Help me build a large CXA3070 Rig

[HockeyBeard]

So, I'm designing a CXA array to cover approx 6x12 space. Still trying to determine if it'd be better to try to fit 3 in 7's across, or just do 2 in 10's. Thinking I might be able to get away with 5 across if I only do 2 in 10's. Anyhow - This is a design that I'm fond of, something really modular like this one by Werm11


So, let's say I'm looking at the 6x12. That's 72 lamps. If I'm not mistaken, I can run 4 COB's per HLG185C700, yes? So, that's 18 drivers?

Also, trying to determine what my best heatsink option is going to be. This appears to be Arctic 11s, but they are pretty sold out from most of the suppliers I've found. Would Heatsink USA be the best option then? I'm also thinking about not connecting the entire thing together so I can adjust the height if I'm running a couple plants of a different strain, but since I'm SCRoGing everything, I'm not sure that I'd get much more benefit out of it other than portability.

I'll be in a room with 10ft ceilings. What's the best COB arrangement to get equal spread across the canopy? I'd love some input from the pros. Thanks in advance!

 

[alesh]

So, I'm designing a CXA array to cover approx 6x12 space. Still trying to determine if it'd be better to try to fit 3 in 7's across, or just do 2 in 10's. Thinking I might be able to get away with 5 across if I only do 2 in 10's. Anyhow - This is a design that I'm fond of, something really modular like this one by Werm11
View attachment 3501974

So, let's say I'm looking at the 6x12. That's 72 lamps. If I'm not mistaken, I can run 4 COB's per HLG185C700, yes? So, that's 18 drivers?

Also, trying to determine what my best heatsink option is going to be. This appears to be Arctic 11s, but they are pretty sold out from most of the suppliers I've found. Would Heatsink USA be the best option then? I'm also thinking about not connecting the entire thing together so I can adjust the height if I'm running a couple plants of a different strain, but since I'm SCRoGing everything, I'm not sure that I'd get much more benefit out of it other than portability.

I'll be in a room with 10ft ceilings. What's the best COB arrangement to get equal spread across the canopy? I'd love some input from the pros. Thanks in advance!

Read up some more before you invest in such a large project. That's the best advice I can give you.

 

[HockeyBeard]

Read up some more before you invest in such a large project. That's the best advice I can give you.

Thanks, I've been reading up on these for over a year now. I think I've done my due diligence. I'm in the process of building two lamps for another room, but I'm going to be setting up another room in the next couple of months and I want to build this in that one. I'm just not as familiar with the drivers for larger scale stuff, and I haven't seen many people in here building anything to cover more than a few plants.

 

[Rahz]

What kind of CXAs are you planning on running with the HLG-185s?

 

[PurpleBuz]

Thanks, I've been reading up on these for over a year now. I think I've done my due diligence. I'm in the process of building two lamps for another room, but I'm going to be setting up another room in the next couple of months and I want to build this in that one. I'm just not as familiar with the drivers for larger scale stuff, and I haven't seen many people in here building anything to cover more than a few plants.

suggest you build a "module" based on
- one hlg-185 or the new hlg-240 if you can get one
- one long heatsink from heatsinkusa around 4 feet or so.
- the matching number of cxb3070 for the one driver

something like http://rollitup.org/t/mau5capades-builds-grow-journal.881192/page-2#post-11848298

or this:
http://rollitup.org/t/pictures-of-your-diy-lights-post-your-pics.871625/page-6#post-11809689

just some ideas

 

[Rahz]

Where are those 240s? I might have been the first to mention them back in April or something. A lady at Meanwell told me they would be available in August... but so far no 240Cs to be found.

 

[HockeyBeard]

What kind of CXAs are you planning on running with the HLG-185s?

3070 3000K from KB, but I'm not 100% on the driver yet. From what I had gathered, I could run 4 3070s on one of those, but if there is a bigger driver that can handle more, I'd strongly consider going that route.

 

[HockeyBeard]

suggest you build a "module" based on
- one hlg-185 or the new hlg-240 if you can get one
- one long heatsink from heatsinkusa around 4 feet or so.
- the matching number of cxb3070 for the one driver

something like http://rollitup.org/t/mau5capades-builds-grow-journal.881192/page-2#post-11848298

or this:
http://rollitup.org/t/pictures-of-your-diy-lights-post-your-pics.871625/page-6#post-11809689

just some ideas

This does seem like the most efficient way to cover the space I'm working with. Thanks for the suggestion.

