Calling all DIY LED Gurus: New Challenge(?)

[joecanna17]

Thanks for stopping by and helping fellas!

So your only using like 4-500 watts for 4 walls in a 4x4? That's sounds pretty low to me I would at least double that

Yeah, I know it sounds low, wattage wise, but hopefully will have a couple things working for it:

If my guess is anywhere close to correct, it should put out around 80,000 lumens at about 480w, but I'm definitely not the math pro here.

The second thing hopefully working in this systems advantage is the whole vertical configuration of plants and a central light, which isn't anything new. I'm just excited to put the addition of current gen LEDs to the whole system that's already personally proven pretty favorable in the past.

I'm not necessarily opposed to cutter, but I like the way Kingbrites prices looked, especially since they supposedly have the 480-c3500a driver.

I'm also waiting on word back about driver prices and shipping time tomorrow, from the manufacturer on Alibaba, who already quoted me for the strips. If the drivers are available, and priced anything like the kingbrite, I should be about ready to order...unless maybe there's closer free shipping or something from cutter or kingbrite?

They will be run in series and parallel.

The total voltage of the hlg-480h-c2100a is 117v. That means the most strips you can hook up in series (end to end) is 4, because the cumulative voltage of 4 is still under the 117v limit (4x24v = 96v) if you were to try and hook up 5 in series you would go over the max voltage of the driver (5x24v = 120v, when your max is 117v)

If you were to stop there and hook up that one 4-strip string to the driver you would be pushing 2100ma thru your 4 series-wired strips.

Since you want to run 3 strings of series-wired strips at 700ma instead of 1 string at 2100ma you will wire all the + leads together and all the - leads together of your 3 strings. This will give you a parallel circuit which means you divide the total output current of the driver by 3 and each string will get 700ma instead of 2100ma.

If you were to wire 4 strings of 4 series-wired strips in parallel (16 total strips) you would divide 2100ma by 4 and each string would only receive 525ma. 5 strings (20strips) => 420ma, 6 strings (24 strips) => 350ma so on and so forth.

Hope that helps and sorry if it doesnt!

Hey, I appreciate the help, as I'm not the expert, as I say!

I think the issue may be the slight difference in driver you mentioned. I'm planning on an HLG-480H-C3500A , not a C2100A, for the 30 strip fixture... (I think) 6 strips wired together series, 5 sets of those 6 strips, wired together in parallel. Does that sound closer?

I believe the plan is to run everything at 700mA, max. I think the 6-strip seedling / clone light is all 6 wired series for 135v, 700mA.
The 12 strip is 3 sets of 4 strips wired series / parallel @700mA, I believe
The 30 strip fixture is 5 sets of 6 strips @700mA, for 3500mA total..
..I think....I'm still learning

 

[Randomblame]

You get it finaly! Looks all good.
And I don't think it's not enough because if you take into account that the plant's growth to the lamp, you'll end up with a much smaller round area and for that it should be enough. For sure better than a 600w hps..

And you can trust Jerry/kingbrite. He has long been a reliable supplier and has many satisfied customers here in the forum.

 

[joecanna17]

You get it finaly! Looks all good.
And I don't think it's not enough because if you take into account that the plant's growth to the lamp, you'll end up with a much smaller round area and for that it should be enough. For sure better than a 600w hps..

And you can trust Jerry/kingbrite. He has long been a reliable supplier and has many satisfied customers here in the forum.

Yeah, I'm getting it, slowly but surely. I've just emailed Jerry with Kingbrite, so I don't know yet how they compare, but Vincent at Shenzen Bright has gotten back to me with the following quotes:



"The price : H562D / 3500K / SI-B8U11156HUS.
$ 4.86 per unit.
Mould cost of PCB: 562*18*1.6MM----$100.

Please check the price of Rigid LED strip frist.
The unit price of MW driver will offer tomorrow"

and

"Please check the price of MW driver.

