DIYers try to recreate CREE vs Gravita?

ANC

Well-Known Member
I just don't see how you guys beat retail prices.
I just priced out CRX3050 COBs and drivers.
You can run the 36V version at 2.1A for 100% lumen output wich is circa 10000lm per COB.
There is a Meanwell driver that will do 72V @2.1A for a total of 150W So 1 driver for 2 COBs.
That is $170 for each 150W segment of 2 COBS you add. At 600W it is $680 just in COBS and drivers excluding all other hardware and heatsinks.
The sad part is that output for the 8 Cobs would be only 80000lm, basically exactly the same as a 600W HPS at 50% lifespan. SO you are saving onlly 10% electricity, granted you have longer LED life, but HPS bulbs are cheap too. Of course one needs to factor in the cost of cooling etc that is no longer required.
 

Stephenj37826

Well-Known Member
I just don't see how you guys beat retail prices.
I just priced out CRX3050 COBs and drivers.
You can run the 36V version at 2.1A for 100% lumen output wich is circa 10000lm per COB.
There is a Meanwell driver that will do 72V @2.1A for a total of 150W So 1 driver for 2 COBs.
That is $170 for each 150W segment of 2 COBS you add. At 600W it is $680 just in COBS and drivers excluding all other hardware and heatsinks.
The sad part is that output for the 8 Cobs would be only 80000lm, basically exactly the same as a 600W HPS at 50% lifespan. SO you are saving onlly 10% electricity, granted you have longer LED life, but HPS bulbs are cheap too. Of course one needs to factor in the cost of cooling etc that is no longer required.

Lumens are not a good indication of total PPF. The 88000 lumens number for a hortilux 600 shps if before reflector loss as well. A 600 HPS is 1050 umol at the bare bulb. So basically 820 ppf to the canopy. Now you should find out the numbers for the build you are suggesting and compare it umol to umol. That led build will be 1200+ umol at the canopy if you are talking 3000k 80cri Cree . So the led build will be ~ 50% more light for the same wattage..... That's a big difference.
 
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