New setup ideas

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
So basically theres CXA and CXB series... CXB are the newer ones and are better. Then theres 3070 after the letters. Thats the size of cob for that series. Most people run CXB3590s or 3070s. The 3590 is more efficient, (more actual light per wattage) but cost more up front. The 3070s are still great, but run a little less efficient. The upfront cost is lower as well.

The difference in cost for each cob is about 20 bucks. It adds up, but so do the savings over time from using the 3590s running low.

After you have selected the size and color temp cob you want to use, its time for driver shopping. How hard you want to run your cobs depends on how efficient you want to be. Running them lower gives better efficiency, and also allows you to fit more cobs per driver.

So basically, do you want to minimize upfront costs by losing a little efficiency, or do you want to invest more to save more in the long long run?
AWESOME! JUST AWESOME! I couldn't be more grateful for that bit of info!

to answer your question about upfront cost vs efficiency. i can save and buy over time ad i think that's what i'm going to do. this can...as you said add up...and it looks like it can quickly.
I wasnt planning on putting any of the money down on anything until after the holidays(big family=lots of money spent). This post was made well ahead of time to give me plenty of lean-way before making an investment.

im assuming you have built these before?
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
Firstly, I like your style S_S. Starting your own thread, asking about prefab lights, doing the research and coming to your own conclusions about what is right for you. Cheers to ya.

- I have a good understanding about your setup & grow space, and based on the first line of this thread, high yield is important to you.
-I read back through the thread, but I did not catch a mention of budget. you mentioned 4x mars400w so I am assuming $800. is this in the ballpark?
Thank you @Growmau5

Yes, the budget is right around $800 for lighting. I plan on making purchases over time to for this project now.
So one check i will get the the leds next the drivers then heatsinks so on and so on. I'll just stock pile everything i need till then.
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
ok so im curious...to make the equivalent to a 1000w hps how many of the CXB3590 would you need. and what kind of power in watts would you be saving?
 

doz

Well-Known Member
Well, you figure on a 1000w HPS setup w/ a hood/glass, you will be getting about 25% efficiency on it so 250 PAR Watts (give or take, depends upon the age of the bulb as well).

With the CXB3590 CD, if you run them at 1.4a @ 36v on a HLG-185-1400, you will get about 56% efficiency. Figure in loss of 10% due to scatters or lens' so 46%. If you have 3 lights @ 200w each, you will have roughly 276 PAR Watts.

Now, 3 CXB3590 setups w/ Meanwell drivers will cost about $1100 with all the parts, shipping, everything but you are saving 400w/hour on electricity and saving on cooling the hotter temps you would get with the HPS. You will also get slightly more PAR with the CXB3590 setup and in the end, grow a better product. You can get a good quality 1000w setup for about $350 (hood/ballast/bulb all of good quality). So for 1/3 the cost, you can have about the same output but you will have to account for cooling it due to higher temps and extra power cost.

LED is more expensive than HPS, but there are benefits. Its more of a "luxury" item IMO for growers at this point in time.
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
for sure. so you're saying that 3x 200w CXB3590 would be a good start for replacing a 1000w hps? i would love the energy savings. the savings will pay for setup in the first year
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
for sure. so you're saying that 3x 200w CXB3590 would be a good start for replacing a 1000w hps? i would love the energy savings. the savings will pay for setup in the first year
And after a yr most likely the HPS bulb should be replaced as they lose output fast with all that heat they produce.
 

doz

Well-Known Member
for sure. so you're saying that 3x 200w CXB3590 would be a good start for replacing a 1000w hps? i would love the energy savings. the savings will pay for setup in the first year
Yes. I replaced a 1000w w/ 400w of CXB3070 (not as efficient, only 45% prior to loss) and ran the same strain in the same area. While I yielded less, my gram per watt doubled. I yielded a little over 600g with a 1000w on the same strain (both grows were clones of same plant), same grow area and 488g from 400w of CXB3070. And yes, you need a new bulb every year at the most to keep the efficiency up on HPS. Thats about $60 although a bulb every 6 months would be better.
 

orangeade5

Well-Known Member
do you have an even canopy?
I have plants up to 30 days apart under that particular light, the penetration with the LED is great because your tips can be 5" away from the light with an oscillating fan. So no, my canopy isn't even. I actually just setup a gavita on 1000 watt mode next to it since its cooling down, that thing raised my room temp from 73 to 83 as the new high. I can't wait til I can afford to have only DIY LEDs in the garden.
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
so you cou
Yes. I replaced a 1000w w/ 400w of CXB3070 (not as efficient, only 45% prior to loss) and ran the same strain in the same area. While I yielded less, my gram per watt doubled. I yielded a little over 600g with a 1000w on the same strain (both grows were clones of same plant), same grow area and 488g from 400w of CXB3070. And yes, you need a new bulb every year at the most to keep the efficiency up on HPS. Thats about $60 although a bulb every 6 months would be better.
so theoretically if you double your current light setup and get around 800 grams? all hypothetical but i see what your saying.

that's just my simplistic take on math for your setup.
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
I have plants up to 30 days apart under that particular light, the penetration with the LED is great because your tips can be 5" away from the light with an oscillating fan. So no, my canopy isn't even. I actually just setup a gavita on 1000 watt mode next to it since its cooling down, that thing raised my room temp from 73 to 83 as the new high. I can't wait til I can afford to have only DIY LEDs in the garden.
hell yeah.

im really leaning towards this diy setup. i need to do a lot of research on this though since i know nothing of this type of build.
 

Waiks

Well-Known Member
No I don't get any bleaching, part of what makes this setup so awesome is that you have multiple sources of light rather than just one, so it's a bit less intense and you get a nice spread with fewer shade spots.
What cobs and how hard are you running them? That sounds too close bro. No way you can do that with cxb 3070s @1.4a
 

orangeade5

Well-Known Member
What cobs and how hard are you running them? That sounds too close bro. No way you can do that with cxb 3070s @1.4a
Cxb 3070 @ 1.4 amps and I guess it's more like 6-7" away for the closest tops, and if I put my hand right over the top it barely feels warm. It's mounted on a big heatsink though.
 

Waiks

Well-Known Member
Idk dude. Seen people have em at 8" with light bleaching. You must have some resilient strains! I haven't gone past 10" yet...kinda chicken haha!
 

simply_slide

Well-Known Member
so i put a few hundred away today and im hoping i can start ordering things in a week or so. could someone help me out with this order like the types of drivers and links to some good sites.

i keep looking on ebay but im not sure if you guys are finding better deals or products elsewhere.

i would love some help with this anyone would like to... i really wanna spend around $700-$800 on this.
 

zep_lover

Well-Known Member
CREE CXB3590 3500K CD, 36V, 80Ra
Ideal holder 50-2303CR
LED glass lens 80degree
and the ten inch profile cut at 5 inch length from heatsink usa.
50w Waterproof LED Power Supply Driver F 50Watt High power LED Chip Bulb 85-265V
the driver is from ebay
the cxb chips, ideal holder and lens are from jerry at kingbrite
 
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