A 15 watt Screw-In Replacement LED Bulb

can be quickly turned into a grow light for cannabis or other plants. This 15 watt lamp is an LED replacement for a 100 watt incandescent light bulb. Once the globe is removed, it will provide enough light for a 10" circle of vegetation, at about 10 inches away. Cannabis is a plant which requires high amounts of light, many vegetables and herbs require much less light. You would be able to use fewer lights, spaced further apart.

Currently Around $6USD

These lamps can be quickly converted to a grow lamp and are simply screwed in to a normal lamp socket. The main task is to remove the plastic globe/lens, so the LEDs can shine directly on the plants.

Screw in the LED and Turn it On

so that it heats up the base. Like compact flourescent lamps, the base of the lamp is a ballast and heats up during use. The Globe is either plastic or glass and will be glued to the base. Heat softens the glue, allowing you to easily pry the globe off.

Grab a Potholder and a Double Handled Corkscrew

like this one.

It has a pointy tip, as you can see here

Once the Base of the Lamp is Hot

unscrew it, using the hot pad, and hold it against a heat proof table top. Jam the corkscrew tip between the base and globe, making sure there's no danger if you slip.

Once the Tip Is Between the Base and Globe

gently lever the globe away from the base. At this point, it may help to use a second tool to hold open the gap. Work your way around the globe, slowly prying the glue apart. Once you're done you'll have a globe which looks like this.

Your Grow Light is Finished

Each of the little yellow squares is a piece of COB LED, or Cree On Board LED. Count the number of squares and divide them by the wattage of the lamp. This is the approximate wattage of each little LED.

You Can Find More Information

on icmag.com, in their Micro Grows sub-forum. There is also substantial information on building your own LED lights from off the shelf parts. :)