caretak3r
Well-Known Member
I wanted to share my unscientific observations in case it helps any DIY out there. I'm testing these two drivers:
http://www.satisled.com/50w-60w-70w-adjustable-round-led-driver-ac85265v-input-dc3136v1500ma-dc12v-twoway-output_p1540.html
and
http://www.satisled.com/70-100w-adjustable-led-driver-ac85-265v-input-dc31-36v-3a-output-with-dimmer_p1542.html
I wanted to try out the round driver because it had a 12V out (for fans) and I wanted to see how the adjustments were made in current. Turns out it uses a Bonens 3296 potentiometer. The vero 18 won't power on unless it's trimmed out to where it's putting out 42W (all power measured by killawatt until i get a replacement multimeter). Once on, however, i can turn it down to as low as 26W and as high as 92W. It takes many turns of the screw to move the current much so it's hard for you eye to pick up on the change in brightness. I used my phone and an app to measure approximate lumens (I'm sure you can't count on these numbers but it gives something for comparison). At 24", i measured 4300 lumens @ 42W, 4700l @ 50W, 5150 @ 62W, and 5300 @ 75W.
Likes:
-- it has 12v out (measured at 10.4-10.7V with my crappy little multimeter - getting a new one tonight)
-- it allows a certain amount of dimming
Dislkes:
-- it has a lot of components on the bottom of the pcb and doesn't come with anything to protect it - plan on making a mount of some kind
-- this model doesn't dim down as far as I'd like for the Vero 18 after seeing the light at different currents. This was more or less a known when I bought it, so no real issue.
other driver - 70-100W with dimmer knob:
This one would power the vero 18 from 25W up to higher than I would want to go (I took it up a bit past 100W). The dimmer only has about 1 revolution, so you a small amount of adjustment has a big effect on current. It did not have any wires soldered for power, so it required a bit more work out of the box.
Likes:
-- powers as low as 25W
-- has metal encasing
Dislikes:
-- extra soldering required
-- about $6 more
Here was my surprise - I want to share so others don't have similar misconceptions. I was thinking that it might be beneficial to run the 18s pretty hot, even if only temporarily in flower. This is the eyeball test, sort of verified by the smartphone light meter: Nice, notable difference through the range of about 25W to 60W, above 60W and especially 75W and higher, it really doesn't seem or measure much brighter. In fact, when i measured with my smartphone light meter, it didn't register any difference between 75W and 90W.
http://www.satisled.com/50w-60w-70w-adjustable-round-led-driver-ac85265v-input-dc3136v1500ma-dc12v-twoway-output_p1540.html
and
http://www.satisled.com/70-100w-adjustable-led-driver-ac85-265v-input-dc31-36v-3a-output-with-dimmer_p1542.html
I wanted to try out the round driver because it had a 12V out (for fans) and I wanted to see how the adjustments were made in current. Turns out it uses a Bonens 3296 potentiometer. The vero 18 won't power on unless it's trimmed out to where it's putting out 42W (all power measured by killawatt until i get a replacement multimeter). Once on, however, i can turn it down to as low as 26W and as high as 92W. It takes many turns of the screw to move the current much so it's hard for you eye to pick up on the change in brightness. I used my phone and an app to measure approximate lumens (I'm sure you can't count on these numbers but it gives something for comparison). At 24", i measured 4300 lumens @ 42W, 4700l @ 50W, 5150 @ 62W, and 5300 @ 75W.
Likes:
-- it has 12v out (measured at 10.4-10.7V with my crappy little multimeter - getting a new one tonight)
-- it allows a certain amount of dimming
Dislkes:
-- it has a lot of components on the bottom of the pcb and doesn't come with anything to protect it - plan on making a mount of some kind
-- this model doesn't dim down as far as I'd like for the Vero 18 after seeing the light at different currents. This was more or less a known when I bought it, so no real issue.
other driver - 70-100W with dimmer knob:
This one would power the vero 18 from 25W up to higher than I would want to go (I took it up a bit past 100W). The dimmer only has about 1 revolution, so you a small amount of adjustment has a big effect on current. It did not have any wires soldered for power, so it required a bit more work out of the box.
Likes:
-- powers as low as 25W
-- has metal encasing
Dislikes:
-- extra soldering required
-- about $6 more
Here was my surprise - I want to share so others don't have similar misconceptions. I was thinking that it might be beneficial to run the 18s pretty hot, even if only temporarily in flower. This is the eyeball test, sort of verified by the smartphone light meter: Nice, notable difference through the range of about 25W to 60W, above 60W and especially 75W and higher, it really doesn't seem or measure much brighter. In fact, when i measured with my smartphone light meter, it didn't register any difference between 75W and 90W.
