COBs + ChilLED 100w PCB DIY

Odindris

Member
Hi all,

I’m pretty new to the DIY LED’s, but I am an engineer. So I do understand a lot of the concepts. I would like to build a small set up for a 2x4 area consisting of 2 fixtures. The first one is a Veg, and the second is a Flower.

For the Veg fixture:
I’d like to use (4) * CXB3590(6500k)& (2) * ChilLED 100w LED.

For the Flower fixture:
I’d like to use (4) * ChilLED 100w LED & (2) * CXB3590(6500k).

Growmou5 recommends using the HLG-320H-48 wired in parallel for the (4) * ChilLED 100w LEDs.

I would like to save a little bit of money here by reusing the components for veg/flower fixtures since they will not be used at the same time. I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could help recommend a plan for what drivers to use. Worse comes to worse, I figure I’ll just bite the bullet and buy separate drivers for both fixtures. Hoping this won’t be the case though.

Here is a rough plan of what I’m going to do.
FB66E6F6-5EAC-4CE2-A186-F300FEDF74AB.jpeg

Thank you for taking the time to look.
-Odin
 
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nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
The ChilLED 100W boards will run fine on the HLG-320-48 driver, but the CXB-3590 cobs are not compatible, they will need either a 36V driver (for the 36 volt version) or a CC driver for the 72 V versions, since meanwell does not make a 72 Volt CV driver..
 

Odindris

Member
The ChilLED 100W boards will run fine on the HLG-320-48 driver, but the CXB-3590 cobs are not compatible, they will need either a 36V driver (for the 36 volt version) or a CC driver for the 72 V versions, since meanwell does not make a 72 Volt CV driver..
Yeah I’ll be going with the 36v ones. So I’ll just get a separate driver for the COBs then. The HLG-185H-C1400B should do for the 4 I believe?
When I switch the arrangement around, will I be able to use the same drivers for when there is only 2 instead of 4? Or will I have to get some kind of current limiting device? Thanks for your reply.
 
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nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
Yeah I’ll be going with the 36v ones. So I’ll just get a separate driver for the COBs then. When I switch the arrangement around, will I be able to use the same drivers for when there is only 2 instead of 4? Or will I have to get some kind of current limiting device? Thanks for your reply.
The driver will have an adjustment, you may need to tweak it for the different configurations. I would install a current/voltage meter on the driver outputs so you can easily set them where you want them.
 

Odindris

Member
The driver will have an adjustment, you may need to tweak it for the different configurations. I would install a current/voltage meter on the driver outputs so you can easily set them where you want them.
Ok, that makes sense. So I can get the HLG-320H-48 for the (4) * 100w ChilLED's, and get a HLG-185H-C1400B for the (4) * 36v CXB3590s. Then when I switch the configuration around just adjust the drivers with a meter so they’ll work with only 2 instead of 4. Sound about right? Hate being such a newb, but gotta start somewhere lol. Anything else you would recommend?
 

Odindris

Member
I wouldn't use 5000k or 6000k for flower.
I’ve always had some blue during flower. Not much.. In the fall when the plant would be flowering, it’ll still receive some amount of blue light in addition to mostly red from shorter days. That’s my thoughts anyways. I am open to trying your suggestion though. I know historically it’s been MH then HPS.
 

Odindris

Member
Are the CXB3590s chepar now?
Why don't you get luminus or bridgelux cobs rather than cree?
No actually they are more expensive. I failed to do my hw on this aspect. The Luminus are cheaper, and I have read great things about them.
A lot goes into your first DIY build, so I really appreciate any experienced advice.
 
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Odindris

Member
Any suggestions for a 6500k luminus COB? I’ve been looking, and so far I’m only really seeing the kind with a ceramic lens. I would like to get (4) 36’s, with the HLG-185H-C1400B. Does anyone see an issue with this as far as light levels go? I think this should be enough lighting in combination with the 2 additional 100w ChilLeds in-between the two 6500k’s for veg. Any thoughts or suggestions on this? As I posted above with a rough design, it’s a 2x4 space with 2 plants. Thank you all for your help on this, I do appreciate it.
 
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zypheruk

Well-Known Member
why are you even mixing cobs with chill boards, seems rather odd since you don't already have the cobs.
 

Odindris

Member
why are you even mixing cobs with chill boards, seems rather odd since you don't already have the cobs.
I figured it would be a good set up bc I like the chil boards, but they do not come in a blue spectrum that I have found. You are correct, I am just waiting until I figure this all out to order the components. The only thing I have ordered so far is the chil boards. What would you suggest? I am most definitely open to suggestions.
 
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Odindris

Member
Why don't you get a blue led? Like citizen cobs
I planned on getting 6500k cobs (probably Cree or citizen), and using them for veg. Then reusing one or two of them in the flower rig. But as @Aolelon suggest, maybe don’t use any blue on the flower rig.
 
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Aolelon

Well-Known Member
You could use a 3500k or 3000k instead, and cover both veg and flower spectrum.
 
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Odindris

Member
You could use a 3500k or 3000k instead, and cover both veg and flower spectrum.
For Veg, I could probably go with 5k cobs.. I figured between the (2) red chilleds, and the (4) 5k’s it should balance it out nicely.
Never grown w LED, so this is new to me. ChilLeds are already paid for, so I gotta work with them. They should work great for flowering. I just need to add some blue spectrum in there. This is my thought process according to what I’ve read anyways.
 

skoomd

Well-Known Member
I planned on getting 6500k cobs (probably Cree or citizen), and using them for veg. Then reusing one or two of them in the flower rig. But as @Aolelon suggest, maybe don’t use any blue on the flower rig.
I would never use 6500k cobs, even in a veg only tent. It's just way too much blue and you might find that your plants are too compact and might even see morphogenic issues. 3000k is great for veg, though my blurples grew more compact than 3000k for sure. 3500k is perfect for veg, and maybe even 4000k if you really like compact plants. I feel a 50/50 mix of 3000k and 3500k (what i use in my tent) makes the plants grow the perfect strechiness. Compact enough that you get lots of tops, dense growth, thick stems, and good leaf size but stretchy enough that lollipopping/trimming isnt an insane undertaking or to block airflow in the canopy and to make it easy to see issues.

Blue is also more stressful to the plant because it's high energy (almost UV).Having the crazy amount of blue that 6500k cobs output is going to make photosynthesis less efficient than 3500k by causing some stress and the lack of red (main photosynthetic driver).

IIRC I believe a 3000k or 3500k cob has more blue than a typical MH bulb outputs.
 
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