COB cooling advice needed

Precaution

Active Member
I am building a COB light using 4 Vero 18's and a HLG-120H-C1050B driver with a Pot for dimming. I am currently using a 2x4x6 tent.

My 2 questions are:
If I were to use Arctic Alpine 64+ heat sinks, what psu should I use to power all the fans?

If I were to go Passive, what is the best, and cost effective, heat sink profile and what size? I would prefer more rectangle then a long heat sink but am open to whatever.

I have tried google and search but I am either overthinking or am confusing myself. Thank you in advance.
 

ThaiBaby1

Well-Known Member
I am building a COB light using 4 Vero 18's and a HLG-120H-C1050B driver with a Pot for dimming. I am currently using a 2x4x6 tent.

My 2 questions are:
If I were to use Arctic Alpine 64+ heat sinks, what psu should I use to power all the fans?

If I were to go Passive, what is the best, and cost effective, heat sink profile and what size? I would prefer more rectangle then a long heat sink but am open to whatever.

I have tried google and search but I am either overthinking or am confusing myself. Thank you in advance.
https://northerngrowlights.com/products/sst-x-passive-heatsink-1?variant=27749029832
sold out but give robincnn a shout and ask him when he will restock.
 

indianajones

Well-Known Member
correct, fans suck IME. i lost 2/6 of the arctics within the first month.

i just put a fan up in the top of the tent blowing air down, it cools the sink and provides enough air movement for the plants. gets two birds stoned at once.
 

Mellodrama

Well-Known Member
+1 on ThaiBaby's comments. Pin sinks are more effective than fin. I've disassembled the half dozen active fin sinks I was using and going to passive pin sinks.

Pin sinks have their limits! You can't run COB's hard on passive pins. There'd have to be some dedicated air movement across the sinks.
 

visajoe1

Well-Known Member
+1 on ThaiBaby's comments. Pin sinks are more effective than fin. I've disassembled the half dozen active fin sinks I was using and going to passive pin sinks.

Pin sinks have their limits! You can't run COB's hard on passive pins. There'd have to be some dedicated air movement across the sinks.
Yes they do! I'm running mine pretty hard, ~110w/cob, on 75w sinks (140x70). Added fans, now its hard to even find a warm spot

 

ThaiBaby1

Well-Known Member
+1 on ThaiBaby's comments. Pin sinks are more effective than fin. I've disassembled the half dozen active fin sinks I was using and going to passive pin sinks.

Pin sinks have their limits! You can't run COB's hard on passive pins. There'd have to be some dedicated air movement across the sinks.
yeh, its amazing how much difference a little airflow makes
 

Precaution

Active Member
@indianajones that looks exactly what I am going to do. I have been using these vero 18 for a few and they work great but I used scrap aluminum that is not the best size and thickness.
I have a fan blowing on the light but it gets a bit to warm for my liking.
Thanks for the pics, the light looks great.
 

Mellodrama

Well-Known Member
Yes they do! I'm running mine pretty hard, ~110w/cob, on 75w sinks (140x70). Added fans, now its hard to even find a warm spot
OK, well, I guess I shoulda stated that it's my personal preference to run COBs soft and stay safely in the "passive" end of the pool. 110 watts per COB on pin sinks that are rated for 75W tops is something I just wouldn't do. You're relying on the fans to prevent meltdown. As long as nothing goes wrong with the fans or the device(s) that's powering them, I guess you're OK. But Murphy's Law is always there, waiting.

I tried a grow with a half dozen COBs strapped to small PC sinks with PC fans. The rat's nest of wiring was a confusing mess. My Timber kit has two wires. 1000% better.
 
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