I Want to Build My First LED Fixture

IAreRobLowe

IAreRobLowe

Active Member
Hey peeps,

I have finally decided that it makes more since for me to learn how to build a fixture rather than saving for a BML 1200. I keep reading on the forums that for the price of one($2400) a much more efficient fixture could be built. I want to build it the right way with either CREE or Osram cobs. Does any one have any recommendations on possibly some smaller starter projects or books to get more familiar with lighting and wiring or is it pretty straight forward. Any help is always appreciated. Thanks
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
IAreRobLowe said:
Hey peeps,

I have finally decided that it makes more since for me to learn how to build a fixture rather than saving for a BML 1200. I keep reading on the forums that for the price of one($2400) a much more efficient fixture could be built. I want to build it the right way with either CREE or Osram cobs. Does any one have any recommendations on possibly some smaller starter projects or books to get more familiar with lighting and wiring or is it pretty straight forward. Any help is always appreciated. Thanks
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Osram?

Anyway, you could do a 4x4 DIY with mid 40% efficiency for $1000-1200.

Or for $2400 you could get mid 60% efficiency.

Not books unless you want general electrical knowledge, read forum posts, DIY builds, read and understand datasheets for both the emitter choices and driver choices. Consider Cree and Bridgelux cobs. For drivers many use Meanwell... several performance choices, many favor the HLG-C lineup. Ask questions.

We can give driver/cob recommendations, but a little more info about your price and efficiency expectations would be helpful. Having a driver matched up with X number of cobs is the big decision, then, knowing how to wire them in series if applicable, being able to solder (possible to avoid soldering), drilling and tapping screw holes, either building a frame or enclosure (fancy), or just mounting everything to a large heat sink. The other general method is to use CPU coolers per each emitter. A path less traveled is under driven emitters on passive heat sinks, but still a very viable strategy for DIY.

Getting to 4x4 size my personal thought is not wanting a gob of CPU coolers and fans in there, and I would tend to lean towards passive cooling on radial heat sinks... which is what I've done in my flowering chambers.

50 watt radial LED heatsinks ($13 on ebay) would be very nice for mounting a CXB 3590 at .7 amps. That would be less than 10 watts of heat each. You have options, if you're going to spend $2400, that will blow the BML away in both output and efficiency. Or you can spend much less and get something very similar.
 
IAreRobLowe

IAreRobLowe

Active Member
I'm looking to light up a 5x5x7 space. I'm thinking between three price ranges,$750,$1000,$1250. Aim for higher efficiency levels.
 
alesh

alesh

Well-Known Member
IAreRobLowe said:
I'm looking to light up a 5x5x7 space. I'm thinking between three price ranges,$750,$1000,$1250. Aim for higher efficiency levels.
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These three things don't exactly mix up well :)
But as @Rahz says, 4xCXB3070 + HLG-185H and scale it up and you might be within $1250 range.
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
4 3070s or 3590s per HLG-185, 3 per HLG-120

Some are saying Vero 29 will work in the same combos... good to have a bit of overhead on the driver though.
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
That's what I was thinking, cool. I plan on building a 4ft horizontal bar out of vinyl fence post (2x), like what someone else made (Newton I think his handle was?) to add to my current set up. Was going to use 4 per bar so that'd be perfect. Is that driving them at .7mA?
 
IAreRobLowe

IAreRobLowe

Active Member
HockeyBeard said:
That's what I was thinking, cool. I plan on building a 4ft horizontal bar out of vinyl fence post (2x), like what someone else made (Newton I think his handle was?) to add to my current set up. Was going to use 4 per bar so that'd be perfect. Is that driving them at .7mA?
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how much do you think this setup would cost and how many watts would be pushed at what efficiency?
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Well, what I have planned would really only cover 2 x 4 stationary, but I'm adding it onto a mover rail that I already have, to blend in more warm white to my existing Kessil LED setup. My room isn't getting as warm as I'd like, so I'm adding some more watts! I should be able to build this setup for around $800.

(2) 5 Pack CXA 3070 Top BIN - $360
(8.) Arctic Alpine 11 with PWM Dimmer - $120
(2) Meanwell HLG-185 - $130
(2) Small 5V PSU for PC fans - Need to price that
(2) Vinyl fence posts - ~$20
Probably up to $50 in misc. parts

Pushing about 140W (each COB at approx 35W) per rail, that should be running them around .7mA, if I'm referencing the numbers in my head correctly. Two rails should add about 280W to my canopy that is already being hit with 560W of Kessil LED (4 H350 95W Magenta + 6 H150 35W Magenta along the sides) over an approx 4x8ft canopy.
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Looks like all the main components are on your list. If you were looking for around 35-37w per cob we're talking 1.05 amps. Four cobs per rail (CXA or B) you could use HLG-120H-C1050, or run 5 on each rail with HLG-185H-C1050
 
Growmau5

Growmau5

Well-Known Member
What would it take for me to build a replica of a bml spydr 1200?
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Hey @IAreRobLowe I currently own a spydr600, when I bought it a year ago, I was convinced by their science and the information the owner of BML gave me about their perfect spectrum etc. I have done a couple successful runs with it, alone producing 20oz in a 4x4. BUT, the fact of the matter is that mono leds just don't produce the same lumen per watt yield as all white COBs. Less light energy and a lofty price tag have kept me from being a return customer to BML.

My suggestion, take the $2499 and buy a shit load of cree cxa3590s and blow the spydr out of the water. all while illuminating twice the sqft.
 
HockeyBeard

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
I'm on that line of thought as well. It takes the efficiency of LED and creates a fuller spectrum than the mono LED builds. Less parts, less solders, has more pros than cons, imo.
 
IAreRobLowe

IAreRobLowe

Active Member
Growmau5 said:
Hey @IAreRobLowe I currently own a spydr600, when I bought it a year ago, I was convinced by their science and the information the owner of BML gave me about their perfect spectrum etc. I have done a couple successful runs with it, alone producing 20oz in a 4x4. BUT, the fact of the matter is that mono leds just don't produce the same lumen per watt yield as all white COBs. Less light energy and a lofty price tag have kept me from being a return customer to BML.

My suggestion, take the $2499 and buy a shit load of cree cxa3590s and blow the spydr out of the water. all while illuminating twice the sqft.
Click to expand...
Considering that this is my first build, I'm not entirely sure what to buy. I will go with your recommendation and get the CXA 3590s. I assume they should be in the 3000 Kelvin temp. How many cobs of each temperature should I get? Let's say I got 16 of these cobs. Would that be sufficient to light up a 5 x 5 space. In addition to that, how many drivers and which ones would you recommend for these lights?
 
Growmau5

Growmau5

Well-Known Member
@IAreRobLowe , for a 16 cob build, you probably want the CXB3590 (i miss typed 'a' in my previous message). they come in a 3500k, so you could do all 16 @3500k. Last I checked KingBrite had them instock. You can run 4 of the 36v model per driver, assuming Meanwell HLG185h-c1400. 16 would be pretty crazy for a 5x5 for sure, esp at 1400mA.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cxb3590-1500w.878136/page-3#post-11781260

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cxb-3590-cb-build.876269/

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cxb-3590-36v-or-72v.878016/
 
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