Matching Drivers and COBs

[JorgeGonzales]

I will be making multiple panels. I have a 10x10 grow tent. I don't plan on using all of its space but i am planning to diy 8 panels total or more if needed. I want to sort out what i need for each panel for the cleanest install but yet easy to adjust the height as in i don't mind adjusting 8 separate panels but rather avoid adjusting 1 huge panel if that makes any sense.

That sounds like an excellent plan. As a side note, you may want to see when the next generation Vero is coming out, since you are committing pretty hard.

Anyway, 8x4 is 32 cobs over 100 sq ft. That's one cob per 3 sq ft which is a lot to ask of a single Vero. Putting aside efficiency and par watts and all that you're going to want at least 5000 lumens per sq ft as a rule of thumb, and a Vero won't be happy running that hard.

Something to think about. It's a really big build you are planning.

 

[ttystikk]

I will be making multiple panels. I have a 10x10 grow tent. I don't plan on using all of its space but i am planning to diy 8 panels total or more if needed. I want to sort out what i need for each panel for the cleanest install but yet easy to adjust the height as in i don't mind adjusting 8 separate panels but rather avoid adjusting 1 huge panel if that makes any sense.

Makes a TON of sense. Big panels are unwieldy and smaller ones can be deployed in many more situations, making them far more flexible.

In addition, one can adjust the spacing between smaller panels and thereby gain control over light pressure.

 

[Airwalker16]

Airwalker, can you check this out and see if i'm on the right path.
vero 29 4000k cob - max current: 4.2a (4200) Vf: 36.8v

Matching to driver (example)
hlg 320h c2100b has output of 156v
4 vero 29 cob : 36.8v * 4 =147.2v
does that mean the cobs will fit on the driver because the driver provides 156v but the 4 cob only requires 147.2v?


Does this mean that if the cob's max current is at 4.2a it'll have 100w of light?
Does this math mean that if vero 29 cob running at the amperage down below will have that watt out of the cob?
Example:
36.8v (cob) * 1.050 = 38.64w
36.8v (cob) * 2.100 = 77.28w
36.8v (cob) * 1.750 = 64.4w
36.8v (cob) * 1.400 = 51.52w

so whats the difference between hlg 240h c2100b and hlg 320h c2100b? does this mean the driver 240 h will consume 240w from the wall and 320h will consume 320w total but depending how many cobs i have on the driver?

All correct. Good job!

 

[calvin kodi]

That sounds like an excellent plan. As a side note, you may want to see when the next generation Vero is coming out, since you are committing pretty hard.

Anyway, 8x4 is 32 cobs over 100 sq ft. That's one cob per 3 sq ft which is a lot to ask of a single Vero. Putting aside efficiency and par watts and all that you're going to want at least 5000 lumens per sq ft as a rule of thumb, and a Vero won't be happy running that hard.

Something to think about. It's a really big build you are planning.

Thanks Jorge. So realistically I should be doing 100 cobs for 100 sqft at 50% load of the cob to be on a 5k lumen range. Or 16 cobs in a 4x4 grow tent.

What should I do about the driver. Should I go with the 240h or 320h? I'm thinking the 240h c1750b is the way to go for me? Since it will consume less watts than the 320h but the amperage on 240h c1750b will be the same as 320h c1750?

 

[calvin kodi]

Makes a TON of sense. Big panels are unwieldy and smaller ones can be deployed in many more situations, making them far more flexible.

In addition, one can adjust the spacing between smaller panels and thereby gain control over light pressure.

I'm very new to this so if you have any pointers please let me know.

 

[ttystikk]

I'm very new to this so if you have any pointers please let me know.

Wellllllll, I'm glad you asked.

First, your budget will tell you how hard you want to push your chips.

Cheap = 45% efficiency
Mid grade = 55%
Hi test = 63% and beyond

Personally, I chose mid grade;
4 CXB3590 3500K 72V on a Meanwell HLG 185H-C700B, which gave me 824 PPfD over six square feet. My trellis panels are 4x6', so 4 modules lights one trellis panel very well indeed, times 6 panels = 24 modules, for a total load of 5400W over 144 sq ft.

In my case, each chip covers 1.5 sq ft.

 

[BOBBY_G]

lol "midgrade" @ 30% more efficient than HPS

 

[ttystikk]

lol "midgrade" @ 30% more efficient than HPS

Everyone pumps gas, it seemed like an easily digestible analogy, lol

 

[BOBBY_G]

you know where i was going! how's your new setup do? you pull em down yet?

 

[ttystikk]

you know where i was going! how's your new setup do? you pull em down yet?

Yes.

I'm the only one I know who can run 5400W in a 6x12 box and have trouble keeping them warm enough.

The first crop was sticky, stinky and a bit small due to excessively low temperatures. I'm thinking air temps were in the low to mid sixties, lol

 

[BOBBY_G]

Oh yeah i had one of those this winter

seal that shit up with a dehumidifier and rock some co2

 

[ttystikk]

Oh yeah i had one of those this winter

seal that shit up with a dehumidifier and rock some co2

I've been doing the co2, and the dehuey just hit the pad yesterday.

 

[tomate]

Can I do 8x CXA1507 18V 5000K in series using a HVGC-100-350A ?

U may ask why 8 CXA1507. I need them to light a small area as cheap as possible and I already own a HVGC-100-350A.
@210mA the small CXAs should do 165lm/W and that would be just enough for my mother plants (~200 PPFD @210mA; ~315 PPFD @350mA).

 

[tomate]

nobody?

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Can I do 8x CXA1507 18V 5000K in series using a HVGC-100-350A ?

U may ask why 8 CXA1507. I need them to light a small area as cheap as possible and I already own a HVGC-100-350A.
@210mA the small CXAs should do 165lm/W and that would be just enough for my mother plants (~200 PPFD @210mA; ~315 PPFD @350mA).

Isn't that like 50W on a 100W driver at 350ma? Sounds fine to me.

 

[tomate]

Yes, it would be 30-50W depending on the amperage.

I was just confused about the voltage. So do I get it right, the driver is adjusting the voltage to fit the rquirenment for a specific amount of LEDs in series?

Thank you and best regards...

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Yes, it would be 30-50W depending on the amperage.

I was just confused about the voltage. So do I get it right, the driver is adjusting the voltage to fit the rquirenment for a specific amount of LEDs in series?

Thank you and best regards...

No, the voltage will stay around 18v times 8. It will drop a little at 350ma, but not much. There is a chart in the data sheet you linked.

Basically leds have a forward voltage, which is 18 volts dropped across each cob in this case. They are wired in series so you just add them all up. Forward voltage changes for all leds because of temperature and current, but you don't need to worry about it much when using a constant current driver like yours unless you are at the really low or really high end of the driver capacity, and a volt here or there would make a difference.

Just make sure you always fall within the constant current range on the data sheet, 29-285V in this case, and estimate your volts by looking at the charts for temps and current.

 

[tomate]

Thank you very much.

 

[hicpic]

Did anyone recently buy a HGL-120H-C1050? Cutter does not stock them, and mouser has a 14 week back order going on. Wanted to run (4) CXB 36V, and that seemed to be the best option.

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Did anyone recently buy a HGL-120H-C1050? Cutter does not stock them, and mouser has a 14 week back order going on. Wanted to run (4) CXB 36V, and that seemed to be the best option.

HLG-185 is like $5 more. 1400ma. Pretty common combination.