HLG-120H-C700A ----$ 40.5 per unit--- Quantity: 2
HLG-240H-C2100A ----$ 52 per unit--- Quantity: 2
HLG-480H-C3500A ----$ 76 per unit--- Quantity: 3"

So, the LED strips and power supplies for 7 fixtures totals to about $1145 so far.
Prices seem great, but there is a lead time of a couple weeks to get the strips made, and I'm not sure yet how much shipping will be, or how long they'll actually take to arrive when they ship.
It may come down to whoever can get the products here first, if they're comparable price wise.
The adventure continues

 

[Randomblame]

Hmm!
Prices looks a bit too good IMO!
Jerry has always hard calculated prices on his drivers and COB's and offer HLG-480 at 136$US plus shipping.
76$ is half the price...
And the same goes for the H-series strips, if they copy the design you can not verify if they "in fact" use 561c s6 bin diodes or just some spistar 5630/5730.
So I'm a bit sceptical to these strips and boards they offer untill I see a few side by side tests with true H-series strips.
Did you have a link?
I would like to see by myself what shencen bright offers and which certficates he has shown on his site.

 

[joecanna17]

Hmm!
Prices looks a bit too good IMO!
Jerry has always hard calculated prices on his drivers and COB's and offer HLG-480 at 136$US plus shipping.
76$ is half the price...
And the same goes for the H-series strips, if they copy the design you can not verify if they "in fact" use 561c s6 bin diodes or just some spistar 5630/5730.
So I'm a bit sceptical to these strips and boards they offer untill I see a few side by side tests with true H-series strips.
Did you have a link?
I would like to see by myself what shencen bright offers and which certficates he has shown on his site.

Here's the link to their main product page

https://brightest.en.alibaba.com/?spm=a2700.8443308.0.0.oaKcBh

I don't have a link for specific product pages, and I don't actually see meanwell drivers or the LED strips listed in their products, so I don't blame you for skepticism either. I'm just basing the info off the fact that I specifically asked for these components. I do have an email sent to Jerry @ kingbrite, so If he can provide the authentic parts, and is reputable (as he seems to be), then I'll probably go with him. I was hoping Arrow could handle the order, as they have free overnight shipping, but they don't seem to have the 240 or 480w drivers in, and after calling to be sure, they have a 12 week lead time, so that won't work unfortunately.

Hopefully, sourcing the parts will be the last hurdle though, and I'll be making lights sooner than later!

 

[3GT]

Here's the link to their main product page

https://brightest.en.alibaba.com/?spm=a2700.8443308.0.0.oaKcBh

I don't have a link for specific product pages, and I don't actually see meanwell drivers or the LED strips listed in their products, so I don't blame you for skepticism either. I'm just basing the info off the fact that I specifically asked for these components. I do have an email sent to Jerry @ kingbrite, so If he can provide the authentic parts, and is reputable (as he seems to be), then I'll probably go with him. I was hoping Arrow could handle the order, as they have free overnight shipping, but they don't seem to have the 240 or 480w drivers in, and after calling to be sure, they have a 12 week lead time, so that won't work unfortunately.

Hopefully, sourcing the parts will be the last hurdle though, and I'll be making lights sooner than later!

Checked out arrows elg-200-c700b? They're so cheap.. Check data sheets for input voltages, output etc so you don't get any surprises

Edit; https://www.arrow.com/en/products/elg-200-c700b/mean-well-enterprises

 

[Ryante55]

Thanks for stopping by and helping fellas!



Yeah, I know it sounds low, wattage wise, but hopefully will have a couple things working for it:

If my guess is anywhere close to correct, it should put out around 80,000 lumens at about 480w, but I'm definitely not the math pro here.

The second thing hopefully working in this systems advantage is the whole vertical configuration of plants and a central light, which isn't anything new. I'm just excited to put the addition of current gen LEDs to the whole system that's already personally proven pretty favorable in the past.

I'm not necessarily opposed to cutter, but I like the way Kingbrites prices looked, especially since they supposedly have the 480-c3500a driver.

I'm also waiting on word back about driver prices and shipping time tomorrow, from the manufacturer on Alibaba, who already quoted me for the strips. If the drivers are available, and priced anything like the kingbrite, I should be about ready to order...unless maybe there's closer free shipping or something from cutter or kingbrite?




Hey, I appreciate the help, as I'm not the expert, as I say!

