DevoLED DIY Light - 4k lumens - 5000k for 38watt $20+

[Godzilla]

Nice Little Spot Light. about 102 lumens per what equal to or better than Metal Halide. I call it a Devo light because it reminds me of the band's hats. I'll post how to assemble it and where to get parts for it. Some you have to order, but rest you can get locally.

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[SisterMaryElephant]

Welcome to the forums!

A small light like that might be fine for house plants...

[Godzilla]

Things you'll need (Parts)

4 bulbs from Home Depot or Walmart 8-10 daylight about $2.50 each
Walmart party bowl 2.50
4 medium sockets (e27) Available for cheap at Nebraska surplus, got 16 for $20 shipped
9-12 foot extension cord
2 standard medium tie wraps
1 tie wrap with screw hole holder for strain release (see pic)
2 Red wire nuts
Aluminum foil

Tools:
Drill and 1" bit
Dremel with small cutting bit
Wire Cutters and Strippers
Transparent tape

Beta Unit I did not have sockets so just soldered wires to the bulbs

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[Godzilla]

Here's a Pic of 8 bulb pack from Home Depot. The bulb says 850 lumens, but once the diffuser is removed the light output should increase greatly.

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You'll need a small flat head screwdriver #1 and gently pry off the bulb diffuser. It's ok if you damage the heat sink / housing a little. Some bulbs have a light guide that you will have to unscrew. The light guide distributes some of the light at right angles (you don't want that). If you have a light guide hold the circuit board in place while removing small screws or it might come loose and you will have to realign it to the power supply. Put screws back in. Do this to 4 bulbs.

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[Godzilla]

Now you will need to draw upon some geometry skills that you thought you would never use. Here's the tools you'll need Compass and Protractor.

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Here's the template you will make out of some stiff paper like file holder. Make sure you mark the center all measurement are in the picture. I made the template to support 3 or 4 bulbs.

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Mark your hole positions then drill with 1" drill bit

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Holes drilled.

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De-bur holes with Dremel small cutting bit.

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Cover inside with tinfoil, I used some reflective Duck Tape around the edges and trimmed with knife. You gain about 15% more light by doing this but it is optional. Do this before you screw in the bulbs, much easier.

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Screw in bulbs.
Attach sockets, you can get them from Nebraska Surplus part #(LMP) 557HRV-328 Plastic Lamp Socket Zinc Clip Hooks and Leads for about 80c each I got 16 for $20 shipped. You might have to grind down front edge to get a bite on the lamp socket, I did not have to do this, but you will have to bend up the center contact.

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You can use zink holder thing as hanger.

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Electrical stuff you'll need.

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Twist wires together all black and all white each attached to one side of power cord.

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Screw on red wire nuts until they are tight, note tie wraps around white and black wires.

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Now use tie wrap with screw hole, use dremel tool and small bit to make hole for screw, this is your strain relief very important.

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Finished product - I have some ideas of several enhancements like full spectrum bulbs and lenses, but most come out of china so will be a few weeks. My objective is to get the most light to the plant at the lowest cost and have it look natural for flowers and other plants that look good under natural light. If you grow Cannabis or Vegtables these lights could fill in nicely at the edges of your tent or enclosure.

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[SisterMaryElephant]

Have you checked the heat output? You don't want to melt that plastic bucket, cause a short and start a fire...

[Godzilla]

So far heat not a problem plastic bowl part gets warm but not hot to the touch. Bulb base/heatsink material gets pretty warm. If you want you could drill a couple of 3/4-1/2 holes in the top. But I don't think that is needed the bulbs are made to work in sealed enclosures and would get really hot in such a case. I've had 2 up and running for 2 weeks no problems so far.
Here's a picture of my kIllawatt Meter showing watts, sorry a little blurry. I'll also be posting some light measurements of several different lights and technologies to compare them.

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[SisterMaryElephant]

Yeah, I have some LED bulbs that get hot (sealed up of course), I'd still want to check all around with a thermometer to be sure.

[Godzilla]

Yeah, will take some temp measurements. Ordered new toy today.

[Godzilla]

New Toy

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Playing with thermometer I was getting 200f at LED heat sink and 150f at top of Devobowl. Bowl is rated dishwasher safe on the top rack that's about 150f. I think this is cutting it close so I drilled a 1" inch hole in the center top of bowl. Now only 132f at top and LED Heat sink was 170f. I feel this is safe, even with higher temperatures bowl did not melt or bend, But was worried about the low cost Chinese bulb burning up. The beta bowl does not have sockets, they act as heat sinks to some degree on newer version but will incorporate vent hole in all assembled units.

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