Matching Drivers and COBs

Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
First, heartfelt thanks to all the contributors that have so diligently compiled the wealth of information here on elsewhere, with special shoutouts to SupraSPL and Growmau5 for their extraordinary efforts to provide detailed DIY information.

It's been 50 years since I've had to deal with Ohm's law, Planck constants, or µ as a prefix on anything ... but after wading through it all I feel marginally competent to build a COB system for a 4x4 reflective grow tent. So thank you.
That said, I'd appreciate your thoughts on my plans.

I'm planning a 12 COB fixture ... 8 CXB3590 CD 3500K 36v and 4 CXA 3590 CD, DB 4000K 36v configured as 3 4 COB arrays
I'll power them with 2 MW HLG 320H-C1400B (6 COBs each ... the driver supplies 230v) and either a Solar Storm dimmer or 2 10K potentiometers (Yes,I'm old but I can still solder)
I've ordered 12 of the KB 90 reflectors since they're cheap and 4 of the 120 degree lenses with appropriate mounting hardware so I can experiment with even light distribution.
I'm getting the pre-drilled KB 133mm passive heat sinks because at $10.60 each, even with the shipping they're cheaper than any other passives I could find.

If anyone has a better suggestion I'd love to hear it ... Chinese New Year is coming up and KingBrite is shutting down from Jan 15th to Feb8th so I need to get this placed ASAP.

Although I'm not sure the DIY calculator is spot on, here are some numbers for the array at .7ma, 1.05ma, and 1.4ma

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @1.4A ON 2.08 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 616.84
Cobs power watts: 586
Total voltage forward: 419
Total lumens: 106968
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 297
Total PPF: 1381.05
PPFD based on canopy area: 929.09
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 18.56
Cob efficiency: 56.34%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 36.63
Voltage forward per cob: 34.89
Lumens per watt: 182.54
Total heat watts: 256
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @1.05A ON 1.813 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 449.47
Cobs power watts: 427
Total voltage forward: 406
Total lumens: 83265
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 236
Total PPF: 1097.4
PPFD based on canopy area: 738.27
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 14.75
Cob efficiency: 61.5%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 26.69
Voltage forward per cob: 33.85
Lumens per watt: 195.0
Total heat watts: 164
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @0.7A ON 2.08 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 289.47
Cobs power watts: 275
Total voltage forward: 393
Total lumens: 57032
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 158
Total PPF: 734.7
PPFD based on canopy area: 494.26
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 9.88
Cob efficiency: 64.01%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 17.19
Voltage forward per cob: 32.72
Lumens per watt: 207.39
Total heat watts: 99
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated
 
Last edited:
D

deeppep

Member
Can you help me please.
I need drivers:
for 1 CLU046-1212C1-353H5G3, C121235H5 I want to get 80 watt out of that led chip
for 2 CLU046-1212C1-353H5G3, C121235H5 I want to get 80 watt out of that led chip
for 3 CLU046-1212C1-353H5G3, C121235H5 I want to get 80 watt out of that led chip
for 4 CLU046-1212C1-353H5G3, C121235H5 I want to get 80 watt out of that led chip

or drivers for maximum power out of this led`s
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
CLU046-1212C1-353H5G3 is listed as having 34.6 Fv (forward volts) at a max amperage of 2.76a (2760ma)
first thing, choose a driver that has a lower rating than the max amperage allowed by the COB.
I use Meanwell constant voltage drivers, so I will use those as an example.
If we look at the 320H-C2100, you would have 156 Fv available at 2.1A (2100ma). The next step up would be 320H-C2800A/B which at 2800ma exceeds the safe range for your COBs.
Now the only question is how many COBs do you want to drive. Since each COB requires 34.6Fv to turn on, you divide 156 (the Fv rating of the driver at 2100ma) by 34.6 to determine the maximum number of COBs you can run with the driver. In this case it would be 4 COBs at approximately 79 watts each.
Hope this helps
 
REALSTYLES

REALSTYLES

Well-Known Member
Bosgrower said:
First, heartfelt thanks to all the contributors that have so diligently compiled the wealth of information here on elsewhere, with special shoutouts to SupraSPL and Growmau5 for their extraordinary efforts to provide detailed DIY information.

