DiY LEDs - How to Power Them

Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
ActionHanks said:
Ive also blown a few cobs in my trial runs, but i started cheap just to see how feasible this is for me. Ive got 12 Osram GW KAGBH cobs.

I dont want to clutter you guys with the spec sheet, but each cob runs at 32V with 500mA (36V 700mA maximum).

SO if i have a 96V 1.2amp china driver from an old blurple unit, will this schematic split the amps in half?

32*3 =96V, and then 2 parallel chains to split the amps
Click to expand...
This is a rough sketch of wiring parallel strings in series....
driver string parallel.png
 
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Puddle Hopper

Member
@Supra. I am wanting to build a flower light using probably 6 cxb3590's and my goal is to acheive or exceed the output of the optic 500w light. My only confusion is the drivers they use. I have just started researching diy led lights but am extremely smart with electronics and want the best so I want to build my own. The driver they use is the Mean Well NPF-120-42. Its 42 volts @ 2.9 amps and they have 4 of them. Is that one of those drivers for each cob? Surely not... I am not trying to get the cheapest driver but dont want the most expensive one either. If I was to put a driver per cob which would be the best?
 
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Puddle Hopper

Member
tick tack toe said:
people love the meanwell h185 series. here is a table which has which driver works well with the 3590

DiY LEDs - How to Power Them
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info tick tack. I have been reading up some more and have been seeing that the HLG-120H-C1050 is a good driver for 2 of the 72v CXB-3590's. Just to make sure, those ARE wired in series? Ill prob run 4 drivers and 8 CXB's. For designs sake I want to run a round heat sink and 100mm fan for each CXB. Does anyone have any recommendations for heat sinks?
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone
I did like to know what is the best for cxb 3590 36 or 72V it is just a question of driver?hlg-185-700 or 1400 low A isn't better? Is it going to be 50w each with 4 3590 on it?So 8 in 1 square meter(about 11 sq/f) is a good option!??Is it going to be 400w.And which bin cri and temp are best for blooming?
About driver,I saw the LDH series and they said it is 95% efficient and they are cheaper than the HLG. Is there some who fit with our need,or not,I do not understand enough drivers to tell it,but some guys here can....
May the gr/w be with you all™
 
salmonetin

salmonetin

Well-Known Member
scarecrow99 said:
hi guys, can I power 2 cree cxa with a 42 V-3,6 A driver?
Click to expand...
cree cxa Typical Forward Voltage 38.5 V @ 1.9 A (85°C)

...Vf in this case... Vf = 38.5 V ...and If = 1.9 A

...when connect the cob on series (recomended option)... we sum the Vf...

2 x 38.5 = 77 v @ 1.9 A ... i think a driver courrent controlled at 1.9 A with output voltage 80 v can drive 2 cxa on series conection (positive driver output to positive 1 led... negative 1 led to positive 2 led... negative 2 led to negative output driver)...

...when connect the cob on paralell (not recomended option) ... we sum the If...

2 x 1.9 = 3,8 A @ 38,5 V

...3.6 A its too much for series... i think cree cxa max its 2.8 A... but you dont wont to run the cobs over the typical Vf for large runs... maybe 1.8 A its more safe.... i dont know what Vf correspond to 1.8 A but you can use the Vf for 1.9 A only for reference (38,5 v)...

...but are only my inexperts opinions...

saludos
 
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SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Puddle Hopper said:
@Supra. I am wanting to build a flower light using probably 6 cxb3590's and my goal is to acheive or exceed the output of the optic 500w light. My only confusion is the drivers they use. I have just started researching diy led lights but am extremely smart with electronics and want the best so I want to build my own. The driver they use is the Mean Well NPF-120-42. Its 42 volts @ 2.9 amps and they have 4 of them. Is that one of those drivers for each cob? Surely not... I am not trying to get the cheapest driver but dont want the most expensive one either. If I was to put a driver per cob which would be the best?
Click to expand...
That is correct, 1 driver/COB, ~120W ea with Vero 29 V2.0s and 36% efficient. That would be about 110W ea with CXB3590 36V class and about 38% efficient with 3K CB bin.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
littlejacob said:
Hello everyone
I did like to know what is the best for cxb 3590 36 or 72V it is just a question of driver?hlg-185-700 or 1400 low A isn't better? Is it going to be 50w each with 4 3590 on it?So 8 in 1 square meter(about 11 sq/f) is a good option!??Is it going to be 400w.And which bin cri and temp are best for blooming?
About driver,I saw the LDH series and they said it is 95% efficient and they are cheaper than the HLG. Is there some who fit with our need,or not,I do not understand enough drivers to tell it,but some guys here can....
May the gr/w be with you all™
Click to expand...
HLG-185H-C1400 is good for CXB3590 X 4 @ 50W each. So if you had 8 of them in 1 meter² that works out to 19 PAR W/ft², a very high intensity (865 PPFD averaged after lens/reflector/wall losses)

If you have access to a 24V DC battery system from solar, wind etc, the LDH-45B-1050 would be a great option, 1 driver for each COB, 95% efficient and $11 each.
 
littlejacob

littlejacob

Well-Known Member
Hello supra
Is there a device who change 220V in 24?
What is the best hlg or ldh for 3590?
What is the most efficient? I $aw that 3590 with the hlg is the most efficient "couple" 51% but how efficient is an hps and what is the minimum efficiency require for a good grow?
Thanks a lot
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Yes you can convert constant voltage AC to constant voltage DC but that extra step will cost another 5-10% efficiency and will add cost/complexity to the build. So we recommend the HLG series because they do the job in one step and only lose 6% to conversion losses. If you prefer to have a separate driver for each COB you can get 91% efficiency from the HLN series drivers but cost more as well.

