Cree design grow light

[Boatguy]

I came across this design on mouser and am thinking it might make a good project. It appears most of the design work is done and a partial parts list. http://www.mouser.com/pdfdocs/HorticultureReferenceDesign.pdf

I'm probably going to scale it down to half size. What do you all think? I know its not a "COB" light but if cree thinks its the best choice and its their product.......

 

[frica]

High power leds/ single dies etc. are nice for sellers that buy diodes in high numbers and have the option to reflow solder it to a PCB.
Diodes are relatively expensive when you buy them in small numbers but are cheap when you buy thousands at a time.

COBs are easier for diy and other small scale projects.

 

[Boatguy]

Cob's are easier. My first panel i reflowed individual led's, it was a blurple panel just with a higher percentage of white leds, but reds still being the higher percentage. I was happy with it and it grew well. Heat wasnt a problem and it was passively cooled. That same heatsink with cob's is much hotter and has to be run at a much lower power than when i had the individual diodes.

 

[CobKits]

there is another thread about it.

not a fair test in my opinion as they measure a limited footprint under the fixture, and are catching all of the light from the LED and a fraction of the light from the gavita

in other words dont expect to replace an 1100W gavita with 550W, 750-800ish more like it

 

[daone]

I believe they have the whole module kit for a little bit over 700.

 

[NaturalFarmer]

The PCBs are really expensive as is in the reference. The heat sink is incredibly expensive as well. The design should incorporate some XT-E royal blues as well. The 5' height in reference is a little suspect I think and would like to see a much more standard height over a canopy.

I'm looking at the Osram Oslon 80 degree emitters to try to cut down the need for a secondary optic. IMO this reference may get you on the right course with emitters but I think it would be well over a $1000 if you went by the reference model when I priced it out (The PCBs being the highest cost even blank the heat sink being next).

If you can hack the build up, then you could bring the price down.

http://www.osram-os.com/osram_os/en/applications/areas-of-competence/horticulture-lighting/index.jsp

 

[daone]

I believe they have the whole module kit for a little bit over 700.

I do apologize I should have said that they have a similar design module for a little over 700.