I think the issue may be the slight difference in driver you mentioned. I'm planning on an HLG-480H-C3500A , not a C2100A, for the 30 strip fixture... (I think) 6 strips wired together series, 5 sets of those 6 strips, wired together in parallel. Does that sound closer?

I believe the plan is to run everything at 700mA, max. I think the 6-strip seedling / clone light is all 6 wired series for 135v, 700mA.
The 12 strip is 3 sets of 4 strips wired series / parallel @700mA, I believe
The 30 strip fixture is 5 sets of 6 strips @700mA, for 3500mA total..
..I think....I'm still learning

Are you doing this for fun or trying to make money? If it's for fun your plan sounds great if your trying to make money and have someone investing you need to double your light and take a less diy approach. If it takes you 3-4 weeks to make the lights that's 3-4 weeks of growth your wasting. If you throw down the extra cash to buy pre made strips or quantum boards and get it done in less than a week you will make up the extra cost in profit from the extra few weeks of growth. I would personally spend $3000 setting up a 4x4 if I wanted to make a profit. If you try to save to much money you sacrifice yeild

 

[joecanna17]

Are you doing this for fun or trying to make money? If it's for fun your plan sounds great if your trying to make money and have someone investing you need to double your light and take a less diy approach. If it takes you 3-4 weeks to make the lights that's 3-4 weeks of growth your wasting. If you throw down the extra cash to buy pre made strips or quantum boards and get it done in less than a week you will make up the extra cost in profit from the extra few weeks of growth. I would personally spend $3000 setting up a 4x4 if I wanted to make a profit. If you try to save to much money you sacrifice yeild

These are just a few patients starting their first personal gardens. I'm just trying to get them started out as close to cutting edge as their budgets will allow. There's a few seedlings started under some screw in LEDs, but they should have a little time before they need their larger lights.

If I were trying to set up something more commercial, I may try to use like 8 quantum board kits for simplicity, but even they seem to be back ordered at least a couple weeks, if their site info is up to date as of a couple minutes ago.

Honestly, as long as the first build goes alright, I'd probably just keep DIY'ing for the price and the fun.

 

[joecanna17]

Kingbrite got back with the reply below. Unfortunately they don't have the strips or all power supplies.


Thanks for your enquiry!
I am Vivi from KingBrite, nice to support you.

LED Strips: Samsung LT-H562D 3500k Product code SI-B8U11156HUS is not available.
HLG-120H-C700A is not available, only have HLG-185H-C700A in stock, unit price is $40.5usd/pcs.
HLG-240H-C2100A is not available, only have B verison in stock, unit price is $59.5usd/pcs
HLG-480H-C3500A is not available, only have 2pcs HLG-480H-C3500B in stock, unit price is $135.0usd/pcs.

Wago connectors, 5 port: $0.6usd/pcs
Wiring to connect componants 0.75MM2, 100Meter/Roll, unit price is $15.0usd/roll.

Pls advise!

Best regards
Vivi Liu

I've also replied back to Shenzen Bright asking for a guarantee of authenticity, for what it's worth. So far, for better or worse, they're seeming like the best, cheapest, fastest option. Fingers crossed it's all legit...

 

[Randomblame]

I would take the dimmable version(B) anyway, same specs but more comfortable to adjust..
Good luck with shenzen bright,
please let us know if you are satisfied and a few pictures of the stripes would be nice.
Thanks

 

[joecanna17]

I would take the dimmable version(B) anyway, same specs but more comfortable to adjust..
Good luck with shenzen bright,
please let us know if you are satisfied and a few pictures of the stripes would be nice.
Thanks

Ok, I'll check on availability of version B. I thought they were both dimmable, but version A only to 50%, and version B would go more, but you need to add a potentiometer? I was going with version A because I didn't think I'd need to dim down as much, and for less added parts. What are the benefits to version B over A?

 

[Randomblame]

HLG series A drivers has an inbuilt poti behind a small hole which is closed with a rubber nipple, but you need a small screwdriver for dimming.
HLG series is dimmable between 5 and 100%(up to HLG-240),
HLG series is dimmable between 0/off and 100%(HLG-320 and bigger),
ELG series is also dimmable between 0/off and 100% but Ø 2% less efficient as HLG series.


