Bridgelux EB Series Build

[PicklesRus]

Well - sad to say the fluorescent fixture is not being put into production. The fit is too tight, it's difficult to hang, and I need something wider.

I guess I'll be back at my ghetto cheap angle aluminum design. Will go buy one more piece of angle tomorrow and I should have enough to finish it up. Diy is a pita sometimes

 

[BuddyColas]

I couldn't find a flouro fixture - so 25$cdn in parts got me enough to make this

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That's why I use tape for my builds...I'm always trying something new. So how do you like the two strips on the L stock?

 

[PicklesRus]

That's why I use tape for my builds...I'm always trying something new. So how do you like the two strips on the L stock?

It's much better in a sense. I don't like how flimsy it is but I bought the smallest stuff I could get.

I do however like how much airflow around the strips there is now. Wiring is a mess though.

Working in this tight little tent has be about ready to say fuck it haha.

Like my original suspicions - 2 strips in the tent isn't enough. @700ma 4 strips might be too much:

250umol at the soil
500 at the top of the full vegged canopy

I like doing this stuff but I had yet work to do it took my whole weekend pretty much

 

[PicklesRus]

After all this messing around something I really found to be annoying is the fact that solidcore wire required for the strip connectors is really not fun to work with.

 

[welight]

No need to be rude - If you read what I wrote I obviously dont think cheap chinese LEDs are in the same performance category. Honestly you saying that to me is insulting. I was just asking how much better are the good LEDs. Geez man.

Hi Picklesrus
apologies if it came off that way, I was not trying to insult, just pointing out that if the china leds for $10 really did the job Cree would be unlikely to still be in business
Cheers
Mark

 

[Abiqua]

Hi Picklesrus
apologies if it came off that way, I was not trying to insult, just pointing out that if the china leds for $10 really did the job Cree would be unlikely to still be in business
Cheers
Mark

hey mark can you source reflectors for the EB boards? IM me please or tag me ....thanks again!

 

[Abiqua]

Still working...trying to power it up tonight....

 

[PicklesRus]

Still working...trying to power it up tonight....
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Why did you go with 560's instead of the longer ones?

Really nice looking fixture by the way. It looks like the Aluminum you picked was thicker than mine and it makes for a rock solid fixture. Nice.

 

[Abiqua]

Why did you go with 560's instead of the longer ones?

mainly because of changing my layout design and my main driver which will squeeze 13x 560's or 6x the 4ft strips...but in the end i cut less metal and kept cutting my costs back using/used cobs.....I was originally going to do 18x the 560s.....

call it design change #22 over the last dew weeks...lol....you probably understand that

 

[PicklesRus]

call it design change #22 over the last dew weeks...lol....you probably understand that

I do.

 

[BuddyColas]

So are you happy with your 4 strips veg build?

 

[PicklesRus]

mainly because of changing my layout design and my main driver which will squeeze 13x 560's or 6x the 4ft strips...but in the end i cut less metal and kept cutting my costs back using/used cobs.....I was originally going to do 18x the 560s.....

call it design change #22 over the last dew weeks...lol....you probably understand that

It is a nice light though, good job. The Screws are clean, drilled and tapped? How did you make the holes? I use self tapping screws because I'm lazy, but they kinda chew the shit out of the metal and leave rough edges.

 

[PicklesRus]

So are you happy with your 4 strips veg build?

I am happy that I have light and the fixture is really simple. If I was to keep working on this one I would:

- Put all the 110 connections in a box and make it remote. I'm not comfortable with the 110 being on the fixture and the wago's are lose.
- Use stranded wire (soft wire) for the connection between the remote box and fixture. I like how for example a power cable is easy to handle but solid core wire is rigid and not good for off-fixture wiring.
- Install a nice quick disconnect between the remote box and the fixture, like the one below.
- The light level I think is pushing it, and I want to try Blues, so I think I'd have to reduce the strips from 4 to 3 to add blue LEDs.
- Right now each two strip is a fixture. Both fixtures are connected with wires between. I'd want to connect them all as one big piece but I'm not sure if I can because the tent opening is small, it might not fit in.

 

[Abiqua]

It is a nice light though, good job. The Screws are clean, drilled and tapped? How did you make the holes? I use self tapping screws because I'm lazy, but they kinda chew the shit out of the metal and leave rough edges.

thank you......it has been a lot of work but worth it....
i use similar screws...self tapping m3x6 screws like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50pcs-M3-x-6mm-A2-Stainless-Steel-Allen-Hex-Socket-Head-Cap-Self-Tapping-Screws-/391701908693?hash=item5b3340ccd5:g:z6YAAOSw32lYnsUf


christmas before last i scored a harbor freight drill press for $50 to work on lights and i feel at this point for DIY, almost indespensable.

i also use a #41 drill bit from a tap set.....i think its 2.66 mm...just enough meat left in the holes to screw/unscrew if i mess up...better than #43 which is usually recommended for M3

i need to make a real template...i basically just taped down a single board and traced it with fine tip marker....worked good for the drill press though

and lots of rivets...i am becoming addicted ... use the 3\16 steel rivets....

 

[PicklesRus]

thank you......it has been a lot of work but worth it....
i use similar screws...self tapping m3x6 screws like these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/50pcs-M3-x-6mm-A2-Stainless-Steel-Allen-Hex-Socket-Head-Cap-Self-Tapping-Screws-/391701908693?hash=item5b3340ccd5:g:z6YAAOSw32lYnsUf


christmas before last i scored a harbor freight drill press for $50 to work on lights and i feel at this point for DIY, almost indespensable.

i also use a #41 drill bit from a tap set.....i think its 2.66 mm...just enough meat left in the holes to screw/unscrew if i mess up...better than #43 which is usually recommended for M3

i need to make a real template...i basically just taped down a single board and traced it with fine tip marker....worked good for the drill press though

and lots of rivets...i am becoming addicted ... use the 3\16 steel rivets....

A fun hobby. What are you going to do with all the lights you build though?

 

[welight]

Still working...trying to power it up tonight....
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nice build, have you looked at the Florence optics from Ledil, they should work, they can be bought with mounting clips and you look like you have enough room for the clips?
search ledil site using 'Florence' search
Cheers
Mark

 

[RandomHero8913]

I tried the Florence optics but found the solderless holders get in the way.

 

[welight]

holders can be removed if thats an issue
Cheers
Mark

 

[PicklesRus]

I tried the Florence optics but found the solderless holders get in the way.

Can we just cut a piece of the optic out where the pcb connectors are then? Can you post a link?

 

[MrTwist1]

I couldn't find a flouro fixture - so 25$cdn in parts got me enough to make this

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Yeah I'm doing very similar nowadays - Samsungs or EBs straight onto alu angle. It is pretty much the cheapest good DIY option out there right now I think. It's so easy and no shipping heavy heatsinks!