DiY LEDs - How to Power Them

music64

Well-Known Member
i have two mean well hlg-185h-54A drivers that i would like to run out side of my grow tent to two hlg QB96 V2. what would be the best way to connect the drivers to the leds. i have heard to use wago connectors with two inlets, but what size wire would i use and solid or stranded wire? looking to only run them about 8 feet away from drivers and with the potential to run the drivers at full power during flowering but also run the driver lower during veg.
 

Yesyes3000

Well-Known Member
It can work, but you will need to adjust the voltage trim potentiometer to 34 volts, or it will over power the boards. I don't like all the holes in those driver cases, it's a safety issue.

I'd use a HLG-240H-36- A or B. Or click the link posted by @GBAUTO. ;)
So I ordered the LRS-350-36 36V 9.7A 350W the other night. I was reading other places that was a good one to buy. Shit
How would I turn the voltage perimeter trim down ?
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
i have two mean well hlg-185h-54A drivers that i would like to run out side of my grow tent to two hlg QB96 V2. what would be the best way to connect the drivers to the leds. i have heard to use wago connectors with two inlets, but what size wire would i use and solid or stranded wire? looking to only run them about 8 feet away from drivers and with the potential to run the drivers at full power during flowering but also run the driver lower during veg.
185 watts / 54 volts = 3.4 amps. That's not a lot of current so you don't need heavy wire, 16 ga. should be fine. Stranded is much more flexible., I'd use an old appliance or extension cord, or speaker wire etc.
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
So I ordered the LRS-350-36 36V 9.7A 350W the other night. I was reading other places that was a good one to buy. Shit
How would I turn the voltage perimeter trim down ?
It's a potentiometer, often referred to as a pot. You just need a tinny screw driver. It's probably to the left of the terminal strip. Use a volt meter or watt meter, a Kill-a-Watt meter is about $15. You can also dim to less than full power with the trim pot.

https://www.amazon.com/P3-P4400-Electricity-Usage-Monitor/dp/B00009MDBU?psc=1&SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B00009MDBU

https://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4460-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B000RGF29Q?SubscriptionId=AKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q&tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B000RGF29Q
 

music64

Well-Known Member
185 watts / 54 volts = 3.4 amps. That's not a lot of current so you don't need heavy wire, 16 ga. should be fine. Stranded is much more flexible., I'd use an old appliance or extension cord, or speaker wire etc.
would there be any draw backs in using 14ga wire stranded. trying to make sure i don't burn the house down.
 

mameluco

Active Member
Hey guys, there's something bugging me. My 4x Clu048-1812 @1.05A is drawing 276w, using HLG 240H driver. The datasheet of this cob says ~52v @1.08A = 56w. But on the sonoff power meter it shows aprox. 64w per cob, assuming 93% driver efficiency!!

I'm missing something here?
 

GreeneryBob

Well-Known Member
would there be any draw backs in using 14ga wire stranded. trying to make sure i don't burn the house down.
For long runs, the larger the wire the better...the caveat being larger diameter wiring is awkward and expensive. I would recommend stranded #14 minimum, hard usage SOOW flexible cable for DC wiring that will be moved and abused. transition down to smaller, single core #18 for terminating to the boards. Oversizing your wiring a bit keeps your I²R (Heat on wire from resistance) losses to a minimum and gives you wiggle room later and the 600v rating on the wiring gives you room for error and extra protection from knicks, scratches, surges, etc.

PS grounding your boards can save your life.

You are building your masterpiece with top notch components, don't cheap out with shitty wiring.
 

boilingoil

Well-Known Member
12 strips per HLG-240H-24B drivers gives you 830 mA for each strip, 13 each will give you a little over 770 mA for each strip.
 
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oldbeancounter

Well-Known Member
12 strips per HLG-240H-24B drivers gives you 830 mA for each strip, 13 each will give you a little over 770 mA for each strip.
@boilingoil Thanks , one question though why the A version vers B for the mean wells? All I am aware that is different is the B can have a potentiometer but I know you can adjust via the divers port on back with a screwdriver
 

boilingoil

Well-Known Member
The A version allows you to 'overdrive' the output voltage so it's possible to get a few more watts compared to the B version.
B- version still gives me 268 watts from the wall. Even figuring in driver loss that's still over 255 watts.
I also find it very helpful to have a dimming function for veg lighting
.DSCN0817.JPG
 

oldbeancounter

Well-Known Member
B- version still gives me 268 watts from the wall. Even figuring in driver loss that's still over 255 watts.
I also find it very helpful to have a dimming function for veg lighting
.View attachment 4333978[/QUOTE
@boilingoil
Yes I agree for veg B is best,
I also wondered about your post where you said
"12 strips per HLG-240H-24B drivers gives you 830 mA for each strip, 13 each will give you a little over 770 mA for each strip"
what would be highest these can be driven at in terms of number of strips per driver B version as I am not certain how to work that out?
I also saw these
https://www.digikey.ca/product-detail/en/samsung-semiconductor-inc/SI-B8T201B20US/1510-2291-ND/7562249
How can i tell what driver to match to them?
I would run 10 on same driver if they will take it of course does anyone know the options for those strips listed in link above , I find drivers very confusing.
 
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boilingoil

Well-Known Member
OK, but you need to make a decision on what you're going to run. I gave you a reply on the H-inFlux strips you first asked about. The other strips will require a different driver.
Depending how you drive your strips, you'll either add the total voltage ( series) or use a single strips voltage ( parallel) to determine the correct driver.
 
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