Thinking of making a citizen light any suggestions??

I wanna use these clu048-1212 4000k cobs since they are only $13.50 from cobkits.com, I am planning on like 4 mounted on a 25cm by 12.5 cm heatsink to make a small veg light , I was wondering best driver option for 4 of these, and anyone know a good drive current to run them at for efficiency,

play around with the citi tool here to calc voltages and check driver options

http://ce.citizen.co.jp/lighting_led/en/products2/notice_Simulator_ver5.html

also consider the 1818s which use the same holders etc as the 1212 but run at higher ~50V voltage.

benefit of the 50V is that the hlg185-48A cosntant voltage drivers up on the site are some of the cheapest meanwell per watt you'll find and the 50V citis fill them out really nice (in practice that driver turns up to 53.5V)

so as an example. lets look at hlg-320@ 1400ma with 6 x 1212s



7871 lm x 6 = 47226 lm, 308W, 153 lm watt

6 x $13.50 + $105 = $186

now lets look at 6 x 1818 on 2x hlg185-48a drivers (4.2A ea per driver, same 1400 ma per cob :

11589lm x 6 = 69534 lm, 445W, 156 lm/W

6 x $26 + 2x $40 = $236

thats 50% more light for $50 more dollars, and is more efficient.

(or alternatively 3 1818 x 1 driver @ $118, 34767 lm @ 156 lm/W)

if the 6-cob 2 x hlg185 rig was dimmed to the same lumens as the first hlg320 rig youre at an impssive 165 lm/W which may also be worth the extra $50 to you

or better yet lets look at 4 1818s on two 185-48a drivers. $26x4 + $40x2= $184 (about the same price as the 6x 1212 rig)
at same intensity as 1212 rig (47200 lm): better efficiency, 156 lm/W



and with those drivers you can crank out almost 50% more light at a respectable 145 lm/W



and if youre dropping from 6 cobs to 4 cobs you'll save a little on heatsinks if using discrete solutions

at 115W id use an active cooling or at least throw a 120mm fan on top of a pinfin

CobKits said:

or better yet lets look at 4 1818s on two 185-48a drivers. $26x4 + $40x2= $184 (about the same price as the 6x 1212 rig)
at same intensity as 1212 rig (47200 lm): better efficiency, 156 lm/W

View attachment 3772513

and with those drivers you can crank out almost 50% more light at a respectable 145 lm/W

View attachment 3772512

and if youre dropping from 6 cobs to 4 cobs you'll save a little on heatsinks if using discrete solutions

at 115W id use an active cooling or at least throw a 120mm fan on top of a pinfin

Click to expand...

Thanks for the information!! But I'm looking for a small veg light to put in a 2x2 or 3x3 foot area, and was wondering if a good option is 3 or 4 x clu 048 -1212 with the hlg-185-48a, am sorta on a budget

I think 6 is too much power for my space, I thought they put out 4600 lumens each, surprised me with them being 7800