New to growing and first led build

G

GreenSoldierUSA

Member
Hello to all,

I am gearing up to build my first LED grow light. I am using the spyder grow light design however I am wanting to primarily Luxeon led chips for the build. I have run into one small issue however. I originally was going to use 6 Cree CXA3070 chips however since I want to use Luxeon chips I need to utilize there COB led chips instead. Is anyone here have knowledge about these chips and what would be the equivalent to the Cree CXA3070. Below is the list of leds that will be part of the build.

16 Phillips Luxeon M 4,000K
3 Phillips Luxeon ES 4,000K (In my original Design called for Cree CXA3070 3k)
3 Phillips Luxeon ES 5,000k (In my original Design called for Cree CXA3070 3k)
4 Phillips Luxeon ES Royal Blue
4 Phillips Luxeon ES Deep Red
3 Hyper Violet v 3.0

Thanks for any help that can be provided.
 
Bonjour
How many watt are the phillips Luxeon ES?@ max current...
Good luck with your build, me I went white only(3590 3500k) then I will add U.V during flo and 730nm during 10mn after lights off.But only the cobs for the first crop to be able to see any improvement on my grow.
May the gpw be with you!! $
 
Thanks for the replies.
The Luxeon ES chips
- Forward Voltage is 3.10V @ 1000ma
- Max current - 1000ma
- Luminous Intensity - Approx 324 Lumens at 1000ma

As far as why Luxeon instead of Cree? Well I started to ask about the failure rate that distributors have experienced between Cree and Luxeon and what I was told was kind of alarming to me to be honest. I will say that a couple of tech support departments said that while they carry or use to carry the Cree leds in general found that in a roll of 1000 cree leds they would have about 20 failures or D.O.A units. While the Luxeon chips had 1 failure or D.O.A in a roll of 100,000 chips. Please understand that I am not saying anything bad about cree leds. There is a reason why so many vendors are using them (they are a great chip) however I tend to try different things when I build something (sometimes turns out great and others well not so good lol).

Just some more info. The luxeon M series of chips are equivilant to the cree xml2 chips but they are 12w instead of 10w. Just in case anyone was wondering.....

I forget to put 3 Infrared chips on the list above...
 
GreenSoldierUSA said:
Thanks for the replies.
The Luxeon ES chips
- Forward Voltage is 3.10V @ 1000ma
- Max current - 1000ma
- Luminous Intensity - Approx 324 Lumens at 1000ma

As far as why Luxeon instead of Cree? Well I started to ask about the failure rate that distributors have experienced between Cree and Luxeon and what I was told was kind of alarming to me to be honest. I will say that a couple of tech support departments said that while they carry or use to carry the Cree leds in general found that in a roll of 1000 cree leds they would have about 20 failures or D.O.A units. While the Luxeon chips had 1 failure or D.O.A in a roll of 100,000 chips. Please understand that I am not saying anything bad about cree leds. There is a reason why so many vendors are using them (they are a great chip) however I tend to try different things when I build something (sometimes turns out great and others well not so good lol).

Just some more info. The luxeon M series of chips are equivilant to the cree xml2 chips but they are 12w instead of 10w. Just in case anyone was wondering.....

I forget to put 3 Infrared chips on the list above...
Click to expand...

Hey GreenSoldier!
Hmm! Sounds to me the seller like to sell luxeons over Crees.
To get the identical output from the luxeons at 1000mA you'll need 17 luxeons, each needs 3,1v=52,7v x 1000mA = 52,7w(for Ø5508lm).
A CXB3070 @1000mA needs only 36v@1000mA(@50°C), thats 36w for the same amount of light but 16,7w less energy consumption.
Sounds your seller has not really thought.
Another think is, the only way to destroy a Cree CXB early is poor thermal management and unfortunately, they are very fragile as eggshells because of the ceramic PBC's, but that is another matter.
REALSTYLES and others bought a lot of it without failures!
You can not achieve the concentrated power of a current high efficiency cob using only 16-17 Luxeons/XP-L's or XM-L2's or what ever without significant increase in energy consumption, thats a fact!
The only reason to me to exchange a CXB3070 is a CXB3590, LOL!
Would find it a shame if you let yourself discourage by a seller, to build the best lamp as possible.
Your first plan looks much better for me!
If the luxeons were the best choise why we not see many of them here?
Trust me the seller was incompetent if it comes to build a most efficient lamp especially for plants!
Some guys here reaching 1,3-1,5gpw using >50-60% efficient white-only lights.
Your luxeons delivers maybe ø40% efficiency @1A!
You can imagine yourself, which yields more income for the same consumption.
 
