I use 8 or 9 main wavelengths assuming the stats on the LEDs I use is correct.
Since it probably isn't I'm probably using more wavelengths than I think I am.
If an LED says it puts out for example 660nm.
Thats only it's main wavelength.
It puts out wavelengths in lower and higher ranges but mainly 660nm.
Some depend on the juice you give them and will put out for example 615nm - 620nm depending on if your feeding them 2.1volts or 2.4volts at 300ma or 350ma.
Light Wavelengths from 400-700nm
link below has some info I coppied under it.
http://www.ledgrowlights.info/LED-light-wavelengths.php
The visible colors of light from shortest to longest wavelength are: violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red. Ultraviolet radiation has a shorter wavelength than the visible violet light. Infrared radiation has a longer wavelength than visible red light. White light is a mixture of the colors of the visible spectrum. Here is a summary of wavelengths (nm). If you are building your own LED Grow Lights it may be of help when selecting LEDs for your project.
200 - 280 nm UVC ultraviolet range which is generally harmful to plants. LEDs in this spectrum are non-existant or very expensive.
280 - 315 nm Includes harmful UVB ultraviolet light which causes plants colors to fade. UV LEDs in this range are now available and coming down in price.
315 - 380 nm Range of UVA ultraviolet light which is neither harmful nor beneficial to most plants.
380 - 400 nm Start of visible light spectrum. Process of chlorophyll absorption begins. UV protected plastics ideally block out any light below this range.
400 - 520 nm This range includes violet, blue, and green bands. Peak absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and a strong influence on photosynthesis. (promotes vegetative growth)
520 - 610 nm This range includes the green, yellow, and orange bands and has less absorption by pigments.
610 - 720 nm This is the red band. Large amount of absorption by chlorophyll occurs, and most significant influence on photosynthesis. (promotes flowering and budding) The ratio of red (660nm) to far red (730nm) in sunlight is about 1.2:1
720 - 1000 nm There is little absorption by Chlorophyll here, but Phytochrome uses a nice portion. Flowering and germination is influenced. Near and above the higher end of the band is the Infrared spectrum, which can also be heat and could cause elongation or affect water absorption/transpiration.
Many of these plant pigments have dual wavelength peaks that can be activated with led light combinations:
Beta-carotene 450nm 480-485nm dual peak
chlorophyll a 430nm 662nm dual peak
chlorophyll b 453nm 642nm dual peak
phycoerythrin 590nm single peak
phycocyanin 625nm single peak
in my experiance,
450nm , 485nm , 662nm were hard to find,had to use 5mm LEDs.
Stars come in 430nm , 470nm , 480nm , 658nm , 660nm ,680nm , 590nm , 615-625 and were easy to find but varied in lumens greatly.
I use 425nm , 430nm , 435nm , 465nm , 470nm , 475nm in blue.
red in 615nm , 620nm , 625nm , 630nm , 635nm , 640nm , 645nm , 660nm , 658nm , 665nm , 670nm.
Whatever was in the Hong Kong dumpster that was between 400nm and 660nm when I haggled with the vender.
Another link.
http://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookPS.html
It's not worth the Labor to make the ones I made for myself, to sell.
Couldn't get anywhere near a decent price for the time it takes to assemble them.
Some wavelengths you can't get in stars or high MCD output so I use a lot of them.
I'm talking about several thousands of some of the 5mm LEDs.
I am thinking about trying the different white LEDs too after I mess with the red and blue ones I already have.
White is easier to get in higher lumens and cheeper in general per LED.
The only reason I don't mind all the soldering is because my job is boring and I'm basically paid to be on the site and do nothing for 14 hrs. a day unless the alarm goes
You can only watch so much TV and chase the dog around so many times before your bored again.
Soldering as zillion 5mm and 10mm LEDs and star LEDs kills time.
Most of the Hong Kong LEDs venders will haggle over price for a couple thousand 5mm , 10mm LEDs and go down on stars too.
I don't pay anywhere near what a lot of the EBay prices are for them in general.
I see a lot of stuff about them burning out etc. on the net.I haven't had that problem yet.
I think people are probably overdriving them and cooking them.
Same with people complaining about hong kong made growlight pannels.
The maker probably overdrives them to get more lumens and cooks the LEDs.
Once they have your $ they don't care if it lasts years or 2 min.
Go to Hong Kong and bitch about it...
I won't pay more than about $1.80 for any star and a few cents max. each(usually less then 1 cent each in bulk) for 5mm LEDs.10mm LEDs are all over the place in price from $1. ea. on down.
Lumens are all over the place too from not worth using except in large amounts or not too bad.
White ones are usually brighter and cheeper in general.
You can haggle with the Hong Kong guys because they all shop out of the same dumpster.
It's mostly last years tech. so they need to dump it fast before this years stuff goes out and gets replaced by new stuff.
11X16 stars-54LEDs
100 of the 400 red 660nm,100 of the 200 blue 470nm stars and 1600 blue 5mm and 2600 red 5mm LEDs
I'm very curious to try them out, despite all the negative comments.