It's been 50 years since I've had to deal with Ohm's law, Planck constants, or µ as a prefix on anything ... but after wading through it all I feel marginally competent to build a COB system for a 4x4 reflective grow tent. So thank you.
That said, I'd appreciate your thoughts on my plans.

I'm planning a 12 COB fixture ... 8 CXB3590 CD 3500K 36v and 4 CXA 3590 CD, DB 4000K 36v configured as 3 4 COB arrays
I'll power them with 2 MW HLG 320H-C1400B (6 COBs each ... the driver supplies 230v) and either a Solar Storm dimmer or 2 10K potentiometers (Yes,I'm old but I can still solder)
I've ordered 12 of the KB 90 reflectors since they're cheap and 4 of the 120 degree lenses with appropriate mounting hardware so I can experiment with even light distribution.
I'm getting the pre-drilled KB 133mm passive heat sinks because at $10.60 each, even with the shipping they're cheaper than any other passives I could find.

If anyone has a better suggestion I'd love to hear it ... Chinese New Year is coming up and KingBrite is shutting down from Jan 15th to Feb8th so I need to get this placed ASAP.

Although I'm not sure the DIY calculator is spot on, here are some numbers for the array at .7ma, 1.05ma, and 1.4ma

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @1.4A ON 2.08 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 616.84
Cobs power watts: 586
Total voltage forward: 419
Total lumens: 106968
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 297
Total PPF: 1381.05
PPFD based on canopy area: 929.09
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 18.56
Cob efficiency: 56.34%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 36.63
Voltage forward per cob: 34.89
Lumens per watt: 182.54
Total heat watts: 256
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @1.05A ON 1.813 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 449.47
Cobs power watts: 427
Total voltage forward: 406
Total lumens: 83265
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 236
Total PPF: 1097.4
PPFD based on canopy area: 738.27
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 14.75
Cob efficiency: 61.5%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 26.69
Voltage forward per cob: 33.85
Lumens per watt: 195.0
Total heat watts: 164
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated

CXB3590CD36V3500K 12 COBS @0.7A ON 2.08 PROFILE HEATSINK
16 SQ.FT. CANOPY 95% EFFICIENT DRIVER @10 CENTS PER KWH
Total power watts at the wall: 289.47
Cobs power watts: 275
Total voltage forward: 393
Total lumens: 57032
Total PAR watts assuming 10% loss: 158
Total PPF: 734.7
PPFD based on canopy area: 494.26
PAR watts per sq.ft.: 9.88
Cob efficiency: 64.01%
Power watts per sq.ft.: 17.19
Voltage forward per cob: 32.72
Lumens per watt: 207.39
Total heat watts: 99
umol/s/W / CRI: 4.65 / Estimated
Click to expand...
I have the 12 cob 1400ma version 5 of them
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
Hi @REALSTYLES
Good to hear from you.
Sent you an email on your site (at least I think it's your site :) ) hoping for a quick critique before I pulled trigger, but with Chinese New Years shutting things down 'til after Feb 8th, the order is on it's way.
I haven't put up a tent yet ... I was planning on a 4 x 4 but with the full power output on this I'm tempted to look at a 5 x5.
If you're running these, any suggestions you can offer would be greatly appreciated. I plan on using this one for flower and building a 9 COB system for veg next month with 4000s and 5000s if that makes sense.
Also, have you found a 1-10v 200K potentiometer so you can dim both drivers together? Nothing against Steve's but if I don't have to spend another $70 I'd rather not.
If nothing else, it's comforting to know that I'm not alone in my decision.
Thanks
 
xX_BHMC_Xx

xX_BHMC_Xx

Well-Known Member
Does anyone have any experience with the CLU028 series? I was browsing through the CDI catalog and started formulating an idea for a new light. I was thinking of running 2 sets of 12 CLU028-1204's in series at 450ma or 2 sets of 9 at 600ma for a total of almost 400w either way. I was thinking of running these with 2 HLG240H-42 drivers. Any reason not to do this?
 
