LED Drivers, COBs

[pupuniko]

Hey there
I'm kind of newbie and have questions guys. I have 4x4x6.3(feet) tent. I need light to grow 2 plants in there simultaneously. I read some threads here but still some things are unclear.
1) My first question is about cheap Chinese COBs. As advertised they are 50w each and is very cheap. (1.5-2$) each. Plus as they work directly on 220v (no driver needed). I'm quite skeptical about it. The price is so low, that even its efficiency is low, I can buy and install 15-20 of them. What about its spectrum? If anyone has tried, are they really full spectrum and can be used as grow light? Does it worth buying them or not?

2) I did some research and I liked Citizen CLU048-1212 LED chips. I want to take as much light from each chip as possible. As for heat, it won't be a problem. I'm gonna make water cooling system. I'm thinking of getting 6 chip for my tent. Will it be enough?
Now, how should I choose the proper driver for it? Let's say for example "Citizen CLU048-1212 80CRI GEN6". In description it says "CLU-1212 is a nominal 36V COB which can operate up to 2.76A max (approximately 100W). Best efficiency is seen below 50W with this chip." so it works on 36V and best efficiency it has at 50w but what if it works on 80-90W with good cooling. Can it be damaged on long term? It is possible that one driver works with all 6 chips right? What should be the proper driver specs for this setup? Once again, I want to get as much light from each chip as possible.

3) Do you have any better option for my tent? any better Driver/LED setup as growing lights? I can do any type of DIY as long as I know proper setup and items I need to use.
Also, in case of 2nd way, will I need any additional IR or UV or any other type of LED for full coverage necessary spectrum?

Thanks in advance

 

[Airwalker16]

Don't bother with water cooling. Passive cooling with properly sized heatsinks is plenty. You don't want to run higher wattage if you can get away with it, because lower wattage will give you more lumens per watt.
You'd be better buying 12 CLU-048s and running them all at 40-50watts for a killer light. If you don't need to dim, LRS model drivers are a great price. Just need to be outside the tent. LRS-200-36. 3 of then with 4cobs a piece in parallel will be 50watts each. 600 watts total.

 

[Airwalker16]

Contact some suppliers on Alibaba. You can get 144mm round pin heatsinks per drilled for whatever holder you wanna use for like $6 a piece. It's just shipping costs a bit for 12 heatsinks probably $50.

 

[pupuniko]

Don't bother with water cooling. Passive cooling with properly sized heatsinks is plenty. You don't want to run higher wattage if you can get away with it, because lower wattage will give you more lumens per watt.
You'd be better buying 12 CLU-048s and running them all at 40-50watts for a killer light. If you don't need to dim, LRS model drivers are a great price. Just need to be outside the tent. LRS-200-36. 3 of then with 4cobs a piece in parallel will be 50watts each. 600 watts total.

I dont even know. Do I need dim? whats the advantage of it and how can I use them, whats the point?
I said about water cooling for 2 reasons: 1) I already have items for water cooling parts, aluminum radiators coolers and so on for free (my brother has PC shop and has PC cooling parts). 2) I may have to put the box outside of house (wherever will be quite hot during summer). and in case of water cooling, I put radiators outside the box, so it will be easier to keep the inside environment cool.

buying 12 CLU-048s is much more in budget. Im looking something for lower price. That's why I thought to take maximum possible light output from each LED. (well, at least for the beginning. after some months, I'll add up some more)

 

[Airwalker16]

I dont even know. Do I need dim? whats the advantage of it and how can I use them, whats the point?
I said about water cooling for 2 reasons: 1) I already have items for water cooling parts, aluminum radiators coolers and so on for free (my brother has PC shop and has PC cooling parts). 2) I may have to put the box outside of house (wherever will be quite hot during summer). and in case of water cooling, I put radiators outside the box, so it will be easier to keep the inside environment cool.

buying 12 CLU-048s is much more in budget. Im looking something for lower price. That's why I thought to take maximum possible light output from each LED. (well, at least for the beginning. after some months, I'll add up some more)

Buy gen 5 then

 

[pupuniko]

Buy gen 5 then

Gen 5 and Gen 6 has the same price on cobkits, so I will go for 6 I think.

also, in case of these leds, will I need any additional IR or UV or any other type of LED for full coverage of necessary spectrum?

What color COBs should I get? I thought of getting 3x 4000k, 3x 3500k. Will it be enough? what setup will be better for both, veg and flowering? and 90CRI would be better for aure then 80 right?

 

[Airwalker16]

Gen 5 and Gen 6 has the same price on cobkits, so I will go for 6 I think.

also, in case of these leds, will I need any additional IR or UV or any other type of LED for full coverage of necessary spectrum?

What color COBs should I get? I thought of getting 3x 4000k, 3x 3500k. Will it be enough? what setup will be better for both, veg and flowering?

