Grow lights, heaters etc, on a budget

Looking at getting a couple of those LED panels @clueless1
What area does each panel cover?

 

It doesn't cover a very wide area I'm afraid. The light from the LEDs is very focused, so it doesn't radiate over a very wide angle, meaning the area of coverage is little more than the size of the panel.

 

Would you say that you would need 1 LED panel per full sized seed tray or is that over excessive?

 

I'd say that sounds about right.

 

Well I've ordered one today, I'll see how I go on and if successful ill order some more

 

Well the panel turned up today and first impressions are promising.
As @clueless1 has pointed out before the lights don't seem that bright until you look at them straight, then Its really bright.
Placed 3 brugmansia cuttings and a musa Siam underneath it for now, still a little early for seeds.
My plan is to start cannas, begonias and coleus under lights at the end of the month.
Pic to follow, my camera battery is flat and the iPad camera not good enough.

 

Well here goes, this brug cutting had no leaves on when I put it under 10 days ago

The other 2 have leaves too but not as big
I've currently got the light suspended from my tripod and the propagator inside a cardboard box



Got chillis and coleus in there too at the min.
Hopefully start canna seeds and rhizomes off at the begining of feb and some toms too.

 

Excellent Mowgley. You can now do winter gardening and that makes life much more fun. I wouldn't be without my lightbox.

 

Brilliant Mowgley

 

Thx guys and gals. It looks like it's going to be successful so I might order another panel soon and make a proper box for it.

 

@JWK I got it off ebay for £16.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111243259428
Just checked on the coleus and there up Did them Saturday
Nothing on the chilli front yet

 

I found that with bottom heat, you get much more consistent germination rates (although I went on to lose all mine because I got a bit carried away but that's another story). If you do go for a heater element, a tip from either someone on here (unfortunately I can't remember who) is this. Get one meant for heating a reptile tank. Its exactly the same thing, but because it doesn't have 'horticulture' in the title, its much cheaper.

All this reminds me, I'll have to pull y finger out and get mine on the go soon.

 

What's the difference with this do you suppose?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/190584260059

112 x LED = 45W as compared to yours of 225 x LED = 15W. Would the extra wattage equate to significantly more light output? Is that much light needed?

They are only 1' square, so you need 4 to have the same effect as a regular 2'-square lighting rig. My CloneLite 8 Square T5 Lights (2' square) cost £85, so 1' square lighting rights for circa £20 would be good value, and LED running costs less than Fuorsecent, and taht les than high wattage Metal Halide / HID.

 

I think there is need for care with Reptile matters in that they may fail if there is a heavy single point weight placed on them. Flat trays probably fine though.