But it is possible to dimm to zero with the smaller HLG ones if you use an additional relay

 

[joecanna17]

HLG series is dimmable between 5 and 100%(up to HLG-240),
HLG series is dimmable between 0/off and 100%(HLG-320 and bigger),

I'm not sure if I'm not understanding correctly, or if maybe you forgot to denote the difference in series (A vs B) in the quote above? Either way, I don't think any of my fixtures will be so bright to need to dim down to 10%, but that's good to know. I'm about to order parts either today or tomorrow, now that I think everything is ironed out.

Their prices on the 480H-C3500 were indeed too good to be true. They're actually $115 a piece, but still cheaper than what I've seen elsewhere....let's just hope they're real!

Also, they didn't have the B version of the 480w in stock, so the A version will have to do. I am getting the B version of the 120 and 240w supplies though.

All together with shipping, 7 power supplies, 130 strips of LEDs, Wagos, and wiring, the invoice comes to just under $1550. Hopefully I'll have some nice parts to play with in a couple weeks...

 

[Randomblame]

I'm not sure if I'm not understanding correctly, or if maybe you forgot to denote the difference in series (A vs B) in the quote above? Either way, I don't think any of my fixtures will be so bright to need to dim down to 10%, but that's good to know. I'm about to order parts either today or tomorrow, now that I think everything is ironed out.

Their prices on the 480H-C3500 were indeed too good to be true. They're actually $115 a piece, but still cheaper than what I've seen elsewhere....let's just hope they're real!

Also, they didn't have the B version of the 480w in stock, so the A version will have to do. I am getting the B version of the 120 and 240w supplies though.

All together with shipping, 7 power supplies, 130 strips of LEDs, Wagos, and wiring, the invoice comes to just under $1550. Hopefully I'll have some nice parts to play with in a couple weeks...

Happy to see that. Hopefully, you will continue to deliver contributions from construction, best with pictures.
BTW,
I find dimming to 10% very useful when you need to work in the room or to look at your babies (eg for diagnostic purposes)

 

[lilcobler]

Hi guys, i have similar plans but am a bit sceptical about the quality of ali baba strips. Is anyone in possession of the F series strips who can comment on output and maybe be able to compare it to a real QB? Thanks

 

[Randomblame]

Hi guys, i have similar plans but am a bit scepable about the quality of ali baba strips. Is anyone in possession of the F series strips who can comment on output and maybe be able to compare it to a real QB? Thanks

4 real Samsung F-Series strips á 72 or 6 H-series strips á 48 SM561c are very similar to a QB288.

For now no one knows how the alibaba strips works compared to true H- or F-series strips.
@CobKits has made a first test with a 6x22" board, allegedly 561c and the results are not as good as they should be.
So for now I would rather pay a bit more upfront costs than to buy a lot less efficient fake strips.
LED's pays for them self pretty fast, if you're not willing to pay double the price for true Samsung strips you have to wait untill more test are done or to just work with probably less efficient strips.

 

[CobKits]

which samsung strips have 561C. i want some shorties for clone trays, the least diodes they make on a board would be ideal

 

[Randomblame]

Samsung H-series, 24 sm561c per feet. 1', 2' and 4' long and in stock on digikey and arrow.

@CobKits
2ft H-series strip:
https://www.digikey.com/products/en?keywords=SI-B8T11156HUS

They use 561c but binning is unknown.

By the way,
Samsung has started manufacturing new midpower LED's called SM301B, 220lm / w in 5000k, ~ 8-10% via SM561c specs.

https://www.led-professional.com/products/leds_led_modules/samsung-achieves-220-lumens-per-watt-with-new-mid-power-led-package

 

[lilcobler]

So basically: H or F series strips seem to be the only real alternative at the moment? I thought the f series strips had 561c chips on them, but its not mentioned in the spec sheets. Can anyone clarify? Edit: it is mentioned in the certification section

 

[Randomblame]

So basically: h or f series strips are the only real alternative at the momen? I thought the f series strips had 561c chips on them,but its not mentioned in the spec sheets. Can anyone clarify?

If you want to be sure that it's real 561c, then yes.

And of course, it is mentioned in the datasheet...!