I'm telling you man, 6 100w cobs is gonna require some pretty high hanging heights.
But get a mix of 3000 & 3500K

 

[Airwalker16]

I'm telling you man, 6 100w cobs is gonna require some pretty high hanging heights.
But get a mix of 3000 & 3500K

Also Didi-key and arrow probably have gen 5s cheap

 

[Airwalker16]

Fuck just use vero29s or cxb3070s. Just as good. You need to spread over 12 chips.
Use the savings here from buying 6 CLU-048-1212s and just get 12 of one of these.
I use CXB3070s to this day and a whole bunch of others on here do too. They're bad ass little chips.

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[Theghostfromthecoast]

I've tried leds and to be honest if you don't spend big cash they're shit and if you do spend the cash to save on power at the end of the day you might as well just buy your pot. now I realize opinions are like ass holes everyone's got one but I grow with mh/hps of various sizes depending on the grow and I bought leds off Amazon even after being told by friends that are knowledgeable growers that leds are heading in the right direction but they aren't there yet but I had to see for myself so I ordered 1 for about 100 bucks it said it could replace a 600 watt hps it arrived and it was bright but then I thought to be fair I'd spend around the same on leds as my 1000 watt mh/hps which was 300 so I actually blew 400 bucks on 2 leds that said they could replace a 1000 watt hps well fuck!I should have listened to my friends! the only thing comparable to a 1000watt hps was you could hang it from the same hook! I'm not pissy about the whole thing I had to see for myself but one thing I learned that as a secondary light source they do seem to help draw out the thc better then with only the hps light I don't know why they just do but unless you know something I don't ,save your money buy mh/hps because I really don't think you'll have much luck.......or grow much weed the technology isn't there yet at least for home growing

 

[Airwalker16]

I've tried leds and to be honest if you don't spend big cash they're shit and if you do spend the cash to save on power at the end of the day you might as well just buy your pot. now I realize opinions are like ass holes everyone's got one but I grow with mh/hps of various sizes depending on the grow and I bought leds off Amazon even after being told by friends that are knowledgeable growers that leds are heading in the right direction but they aren't there yet but I had to see for myself so I ordered 1 for about 100 bucks it said it could replace a 600 watt hps it arrived and it was bright but then I thought to be fair I'd spend around the same on leds as my 1000 watt mh/hps which was 300 so I actually blew 400 bucks on 2 leds that said they could replace a 1000 watt hps well fuck!I should have listened to my friends! the only thing comparable to a 1000watt hps was you could hang it from the same hook! I'm not pissy about the whole thing I had to see for myself but one thing I learned that as a secondary light source they do seem to help draw out the thc better then with only the hps light I don't know why they just do but unless you know something I don't ,save your money buy mh/hps because I really don't think you'll have much luck.......or grow much weed the technology isn't there yet at least for home growing

Lol, this guy.

 

[Airwalker16]

You know what you oughtta do is just scrap the cobs and buy a few strips. EB Gen2s are dirt cheap and you'll have a much better build, spread, and won't even need heatsinks if you buy enough of them. As long as they can share the drivers amperage to where they're not getting too hot.

 

[Corso312]

I've tried leds and to be honest if you don't spend big cash they're shit and if you do spend the cash to save on power at the end of the day you might as well just buy your pot. now I realize opinions are like ass holes everyone's got one but I grow with mh/hps of various sizes depending on the grow and I bought leds off Amazon even after being told by friends that are knowledgeable growers that leds are heading in the right direction but they aren't there yet but I had to see for myself so I ordered 1 for about 100 bucks it said it could replace a 600 watt hps it arrived and it was bright but then I thought to be fair I'd spend around the same on leds as my 1000 watt mh/hps which was 300 so I actually blew 400 bucks on 2 leds that said they could replace a 1000 watt hps well fuck!I should have listened to my friends! the only thing comparable to a 1000watt hps was you could hang it from the same hook! I'm not pissy about the whole thing I had to see for myself but one thing I learned that as a secondary light source they do seem to help draw out the thc better then with only the hps light I don't know why they just do but unless you know something I don't ,save your money buy mh/hps because I really don't think you'll have much luck.......or grow much weed the technology isn't there yet at least for home growing

You went cheap and bought a piece of shit LED light. Your friends don't know dick about LEDs either. They would have told you not to buy a cheap POS.

 

[coreywebster]

I've tried leds and to be honest if you don't spend big cash they're shit and if you do spend the cash to save on power at the end of the day you might as well just buy your pot. now I realize opinions are like ass holes everyone's got one but I grow with mh/hps of various sizes depending on the grow and I bought leds off Amazon even after being told by friends that are knowledgeable growers that leds are heading in the right direction but they aren't there yet but I had to see for myself so I ordered 1 for about 100 bucks it said it could replace a 600 watt hps it arrived and it was bright but then I thought to be fair I'd spend around the same on leds as my 1000 watt mh/hps which was 300 so I actually blew 400 bucks on 2 leds that said they could replace a 1000 watt hps well fuck!I should have listened to my friends! the only thing comparable to a 1000watt hps was you could hang it from the same hook! I'm not pissy about the whole thing I had to see for myself but one thing I learned that as a secondary light source they do seem to help draw out the thc better then with only the hps light I don't know why they just do but unless you know something I don't ,save your money buy mh/hps because I really don't think you'll have much luck.......or grow much weed the technology isn't there yet at least for home growing

Unfortunately you fell into the same trap many do. LEDs have been surpassing HPS for some time, but you have to do your research and its hard to know what is what with the way the internet and amazon work, its all geared to send you in the wrong direction.
You don't know until you know!

