Help with first Cob build

Dreddd

Well-Known Member
Hello everyone, i need some help because i've been reading nonstop for the past week and the more i read the more confused i get,
i'm aiming for a 4 cob light at around 200-250w total, i want 3500k 90 CRI cobs and obviously the best lm/W i can get.

Do i go with 4 Citizen 1812 3500k 90 CRI @ 1080mA? or do i get better efficiency by going with 4 1818's @ 1080mA? maybe even 4 1825's @ 1080mA???

What about the CREE CXB3590 3000k 90 CRI? (the 3000k 90cri spectrum looks exactly like the Citizen 3500k 90 cri and i cant find a spectrum graph for the Cree 3500k 90 cri) should i get 4 of those and run them at 50w each? would that be more efficient then the Citizens?

How about the Vero29 gen 7? cant find a spectrum graph of the 3500k 90 cri so i dont know what it looks like or what efficiency 4 of these will give me at around 50w per cob.


Help... :wall:
 

VegasWinner

Well-Known Member
If you are going to use a tent, I would go with the 4-cxb3590, 3500k, 36v with 1-HLG-185H-C1400A meanwell driver. The cxb's can be driver softer than the Vero's allowing for more efficient light. TYhat is my view, others may differ. I use cxb's with no complaints, whatsoever. low power, low heat, high production.
 

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
HLG 240 H C1750B with 4 Cree 3590 cobs would be my choice. This gives you a dimmable 250 watt light... You could use citizen cobs to save $.. I'm running a Timber kit with a
hlg 320 1400b 6 3590s in a 2x4 tent...love it!!
 

nl5xsk1

Well-Known Member
Im running 2 sets , 8 cobs total, on two the 185-1400's in a 36"x43" foot print, dimmed to 300W . day 28, cherry pie20170310_211437.jpg
 

Dreddd

Well-Known Member
If you are going to use a tent, I would go with the 4-cxb3590, 3500k, 36v with 1-HLG-185H-C1400A meanwell driver. The cxb's can be driver softer than the Vero's allowing for more efficient light. TYhat is my view, others may differ. I use cxb's with no complaints, whatsoever. low power, low heat, high production.
Yeah i figured i could go for something like that, the real question is what lm/W i'll be getting from that setup, i mean i know from their datasheet what lm/W to expect at nominal current, but how do i calculate the efficiency when i under/over drive them? and how would this setup compare to the same driver but with citizens cobs instead, i mean initial cost is also a factor for me and citizens are cheaper...

HLG 240 H C1750B with 4 Cree 3590 cobs would be my choice. This gives you a dimmable 250 watt light... You could use citizen cobs to save $.. I'm running a Timber kit with a
hlg 320 1400b 6 3590s in a 2x4 tent...love it!!
if you had to compare this 4 3590 cobs setup to an HPS, how many watts would you say this is equivalent of? 600W? or is that overly optimistic?

Im running 2 sets , 8 cobs total, on two the 185-1400's in a 36"x43" foot print, dimmed to 300W . day 28, cherry pieView attachment 3904331
what cobs? and 300W for all 8 cobs?



Thanks everyone.
 

nl5xsk1

Well-Known Member
Yeah i figured i could go for something like that, the real question is what lm/W i'll be getting from that setup, i mean i know from their datasheet what lm/W to expect at nominal current, but how do i calculate the efficiency when i under/over drive them? and how would this setup compare to the same driver but with citizens cobs instead, i mean initial cost is also a factor for me and citizens are cheaper...


if you had to compare this 4 3590 cobs setup to an HPS, how many watts would you say this is equivalent of? 600W? or is that overly optimistic?



what cobs? and 300W for all 8 cobs?



Thanks everyone.
Im running the 3590's from Cutters. These are turned down, max setting is 400Watts. Equivalent to my 600w hps and runs around 2.7Amps.
 

Dreddd

Well-Known Member
I see there's another 300W light just with Citizens CLU048-1212's instead of Cree's for $150 less and if i'm calculating the lumen output at 1400mA it looks like the Citizens are slightly more efficient? did i get this right?

Lumen output for the Citizens 3500k 80 CRI @ 1080mW / 85C is 5702lm, at 1400mW they get a 30% increase in output so that makes the output 7412lm per Citizen cob.

Lumen output for the Crees 3500k 80 CRI @ 2400mA / 85C (top bin) is 12000lm, at 1400mW they get a 40% decrease in output making the output 7200lm per Cree cob.

So did i get these figures right? is the Citizen setup not only $150 cheaper but also more efficient?
 

majins

Well-Known Member
Cree you pay extra for the name since they use to be the only worth while COBs you could get.
 

HydoDan

Well-Known Member
When I bought mine, nothing else was close.. now 8 months later .. I'm looking at the citi''s for another grow tent..
Save your money..
 

HotBunz

Active Member
I see there's another 300W light just with Citizens CLU048-1212's instead of Cree's for $150 less and if i'm calculating the lumen output at 1400mA it looks like the Citizens are slightly more efficient? did i get this right?

Lumen output for the Citizens 3500k 80 CRI @ 1080mW / 85C is 5702lm, at 1400mW they get a 30% increase in output so that makes the output 7412lm per Citizen cob.

Lumen output for the Crees 3500k 80 CRI @ 2400mA / 85C (top bin) is 12000lm, at 1400mW they get a 40% decrease in output making the output 7200lm per Cree cob.

So did i get these figures right? is the Citizen setup not only $150 cheaper but also more efficient?
Provided this data is correct my next fixture build will be a Citizen 1212 unit. I was thinking a 1818 COB unit but it looks like the 1212's on a Meanwell hlg-185h-1400c driver would be equal to my current 4 COB cxb3590 fixture with the same driver and for a lot less of an investment.
 
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