What meanwell driver is best?

J

JDMase

Well-Known Member
hi guys im just wondering what meanwell driver I should use for my proposed build.
I had been thinking a hlg 240 1050, with 5 or 6 Cree 3590's but im in a 1 metre by 1 metre room now, and watching growmau5 he gives the example of 2x hlg 185-c1400 running 8 x 3590's for that sams space.

The alternative he gives is 12 3590's running on 2 x 240 c1050

This gives some extra efficiency I believe.

My question is do I go with my original, upgrade to the third option later on (a case of just buying my original kit, again) or is there some new hardware that is out there I should use, that maybe gromau5 didn't consider or have when he created the video.

Thanks for your knowledgable advice guys! Wouldn't have joined this forum if it wasn't for you LED guys!
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
all of the hlg series are between 92 and 96% efficient and there is no one "best", which is why they make so many different kinds..you need to think about your current needs as well as try to guess what youre going to need in the future. drivers last basically forever so the ability to repurpose them is useful. drivers generally cost the same per watt regardless of what current you run them at, its the cobs that cost more money when you run them at lower currents as you need more.

the most important thing that didnt exist when growmau5 made his video is that there are now at least half a dozen cobs that are both more efficient and cheaper than the cxb3590s, its getting difficult to recommend CXBs to anyone who isnt trying to expand a current system and need/want them specifically, as they are 1-2 generations behind the other manufacturers
 
J

JDMase

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
all of the hlg series are between 92 and 96% efficient and there is no one "best", which is why they make so many different kinds..you need to think about your current needs as well as try to guess what youre going to need in the future. drivers last basically forever so the ability to repurpose them is useful

the most important thing that didnt exist when growmau5 made his video is that there are now at least half a dozen cobs that are both more efficient and cheaper than the cxb3590s, its getting difficult to recommend CXBs to anyone who isnt trying to expand a current system and need/want them specifically, as they are 1-2 generations behind the other manufacturers
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Is that so? So if I went with the 240-1050 to begin with, and then added a second one later on, what COB's could I swap out for an alternative? I was planning on using the light for both veg and flower so if you could suggest something with a mix of spectrums maybe? Would appreciate that.

My plan was to get 6 for veg, then add another 6 led's for flower but have them running along side so for my following grow Id have a "full spectrum". Eventually adding far red and so on as I pick up more knowledge.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
ive come full circle to not overthinking it. get 3500k or 3000k and go to town. if your strain is too stretchy add a single 6500k or a blue monos for vegging to keep it in check.

730 far red is a different animal, there are no cobs that provide only it. 90cri cobs have plenty of it, but its not "isolated" if youre trying to shorten your cycle.

im a fan of constant voltage drivers and running cobs in parallel, because you are not limited by x number of cobs or only running them at y current. with a 320W driver you can run 1 cob at 320, 2 at 160, 3 at 110, 4 at 80W, etc etc.....its future proof as long as you dont go above that voltage in the future (50V cobs seem to be the sweet spot right now. 36V cobs lack output and 72-100V cobs lack driver options. 48V and 54V drivers run these well (and can also run 36V cobs)
 
J

JDMase

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
ive come full circle to not overthinking it. get 3500k or 3000k and go to town. if your strain is too stretchy add a single 6500k or a blue monos for vegging to keep it in check.

730 far red is a different animal, there are no cobs that provide only it. 90cri cobs have plenty of it, but its not "isolated" if youre trying to shorten your cycle.

im a fan of constant voltage drivers and running cobs in parallel, because you are not limited by x number of cobs or only running them at y current. with a 320W driver you can run 1 cob at 320, 2 at 160, 3 at 110, 4 at 80W, etc etc.....its future proof as long as you dont go above that voltage in the future (50V cobs seem to be the sweet spot right now. 36V cobs lack output and 72-100V cobs lack driver options. 48V and 54V drivers run these well (and can also run 36V cobs)
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In regards to the far red I was just intending on doing that seperate 4 LED setup that growmau5 made. As you can tell a lot of my info comes from there, hence me wanting to use cree's.

What are the best led's I can get that you suggest? And will they work with the driver I suggested or would I need a different one? Im a tad confused now :confused:

I was planning on going for the pin heat sinks too, purely because I can't find any good UK heat sink suppliers that will know what I'm trying to do. I can get those from king brite pre drilled too.
 
J

JDMase

Well-Known Member
Hey I just saw this post on another thread

CobKits said:
i have to put the heatsinks up on the site,

but something like:
9 clu048 1212 $13.25x9 = $120
9 120mm heatsinks $18.00x9 = $162
9 bjb holders $2.50x9 = $22.50
same driver $105 = $105
_________________________
~$410 less 10% RIU discount = ~$370 = $1.15/W

upgraded to 450W at same efficiency:

9 luminus cxm22 $19x9 = $171
9 120mm heatsinks $18.00x9 = $162
9 bjb holders $2.50x9 = $22.50
3 x hlg120h-48A drivers $32 x3 = $96
__________________________
~$450 less 10% RIU discount = ~$410 = $0.90/W

note his kit doesnt include reflectors (doesnt really even say if he uses holders that make it an option). Add $45 to the final cost above for 9 ledil 13839 refectors (no adapter need with the BJBs

im running a similar rig in a 4.5x5 @ 675W
9 clu058-1825 $44x9 = $396
9 140mm heatsinks $25x9 = $225
9 bjb holders $2.50x9 = $22.50
3 x hlg185h-48A drivers $44 x3 = $132
__________________________
~$776 less 10% RIU discount = ~$700 = $1.04/W

so you can see that although all of them beat the ebay rig in $/Watt at the same efficiency, the sweetspot is that 450W rig at $0.90/W. it features the most economical use of chips and heatsinks and drivers. you could even push it a little harder with 3 185s instead of 120s with a tiny efficiency hit. its a cheap $30 upgrade to get you from 450 to 550ishW.

the small rig would also work with smaller heatsinks at ~$40 less (~$1.00/W) but im outta 105mm right now, just got a small stash for myself
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Would one of those kits you suggested to him be suitable for me? If so could you message me with shipping prices,(UK) and let me know what's my best bang for my buck :)
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Here's what I've learned. Don't worry about spectrum much, pick 3000k or 3500k and roll with it. Don't worry about far red unless you're really worried about speeding up your grow by a week. Not sure it does anything else, might be good for commercial growers but hobby growers don't usually need to pump plants out as fast as possible.
Look for the new Vero 7 or Citizen cobs. Can't really beat their price to performance ratio.
You could probably get away with 1 HLG-320-xxxx driver for your space. If you want maximum ppfd then get 2 HLG-185-xxxx drivers.
 
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