LEDs are still expensive in comparison though.
If people don't want to spend the money then they are better off with HPS or cmh.

 

[coreywebster]

Hey there
I'm kind of newbie and have questions guys. I have 4x4x6.3(feet) tent. I need light to grow 2 plants in there simultaneously. I read some threads here but still some things are unclear.
1) My first question is about cheap Chinese COBs. As advertised they are 50w each and is very cheap. (1.5-2$) each. Plus as they work directly on 220v (no driver needed). I'm quite skeptical about it. The price is so low, that even its efficiency is low, I can buy and install 15-20 of them. What about its spectrum? If anyone has tried, are they really full spectrum and can be used as grow light? Does it worth buying them or not?

2) I did some research and I liked Citizen CLU048-1212 LED chips. I want to take as much light from each chip as possible. As for heat, it won't be a problem. I'm gonna make water cooling system. I'm thinking of getting 6 chip for my tent. Will it be enough?
Now, how should I choose the proper driver for it? Let's say for example "Citizen CLU048-1212 80CRI GEN6". In description it says "CLU-1212 is a nominal 36V COB which can operate up to 2.76A max (approximately 100W). Best efficiency is seen below 50W with this chip." so it works on 36V and best efficiency it has at 50w but what if it works on 80-90W with good cooling. Can it be damaged on long term? It is possible that one driver works with all 6 chips right? What should be the proper driver specs for this setup? Once again, I want to get as much light from each chip as possible.

3) Do you have any better option for my tent? any better Driver/LED setup as growing lights? I can do any type of DIY as long as I know proper setup and items I need to use.
Also, in case of 2nd way, will I need any additional IR or UV or any other type of LED for full coverage necessary spectrum?

Thanks in advance

Stay away from cheap, if cheap worked non of us would be spending coin on quality efficient LEDs.

If your looking at clu1212s then you really want to be running more of them run softer.

Personally I would cost the whole thing out and then look at strips or boards and compare the overall cost, you can probably get a higher efficiency set up going that route.

You have a 4x4, if you only want two plants then you don't need to light the whole space, think about how much you want to produce vs how much space you want or need to light to do it.
Nothing saying you can build for half your 4x4 and add more light later, everyone ends up expanding at some point.

 

[Theghostfromthecoast]

Hey I can't argue I don't know enough about the technology and maybe they don't either I'd love to see a decent grow with leds I just haven't if you know something I don't I'd hey I'm all ears I've grown for awhile but took a break and I'm just playing catch up with these new lights I bought some of those red and blue things from China off Amazon a friend that own a hydroponic store dumped 3 grand on some about 18 months ago that he wouldn't even sell me but you're right just because mine or ours don't work doesn't mean yours don't so if you can show me something worth looking at I'd love to see it and learn how to better my grow

 

[Theghostfromthecoast]

You know what you oughtta do is just scrap the cobs and buy a few strips. EB Gen2s are dirt cheap and you'll have a much better build, spread, and won't even need heatsinks if you buy enough of them. As long as they can share the drivers amperage to where they're not getting too hot.

The money part isn't the issue there's just so much new shit out there and I'm playing catch up!I spent 500 bucks on lights that look like they should be on a kids toy but I'll spend more if it works.now I'm not a know it all and appreciate and good advice I can get now I've heard leds do help the plant produce more thc I don't know why it would do you know if that's bullshit or is there any truth behind it?

 

[Airwalker16]

Unfortunately you fell into the same trap many do. LEDs have been surpassing HPS for some time, but you have to do your research and its hard to know what is what with the way the internet and amazon work, its all geared to send you in the wrong direction.
You don't know until you know!

LEDs are still expensive in comparison though.
If people don't want to spend the money then they are better off with HPS or cmh.

That's almost not an excuse anymore with DIY all from China. You can get a 500w light for $200 now. And if you were to do a whole room, volume discount are quite large.

 

[Airwalker16]

The money part isn't the issue there's just so much new shit out there and I'm playing catch up!I spent 500 bucks on lights that look like they should be on a kids toy but I'll spend more if it works.now I'm not a know it all and appreciate and good advice I can get now I've heard leds do help the plant produce more thc I don't know why it would do you know if that's bullshit or is there any truth behind it?

Why are you jacking this random thread?

 

[Poobzilla]

Hey I can't argue I don't know enough about the technology and maybe they don't either I'd love to see a decent grow with leds I just haven't if you know something I don't I'd hey I'm all ears I've grown for awhile but took a break and I'm just playing catch up with these new lights I bought some of those red and blue things from China off Amazon a friend that own a hydroponic store dumped 3 grand on some about 18 months ago that he wouldn't even sell me but you're right just because mine or ours don't work doesn't mean yours don't so if you can show me something worth looking at I'd love to see it and learn how to better my grow

Why don't you have a look through some of the grow journals man? Multiple amazing grows using LED only that have dense frosty buds.