A51 or DIY CXA3070?

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Naah man, i sold them, and i tool for myself CREE AB's... Those were 3500k :)
Running with LPC-40-1400 and fans are controled by LPV-20-12 :)
Haha well you made some money and got more efficient lights. Can't complain about that. Did you do a full grow with the 3500k. I'm thinking about going that route but idk how much less, if any, they yield vs the 3000k.
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
So far I've ordered:
1x Vero 29 3K 80cri
1x pico ez mate
1x Arctic 11

Now I need something to bind the COB to the heatsink. Read that an adhesive isn't a good idea. Anything other than drill and tap? I'll eventually get around to that but for now I want something a Lil easier that still gets the job done. Is the LPV-100-48 OK to use for my setup? Want to be sure before I order it. Gonna just run it at 2.1A for 81w. Still looking for a power supply for the fan. Everything will be ordered within the next day so hopefully everything gets here soon.
 

uzerneims

Well-Known Member
No, LPV-100-48 is not suitable for you, because it is constant voltage.

running on lower current:
HLP-60H-42 (running 1.45A)
Classic LPC-60-1400
I think this could be a good hit for you :
HLG-80H-42 - it runs 25.2 - 42V @ 1.95A - so it's close, what you want...
And maybe this: HLG-100H-42 or 48 - 2.28 or 2A / PFC / 93% eff / dimming...
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
I should have known it was too good to be true to fine a decent 2.1A driver for $30. Ha. I'll look over those today to see which one fits my budget. Thanks man.
 

FranJan

Well-Known Member
So far I've ordered:
1x Vero 29 3K 80cri
1x pico ez mate
1x Arctic 11

Now I need something to bind the COB to the heatsink. Read that an adhesive isn't a good idea. Anything other than drill and tap? I'll eventually get around to that but for now I want something a Lil easier that still gets the job done.
Kapton tape. Supra uses it and I've been using it with no problem after being a skeptic. Just make sure the surface is smooth, clean and you use the thinnest layer of thermal paste though I guess the Artic's should be enough. The bond of the thermal paste to the aluminum is what keeps it together. The Kapton keeps it in place. That's according to Supra.
You could drill through the heatsink completely and affix the CoB with a couple of bolts and a CoB mounting base/reflector holder made for the CoB but that can be pretty destructive. I did that with my Veros and I would do Kapton now instead if I could do it again. Supposedly they are standardizing COBs and you may want to wait to tap your heatsinks but that could be a while.

Good Luck with your project btw. Be Safe.
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
No, LPV-100-48 is not suitable for you, because it is constant voltage.

running on lower current:
HLP-60H-42 (running 1.45A)
Class 00
I think this could be a good hit for you :
HLG-80H-42 - it runs 25.2 - 42V @ 1.95A - so it's close, what you want...
And maybe this: HLG-100H-42 or 48 - 2.28 or 2A / PFC / 93% eff / dimming...
All those are good choices. I also found this : LPF-90-42. But its looking like I'm just gonna run with the LPC-60-1400 this go around. Just to get my feet wet and to keep cost low. Is the LPV-20-12 the best way to go to run the fan? Or is there a simpler route for just one fan?
 

uzerneims

Well-Known Member
All those are good choices. I also found this : LPF-90-42. But its looking like I'm just gonna run with the LPC-60-1400 this go around. Just to get my feet wet and to keep cost low. Is the LPV-20-12 the best way to go to run the fan? Or is there a simpler route for just one fan?
remeber, that LPV is 12V and you could stick more and more fans in future
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Kapton tape. Supra uses it and I've been using it with no problem after being a skeptic. Just make sure the surface is smooth, clean and you use the thinnest layer of thermal paste though I guess the Artic's should be enough. The bond of the thermal paste to the aluminum is what keeps it together. The Kapton keeps it in place. That's according to Supra.
You could drill through the heatsink completely and affix the CoB with a couple of bolts and a CoB mounting base/reflector holder made for the CoB but that can be pretty destructive. I did that with my Veros and I would do Kapton now instead if I could do it again. Supposedly they are standardizing COBs and you may want to wait to tap your heatsinks but that could be a while.

Good Luck with your project btw. Be Safe.
So Kapton tape and thermal paste it is. Thanks I remember seeing supra using it with his CXAs but wasn't sure on how reliable it was. I was looking at the PK3 but there are different types. Which one is the best to use? And what do you mean by standardizing COBs?
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
1x #4 drill bit
1x 4-40 Spiral Flute Bottoming Tap
1-4 drops of vegetable oil....

4x M3 6mm [I like 4/5mm if you can find them] hardware with .4/.5 pitch [found everywhere but Home Depot...]

Oh sorry and Prolimatech PK3 thermal paste
Thanks on the info man. But I'm gonna use the thermal paste and kapton tape to see how that goes. Just gotta figure out which PK3 to use.
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Any old 9-12 vdc plug pac that can put out 200ma should be fine for the fan.
Sounds good to me. I'm sure I have a plug that matches those specs laying around here somewhere. Is there a thread on here that shows how everything is connected and wired up?
 

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Thanks on the info man. But I'm gonna use the thermal paste and kapton tape to see how that goes. Just gotta figure out which PK3 to use.
i use the tape method as well on some Vero 10's and hooked up 13's last night with this method for testing.....
as much as I respect Supra's opinion on this and fyi, he is the one with all the longterm experience in this method [kapton], but I gotta go with SDS on this one, the datasheet recommendations are seldomly wrong and there for a reason. Really the biggest issue I have with this method is just CONSISTENCY, most problems are attributable to operator error...but stilll

After you practice twice, I almost guarantee it will take as long to drill and tap as it will be to mess with the Kap and get it down on the holder surface.

