First build! Rapid LED 3 COB Vero build and review

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
See now I am confused bc I do have a technical degree and I know ohms law front to back. And from what I know as fact is that you are correct v c AND p are all directly related. But Voltage is not dependent on the component. its dependent On what u set it at. If i have a 12v battery and I hook it up to anything it has 12v acrossed it no matter what it is. The driver is basically a battery. It puts out anywhere from 0-179dc volts depending on what u set it at. I did look at bridgelux spec sheet and I can't see where nominal voltage is equal to max forward voltage that the cob can handle. I'm confused as to how components determine how much voltage comes from any power supply. DC voltage across any circuit is the same no matter what's in the circuit. If it's a series circuit u will have different voltage drops across the components in the circuit but the total voltage across the entire circuit will always be the potential difference (voltage) that you place across the circuit no matter what's in the circuit. Yeah other than how much the cob can handle and how much it needs to turn on I'm still trying to figure out how the cob determines the voltage. Does the cob tell the driver what voltage to put out?
In a way, yes it does. A constant current driver uses a current sensor, and as the output voltage ramps up above the turn on voltage of the COB and the current increases, the sensor sees that and as the target current is reached, it stops increasing the output voltage.
 

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
The specsheet does show a max of 40.9v at 2100a and 44v at 4200a on page six of http://www.bridgelux.com/sites/default/files/resource_media/DS33 Vero 29 Array Data Sheet Rev L 20160606.pdf
so that corresponds with your graph. I don't know when you'd see higher side voltages towards the max though honestly.

Oh, I just reread what you wrote. The chip should in fact determine the voltage by the amperage you are running. V=IR the resistance of the cob multiplied by the amperage will give a preset voltage. You can't run it at a higher voltage than that. It will run somewhere between min and max of the 1st graph you linked at that corresponding amperage. Meaning if you are running a 1.4 amp hlg 240h you can't max out the voltage to get higher wattage. There is no way to do that with these vero's that I know of. I have a dimming lead on mine, it adjusts amperage.
It really depends on the power supply - most drivers are constant current - they self adjust output voltage as needed to maintain the current setting. Constant voltage supplies OTOH, simply put out a stable voltage, and the COB will draw as much current as is typical for that voltage (within a normal bell curve variation for the manufacturing process), provided the supply can deliver the current. As the COB heats up, it will pull more current until the temp stabilizes.
 

Nick42

Active Member
It really depends on the power supply - most drivers are constant current - they self adjust output voltage as needed to maintain the current setting. Constant voltage supplies OTOH, simply put out a stable voltage, and the COB will draw as much current as is typical for that voltage (within a normal bell curve variation for the manufacturing process), provided the supply can deliver the current. As the COB heats up, it will pull more current until the temp stabilizes.
Thanx dude. Been trying to get somebody to explain how it actually works. I have an ascocciates in eet from 99 lol. Got pinched right after i graduated and never worked in the field and when the guy from cobkits gave his explanation it sounded familiar im gonna have to dust off the text books i know ive learned this once somewhere long ago haha. Happy to be interested again.:clap:
 

Nick42

Active Member
Actually LEDs do not have "resistance" in the conventional sense. They are a non-linear device, meaning their resistance changes as the applied voltage changes. That's why they have a limited operating voltage range.
Does anyone know where I can find any of the 2100 milliamp version of this driver the hlg 240
 

Jimmyclone42

Well-Known Member
Does anyone know where I can find any of the 2100 milliamp version of this driver the hlg 240
If u ask mike through rapidled he can get u whatever driver u want.. Mabe even cobby here can get u one... Hard to find that one.. Ive had luck through future electronics as well..
Cheers
 

Nick42

Active Member
If u ask mike through rapidled he can get u whatever driver u want.. Mabe even cobby here can get u one... Hard to find that one.. Ive had luck through future electronics as well..
Cheers
Rapid is out till july. I found some on a site called trc? Idk havent ordered them yet. Yeah the site i found them on is called trc electronics. Rapid said they would take the 1400ma drivers back and credit what i spent on them towards another kit except this time with the 2100ma. So if rapid is right on there math with the 2100ma drivers ill be getting 460w at the cobs . Have to deal with 460watts till july but thats more than a hundred watts better than what i have now. And in july when i add 3 more veros with the third 2100ma driver ill be getting 690w at the cobs. If i wanna run them wide open. Cant wait im getting so close and im getting impatient. Lol. Cheers. :eyesmoke:
 
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Jimmyclone42

Well-Known Member
Rapid is out till july. I found some on a site called trc? Idk havent ordered them yet. Yeah the site i found them on is called trc electronics. Rapid said they would take the 1400ma drivers back and credit what i spent on them towards another kit except this time with the 2100ma. So if rapid is right on there math with the 2100ma drivers ill be getting 460w at the cobs . Have to deal with 460watts till july but thats more than a hundred watts better than what i have now. And in july when i add 3 more veros with the third 2100ma driver ill be getting 690w at the cobs. If i wanna run them wide open. Cant wait im getting so close and im getting impatient. Lol. Cheers. :eyesmoke:
I know the feeling bud.. Hard once all your equipment is in and nothing is growing under them.. You will be pleasantly surprised what 460w of cobs will do.. Dont try to compare them to hid watts..
Have u tried mouser for that driver? If u copy and paste the exact model. Number in there search engine u might find it..
Good. Luck
 

