I need some help, COBs vs Boards etc...

SexForBreakfast

Active Member
I’ve been doing a small amount of research here and there and came to the conclusion that DIY LED was the way I’m going to go. I’ve done a small amount of research of COB’s and found out that if I went for COB’s I’d run 6 Vero29 C 7th gen with 3 185-1400ma meanwell drivers coming out to $528 shipped with heat sinks minus odds and ins like angle aluminum.

However I’ve been looking at quantum boards / printed broads, also I (just 2 hours ago) seen a 100w(@2100ma) “puck” that’s supposed to be designed for COB replacements that’s by a supposedly reputable company.

I’m new to this stuff, can anyone get me up to date on some reasonably priced DIY bang for the buck stuff or am I on the right direction looking at the vero29’s?

Am I missing a holy grail type of thread relating to this subject? Thanks for simply reading!
 

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
I’ve been doing a small amount of research here and there and came to the conclusion that DIY LED was the way I’m going to go. I’ve done a small amount of research of COB’s and found out that if I went for COB’s I’d run 6 Vero29 C 7th gen with 3 185-1400ma meanwell drivers coming out to $528 shipped with heat sinks minus odds and ins like angle aluminum.

However I’ve been looking at quantum boards / printed broads, also I (just 2 hours ago) seen a 100w(@2100ma) “puck” that’s supposed to be designed for COB replacements that’s by a supposedly reputable company.

I’m new to this stuff, can anyone get me up to date on some reasonably priced DIY bang for the buck stuff or am I on the right direction looking at the vero29’s?

Am I missing a holy grail type of thread relating to this subject? Thanks for simply reading!
Samsung F strips, IMO. You can do a build for less than $1 per watt.
 

SexForBreakfast

Active Member
No harm in asking questions, most of the LED crew here are happy to help and encourage.
Thanks man. I’m newer to the cannabis forum scene but with very few exceptions everyone seems to be way more helpful than any other group of people I’ve came across!

I do actually have another question, with COBs the general spectrum accepted for flower and bloom was generally 3000k to 3500k (most commonly) I read 3x that the Samsung’s run a little blue. I was going to run 3500k COBs would I be looking at 3000k f strips?

Pricing things out it seems like there maybe a small savings for the bridgelux but I’d rather run the Samsung’s since it seems more people have experience with them. Also pricing things out it’s probably going to be near identical to the cost of what I was about to order!
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
What kelvin did you end up running? From what I can tell the difference between the bridgelux and Samsung isn’t a big difference
I have the EB Gen-2 in 3500K, good for veg and bloom. I think the primary difference is that Bridgelux are about half the power, but less than half the price. Double the strips at half the power gives better light spread, but the build is a little more work. On the other hand, EB Gen-2 are quite happy with no heat sink what so ever, due to the lower power per strip. You can make a square, perimeter frame and string the strips across the gap.

I think Samsung gained favor due to higher efficiency, but then Bridgelux came out with the Gen-2 in November 2017, with something like 2% higher efficiency than Samsung. Word is Gen-3 is coming, almost certainly with new or different diodes. Bottom line, both brands are excellent.

Bridgelux EB Gen-2 datasheet.
https://www.bridgelux.com/sites/default/files/resource_media/DS131 Bridgelux EB Series Gen2 Data Sheet 20171020 Rev A.pdf
 
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Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
I have the EB Gen-2 in 3500K, good for veg and bloom. I think the primary difference is that Bridgelux are about half the power, but less than half the price. Double the strips at half the power gives better light spread, but the build is a little more work. On the other hand, EB Gen-2 are quite happy with no heat sink what so ever, due to the lower power per strip. You can make a square, perimeter frame and string the strips across the gap.

I think Samsung gained favor due to higher efficiency, but then Bridgelux came out with the Gen-2 in November 2018, with something like 2% higher efficiency than Samsung. Word is Gen-3 is coming, almost certainly with new or different diodes. Bottom line, both brands are excellent.

Bridgelux EB Gen-2 datasheet.
https://www.bridgelux.com/sites/default/files/resource_media/DS131 Bridgelux EB Series Gen2 Data Sheet 20171020 Rev A.pdf
November 2017*

Would you be so kind as to link some affordable strips?
 

SexForBreakfast

Active Member
I have the EB Gen-2 in 3500K, good for veg and bloom. I think the primary difference is that Bridgelux are about half the power, but less than half the price. Double the strips at half the power gives better light spread, but the build is a little more work. On the other hand, EB Gen-2 are quite happy with no heat sink what so ever, due to the lower power per strip. You can make a square, perimeter frame and string the strips across the gap.

I think Samsung gained favor due to higher efficiency, but then Bridgelux came out with the Gen-2 in November 2018, with something like 2% higher efficiency than Samsung. Word is Gen-3 is coming, almost certainly with new or different diodes. Bottom line, both brands are excellent.

Bridgelux EB Gen-2 datasheet.
I get really mixed up between efficiency in l/w and ppf, but if I’m not mistaken you want around 35w per sq foot for around 800ppf for most lights but it depends partly on the overall quality of the color? (90 cri lenses may have something like 120-130l/w but the color is superior and ends up with a better final product) just wondering if you’re losing efficiency with Samsung for better overall quality?

I also have to check again but isn’t the f strips 140 diodes per strip with bigger dimension diodes?

All of these are just me trying to understand this stuff, I’m a broke mofo and 5-600 is a lot of money to me lol
 
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