Driver attached to LED fixture & heat (question)

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Astral22

Well-Known Member
Hi, could someone please give me an idea of how much heat is produced by LED lights with a fixed driver?
For example Lumatek 300w PRO / Photontek SQ300w / Maxibright 300w, or any other light with a fixed driver is welcome as a comparison.

Tent size is 3x3x6, and the ambient temperature is around 21-24C or 70-75F

Due to stealth reasons i have to reduce the sound, so the exhaust fan will run at minimal speed, just enough to pull the smell. Was thinking around 50 CFM or less, even 20-30 CFM if possible. Or do you think i should look for a different light that runs cooler with a removable driver?
Thanks in advance!
 
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Rolla J

Rolla J

Well-Known Member
I've done temp readings on 2 different lights. 1 mounted at max dial and 1 mounted outside max dial (105f-120f) average for mine. That's pointed at the driver. The LEDs are about 90ish
 
Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
If you want to minimize the heat inside the tent, absolutely choose a model with a removable driver.
Drivers generate a good % of the overall heat.
120f surface temp is fairly typical
 
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Astral22

Well-Known Member
I see, thanks for the replies.
I guess i might go back to the drawing board and look for another light.

But in any case, do you think i would be able to pull out that heat with a fan on low speed? With the 70-75F grow room ambient temp?
I did some rough calculations, feel free to correct me and any advice is appreciated:

350 CFM fan with 10 speed settings, i assume each setting is 35 CFM
With the carbon filter and ducting i reduced 50% roughly, so it should be 175 CFM and each setting 17,5 CFM
Fan speed set on 3 would be 52,5 CFM
My 3x3x6 tent is 54 cubic feet, so would this be enough to maintain an optimal temperature?
And could i possibly even go with lower fan speed? For example just with 20 CFM to replace the air every 2-3 mins?
 
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Rolla J

Rolla J

Well-Known Member
Astral22 said:
I see, thanks for the replies.
I guess i might go back to the drawing board and look for another light.

But in any case, do you think i would be able to pull out that heat with a fan on low speed? With the 70-75F grow room ambient temp?
I did some rough calculations, feel free to correct me and any advice is appreciated:

350 CFM fan with 10 speed settings, i assume each setting is 35 CFM
With the carbon filter and ducting i reduced 50% roughly, so it should be 175 CFM and each setting 17,5 CFM
Fan speed set on 3 would be 52,5 CFM
My 3x3x6 tent is 54 cubic feet, so would this be enough to maintain an optimal temperature?
And could i possibly even go with lower fan speed? For example just with 20 CFM to replace the air every 2-3 mins?
Click to expand...
Only 1 way to find out. Just run some tests
 
Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
You'll really have to try in your environment.

I also use 300w lights, 300w = 1020 BTU
My 2x4 tents are running roughly 10-12f above ambient; this time of year (drivers in tent) my fan controller is generally at or near the minimum.
Room temp is similar to yours
Drivers inside tent
 
A

Astral22

Well-Known Member
Billy the Mountain said:
You'll really have to try in your environment.

I also use 300w lights, 300w = 1020 BTU
My 2x4 tents are running roughly 10-12f above ambient; this time of year (drivers in tent) my fan controller is generally at or near the minimum.
Room temp is similar to yours
Drivers inside tent
Click to expand...
Thanks for the example, this gives me hope! May i ask what fan and filter do you have?


MedicinalMyA$$ said:
Also Lumatek website says the 300 Pro puts out
BTU (With Driver Attached): 1082 BTUs/h (Max)
BTU (With Driver Remote): 1006 BTUs/h (Max)
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip, i saw that info but to be honest i still wasn't sure how much would it raise the temps in the tent. I'm unfamiliar with BTU/h and i have to google and convert, same as with CFM, feet, Fahrenheit etc.
Btw the remote driver part is a bit misleading, i've looked everywhere and the driver cannot be removed, i also asked the store in my country and they told me the driver is fixed. Only the Zeus series have a removable driver.


Rolla J said:
Only 1 way to find out. Just run some tests
Click to expand...
I didn't purchase the light yet. But i guess you're right, only 1 way to find out :D I might just go for it and get this light.

Thanks a lot for the input everyone!
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Astral22 said:
Hi, could someone please give me an idea of how much heat is produced by LED lights with a fixed driver?
For example Lumatek 300w PRO / Photontek SQ300w / Maxibright 300w, or any other light with a fixed driver is welcome as a comparison.

Tent size is 3x3x6, and the ambient temperature is around 21-24C or 70-75F

Due to stealth reasons i have to reduce the sound, so the exhaust fan will run at minimal speed, just enough to pull the smell. Was thinking around 50 CFM or less, even 20-30 CFM if possible. Or do you think i should look for a different light that runs cooler with a removable driver?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
If a typical driver is 92% efficient then 92% of the heat comes from the light itself and the remaining 8% is from the driver.

BTU is just a measure of heat energy and watts are a measure electric energy.
1 watt = 3.42 BTU
 
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Billy the Mountain

Billy the Mountain

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
If a typical driver is 92% efficient then 92% of the heat comes from the light itself and the remaining 8% is from the driver.

BTU is just a measure of heat energy and watts are a measure electric energy.
1 watt = 3.42 BTU
Click to expand...
Essentially the same as the Lumatek numbers above; 76/1082 BTU from the driver ~ 7% e.g. 93% efficient
 
A

Astral22

Well-Known Member
Thanks again everyone, this is why i love this forum, everyone is helpful as always :)

I think it is settled, i'll just get the Lumatek 300w Pro and hopefully i won't have any issues.

And yes i was thinking about the insulating box, but i'll leave it as a last resort if needed, for now i can deal with the fan noise on low speed. I'll see about that later.
 
H

Hairybuds

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
If a typical driver is 92% efficient then 92% of the heat comes from the light itself and the remaining 8% is from the driver.

BTU is just a measure of heat energy and watts are a measure electric energy.
1 watt = 3.42 BTU
Click to expand...
It’s more like it’s 92% efficient at converting your household power to the power delivered to your lights. It costs 8% to play.
 
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