GreenSoldierUSA said:
Thanks for the replies.
The Luxeon ES chips
- Forward Voltage is 3.10V @ 1000ma
- Max current - 1000ma
- Luminous Intensity - Approx 324 Lumens at 1000ma

As far as why Luxeon instead of Cree? Well I started to ask about the failure rate that distributors have experienced between Cree and Luxeon and what I was told was kind of alarming to me to be honest. I will say that a couple of tech support departments said that while they carry or use to carry the Cree leds in general found that in a roll of 1000 cree leds they would have about 20 failures or D.O.A units. While the Luxeon chips had 1 failure or D.O.A in a roll of 100,000 chips. Please understand that I am not saying anything bad about cree leds. There is a reason why so many vendors are using them (they are a great chip) however I tend to try different things when I build something (sometimes turns out great and others well not so good lol).

Just some more info. The luxeon M series of chips are equivilant to the cree xml2 chips but they are 12w instead of 10w. Just in case anyone was wondering.....

I forget to put 3 Infrared chips on the list above...
Click to expand...
Luxeon M is an equivalent to XM-L2 Easywhite (that's an array). Classic XM-L2 is a single-die LED.

My advice would be to go with Cree but since you don't want it...

Don't complicate it for yourself and go with 3000K white only. I also don't see any point in mixing two different LEDs with the same CCT. Your spectrum seems very cool (as in too blue) to me, too. Have you considered Philips COBs? It might be cheaper than Luxeon M.
@Randomblame is not exactly correct IMO, you can achieve great efficiency with Philips too but it requires you to drive them very soft which results in a very high price (which is high already in case of Philips).
 
@ alesha The luxeon cob is phillips but I understand what you are saying.I will have to think about the spectrum a little bit I guess, from my mix only having 4 royal blues I wouldn't think it would be too cool as the whites have a good spread. I was going to have 16 of the deep reds instead of the UV and royal blue. I do plan on have 2 separate switches for veg/flower with the reds and uv on the flower switch so I can also use it for that little extra about 15 min before lights out.
@Randomblame thank for your reply. I was also trying to keep cost down as much as I can but still use good top bin chips.
 
GreenSoldierUSA said:
@ alesha The luxeon cob is phillips but I understand what you are saying.I will have to think about the spectrum a little bit I guess, from my mix only having 4 royal blues I wouldn't think it would be too cool as the whites have a good spread. I was going to have 16 of the deep reds instead of the UV and royal blue. I do plan on have 2 separate switches for veg/flower with the reds and uv on the flower switch so I can also use it for that little extra about 15 min before lights out.
@Randomblame thank for your reply. I was also trying to keep cost down as much as I can but still use good top bin chips.
Click to expand...

the reason for the comment on too blue is because you substituted

Phillips Luxeon ES 4,000K for Cree CXA3070 3k
Phillips Luxeon ES 5,000k for Cree CXA3070 3k

and your using 16 Phillips Luxeon M 4,000K

That is a LOT of blue. My suggestion is to go for 3K COBS, and supplement with
- luxeon M royal blue to enhance the blue range
- cree photo reds to enhance the deep red 660 nm (cree photo reds have a max 1000ma instead of 700ma).

I also do not see any phillips cobs, (I don't consider the luxeon M to be cobs comparable to cree 3070s, verso etc.)
 
