DiY LEDs - How to Power Them

robincnn

robincnn

Well-Known Member
CDiablo said:
Also does mouser ever do sales/coupon codes? There is a holiday coming up 2 Mondays from now, and was wondering if it is worth waiting.
Click to expand...
I would also like to know of any sales/coupon discount on mouser.com. I wish they had blackfriday on mouser CXB3590 DD for $25 free shipping. Free HLG-185H-C1400 with every 4th 3590
I did see somewhere on their website 'Free shipping on most orders over $100'

May i know what power supply, Heatsink did you go with
The cheapest 3070 i heard was $35.50 from Jerry few months back.

saw you were looking for reflector in another thread
For 3070 with F13838_ANGELINA-XW reflector
Ideal 50-2234C is the holder for 3070, IDEAL 50-2100AN can go on top of holder to secure this reflector. Check this thread for more options.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
C

CDiablo

Active Member
@robincnn Thanks for the reflector suggestion. I saw that @Growmau5 was using those reflectors in one of his awesome fixtures. As it stands I am gong to go with the Mean Well HLG-120H-C1400B, to provide roughly 50w to each 3070. As for the heatsink I am going to go with passive cooling(I don't like the fan noise). Ive been getting quotes from a few Chinese distributors but I am potentially spending about $80 a piece on a 5.5'x6"x1" long heatsink. I found some really cheap heatsink here they have several sizes from small all the way up to a 4'x5.5"x.8" which they have rated as up to 50x3w or 1x 140w passive for around $60 a piece shipped. Nothing is set in stone but this will likely be my build.
 
Iceveign

Iceveign

Active Member
hey guys, I have my heat sinks tapped and ready to install the cob holders and cobs. I have a question about the wiring, this is by far the scariest part for me.

I will have 2 heat sinks(5.88" X 19), with 2 cobs on each(CXB3590 3500K CD 36V @ 1.4A) run by 1 driver(HLG-185H-C1400).

Do I run the wires from the driver to 1 heatsink and then jump it over to the other or is it ok to run 2 seperate + and - wires from the driver to each heatsink. I obviously like the idea of raising one light higher than the other, but not having wires from 1 heat sink to the other.

any advice is appreciated.
 
bizfactory

bizfactory

Well-Known Member
Iceveign said:
hey guys, I have my heat sinks tapped and ready to install the cob holders and cobs. I have a question about the wiring, this is by far the scariest part for me.

I will have 2 heat sinks(5.88" X 19), with 2 cobs on each(CXB3590 3500K CD 36V @ 1.4A) run by 1 driver(HLG-185H-C1400).

Do I run the wires from the driver to 1 heatsink and then jump it over to the other or is it ok to run 2 seperate + and - wires from the driver to each heatsink. I obviously like the idea of raising one light higher than the other, but not having wires from 1 heat sink to the other.

any advice is appreciated.
Click to expand...
You need to wire them in series with that driver. So + lead from the driver to the + on the first cob, then from the - on the first cob you wire to the + on the second cob....till you get all the way to the 4th in the same fashion and wire the - on the last cob to the - on the driver.

Maybe you could put an Aluminum flat bar on each end essentially bolting the two heatsinks together. Then it will be all one lamp that you can raise and lower with 1 set of ratchets or whatever you use. Then run the wires along the flat for a cleaning look and less chance of snagging.
 
Iceveign

Iceveign

Active Member
Thanks Bizfactory
So it has to be one continuous loop per driver, I can't do two? That defeats the purpose of me buying 2 19" heat sinks instead of one 38" one.
 
bizfactory

bizfactory

Well-Known Member
Yeah, with the driver you chose and 4x CXB3590s you need to do one continuous loop. Otherwise you are running some sort of weird series / parallel combo. You could do something like what I'm imagining you want by taking the output wire of the 2nd cob and running it the entire length back to your driver, then over to your 2nd bar.

Edit: Made you a drawing, hopefully that helps.
 

