Hey Hans 80 Owners! Are We Getting The Most Out Of Our Panels? Or Can We Do Better?

[FranJan]

Maybe something like this heatsink where the fan can sit in the middle. Something from an old amplifier perhaps? Probably use a graphite sheet between it and the Hans panel to get the heat away from the LEDs and into the heatsink. I don't care if this gets hot .

 

[FranJan]

Just a few links I found interesting:
http://sound.westhost.com/heatsinks.htm - This one's really good for a good in depth view of different heatsinks and terms.
http://www.mhtlab.uwaterloo.ca/RScalculators.html - MIT calcs!
http://www.custom-heat-sinks.com/ - Looks like I could get what I want here but it probably ain't cheap.
http://www.heatsinkusa.com/ - As others suggested, just want to keep it handy.

Looks like a large bolt on is giving away to smaller copper heatsinks, secured with 2 sided sticky graphite or maybe a diamond based thermal grease mixed with thermal plaster. I've decided to try to talk to Hans on what qualifies for violating the warranty. I'd really like to remove the fan and do a larger passive heatsink. I don't think the Hans quiet model's heatsinks will work for the 80. He only makes the noise free model in a 65. And it's a 30 dollar upgrade from the standard 65 and I can probably do better for less.

Cya round!

 

[vladimiroslav]

About driver swapping: I asked the question to Hans yesterday when ordering a new panel, he said we can switch drivers between the new panels but not with the old ones... I guess he means the last version, with the whites.

 

[FranJan]

Did he mean we can run the 80 watt model using the 65 watt model's driver but not the 65 using the 80's driver?

 

[vladimiroslav]

He meant we can swap the 65w panel driver with the 80w panel driver as long its both new models with the white diodes, just dont use the newer 80w driver with an old panel without white diodes.

 

[midsummer]

Humbly, the software invited my reply. Please let me know if this is an intrusion in a semi private conversation.

I am Not a Hans 80 owner; but I am researching becoming one and Heat is an issue. I think that in terms of the health of the crop; as well as in tems of efficiency and longevity of the fixture, temperature is an issue.

So, what is normal, what is the desired range.

I can not contribute to the answering of these two questions at this time; but I believe that knowing the normal operating temperatures of these units and researching the delta efficiency and longevity over ideal with temperature variance is what we need to hone in on in order to answer the original question.

Respectfully,

 

[bicit]

Maybe just add some more fans?

You could always get some cheap CPU coolers and set them on top with some thermal paste(not adhesive) rather than bolting them down. It would be less secure though.

 

[MrFlux]

A simple improvement to the Hans panel cooling would be to give the fan about 1cm standoff and add a shroud that forces the expelled air across the aluminium plate. The shroud can simply be some surface with a cut-out for the fan.

 

[FranJan]

Thanks guyz, I guess I could add fans but that kills efficiency a bit. Then again if it keeps my plants growing it's worth it. Maybe a better fan? Or multiple fans that are efficient enough to use the existing fans juice?

Still like little heatsinks but I'm still trying to work this all out with all the shit on my plate atm. Haven't even emailed Hans yet .

 

[FranJan]

Mother f*cka, did anyone realize that Hans 80 has light leaks? Or at least mine does. The reflector doesn't sit flush on the mount/heatsink and there is light leaking from the sides into the panel. I just looked into the space between the on/off switch and noticed it. I'm trying to take a picture atm but does anyone else's panel do that? Do you think it's not a problem and could be better for cooling purposes? I thought I messed it up because I removed the reflector on one but I looked at the one I didn't remove and it's the same. I'm really thinking of voiding this warranty and doing a redesign but I may just put them up for sale on the cheap and buy some COBs since my Illumitex GIVE ME THE EXTRA MONOS I PREFER and have a bonus of being highly directional. Hmmm decisions, decisions............I can get those Vero 29s on the cheap as we speak.

 

[vladimiroslav]

Never noticed that, will check when Im back home from work. Curious to see the pic...

 

[pajautus]

I just got mine 80w panel last week. I like how small the footprint is, but damn this thing runs hot. I can barely touch the top of the panel.. And yeah, there some vents on the sides of the unit, probably for the hot air to escape from the unit.

