SA indoor noob needs help choosing COBs

Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
Hi All

I am brand new to growing indoors. I have grown a few times outdoors with mixed results however progressing with each grow.

I want to try indoor growing to take advantage of the controlled climate.

My situation is not good financially so I am limited to doing alot of things myself. I also don't have a lot of money for extra electricity which brings me here to LED COBS and DIY LED grow lights.

I want to get about 400 watts output light and I am working backwards. My research shows me that the driver is the most expensive thing I can buy to build. So I am trying to save money by getting cheaper COBs

Being in SA I am severely limited to where I can order.

I have found 4 COBs that I think may work with my budget. Bear in mind I need to keep costs super low.Please tell me if these COBs will work I am going for full spectrum but can't find PAR values in the data sheets provided: I thank you all for the advice given:

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209341/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209360/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/1113586/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209348/

I really like the 3rd one there
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
i have no idea what those cost in USD so hard to offer recs

the smallest cheapest cob i sell, citi 1212 @ $9 is equal to about 5 of those lumiled cobs you linked
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
i have no idea what those cost in USD so hard to offer recs

the smallest cheapest cob i sell, citi 1212 @ $9 is equal to about 5 of those lumiled cobs you linked
Click to expand...
For reference Mr Cobkits it is R 11.53 for 1 dollar this morning . The smallest chip you sell would then be about 110 rand for one
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Mazoz said:
Hi All

I am brand new to growing indoors. I have grown a few times outdoors with mixed results however progressing with each grow.

I want to try indoor growing to take advantage of the controlled climate.

My situation is not good financially so I am limited to doing alot of things myself. I also don't have a lot of money for extra electricity which brings me here to LED COBS and DIY LED grow lights.

I want to get about 400 watts output light and I am working backwards. My research shows me that the driver is the most expensive thing I can buy to build. So I am trying to save money by getting cheaper COBs

Being in SA I am severely limited to where I can order.

I have found 4 COBs that I think may work with my budget. Bear in mind I need to keep costs super low.Please tell me if these COBs will work I am going for full spectrum but can't find PAR values in the data sheets provided: I thank you all for the advice given:

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209341/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209360/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/1113586/

https://za.rs-online.com/mobile/p/cob-leds/9209348/

I really like the 3rd one there
Click to expand...
You can order from digikey like I did, or if you really insist on COBs, go to cobkits, they are cheaper on those than some of the large distributors.
I would, however, recommend high-efficiency strips over COBS.
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
You are never going to get that rate in real-world trade... add about 20c minimum.
Click to expand...
Jys reg. Ek her nei n kredit kaart nie en dit ook is n probleem.

Dis hoekom Ek soek Vir die LEDS hier ook
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
You can order from digikey like I did, or if you really insist on COBs, go to cobkits, they are cheaper on those than some of the large distributors.
I would, however, recommend high-efficiency strips over COBS.
Click to expand...
Okay, I am always willing to learn. In your experience would it be possible to have decent yields from the strips at a lower power cost?

I am curious, what sort of strips and drivers do you run? And what sort of power usage do you get with your set up?

Have you or do you grow with HID lights?
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
They are the most efficient lighting source to date... There are some newer chips from them but nothing you can buy over the counter yet.
I have run 4kW of COBS, now converting to strips.

The samsung type F gen3 is pretty awesome. I am using the double row 4 foot ones, but would recommend you get the single row ones... it costs about $5 more to replace a double row with two singles.

Use 3 (or 6 singles) on a 240W driver or 4( 8 ) on a 320.

For the singles, you can get some 20mm LED extrusion (just google image search that to see all the easy slide in options)
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
They are the most efficient lighting source to date... There are some newer chips from them but nothing you can buy over the counter yet.
I have run 4kW of COBS, now converting to strips.

The samsung type F gen3 is pretty awesome. I am using the double row 4 foot ones, but would recommend you get the single row ones... it costs about $5 more to replace a double row with two singles.

