DiY LEDs - How to Power Them

Greengenes707

Greengenes707

Well-Known Member
Simple Clean said:
I am looking to create a grow light with 6 CXB3070s. From looking at the "Matching Drivers and COBs" spreadsheet there are multiple options. I would like to use Mean Well drivers. Can someone give there thoughts on a driver or drivers combination to most efficiently power the 6 Crees?
Thanks
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I think I messaged you on youtube because there was no reply for you on your comment. 2 hlg120h-c1400 will run 3 each at 50w. The most bang for your buck.
 
alesh

alesh

Well-Known Member
Simple Clean said:
I am looking to create a grow light with 6 CXB3070s. From looking at the "Matching Drivers and COBs" spreadsheet there are multiple options. I would like to use Mean Well drivers. Can someone give there thoughts on a driver or drivers combination to most efficiently power the 6 Crees?
Thanks
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As GG said or if you can use 240V than you can save a few bucks and get 2 ELG-150-C1400. Basically the same driver as HLG-120H-C1400 but won't run off 120V.
 
Amaximus

Amaximus

Well-Known Member
Amaximus said:
Hey guys... Been lurking and reading a bit "here and there" regarding COB's but I'm just having a hard time wrapping my head around it all. I'm sure it's easy but until I've done it once I have a tough time visualizing or understanding what i need. So I'd like to start small...

I'd like to build a small COB fixture for my veg tent. The tent is 2x3 but I'd like the fixture to be able to cover a 2x4 space for a future tent upgrade. Even though it's a veg tent I'd like the option to flower with this unit so I'd either want A: 4K COBS ( I suppose?) or B: a mixture of COB's (3K & 5K?) with a "veg" and "flower" switch. I have no preference, Whatever is easier. If 2 (or 3) 4K COBS get's it done, then so be it.

I'd also like it passive cooled but if that is not an option because of size or whatever then fans/etc are fine.

How many COB's do I need and which COB's should I use? I'd like to get the most efficiency/quality for the best price. And what driver would I use for whatever COB's are recommend?

Thanks for any answers anyone may provide. I know the answers are all here but I'm just having a tough time getting started. I think once I'm pointed in the right direction I can then proceed on my own... Until I have more questions... heh.
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Did I ask the wrong questions or am I being just too vague?
 
Amaximus

Amaximus

Well-Known Member
brettsog said:
Hey man, long time.

It's cost me about £160 to build a 3 cob fixture with vero29 cobs, that's all in, heatsink, dimmable driver and fans and wires and bits. Should compete with a 400 hps if all goes well.

I'm still learning myself but it seems led is the way forward.
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Hey brett. Long time no see. Think the last time I saw you around was in like 2012...?
 
PyspherE

PyspherE

Well-Known Member
Hey guys!

I'm new to this DIY led business. I'm looking to create a fixture out of some parts I already have around.

I already have a 10" long x 6" wide extruded aluminium heatsink with .25" base plate, with .75" long fins with 3fins/in wide. I also have all/most of my tools, I need a few more quick connects but I have all my solder and iron, shrink tube, multimeter, thermal paste, etc.

The issue I'm facing now is I have 2 drivers that I want to use. They are a matching pair that both output 45-65Vdc at a constant 630mA. I'm not sure if they can be used in series or parallel to double the V or A respectively?(I hope I didn't get this backwards). If they can be run in this fashion, I'm looking for some suggestions for diodes or arrays to use. Ideally I want to go with all white diodes, and preferabley Cree, either COBs or single diodes.

Any suggestions or input would be greatly appreciated!

Peace & Love
PyspherE
 
nevergoodenuf

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
You can run 3 CXB1512 18v on that driver for a total of 33 watts in series. The harder way would be 5 XHP70 12v bin m4 or better in series. Both have similar lumen per watt @ over 140.
 
brettsog

brettsog

Well-Known Member
Amaximus said:
Hey brett. Long time no see. Think the last time I saw you around was in like 2012...?
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Was a while back lol, got a new place, new missus and a new grow.

Amaximus said:
Did I ask the wrong questions or am I being just too vague?
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Dude, go led. CREE cxb3590 are best cobs on market at minute, you can run them soft so low wattage pure efficiency. I'm using vero as they are cheaper and I'm not too worried about running them softly to save power.

Email [email protected] and speak to jerry regarding the cobs, ships by DHL for $40 you can get a driver and cobs from him. Then u can either buy a heatsink to mount them or large cpu coolers
 
nevergoodenuf

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
The 36v 3590 won't work with that driver. Either to low or to hi voltage. without the spec sheet, wouldn't spend $ to find out.
 
PyspherE

PyspherE

Well-Known Member
nevergoodenuf said:
You can run 3 CXB1512 18v on that driver for a total of 33 watts in series. The harder way would be 5 XHP70 12v bin m4 or better in series. Both have similar lumen per watt @ over 140.
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thanks for the advice! I think I'm going to look into the 3x CXB1512. With the 2 drivers I should be able to run 6 of them for a total of 66W. Will the 10" x 6" aluminium heatsink with 3x 120mm 12v PC fans be enough to cool it?
 
Simple Clean

Simple Clean

Active Member
Greengenes707 said:
I think I messaged you on youtube because there was no reply for you on your comment. 2 hlg120h-c1400 will run 3 each at 50w. The most bang for your buck.
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In your opinion, would I generate more grams per watt if I went with CXB3590s? What would be the most efficient setup (36v or 72v 3590 leds and which MW driver or drivers)? Thanks for your advice.
 
Greengenes707

Greengenes707

Well-Known Member
Simple Clean said:
In your opinion, would I generate more grams per watt if I went with CXB3590s? What would be the most efficient setup (36v or 72v 3590 leds and which MW driver or drivers)? Thanks for your advice.
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Theoretically. If you ok on the price of 3590, then go for it. You'll get a little more light for your watts running them the same as you would 3070's. It's the same everything except the cobs and holders pretty much.
 
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nevergoodenuf

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
@greengene707- weren't your first builds running in parallel? I was looking over our , much missed, MrFlux's posts. I still think for our design, running at well under 50%, makes thermal ran away almost impossible. And to pick drivers by how many watts you are looking for, not by how many COB you can afford at one time. This gives use the use of the hlg-600-36 running 6, 7, 10, or whatever you want ( I would personally run 10 or more on that driver). But I think the hlg-320-36 is the best dollar per watt @ 95% efficient. Add COBs as you can afford to improve efficiency.
 
nevergoodenuf

nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
I do wish MrFlux would come by just to hear is long term results. Mine have been fine for over a year. The light also was running different color temp COBs in parallel.
 
WwW1962

WwW1962

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone, been working on a small project and got some advice on power driver, so i went this route

You could use the$30 Mean Well HLN-40H-54A , dimmable from 450-750mA or the HLN-40H-54B dimmable from 75mA-750mA[/QUOTE]

fired up the HLN-40H-54B to 20 xlm 10w with no pot..i think im gonna need a more powerful one, it's pulling 60w @kilawatt meter and looks weak,
since im such a newb and old and lazy and end up buying wrong items from being half blind looking thru 3000 pages of electrical items

what would be double of that driver , if any and dimmable down.. like 150w- 60w thank you all for awesome stuff and many props to all you fine fellows and ladies
WwW EDIT 19 XLM's pulling 38 watts thank you Supra and Crew
 

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disengaged

disengaged

Member
Could someone repost the link to the spreadsheet which shows examples of driver compatibility with common COB's - the ones Supra did which explained why x.1 COB's per driver?
I printed it out in the middle of the week, lost it and spent a few hours online looking for it today. Maybe I'm too easily distracted...
Please!
 
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