Attachments

Last edited:
D

dude9000

Member
I haven't seen much mention of meanwell LDD drivers around here? Im starting a light with 12w and 3w LEDs in series and I'm thinking of tossing a couple vero 18s on it also. The 350w power supply was 30 bux and board that can runn 5 LDDs can be had for around 15 bux. The LDDs are dimmable easlily with an arduino and can be had for around $6. I'm thinking of tossing maybe one 1000ma LDD and running two veros in parallel off it. Anyone doing something similar around these parts? All of my DIY fixtures right now are a mix of vero 18s, 29s and a couple el cheapo China cobs here and there for side lighting. I know they probably suck at efficiency but they win over my t5s in veg. Well, the T5s are no longer in use. Ha! My interest was sparked with the LDDs because eventually I want everything to run off of one clock, including experimanting with deep reds for 30 min or so at the end of the day. Those digital timers suck at staying synced up so everything at the moment is run off one timer using a contactor panel, my AC and lighting including HPS.. Eventually my arduino/rasperry Pi brain will turn my little hobby into an automated machine! Can't wait! Much work to be done :)
 
alesh

alesh

Well-Known Member
dude9000 said:
I haven't seen much mention of meanwell LDD drivers around here? Im starting a light with 12w and 3w LEDs in series and I'm thinking of tossing a couple vero 18s on it also. The 350w power supply was 30 bux and board that can runn 5 LDDs can be had for around 15 bux. The LDDs are dimmable easlily with an arduino and can be had for around $6. I'm thinking of tossing maybe one 1000ma LDD and running two veros in parallel off it. Anyone doing something similar around these parts? All of my DIY fixtures right now are a mix of vero 18s, 29s and a couple el cheapo China cobs here and there for side lighting. I know they probably suck at efficiency but they win over my t5s in veg. Well, the T5s are no longer in use. Ha! My interest was sparked with the LDDs because eventually I want everything to run off of one clock, including experimanting with deep reds for 30 min or so at the end of the day. Those digital timers suck at staying synced up so everything at the moment is run off one timer using a contactor panel, my AC and lighting including HPS.. Eventually my arduino/rasperry Pi brain will turn my little hobby into an automated machine! Can't wait! Much work to be done :)
Click to expand...
I used some LDDs a few years ago. They work great with Arduino. Not very efficient when you count in the DC power supply as well. But they're of course a great and cheap choice for experimenting.
 
D

dude9000

Member
PurpleBuz said:
that's cause of an additional layer of efficiency losses, and increased build complexity. That's not to say they are not a good solution it has definite advantages, I almost went this route, but decided efficiency was more important.
Click to expand...
I can see that but anything lost in efficiency beats having to buy ridiculously expensive t5s every 3 months or so. Hopfully i can also eliminate my hps's completly and eleiminate my reliance on AC. I'm always making something more complicated than it needs to be but that keeps it interesting ;) I'll probably end up mainly using the LDDs for experimenting with timed color changes in 12/12..
Thanks for the input! What drivers are you guys using to run cobs in series? I can't find anything that's not $100+ that'll run even 3 in series or is parallel the only way to go on a budget? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
S

SLITLOS

Well-Known Member
Not sure if this the place to post this, but the adds from the 40 thieves after an failed order with KB, has a link to a site that sale's "1ea." CBX's and I ran across
Meanwell drivers,also each, they have listed the HLG-240's so I sent a message
and got this back, see .png.
I'm going to buy beans as are rainy season is ending and I can grow outside, will
but the 240's later, but always looking.
SLITLOS

Meanwell, Meanwell direct from Shenzhen Glow Electronic Technology Co., Ltd. in China (Mainland)
 

Attachments

S

SLITLOS

Well-Known Member
littlejacob said:
Bonjour
Why do you want to buy one of those?
I am not sure it fit our purpose
Have a great day ★
Click to expand...
Just looking, but was thinking of running some V-2 29's hard
on some tall plants. Back to bean search.
My day was great, now after midnight here in the land of sticks.
SLITLOS
 
SaltyNuts

SaltyNuts

Well-Known Member
@SupraSPL

Hello Supra, thank you for this excellent tutorial, and all the other goodness you contribute here. I have a question about how to select the proper driver. "Function wise, HLG the series has two types of models (A/B-Type): A-Type is equipped with the internal potentiometers enabling the output current and output voltage to be adjusted; B-type is equipped with the built-in 3 in 1 dimming function (0~10Vdc, PWM signal, or resistance.)" If I want to be able to dim the cobs manually, with a dial, which version is preferable?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top