EB series build complete, but one side brighter than the other?

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Hi

My grow light is built, but one side is brighter than the other. They're wired in series, but one side is putting out 34,000 lumens with the otherside putting out only 8,000 Lumens. I'm stumped? (Please see the picture)

Should I close the circuit, which is represented by the blue line in the red circle in the top right corner of the picture?

Thank you

nc208 · Oct 18, 2017

What are you powering them with?

Serva · Oct 18, 2017

That wiring is completly wrong! No series circuit at all. One strip has 2 + and 2 - connectors. For series, you only need 1 of each (+/-). So you come from your driver go to the first strip (1) at the (+) connector, from (-) to strip (2) (+), from (-) to strip (3) (+), ... from (-) to last strip (X) (+), from (-) to driver.

But for your own security, you shoudn't play around with electric! My 100W EB panel has a voltage of 280V, thats more that our sockets... I can't tell you what you are using, but please take care

That are some critical basics you are missing there, maybe take one evening and get updated. Not much you need to read, but this little bit you should ^^

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Serva said:
That wiring is completly wrong! No series circuit at all. One strip has 2 + and 2 - conmectors. For series, you only need 1 of each (+/-). So you come from your driver go to the first strip (1) at the (+) connector, from (-) to strip (2) (+), from (-) to strip (3) (+), ... from (-) to last strip (X) (+), from (-) to driver.

But for your own security, you shoudn't play around with electric! My 100W EB panel has a voltage of 280V, thats more that our sockets... I can't tell you what you are using, but please take care That are some critical basics you are missing there, maybe take one evening and get updated. Not much you need to read, but this little bit you should ^^

So, I haven't made a series? I'm not sure I follow how I should wire them up?

nc208 said:
What are you powering them with?

A meanwell HLG-240h-C1400A

Doctor Derp · Oct 18, 2017

Series would be like "daisy chaining" your strips together, one after another. The only strips that should be connected to your driver directly are the first and last in the "chain".

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Serva said:
That wiring is completly wrong! No series circuit at all. One strip has 2 + and 2 - connectors. For series, you only need 1 of each (+/-). So you come from your driver go to the first strip (1) at the (+) connector, from (-) to strip (2) (+), from (-) to strip (3) (+), ... from (-) to last strip (X) (+), from (-) to driver.

But for your own security, you shoudn't play around with electric! My 100W EB panel has a voltage of 280V, thats more that our sockets... I can't tell you what you are using, but please take care That are some critical basics you are missing there, maybe take one evening and get updated. Not much you need to read, but this little bit you should ^^

Doctor Derp said:
Series would be like "daisy chaining" your strips together, one after another. The only strips that should be connected to your driver directly are the first and last in the "chain".

After reading Serva's post again, and Doctor Derp's I think I understand. I'm waiting for confirmation before I plug them in though lol.

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Your driver has a max. DC of 179vf and 1,4A, but you have 8 2ft. EB-strips á 23,2v, so 186,4v. You can only use seven 2ft. EB strips on this driver.

BTW,
If you use both connectors(- and +) to connect the strips you get a parallel connection.

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Randomblame said:
Your driver has a max. DC of 179vf and 1,4A, but you have 8 2ft. EB-strips á 23,2v, so 186,4v. You can only use seven 2ft. EB strips on this driver.

BTW,
If you use both connectors(- and +) to connect the strips you get a parallel connection.

The driver has a constant voltage with adj current. So, the strips should take 22.375v each and no more, right?

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Havetheygotagrowon said:
After reading Serva's post again, and Doctor Derp's I think I understand. I'm waiting for confirmation before I plug them in though lol.

Wiring is correct, but one strip to much.
8 strips would be ~7v above the driver limit. It could work but you can also get issues.

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Randomblame said:
Wiring is correct, but one strip to much.
8 strips would be ~7v above the driver limit. It could work but you can also get issues.

The max v is 23.2v, but they run at 22.1v. Meaning a total of 176v, but I'm getting confused now? Haha.

EDIT: Looking at the data sheet. I just need to run them at 700ma to even out the voltage draw to 22.1?

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Havetheygotagrowon said:
The driver has a constant voltage with adj current. So, the strips should take 22.375v each and no more, right?

Nope, the driver has a constant current of 1,4v and can work with variable voltages between 89 and 179vf. You should at least download the datasheet.pdf's for your driver and for the used LED's. Your 8 strip set-up needs a vf of 186,4vf at 50°C. If they run hotter, for instance at 85° the voltage of each strip decrease and it could match with the driver limits.
But each time you switch the driver on(at 25°) the needed voltage of each strip is even higher, maybe 24v.

Doctor Derp · Oct 18, 2017

Havetheygotagrowon said:
The max v is 23.2v, but they run at 22.1v. Meaning a total of 176v, but I'm getting confused now? Haha.

EDIT: Looking at the data sheet. I just need to run them at 1amp to even out the voltage draw to 22.1?

Give it a try. If you want to snap a quick pic of your modified wiring we can probably give you a thumbs up on it or not.

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Havetheygotagrowon said:
The max v is 23.2v, but they run at 22.1v. Meaning a total of 176v, but I'm getting confused now? Haha.

EDIT: Looking at the data sheet. I just need to run them at 700ma to even out the voltage draw to 22.1?

No, have a look at the screenshot. At 1,4A they need 23,2v at 50°!

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Doctor Derp said:
Give it a try. If you want to snap a quick pic of your modified wiring we can probably give you a thumbs up on it or not.

He already did it and got a "go" but the strips are 7v above the driver limit. Especially the A version with fully cranked up current poti(up to 1,5A) could have problems with 8 strips. 7 would be perfect...

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Randomblame said:
Nope, the driver has a constant current of 1,4v and can work with variable voltages between 89 and 179vf. You should at least download the datasheet.pdf's for your driver and for the used LED's. Your 8 strip set-up needs a vf of 186,4vf at 50°C. If they run hotter, for instance at 85° the voltage of each strip decrease and it could match with the driver limits.
But each time you switch the driver on(at 25°) the needed voltage of each strip is even higher, maybe 24v.

I'm more confused lol. When measuring the driver without the LED's connected I get 179v constant, and only the current can be increased and decreased via the adjustment screw?

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

...and you would not overload the driver.
Due to the higher max. current, the difference in the end should be only a few watts, maybe 10 or so ...

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

Havetheygotagrowon said:
I'm more confused lol. When measuring the driver without the LED's connected I get 179v constant, and only the current can be increased and decreased via the adjustment screw?

Yes, right! But the driver could also handle only 4 strips in series and therefor have an output of only 92,8v but still 1,4A.
Wait a minute, I'm sure I have the datasheet anywhere..

Doctor Derp · Oct 18, 2017

Randomblame said:
He already did it and got a "go" but the strips are 7v above the driver limit. Especially the A version with fully cranked up current poti(up to 1,5A) could have problems with 8 strips. 7 would be perfect...

Yeah, that's a good catch. I wonder what % that driver is underrated if any. I'm thinking like the B series drivers, where without a pot wired in it's just gonna run wide open. Am I crazy or is that a valid possibility?

Randomblame · Oct 18, 2017

You have luck, I've both datasheets....

Havetheygotagrowon · Oct 18, 2017

Randomblame said:
Yes, right! But the driver could also handle only 4 strips in series and therefor have an output of only 92,8v but still 1,4A.
Wait a minute, I'm sure I have the datasheet anywhere..

I think I'm starting to understand. I'm going to give it a go at 700mah. See what happens.

EB series build complete, but one side brighter than the other?

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