Help on small CLU048 build

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remix7196

New Member
Hello! I'm actually building a 55 gallon vivarium with dart frogs, orchids, and other flowering plants, and I'm stuck at selecting a driver.

I'll have 4x CLU048-1212 COBs, but I want to control the dimming on each set of 2 differently, meaning I'm looking at getting 2 dimmable drivers each powering 2x CLU048-1212 COBs.

I don't know if this is possible, but I will also need the light intensity to drop to 0% at night. If I need to accomplish this with relays (i.e. the drivers can't dim to 0) then that's not a problem.

I saw the HLG-185H-C1400B mentioned in my searches, but it seems this driver may be an overkill for only two CLU048-1212s? Somewhere else I saw the LPF mentioned? I'm looking at getting the best bang for my buck but I do want dependability. I will probably not be cranking the intensity up anywhere near max.

Any help is GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance!!!
 
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remix7196

New Member
I've also seen the HLG-60H-C700B as a possibility. Forgive my ignorance on this, and again thanks in advance for any sort of help.
 
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1212ham

Well-Known Member
MW has lots of drivers! Good matches for two 36v cobs, but they only dim to 10%.

HLG-80H-36B
HLG-100H-36B
HLG-120H-36B
HLG-120H-C1400B
 
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remix7196

New Member
Thanks, everyone!

So judging by the specs, it appears that although it may not be the most efficient, an ELG-75-36B might be my best bet for 2 CLU048-1212 lights dimmable to 0%? Then I can get two of them to complete my setup of 4 total COBs?

Edit: Looks like that driver isn't readily available, checked Octo and several other sites :( CobKits, I'm definitely picking up the LEDs from you btw!
 
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remix7196

New Member
1212ham unfortunately I called both TRC and Jameco earlier due to none showing up as immediately available on their websites, and they both said it would take 8+ weeks to ship.

However I was able to find two ELG-100-36B drivers from TME (they had 15 in stock) so I was able to order from them.

Thanks so much for the help!
 
thetr33man

thetr33man

Well-Known Member
Dont bother getting a driver you can dim to 0, then you still need to adjust it manually every night and morning, huge PITA, just put them on a timer, so they shut off at 10pm and come back on at 8am or whatever. Get whatever HLG driver works best for your needs, but the B version so you can adjust it with a pot. 2 x HLG-60H-C700B would be fine. I just built a light for my 75gal aquarium using HLG-100H-36B and it gets bright, algae gets out of control, I have it max dimmed and my plants seem to prefer it that way.
 
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remix7196

New Member
thetr33man, thanks for the reply! So actually I'll be hooking up the drivers to a Raspberry Pi via GPIO/PWM to automate the dimming process without ever having to touch it. For sure in an aquarium I can imagine it would be tough with algae (I used to have a reef tank myself) but this build is for a little rainforest ecosystem with ferns, vines, orchids, etc., some of which have high light requirements. It's a display tank that will be supplemented with led accent lighting to automatically simulate sunrise, sunset, clouds, etc via the Raspberry Pi.
 
thetr33man

thetr33man

Well-Known Member
I dont know how important absolute dark is, but when you get down to 10 percent or so its pretty dim. Funny cuz some of my drivers will actually turn off when I turn the pot way down, but others wont...
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
remix7196 said:
1212ham unfortunately I called both TRC and Jameco earlier due to none showing up as immediately available on their websites, and they both said it would take 8+ weeks to ship.

However I was able to find two ELG-100-36B drivers from TME (they had 15 in stock) so I was able to order from them.

Thanks so much for the help!
Click to expand...
Interesting, Jameco shows a ship date of 5/31/17, but I forgot to mention it. It often comes down to the country one is in, we have people from around the world here.
BTW, I think I did find HLG 100 or 120 stocked in the US. Show us your build when done, we like pictures. (:
 
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remix7196

New Member
Dope! I definitely will. Yeah, hopefully my order from TME will come quick, I ordered the drivers today. I placed my order for the LEDs from CobKits today, too
 
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