LED Build 3x3

Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Fuck. I don’t want to have to buy real heat sinks. Was hoping the aluminium sheeting would work. I like the 24 inch by 8 inch aluminum sheet for the heat sink. That is why I’m trying to build a configuration around that.

Could I get by with the 185 driver, the aluminum sheet as linked earlier and 6 two foot strips without cooling or proper heat sink?
 
Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
Skoal said:
I just know the 2 foot strips are not in stock at the moment sadly
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On Digikey yes, but Arrow has 140 pcs of

bxeb-l0560z-35e2000-c-b3 (2 foot EB series gen2 3500K)
Run 12 of those on an HLG 240H 20a for 250+w, or 15 of those on an HLG 320H 20a for over 300w....
The strips running at just around 1000ma each, will be fine with NO heatsink, been doing it for a LONG time....
A sheet of aluminum roll flashing to hold them together would be plenty....
 
Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Can I run less strips on a lower driver?

If I want to run a 185 driver and run the strips in a series could it be done with 6 two foot strips? I want to work with the 24 by 8 metal sheet to mount everything to.
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
Skoal said:
Fuck. I don’t want to have to buy real heat sinks. Was hoping the aluminium sheeting would work. I like the 24 inch by 8 inch aluminum sheet for the heat sink. That is why I’m trying to build a configuration around that.

Could I get by with the 185 driver, the aluminum sheet as linked earlier and 6 two foot strips without cooling or proper heat sink?
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https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-gen-2-thermals.957453/
That's a pretty nice thread regarding thermals. Basically 6 strips with a 200w driver means 33 watts per strip. That would require heatsinking . Around 20 Watts is where I'd be comfy with with that sheet of aluminum and 15 W requires no sinking. So what you could do is get and HLG 120 1050 and drive up to 7 strips. 7 strips just under 150 Watts and very efficient. Slightly under powered for the space but if spread out can still get great results. Down the road you could always just add more.

So 7 strips is 70 bucks
HLG 120 1050 is 75
That's well under the budget and your aluminum sheet will keep em nice and cool. You'll get pretty good results and down the road you can always add on.
 
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Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
DangerDavez said:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-gen-2-thermals.957453/
That's a pretty nice thread regarding thermals. Basically 6 strips with a 200w driver means 33 watts per strip. That would require heatsinking . Around 20 Watts is where I'd be comfy with with that sheet of aluminum and 15 W requires no sinking. So what you could do is get and HLG 120 1050 and drive up to 7 strips. 7 strips just under 150 Watts and very efficient. Slightly under powered for the space but if spread out can still get great results. Down the road you could always just add more.
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So I’ve been thinking this all wrong then. If you run a larger driver you need less strips? Whereas if you run a lower driver and more strips it keeps stuff cooler. Less power but won’t require a heat sink? Where does it say the watts per strip on these suckers.
 
Chip Green

Chip Green

Well-Known Member
Just sayin, I run EB gen1 at 1050ma with nada, nothing, Zero heatsinking....been doin it for almost two years, the entire circuit gets less than 2% voltage drop from cold start to full operating temp...
HLG 185h c1050 with 8x EB gen1, wired in series, on a 2x2 frame of angle aluminum, no backing on the strips...thermal tape holding the ends of the strips on...217 watts draw from the wall.
 
Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Now the cables need to be soldered to the boards or do they just clip on like led gardener shows for the HLG kits?

Last issue I’m having is the power cord and the connector for the power cord to the driver.
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
Skoal said:
So I’ve been thinking this all wrong then. If you run a larger driver you need less strips? Whereas if you run a lower driver and more strips it keeps stuff cooler. Less power but won’t require a heat sink?
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Okay so these strips run at 20v.
2 types of driver. Constant current or constant voltage.
With constant current driver such as the HLG 120 1050, go to the data sheet and you'll see it can handle 148 volts. With each strip being 20v, you can comfortably run 7 off 1 driver.

The reason I choose 1050 ma is for thermal reasons. 1400 is the next step up and that would require sinking. I recommend constant current because it's easier and less dangerous the constant voltage which requires parralel wiring.
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
Skoal said:
I was thinking about using 22 gauge from driver to the boards instead of the 18.

18 was gonna be for the Ac side to the wall.
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That'll do. Just be aware of voltage drop and make sure you get solid wire not stranded unless you wanna solder.
 
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Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
DangerDavez said:
That'll do
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I don’t want to kill myself or my kids haha. If you get my drift. But this is much better than the vanity option. So I’m gonna stick with the 1050 drivers. Run everything in a series. I may run a 185 just to add 1-2 more strips instead of 7 if I can find a bigger aluminium sheet. If I can get a 24 by 12 aluminum sheet would give me enough room to run 9-10 strips comfortably. Power on a 185 driver. Be under the total voltage for sure.

Do I need something special for the water proof connector for the Ac wires for the power cord?
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
Skoal said:
I don’t want to kill myself or my kids haha. If you get my drift. But this is much better than the vanity option. So I’m gonna stick with the 1050 drivers. Run everything in a series. I may run a 185 just to add 1-2 more strips instead of 7 if I can find a bigger aluminium sheet. If I can get a 24 by 12 aluminum sheet would give me enough room to run 9-10 strips comfortably. Power on a 185 driver. Be under the total voltage for sure.

Do I need something special for the water proof connector for the Ac wires for the power cord?
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Yes good call on the 185. It's just a bit more but can handle 185 v rather than 145. 7 strips will run just fine as it falls between the 90 to 185 v range. If ever you wanna add 2 strips in series you always can.
 
Skoal

Skoal

Well-Known Member
Alright it’s settled. You turned me off the vanity and on these. 185 HLG. Gonna run 9 strips. Gonna order soon. Gonna run them in a series. Plants should be very happy under this.

18 guage power cord. 22 guage wires for the strips. Just need to find a couple wagos on the site. Can you recommend a water proof connector for the 18 guage power cord to the driver. 22g rated at 300v should cover my spread.

I went the aluminum sheet cause it’s easy to drill holes in for the hanging clips and to mount the driver to the back. Just need to create a small gap for the strips so I can put a machine screw in it with a bolt. I’m assuming 1 tube of thermal paste is enough to mount these puppies?
 
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mathewscott

mathewscott

Active Member
DangerDavez said:
Okay so the minimum length of the strips is 1 foot. You can get em in 1,2 or 4 ft lengths. Or in a real but strips is the better option. That sink is just 4 inches long so it won't do. I would just use aluminum channel to cool and drive em softly. LED gardener has a nice tutorial on for frames.

For a 3x3, I would build off an HLG 240 driver (250 watts). I would use the 240 1050 and get 12 Bridgelux eb2 strips. Wire them in series and you are good to go. Their may be better options for the money not sure. This is just off the top of my head.
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Run all this by LEDgardener. The guy is unbelievable. I've emailed him at 3am.5 minutes later I got a answer. RIU should honestly hire as a on staff expert!
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
Yup just make sure you order there 1050 ma version of the 185. Canadian Tire has those push in connectors same as wagos and I think I bought the Levitin python pplug from there too. Thermal past I'm not sure without seeing the tube. If you have a computer store nearby they have the 20g tubs for like 12 bucks and you'll be good for life. 200w of those will be great for that space and they'll run cool and efficient.
 
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DangerDavez

Well-Known Member
mathewscott said:
Run all this by LEDgardener. The guy is unbelievable. I've emailed him at 3am.5 minutes later I got a answer. RIU should honestly hire as a on staff expert!
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Yup I learned a lot from him. My dad is also an electrician so I know a thing or two as well. 9 eb2 strips on an HLG 185 1050 is a common build.
 
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