sure they're high enough amperage - you'll be drawing 350 watts.

Where do the wagos come into play?

Computer power supplies run 400-700 watts so they should have the needed gauge.

And I thought I was drawing 250 watts!

I like one of LED gardeners wiring ones, if you’d like me to share it here (assuming you’re doing series wiring)...

Yes, series I've been told. No idea why though.

I have it bookmarked so this is easy.

Thanks Amy! If you need to pull it down I've already opened it in youtube and now I've got it bookmarked too.

... I was just remembering what's it's like to fire up one of these rigs for the first time ... it's a God-like moment ... ... you hear soaring choirs in the background ... ta DAAAAAHHH! .... "And there was LIGHT!" ...
... then you try to blink all the little dots out of your eyes ... ... and still, there is LIGHT!

I will remember to wear my shades before I turn on the power .

Ordered anything yet?

Happy?

Thanks to all who helped get me down this road with special note to @PurpleGunRack, and especially to @Graytail for the fast responses and the patience in the middle of the night to my repeated questions. Onward and lightward!

 

[Amy Gardner]

remember to wear my shades before I turn on the power .

Seriously! See that you do!!

Where do the wagos come into play?

First and last step in the series loop - between the strips and the driver. You’ll need 2 x 2way ones I’m pretty sure...

That vid will show you the wiring

 

[Graytail]

And seriously, screw the wagos for two connections like that. Screw caps will work just great. It's not like you'll be fiddling with them much.

The driver will draw up to 3.5 amps at 115 volts AC, so it'll be as much as 400 watts wide open. But you'll adjust it down by reading a killawatt or something. The nice thing is these bigger ones are 94% efficient, unlike the 120H at 92.5%. So, actually, it should draw 375 at the wall wide open.

 

[CraZysWeeD]

Happy?

Now you getting somewhere.

This is going to be fun.

 

[InTheShed]

And seriously, screw the wagos for two connections like that. Screw caps will work just great. It's not like you'll be fiddling with them much.

The driver will draw up to 3.5 amps at 115 volts AC, so it'll be as much as 400 watts wide open. But you'll adjust it down by reading a killawatt or something. The nice thing is these bigger ones are 94% efficient, unlike the 120H at 92.5%. So, actually, it should draw 375 at the wall wide open.

I've got twist caps in all sizes and colors! Is higher gauge wire connecting board to board any advantage? I've got leftover romex from a security light project I did years ago.

Oh great, so at 375 watts max I'll be running this at 65%!

Now you getting somewhere. This is going to be fun.

I knew you'd be happy .

 

[CraZysWeeD]

I've got twist caps in all sizes and colors! Is higher gauge wire connecting board to board any advantage? I've got leftover romex from a security light project I did years ago.

Oh great, so at 375 watts max I'll be running this at 65%!

I knew you'd be happy .

I'm in the neighborhood of that too. 370W max but that's with my chilleds too.

 

[Preston9mm]

And seriously, screw the wagos for two connections like that. Screw caps will work just great. It's not like you'll be fiddling with them much.

I'm not a fan of wago clips at all! Guess I should have prefaced that by saying, I've never built a QB. I used to do car stereo work as a teenager, and installed automatic gate operators as an adult. I found these a few years ago and fell in love.

Works like a heat shrink, but also solders the joint when heated.

I figured they might work well in this application.

 

[InTheShed]

Great idea...thanks P! I can't buy any more things with the word "butt" in them or I'll have too many on my Amazon account . I'll stick with the twist caps.

 

[Preston9mm]

Great idea...thanks P! I can't buy any more things with the word "butt" in them or I'll have too many of them on my Amazon account . I'll stick with the twist caps.

I use the shit out of them deals too! Nothing at all wrong with good ol twist caps. I always use these heat shrink deals when I'm doing "pretty work" for a paying customer.

I'm excited to watch this build buddy. Gonna be one bad mamma-jamma

 

[Dutchman1990]

Light light light !

Beam me up Sheddy!
Lol

 

[Derbybud]

Your light leaks will look like ET at night. Glad you pulled the trigger Shed. Now you won't need to upgrade again. You're set.

 

[InTheShed]

I use the shit out of them deals too! Nothing at all wrong with good ol twist caps. I always use these heat shrink deals when I'm doing "pretty work" for a paying customer.
I'm excited to watch this build buddy. Gonna be one bad mamma-jamma

I hope so P. I also hope I haven't oversold my electrician skills .

Light light light !
Beam me up Sheddy! Lol

You crack yourself up Dutch!

Your light leaks will look like ET at night. Glad you pulled the trigger Shed. Now you won't need to upgrade again. You're set.

That's so funny Derby. I just watched that movie again two weeks ago after close to 15 years. I know exactly what you mean. I may have to weather-strip the shed door .