Any interest in something like this?

If this is against any rules, please remove with my apologies.

Needless to say that the white COB builds are just crushing it out there. Since none of the common manufacturers have stepped up to the plate with a solution, we are thinking about putting together a product. There is nothing available or being offered just yet. It seems that many are not willing, for whatever reason, to begin a DIY project.

We are thinking about something with either a Cree 3070 or Vero 29, colors between 2700K and 6500K. Driven somewhere between 40 and 100 watts. Mounted on a passive star heat sink. Prices and availability would vary based on current conditions, but priced between maybe $180-250.

Units could be powered and hung individually or maybe some sort of mounting rails to create larger systems. No fans to power or worry about failing.

Think there would be enough interest in this to pursue?

When was the last time you were with a girl that smelled of fish?

LOL.

Well, of all of the questions I thought I might have to answer, that is one that I did not anticipate.

So not many interested in buying passive meanwell and cree/bridgelux pendant lights instead of DIY?

Thanks for looking anyway.

I think its a good idea but would need more info. Bin info on the crees. Prices per watt. Everyone else doing cobs pits one fan over each, why doesn't your heatsink/setup require one? I'm sure I'll think of more later.

build a prototype

puff, That is part of the point. The chips and drivers are really just a mix and match. Customers could choose the color temp, chip efficiencies, drive levels, dimmable, etc. Pricing would necessarily vary accordingly plus miscellaneous parts/connectors and a "build fee". It's not like it is difficult to source the parts if you read the forum. We are simply looking to do the build work at a reasonable cost. The body of the lamp above is all heat sink. It is more than enough to cool at least 75 watts of COB, we are still testing the heat build at 100w, with no on board fan. The large heat sink costs more than a CPU cooler and fan combo, but is less complicated, and there is no worry about moving parts failing.

JRay, The photos above are of one of our prototypes.

getsoutalive said:

If this is against any rules, please remove with my apologies.

Needless to say that the white COB builds are just crushing it out there. Since none of the common manufacturers have stepped up to the plate with a solution, we are thinking about putting together a product. There is nothing available or being offered just yet. It seems that many are not willing, for whatever reason, to begin a DIY project.

We are thinking about something with either a Cree 3070 or Vero 29, colors between 2700K and 6500K. Driven somewhere between 40 and 100 watts. Mounted on a passive star heat sink. Prices and availability would vary based on current conditions, but priced between maybe $180-250.

Units could be powered and hung individually or maybe some sort of mounting rails to create larger systems. No fans to power or worry about failing.

Think there would be enough interest in this to pursue?

Click to expand...

Whats gonna set a cob design apart is a flexible platform thats easy to deploy in different grow rooms, and top bin plug and play cobs. By plug and play I mean the ability to quick swap an individual cob unit for veg bloom or repair.

While I am a fan of passively cooled, adding a little tiny fan on top of each cob would probably let you run cooler with greater efficiency. if you design for passive cooling safety first, the fan becomes an added bonus.

What I would like to see are a 2-3 foot long rail with a few cob units mounted on the rail with simple wide angle refectors. Design it to illuminate a 2 X 4 or a 2.5 x 5 area evenly. Two rails for a 4x4 or a 5x5 tent.

I'd check out GreenGenes cowboy project, using cree CXAs.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/apache-at600-led-vs-1000w-hps-blue-dream-grow.813412/page-60
if you can build out a decent rail unit with three cob units layed out like GGs drone at a reasonable price, I'd buy one now.

t

getsoutalive said:

Think there would be enough interest in this to pursue?

Click to expand...

For me the answer is yes cause I simply don't have the time to do my own DIY.

Purp,

Unfortunately, the interface between chip and heat sink is too critical to design a quick swap as you requested.

But by having each lamp and its driver as individual units, we achieve a similar effect. Since most of these chips run at 36-38 volts and the drivers are constant current, you could have multiple drivers and/or multiple lamps to suit your particular needs at that time. Multiple drivers to vary intensity as needed, or perhaps a dimmable driver instead. Or you could have a 5000K lamp for veg and switch to a 2700K lamp for flower, but with the same driver. Or simply to replace a failed unit, plug and play with a new one.

Need to cover a large space, hang multiple lamps where ever you need them, in any color combination you want. Even vary the height of each lamp if necessary. Or, as I mentioned above, hang them all from a single rail in any shape you want.

Footprints of each lamp would also vary with the parts selected, but would likely be from 12-24" diameter.

A fan on each unit is not necessary, but a slight breeze, like you should be applying to your canopy anyway, is never a bad idea.

Sounds a little pricey for the wattage you get. What type of bins would you be using? Maybe if you offered custom order where the customer could pick the color,bin and driver it would be worth it to someone that either didn't have the skills or time to make his own.

Solis Tek is releasing their line of cobs this fall. They are super expensive. They want me to test it. I doubt it will even stand up to the cree cxa's. There are several other companies that already have cobs in the works. You need to do something that sets yours apart from the others. An improvement on whats already available for diy-ers. Have a good price and full warranty that can compete with already established reputable led companies. To even turn a profit you are going to have to buy 1000 cobs minimum to start. Just to get that price break. That's $25,000 just for cobs. Plus all the other parts.

capn, That is exactly what we are thinking, custom build the lamps to user specs from what is currently available. Standardize as much as possible for maximum interoperability and build efficiency. Charge a fair price for our time and guarranty our work.

We are no where near the point of buying 1k units. But it seems that we might be able to step up where others haven't and offer a versatile and top quality product at a reasonable cost. for those who can or will not DIY.

Now if the demand far outpaces expectations, then who knows, but for now, not expecting the moon here.

Thank you, everyone, for your thoughts.

getsoutalive said:

Purp,

Need to cover a large space, hang multiple lamps where ever you need them, in any color combination you want. Even vary the height of each lamp if necessary. Or, as I mentioned above, hang them all from a single rail in any shape you want.
.

Click to expand...

If your not going to tackle the logistic nightmare of hanging individual units and ignore coverage issues it seems pointless to me.

You take that off the hanging pendant platform and put it on a rail system so it can be moved effortlessly and can be mounted either at the ceiling or on the side walls of a grow tent and you have something.

I'm already doing and selling a "rail" system. Base price is roughly $100 per COB. That includes a top bin AB or AD cree 3070, extruded aluminum heatsink, usa driver (optional dimmer) fans are not needed but included for extra cooling. When you purchase 2 or more cobs is when the rail comes into play and after 3 you can choose if you want one long rail or say two rails each with 2,3,4 cobs on it.

Oh forgot to mention these can be hundreds vertical or horizontal and you can take 1 or all off and hand independently or take one off and move to another grow cab if needed.

Damn auto correct not hundreds hung**

Can I get one with leather and a sunroof?

You got any pics of the rail system?

purplegrower02 said:

I'm already doing and selling a "rail" system. Base price is roughly $100 per COB. That includes a top bin AB or AD cree 3070, extruded aluminum heatsink, usa driver (optional dimmer) fans are not needed but included for extra cooling. When you purchase 2 or more cobs is when the rail comes into play and after 3 you can choose if you want one long rail or say two rails each with 2,3,4 cobs on it.

Click to expand...

sounds interesting.
pics ? details ? show off grow ? web page ?

btw nice user name