Last edited:
Yeah!
Lower upfront costs is a good reason. But investing in efficiency pays itself, depending on the price of your energy producer.
It's quite expensive where I am (40ct/kw) and now have 20,-$ lower energy costs, everytime but 20% more PAR. And I've only upgraded from Vero29@1050mA to CXB3590@1050mA(5.600lm vs. 7000lm).
It is your build, I want to say only not to waste your money.
If I had buyed the CXB3590 at first, I could save the costs for the Vero29, Lol!
Good luck!
 
thanks purplebuz.. I agree that the luxeon M series is not comparable to the COB. They have came out with 3 new series of COBs ranging from 3k to 7k however their cobs are designed to be the smallest and most efficient and I think they run from 6 to 8 watts. There is just not a lot of info yet on them. I see what everyone is saying about the blue. I chose the 4k because from what the distributor's tech stated that the 4k is closest to the crees 3k. I will take a look at the photo reds I did not even think about those.
 
GreenSoldierUSA said:
thanks purplebuz.. I agree that the luxeon M series is not comparable to the COB. They have came out with 3 new series of COBs ranging from 3k to 7k however their cobs are designed to be the smallest and most efficient and I think they run from 6 to 8 watts. There is just not a lot of info yet on them. I see what everyone is saying about the blue. I chose the 4k because from what the distributor's tech stated that the 4k is closest to the crees 3k. I will take a look at the photo reds I did not even think about those.
Click to expand...

I was looking last night at lumileds they have some 19mm cobs, check them out, similar in size to vero18s, if you really insist on going phillips (which I would love to see )

http://www.lumileds.com/products/cob-leds/luxeon-cob specifically look at "LUXEON CoB 1211"
 
The LUXEON CoB 1211 is kinda where I was looking at. I guess I should of mentioned this light will be used over 5 plants. They were clones and I have had them for 1 1/2 weeks. I even thought about using the Vero line for the COB's if the Luxeon Cob wont cut it. But would prefer to try it since I haven't seen it. However there might be a reason as to why I haven't seen a grow light with the luxeons yet lol.
 
Bonjour
Singe i have my cxb 3590,i thinking of making a vegg light,and if those are at least,as good as the vero's and cheaper,why do not give it a try?
I did not see any price nor max watt and MA!Is anyone know?
Have a great day™
 
GreenSoldierUSA said:
How many of the LUXEON CoB 1211 does everyone think I would need to replace the 6 Cree 3070's?
Click to expand...

At 1.05 amps the Luxeon would generate about 5400 lumens to the CXB 3070 AB's 5700 lumens. Looking at the numbers it's a really nice chip. Viewing angle is 100 degrees which I like, and a 10 pack for the price of Vero 29s. I say go for it.
 
Rahz said:
At 1.05 amps the Luxeon would generate about 5400 lumens to the CXB 3070 AB's 5700 lumens. Looking at tcreeit's a really nice chip. Viewing angle is 100 degrees which I like, and a 10 pack for the price of Vero 29s. I say go for it.
Click to expand...
Bonjour
Could you give the price please...or it is 26$ for 10 chip of good quality,cause V29 is 26$!?
If it is about 3$ a 100w chip and close to the cree efficiency...I buy...
C.U
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
GLA * Grow light Australia Strip review.
Replies
4
Views
706
Rocket Soul
Rocket Soul
Tha Bad Hippie
Tha Bad Hippies’ 5x5 680w LED Studio Apartment Closet Grow
Replies
3
Views
446
bignugs68
bignugs68
T
SCROG Royal Queen seeds, Honey Cream, Special Queen, Cheese in Coco with DIY GLA strips and 315w LEC
Replies
3
Views
514
Swiller
Swiller
O
Setting up my first grow
2
Replies
38
Views
3K
organicnugz
O
M
Working With Consultant/Grower, Can You Please Tell Me What You Think Of This Advice?
2 3 4
Replies
74
Views
8K
J The Farmer
J
Back
Top