 

[Tim Fox]

nodes my head towards supra

 

[Tim Fox]

the rows of numbers under the cobs names is the number of that cob you can run with the driver listed at the left

 

[Tim Fox]

I am wondering why your not going to build lights using the bigger stronger cxb3590's?

 

[HockeyBeard]

I am wondering why your not going to build lights using the bigger stronger cxb3590's?

I considered it - 13$ difference per COB though. How much more powerful are they? Do they justify the additional investment? It's essentially an extra 1k to use 3590s over 3070s, so that's kind of where I was hung up.

 

[Tim Fox]

you got me there, when I throw the cost of the light build into the equation, I keep coming back to the cheaper cobs , some will say you can cover your area with fewer cxb3590's, , but often in discussions the cost of the build isnt always considered, simply the biggest and best at the moment drives the conversation.
I am still a fan of the cxa3070's they cost around 34 dollars now, but the cxb3070's can be driven 4 at a time with the very efficieant driver http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Mean-Well/HLG-185H-C1400B/?qs=%2bmCJZPMmHFNyZddMqMvYFQ==
super good combo,,
and the cxb3070 are selling at the 40 dollar price point

 

[HockeyBeard]

I got a quote from Jerry at KB for well below that on 72pc - South of 25. I'd go with that driver if it's in stock when I'm ready to build. As it stands right now, it won't be available for at least a month from that supplier.

 

[alesh]

Thanks, I've been reading up on these for over a year now. I think I've done my due diligence. I'm in the process of building two lamps for another room, but I'm going to be setting up another room in the next couple of months and I want to build this in that one. I'm just not as familiar with the drivers for larger scale stuff, and I haven't seen many people in here building anything to cover more than a few plants.

Exactly. Maybe it's just me but I wouldn't dare to invest so much before I were familiar with what I'm doing.

BTW I kinda misunderstood your original post ( ) so don't take that note too seriously. I thought there were some flaws in your plan which, in fact, were no flaws.

 

[HockeyBeard]

You're correct, in the sense that there is always more to learn and different things to take into consideration. I just see so many people using Heatsink USA sinks, but I've not really seen too many, or ANY for that matter, using the Cooliance pin style heatsinks. They're lighter, and designed specifically for these CXA bulbs, as well as being pretapped for the Ideal holders. At about $15 for one designed to be able to passive cool the bulbs, I can see them being rather effective (if a Arctic 11 is 12$ + S/H).

 

[HockeyBeard]

I guess what I was hoping to glean some insight into other heatsink ideas for large scale. I know I could run just one solid bar and be passive, I was just curious if anyone else might try to make something a bit lighter and more manageable. Like I mention, I like Werm11's design because it allows a bit more adjustment on the X/Y Axis when it comes to spreading the light over each module evenly.

 

[Getgrowingson]

You're correct, in the sense that there is always more to learn and different things to take into consideration. I just see so many people using Heatsink USA sinks, but I've not really seen too many, or ANY for that matter, using the Cooliance pin style heatsinks. They're lighter, and designed specifically for these CXA bulbs, as well as being pretapped for the Ideal holders. At about $15 for one designed to be able to passive cool the bulbs, I can see them being rather effective (if a Arctic 11 is 12$ + S/H).

You have a link for those heatsinks?

 

[sanjuan]

You have a link for those heatsinks?

http://www.cooliance.com/NA/Products/LED-Coolers/LED-Coolers-For-Cree-Arrays.html

Edit: I don't need heatsinks but I want some of these active ones. "The Coolstrate module consists of a controller circuit, a special low noise, high efficiency, long life fan and an ultra low thermal resistance heat sink. The controller circuit converts any input voltage from 11 to 60 volts to a fixed lower voltage as required by the fan. The input voltage is derived from the same voltage used to power the LED array."
Edit2: I'm not sure how that plays out with a constant current driver.

 

[sanjuan]

Have you looked at verical.com for COBs? It is Arrow's surplus site and most COBs are sold in 20 or 100 unit quantities. Very good service.

I don't see an easy way of attaching a row of cooliance heatsinks to an aluminum framework?