bassman999

bassman999

Well-Known Member
xX_BHMC_Xx said:
Does anyone have any experience with the CLU028 series? I was browsing through the CDI catalog and started formulating an idea for a new light. I was thinking of running 2 sets of 12 CLU028-1204's in series at 450ma or 2 sets of 9 at 600ma for a total of almost 400w either way. I was thinking of running these with 2 HLG240H-42 drivers. Any reason not to do this?
Click to expand...
If you dont have the drivers already the 36V version seems a better fit?
Make sure to run them in parallel not series.
 
lilsativa

lilsativa

Member
I want to dim my HLG-185H-C1400B down to 25% and as I understand I should add 25K resistor before pot, but after turning pot to 100% total resistance will be 100k+25k.
So 75k pot would be perfect but I only have 50k and 100k.
please guys advice what to do? it will be very hard not to go over limit with 25k resistor and 100k pot.
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
bassman999 said:
... Make sure to run them in parallel not series.
Click to expand...
If you do choose to run them in parallel, be sure to add some fuses or resistors to protect your COBs in the event of a thermal runaway.

lilsativa said:
I want to dim my HLG-185H-C1400B down to 25% and as I understand I should add 25K resistor before pot, but after turning pot to 100% total resistance will be 100k+25k.
So 75k pot would be perfect but I only have 50k and 100k.
please guys advice what to do? it will be very hard not to go over limit with 25k resistor and 100k pot.
Click to expand...
Assuming you're only using a single HLG-185, why not just use the 1-10v 100K potentiometer and leave it dimmed to whatever level you want?
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
If you haven't seen a potentiometer, it works like the volume knob on your stereo. Turn it all the way down and the COBs will shut off, turn it all the way up and the COBs will go to 100%. You'll need to make 2 solder connection and mount it on your fixture, but it's relatively easy to do
 
Bosgrower

Bosgrower

Well-Known Member
sixstring2112 said:
that looks cool,interested to hear if it will work on 2 drivers as well
Click to expand...
Did a little more research ... it has what's called audio taper ... which makes the resistance change logarithmic instead of linear. it would still work, but you'd have to figure out where your voltage was at for each knob position.
What I couldn't find is a statement on whether each channel is 100K Ohms independently or if it's the same a standard 100K.
It just struck me as neater than the normal 50K unit I'll need for my fixture
 
lilsativa

lilsativa

Member
Bosgrower said:
If you haven't seen a potentiometer, it works like the volume knob on your stereo. Turn it all the way down and the COBs will shut off, turn it all the way up and the COBs will go to 100%. You'll need to make 2 solder connection and mount it on your fixture, but it's relatively easy to do
Click to expand...
both my potentiometers have 1 turn lock to lock and its very hard to guess where exactly 25% mark is, by adding 25k resistor I'll know that when pot is all way down its 25%.
 
xX_BHMC_Xx

xX_BHMC_Xx

Well-Known Member
bassman999 said:
If you dont have the drivers already the 36V version seems a better fit?
Make sure to run them in parallel not series.
Click to expand...
I meant parallel... don't know what happened with my brain there. According to the Citi calc the 028 runs a little over 36v at 600ma. I feel like it would be easier on the drivers to run the 42, plus I could crank them up a little more if I wanted to.
 
bassman999

bassman999

Well-Known Member
xX_BHMC_Xx said:
I meant parallel... don't know what happened with my brain there. According to the Citi calc the 028 runs a little over 36v at 600ma. I feel like it would be easier on the drivers to run the 42, plus I could crank them up a little more if I wanted to.
Click to expand...
Im not familiar with them, but if over 36 then the 42.
I run the 42 with my cxa3070s for that reason
 
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