Waitn4Trudeau
Well-Known Member
I am in the USA. Unfortunately my budget is stuck at right about a hundred bucks. Was going to save money to buy some decent LEDs (wife and i really like the kind leds and timber lights) or even build a cheapo cob setup, but my lights died right after planting 10 seeds, 8 of which are irreplaceable... Lol.
You can build the most incredible arrays of LEDs by hacking retail off the shelf bulbs from most any hardware store
This is another person's, 20 9w store bought household bulbs in a 2x4 tent for 22.5w /sq ft. You want to take it up to 40 - 50 watts per square foot to see the method work really well.
LED Hardware Store Bulbs
Because these are LEDs very little heat and ventilation required and highly directional for good penetration.
This method is also very stealthy, you never go near a grow shop or order or ship anything
Because the bulbs have gotten so cheap I don't think there is a more effective way. $2 per bulb 9 watt x 20 = 180 watt array for $40 or 40 bulbs for 360 watt array for $80. You can even take them apart so much that you don't even require sockets, just join light array with wires.
The efficiency of this method is very good, people are getting a gram per watt.