HLN-185H-C1400 - 1.4A - 94% efficient (drives 4 CXBs in series) $64

HLN-80H-36 -> 2.3A (2.55A actual) -> 91% efficient (drives 1 COB) $40
HLN-80H-42 -> 1.95A -> 91% efficient $40
HLN-60H-36 -> 1.7A -> 90% $33
HLN-60H-42 -> 1.45A -> 90% $33

You can use generic 1.4A drivers, 89-90% efficient and cost $13.50 ea
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
The CXB3590 is 51.7% efficient driven at 50W. The very best HPS is the 1000W DE philips bulb, approx 41.5% efficient with brand new bulb. Standard 600 and 1000W HPS bulbs are ~36-38% efficient when brand new.

However, these numbers cannot be directly compared, they are just the starting point. HPS loses a lot due to reflector loss, spectral spread, bulb depreciation, reflector depreciation, hot spots. Air cooled hoods get several more penalties due to losses as they reflector off and pass through the glass, film/dust buildup on the glass and according to Jair from Gavita, incorrect bulb temperature.
 
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Puddle Hopper

Member
SupraSPL said:
That is correct, 1 driver/COB, ~120W ea with Vero 29 V2.0s and 36% efficient. That would be about 110W ea with CXB3590 36V class and about 38% efficient with 3K CB bin.
Click to expand...
Oh thank you so much! That is exactly what I was hoping! Im gonna go with 5 cree's and those drivers and have a 550w Beast! Im wanting to put a round heatsink and high cfm fan on each cob. Does this look like with a good enough fan it would work?
http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Cree-Inc/LMH020-HS00-0000-0000001/&qs=sGAEpiMZZMuIeULrOsCjA2mcU/EViMPTRh0LZWEg0Nc=
I was gonna pair them with these fans
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H8UVJ00/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1THAZDOWP300U
also what is a popular lens option for those cree's? I would love to have the x3 lenses that optics uses but Idk where to find them.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Puddle Hopper said:
Oh thank you so much! That is exactly what I was hoping! Im gonna go with 5 cree's and those drivers and have a 550w Beast! Im wanting to put a round heatsink and high cfm fan on each cob. Does this look like with a good enough fan it would work?
http://www.mouser.com/Search/m_ProductDetail.aspx?Cree-Inc/LMH020-HS00-0000-0000001/&qs=sGAEpiMZZMuIeULrOsCjA2mcU/EViMPTRh0LZWEg0Nc=
I was gonna pair them with these fans
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00H8UVJ00/ref=ox_sc_act_image_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1THAZDOWP300U
also what is a popular lens option for those cree's? I would love to have the x3 lenses that optics uses but Idk where to find them.
Click to expand...
I would recommend something like this
http://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-RCX-Z1-Long-Bearing-Cooler/dp/B002CT0YQW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1433901710&sr=1-1&keywords=rcx-z1

or this

http://www.amazon.com/ARCTIC-Alpine-64-Plus-Cooler/dp/B007BVCBOE/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1433901745&sr=1-2&keywords=alpine+64

As for lenses, I use these
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/50mm-90-Degree-LED-Lens-Bracket-Reflector-for-High-Power-LED-20W-30W-50W-100W/32297327712.html
 
Bhookus

Bhookus

Member
Can I run cxb 3590 vF70 and cxb3070 vF36 in a series? Trying to wrap my head around all this and the variables just keep coming! I am trying to build 24 cobs ( 6x5000k and 18x3000k)on 3 heat sinks. Powered by 2 mean well drivers pers heat sink.
Also Would having the drivers mounted a distance from lights, like remote HID ballasts, creat any issues ie: efficiency, etc? 3' or Maybe as much as 14' away.
Any insight would be appreciated.
 
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PurpleBuz

Well-Known Member
I found a good deal on some surplus ecoplus 40w led clearlight replacement lamps ($30.00 each). Can anybody give me any idea how efficient they are compared to similar power sized cobs, T5s and 150w HID lighting? Unfortunately they are 6K temperature so use is limited to veg or supplements for flowering. I got a couple to test out, so far impressed. crisp cool white cree leds drawing 44 watts at the plug. No fan for cooling and only warm to the touch.

http://www.toewspower.com/online-store/lighting/clearlight-ecospot-40w/
http://www.toewspower.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Clearlight_EcoSpot_Beacon_Data.pdf
 
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