(EDIT; just checked mine, there actually seems to be some leagage inside the panel.. Not much, but still. I saw some red and whites leaking)

I don't think that the panel would last wery long wit that amount of heat it puts out, but at least we have the 3year warranty if it dies..

I put four Nirvana Blue Mystic Seeds in the bubbler this weekend, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[Yodaweed]

Mother f*cka, did anyone realize that Hans 80 has light leaks? Or at least mine does. The reflector doesn't sit flush on the mount/heatsink and there is light leaking from the sides into the panel. I just looked into the space between the on/off switch and noticed it. I'm trying to take a picture atm but does anyone else's panel do that? Do you think it's not a problem and could be better for cooling purposes? I thought I messed it up because I removed the reflector on one but I looked at the one I didn't remove and it's the same. I'm really thinking of voiding this warranty and doing a redesign but I may just put them up for sale on the cheap and buy some COBs since my Illumitex GIVE ME THE EXTRA MONOS I PREFER and have a bonus of being highly directional. Hmmm decisions, decisions............I can get those Vero 29s on the cheap as we speak.

Sounds like a poor design

 

[vladimiroslav]

Checked 2 out of 6 during lunchtime, one does, the other doesnt. Will see tomorrow for the others. Cant acces to the tents anymore for today.

 

[FranJan]

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm going to go over them tonight and see if tightening the reflectors down a bit more helps. I was very surprised at how tight the reflector was fastened to the heatsinks when I took it off. Maybe the reflector got loose from all the heating and cooling, just like my CREE bulbs did recently. I had to re-tighten all of them in their reflectors and was very surprised by that. Seeing that some of Vlads do and some don't is making me think this is the case.

Sounds like a poor design

Sadly it all does. Still not a deal breaker if it's a simple fix.

I just got mine 80w panel last week. I like how small the footprint is, but damn this thing runs hot. I can barely touch the top of the panel..

If it's that hot I would call/email Hans. Maybe we got some lower binned diodes making heat. And I love the size and weight too, which is why I'm more interested in getting it in A+ running condition than to just put them up for sail.

 

[vladimiroslav]

Maybe the reflector got loose from all the heating and cooling, just like my CREE bulbs did recently. I had to re-tighten all of them in their reflectors and was very surprised by that. Seeing that some of Vlads do and some don't is making me think this is the case.

The one I bought last week doesnt have any leaks, its an older (bought in January) wich does. Ill check to see if last year's panels (bought in September '13) have bigger leaks than the ones bought in January, who knows... Could it really be because of heat?

 

[FranJan]

My CREES were tightened so hard that the heatsink left marks in the PVC I used as a base for the reflector/limiter. I tightened the shit out of them when I made them. Went to clean them some months later and I could of easily pushed out each one from it's hose clamp. I remember some of the computers I would work on would get their connections loosened from the expanding and the contracting going on inside the PC case. Stuff like that makes me think it's possible it's that but different batches could be it too. If Hans uses different factories they could have different tolerances.

 

[pajautus]

Checked the panel this morning and the temperature has dropped on top of the panel. Maybe thre's some kind of "burning in time(?)" Now it's mostly just warm to the touch. Also, couple of the screws we're little loose, so I tightened them a bit, and now there's little less leagage in side. Dunno if they came loose in the shipping or from the factory like that.
Any way, I'm not that worried about the panel, 'cause It'll pay itself back after the first harvest+ that 2yrs. warranty if anything goes haywire..
I'll try to keep you updated..

 

[vladimiroslav]

I like how small the footprint is, but damn this thing runs hot. I can barely touch the top of the panel..

Mine runs a bit hot too but never to the point that I can barely touch it, what are your temps?

 

[pajautus]

Mine runs a bit hot too but never to the point that I can barely touch it, what are your temps?

About 25c in the box, that's in my bedroom. room temperature is about 20c, so little heat from the panel is actually helping. As mentioned, the panel cooled down in couple of days, now it's only slightly warm to touch.
I test drived it for 2 days straight 24/0, and now it's on 20/4. Anyway I'm happy that I got the panel, gone are the days of my 400w HPS