Use 3 (or 6 singles) on a 240W driver or 4( 8 ) on a 320.

For the singles, you can get some 20mm LED extrusion (just google image search that to see all the easy slide in options)
Click to expand...
Okay I'm taking a look for the single Samsung strips saw them in digikey but I will need to order local.

May I PM you? I would like to ask you more about your build
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
If you order more than R2000 worth of stuff shipping is free, there is a local tax though, but it is not too bad.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
They are the most efficient lighting source to date... There are some newer chips from them but nothing you can buy over the counter yet.
I have run 4kW of COBS, now converting to strips.
Click to expand...
why not just run your cobs softer to reach the same efficiency level? would offset a portion of the conversion
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
Cobs belong to someone else. I am replacing them with strips so I can operate on my own. I just needed to make a bit of dough to build my own. I just need about another 16 strips.
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
If you order more than R2000 worth of stuff shipping is free, there is a local tax though, but it is not too bad.
Click to expand...
Cool what drives your current cobs? And I presume will drive your strips as well
 
ANC

ANC

Well-Known Member
The COBs were on Meanwell drivers, the strips are on Delta.... A little bit cheaper and they didn't have a meanwell of the spec I wanted on digikey, but they did have deltas.

How big an area do you need to light...? (just the canopy, not the room)
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
ANC said:
The COBs were on Meanwell drivers, the strips are on Delta.... A little bit cheaper and they didn't have a meanwell of the spec I wanted on digikey, but they did have deltas.

How big an area do you need to light...? (just the canopy, not the room)
Click to expand...
Hey man thanks alot for the response.

I am busy building a wardrobe or cupboard if you will. The dimensions of which are as per the attached drawing

L x b = 1.3m x .9m = 1,17 metres square

My intention is to fill the entire rectangle with canopy. I will top and scrog the entire area.

I currently have 1 x 400 watt MH light on a magnetic ballast with a cool hood reflector. The ballast is dual and will run both MH and HPS. I need to buy a bulb bit that isn't too costly.

My concern is this. If in running 6 or 8 plants at a time I will need more light then that. I want to add another 400 watt HPS equivalent LED setup as I can't seem to find another MH light like I have for the same price ( I picked up the light for R 400)
 

Attachments

mahiluana

mahiluana

Well-Known Member
Mazoz said:
top and scrog
Click to expand...
going as cheap as posible

i would buy 2 x mean well elg-240h- (500w / 90,- US$)
and 8 x led board 200w /400pcs. smd5630 / 110lm/w (US$ 5,50/ board) in asia
driving them @ 25% current they reach ~140lm/w and are better choice and spread for a scrog grow.
USD 134,- + wire & wagos // and after harvesting buy another 8pcs. to run it even more efficient (155lm/w) more spreaded and cooler next year.

don`t forget to buy other important things like fans, timer, carbon filter.....................
 
Mazoz

Mazoz

Well-Known Member
mahiluana said:
going as cheap as posible

i would buy 2 x mean well elg-240h- (500w / 90,- US$)
and 8 x led board 200w /400pcs. smd5630 / 110lm/w (US$ 5,50/ board) in asia
driving them @ 25% current they reach ~140lm/w and are better choice and spread for a scrog grow.
USD 134,- + wire & wagos // and after harvesting buy another 8pcs. to run it even more efficient (155lm/w) more spreaded and cooler next year.

don`t forget to buy other important things like fans, timer, carbon filter.....................
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply guy. It is appreciated.

I think I have found another COB which might work here is the link:

https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/bridgelux/BXRC-40E4000-C-73/976-1430-ND/6152440

These strike a good balance between price and power. I think if I run enough of these I can acheive a good yield and quality

What are your thoughts? If I get 6 of them and drive them hard I may get a good lumen per watt output? At

Will just have to pair with a suitable driver now only. The meanwell you mentioned may be suitable actually
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top