Took me less than five minutes last night to tap 4 holes and mount 2 cobs.
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
i use the tape method as well on some Vero 10's and hooked up 13's last night with this method for testing.....
as much as I respect Supra's opinion on this and fyi, he is the one with all the longterm experience in this method [kapton], but I gotta go with SDS on this one, the datasheet recommendations are seldomly wrong and there for a reason. Really the biggest issue I have with this method is just CONSISTENCY, most problems are attributable to operator error...but stilll

After you practice twice, I almost guarantee it will take as long to drill and tap as it will be to mess with the Kap and get it down on the holder surface.

Took me less than five minutes last night to tap 4 holes and mount 2 cobs.
So if I was to drill and tap would I need any specialty tools other than a drill and the items you listed in an earlier response? I've read people breaking the tap off in the heatsink. Is that easily avoidable?
 

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
So if I was to drill and tap would I need any specialty tools other than a drill and the items you listed in an earlier response? I've read people breaking the tap off in the heatsink. Is that easily avoidable?
Yes, absolutely avoidable, especially with oil, patience and a slip clutch :)

The tapping process is a direct result of your hole drillin'.....get your pilot hole straight and tapping takes seconds for these M3 diamaters. Drilling is the tedious part of the process.
If the tap starts to jam, back it up 1 -2 turns to clear waste and start again, this is where a slip clutch is nice....imho.....
Most drills these days have them. I use a 9.6v Black & Decker cordless with a slip, $20 special....

The community, all put together a Tapping Thread a bit ago, check it out for more of the procedure.....
http://rollitup.org/t/a-thread-on-tapping.856745/


I use a level on my drill to get straight holes, but a drill guide or tapping block can also help, especially if using a tap wrench. but either could be used with a drill as well.

If you search youtube with Cree CXA3070, you can find GreengenesGarden, where he has a great little vid on "get er' done" hand tapping done with a drill.....good little vid, except again I recommend the Spiral Flute not Spiral tip, that is important.....Spiral flutes are also good for beginners who make oval holes,they slack out a lot of skipping when you pick up an edge. Another way to jam up too, so this is a plus.
 

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Yes, absolutely avoidable, especially with oil, patience and a slip clutch :)

The tapping process is a direct result of your hole drillin'.....get your pilot hole straight and tapping takes seconds for these M3 diamaters. Drilling is the tedious part of the process.
If the tap starts to jam, back it up 1 -2 turns to clear waste and start again, this is where a slip clutch is nice....imho.....
Most drills these days have them. I use a 9.6v Black & Decker cordless with a slip, $20 special....

The community, all put together a Tapping Thread a bit ago, check it out for more of the procedure.....
http://rollitup.org/t/a-thread-on-tapping.856745/


I use a level on my drill to get straight holes, but a drill guide or tapping block can also help, especially if using a tap wrench. but either could be used with a drill as well.

If you search youtube with Cree CXA3070, you can find GreengenesGarden, where he has a great little vid on "get er' done" hand tapping done with a drill.....good little vid, except again I recommend the Spiral Flute not Spiral tip, that is important.....Spiral flutes are also good for beginners who make oval holes,they slack out a lot of skipping when you pick up an edge. Another way to jam up too, so this is a plus.
I'll check out that video and that thread you posted. Thanks. Got my Vero in today. Now I'm waiting on the rest of the gear. Getting closer.
 

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mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Got everything in except for the the thermal paste and kapton tape. Was out of town for a few days so everything was delayed. Decided to fire it up just to see if it powers and it blinked on and back off. Little black dots on the led so I'm assuming its blown. Next time I'm gonna use thermal paste instead of the paste that comes on the arctic 11. And I was so focused I realized I plugged it up without the driver. Just power cord hooked to the ez mate connectors. Had a huge slow moment. Ha.

I Decided to just scrap that 3k spectrum. Ordered 1x vero 29 5k spectrum 70 cri for veg light. Ordered 2 more at 3500k 80cri but they're on back order and supposed to be shipping in 5 days. Gonna just run those two at 1.4A with the hlg-185h-1400b. Question about these two thermal paste. Is there a better one or are they pretty equal? Was gonna go with arctic but all I hear around here is pk3.
 

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SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I have done it too. 120v = instant death for COBs, sorry to hear that man expensive lesson and no doubt I will do it again sometime!

As far as thermal performance goes, kapton/paste method works very well. AP is right, the stock paste is AOK too. I tested 9 COBs for temp droop, running at 2.47A, using kapton method, fans running at lowest reasonable speed for each heatsink.

Vero29 on Rosewill RCX-Z1 (95.5W) temp droop 2.13%
Vero29 on Rosewill RCX-Z1 (95.38W) temp droop 2.37%
CXA3070 on Rosewill RCX-Z1 (99.6W) temp droop 4.65%
CXA3070 on Intel (101.47W) temp droop 2.99%
CXA3070 on OCZ Vanquisher (99.64W) temp droop 2.58%
CXA3070 on Alpine11 sanded/PK3 (98.52W) temp droop 3.75%
CXA3070 on Alpine11 sanded/PK3 (97.55W) temp droop 4.4%
CXA3070 on Alpine11 stock (98.93W) temp droop 3.21%

At 1.5A temp droop is 1-2%. At 800mA I am seeing as low as .25%! As far as kapton reliability, as long as the heatsink surface is clean, kapton will grip strong for many years. I have nothing against drilling/tapping, looks very slick and pro, solderless for CXA. But for those who want a quick solution and might be changing their design around, kapton method is safe to use, even at high currents.
 
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