I've been thinking about how one implements a light source twice as bright as a DE, and honestly I'm having a little trouble. I'm currently using a very popular COB combination at just 50W apiece. I created an array with them that evenly distributes light across a large surface and the COBs are only 16" from the canopy.
A monster COB by itself is certainly no improvement. I'm still interested in the design, spectrum, etc.
I'm glad to hear you got your COB setup up and running, im sorry to hear you are having trouble, sounds like you have them setup how your supposed to for proper distribution. I'm curious though, are you seeing odd trends on your plants, or just not getting the horsepower you were expecting? I am interested in upgrading to a more efficient light source, and have been exploring options, but I am a long way out from spending the kind of money neccesary to get proper coverage.
I have thought about a monster cob made up of many regular CXB3590's much like the "CREE high bay luminaire" except with more diodes and different or a mix of color temps. But I have no evidence that this would help get the light to where we need it Just a way to cover a larger area from further away. But a much bigger single LED could be different, just depends on the design/engineering that went into it.
I have been exploring other non COB options before I start making decisions. I was curious if you knew much about the new remote phospor led? if I go the LED route, which seems like the most likely future standard, maybe this will be the one to splurge on. 96,000 hr life and supposedly customizable full spectrum. Expensive though im sure. But it will come down.
I have been looking at IUNU plasma's recently mainly because I am trying to find a better source for UVB. I have been using 26w repti-glo's and I see now how important UVB is. The plants/tops closest to be bulbs have noticeably more trichomes, although I try to rotate them out as much as possible, but this is silly. I need a better source. They are only good for 6 months max, which sucks. They also are 10 times more powerful at 4" than they are at 16" so their range sucks, so you need a lot of them, which gets expensive to buy over and over.
But another real nice effect of having UVB is that it goes a long way towards keeping the spider mites away, which to me is a huge plus. They hate it. The more UVB the better the effect. less sprays and other crap, and better quality
I first started looking into the company that makes the IUNU plasma's, since microsoft had a team of engineers decide that they were the best light source for growing vegetables in their cafeteria, and I had a chance to speak with their project manager, I was impressed that were able to produce the same 1850 umols that a regular 1KW HPS with only 500w and a very impressive full spectrum. Thats 500w from the wall as well. No extra efficiency lost in drivers. Is it true that this would be more efficient power wise than the CXB3590? Plus they put out a huge amount of UVB and UVA compared with what im using now. The problem is that you have to replace the $80 bulb once a year, so were back to that...
I was just curious what you or anyone else thought about these lights as an alternative to COB led. at $2500 a unit, that seems scary, but theres a $1500 utility rebate, that is available to some, if not all, I am looking into the details, but that could make it a little less scary.
They should be good for a 4' x 4' @ 1100 umol which is $800 in COB's assuming 1 per sq ft. Plus drivers, and no need for UVB bulbs, it might just be worth it. but the long term bulb replacement does not excite me.
I just hope they come out with UVB COB's soon. I know they are working on it.