Nick42

Active Member
I know the feeling bud.. Hard once all your equipment is in and nothing is growing under them.. You will be pleasantly surprised what 460w of cobs will do.. Dont try to compare them to hid watts..
Have u tried mouser for that driver? If u copy and paste the exact model. Number in there search engine u might find it..
Good. Luck
Yeah looked at mouser but didn't have the exact # I'm gonna try them again. Thanx. And yeah it's hard not to compare to hid. Still want the third kit tho. I feel like I'd get better coverage in this 4x4 than what I get with the 20"x6" heatsinks if I had 3 of them. And hey thanx again
 

Jimmyclone42

Well-Known Member
Yeah looked at mouser but didn't have the exact # I'm gonna try them again. Thanx. And yeah it's hard not to compare to hid. Still want the third kit tho. I feel like I'd get better coverage in this 4x4 than what I get with the 20"x6" heatsinks if I had 3 of them. And hey thanx again
No prob.. 3 kits will kill it in there..
Cheers
 

Cletus clem

Well-Known Member
Rapid is out till july. I found some on a site called trc? Idk havent ordered them yet. Yeah the site i found them on is called trc electronics. Rapid said they would take the 1400ma drivers back and credit what i spent on them towards another kit except this time with the 2100ma. So if rapid is right on there math with the 2100ma drivers ill be getting 460w at the cobs . Have to deal with 460watts till july but thats more than a hundred watts better than what i have now. And in july when i add 3 more veros with the third 2100ma driver ill be getting 690w at the cobs. If i wanna run them wide open. Cant wait im getting so close and im getting impatient. Lol. Cheers. :eyesmoke:
Cobkits has 17 in stock as of 1 minute ago.
 

Cletus clem

Well-Known Member
View attachment 3952350sux i didnt get the notification till after i ordered. I dont understand i tried to buy the rollitup app but the developer kept declining the transaction. Wth? So did i pay too much?
Not at all. Cool to support fellow members but do what ya gotta do! Im sure there will be more builds and more components you need. I know i have at least a couple more builds to do in the near future! Sorry i couldnt be of more help with the 1's and 0's of the driver. I have many many hours of research into this stuff and a good idea of component matching etc. but dont know alot about inner workings of things. Im kicking myself for the drivers i went with too. Settled for the A version, if i went with the B version i couldve run thermistors off the dimming leads so that in the event of over heating, the units would dim themselves as temperatures rose. Not too worried but wouldve been a simple upgrade with a great benefit.
 

Nick42

Active Member
Not at all. Cool to support fellow members but do what ya gotta do! Im sure there will be more builds and more components you need. I know i have at least a couple more builds to do in the near future! Sorry i couldnt be of more help with the 1's and 0's of the driver. I have many many hours of research into this stuff and a good idea of component matching etc. but dont know alot about inner workings of things. Im kicking myself for the drivers i went with too. Settled for the A version, if i went with the B version i couldve run thermistors off the dimming leads so that in the event of over heating, the units would dim themselves as temperatures rose. Not too worried but wouldve been a simple upgrade with a great benefit.
That actually sounds like a good idea!! And yeah i have to get the old txt books out and relearn drivers. And it does suck screwin up like that. On a positive note a good friend flipped me a couple northern lights seeds today. And some nutes. Ill have to update this thread with picks when ive finished the build. Im modifying it a little bit. Adding fans the only thing i don't like about the kits is that they come with just one fan and if it goes out and im not there i could lose 75$ worth of cobs. And hey you guys did help i was wrong thought i had way more light than i did. At least i found a problem i didnt even know i was gonna have. Now i can fix it b4 hand. I dont think 300watts wouldve been what i wanted. Thank all you guys!!
 
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welight

Well-Known Member
you know something? I did look at cutter but the website is a little clunky and I didn't have the exact part number at that moment. But I do have two more builds planned and I will definitely be hitting cutter up for some parts in the future thanks anyways mark!!! Cheers
no worries, happy to help
Cheers
Mark
 

Nick42

Active Member
Not at all. Cool to support fellow members but do what ya gotta do! Im sure there will be more builds and more components you need. I know i have at least a couple more builds to do in the near future! Sorry i couldnt be of more help with the 1's and 0's of the driver. I have many many hours of research into this stuff and a good idea of component matching etc. but dont know alot about inner workings of things. Im kicking myself for the drivers i went with too. Settled for the A version, if i went with the B version i couldve run thermistors off the dimming leads so that in the event of over heating, the units would dim themselves as temperatures rose. Not too worried but wouldve been a simple upgrade with a great benefit.
Got thise 2100ma drivers today. Woohoo. Sending rapid the 1400s back and getting the third kit!!!! Cant get it till sometime next month but i got more than enough light to pop a seed and get going!!!!
 
Been wanting to get my feet wet with a diy cob build for a wile now. Designed a decent build for a 4x4 but decided to start with a kit. Went with the Rapid LED 3 cob vero 29 kit with a 2100ma driver. Gotta say its a really decent kit and fuck all bright! I knew these were powerful but i gotta say i was blown away with how much light these put out! Will start working on making my own reflectors tomorrow out of some 6"x6" pieces of aluminum flashing. I purchased 2 kits and will eventually build the light i desgned and use the 3 to light a 4x8. My design in the middle and a kit light on each end. Imo a great consideration for people looking to get into LED lighting though i will say it benefits from a little planning and some extra bits/hardware for securing wires. View attachment 3949162View attachment 3949163 I used all of the hardware from the second kit as well as a hardy dose of zip ties and wire tie downs. Gotta make a run to the hardware store and pick up some more nuts n bolts so i can finish the second build. Needless to say, im not a fan of wires wiggling. Tie them shits down!
I give this kit a 9 out of 10. Value and quality are there. Fast shipping, excellent packing. A handful of doo dads to properly route and secure wiring is the only thing holding back the 10
Hey, what size area did you use this diy kit in ?
 
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