27k and 4k 98 cri boards $8.42

getogrow

Well-Known Member
Where the difference come in between wiring in series and parallel. I know the difference between the two wiring styles, just not towards led applications.
These strips are 36v each. So running them all in parallel will keep everything at 36v. Running 2 strips in series will add up to 72v, 4 of um in series will be 144volts. All that is doing is changing the driver needs. You can wire them anyway you want almost....
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
How are you doing currently with the timber 400 ? That seems to be a little high on watts....do you have um turned down ? Is this going to be in a tent or something with mylar walls ?


That one is 480 watts but has a dimmer in it. Im trying to be aware of future needs while recommending...
That on 18 strips (any color K you want) and you will still be running them very cool. (26 watts each on full power....so more like 20 or less watts each.

Im just giving you the easiest way to wire um and matching a driver to that.
The timber is great. I keep it dimmed in veg the progressively turn it up in flower. I've had it dimed (not dimmed.. lol) and the plant ended up foxtailing. It says on timber website it would flower in a 3x3.i have a 3x3 so I got it. Lol... you think 400 watts is too much for a 3x3? Tent btw.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
These strips are 36v each. So running them all in parallel will keep everything at 36v. Running 2 strips in series will add up to 72v, 4 of um in series will be 144volts. All that is doing is changing the driver needs. You can wire them anyway you want almost....
is one way more efficient?
 

dtcharneski

Well-Known Member
is one way more efficient?
not really, It just comes down to the number of strips you have and the power you want to run them. Different strip scenarios require different approaches to power. with the driver I recommended its constant current so you're restricted to .500ma of power regardless well not including dimming. The other recommended drivers are constant voltage so the power of the driver will always be 36 volts but the amperage per board would be dependent on the amount of boards you used and wattage of driver
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
Keep in mind that you cannot loop them together like speakers in parallel. In theory , you can wire the driver to the first strip only ...then jump out of the other side of the strips to wire the rest together but that wont work in real world. I learned that the hard way.
In other words, you should not use the strips themselves to power each other, you would wire each one to the driver separately.
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
or
18 strips-
12 2700k
6 4000k
and 3 of these
and wire the strips in series 6 per driver
450 watts and you'll have some blues for veg
right around $300-350 with a frame
The driver he mentions , is kinda safer then mine. His will only let out 500mA to each one no matter what.(with 150watts being the max power) The driver im using will give you 480 watts (with the dimmer on full power) no matter what.....so if you only wired 10 strips to it then it would give each strip 48 watts causing a lot of heat. Same applies if you wire 18 of them and the wire breaks going to 8 of them , then all the power will go to the remaining 10....
im not good at explaining things but i try :eyesmoke:
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Keep in mind that you cannot loop them together like speakers in parallel. In theory , you can wire the driver to the first strip only ...then jump out of the other side of the strips to wire the rest together but that wont work in real world. I learned that the hard way.
In other words, you should not use the strips themselves to power each other, you would wire each one to the driver separately.
My mind keeps going to stereo equipment wiring. So in other words, no bridging? Lol
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
sorta sorta not you'll still have 300-450 watts of power running it would just be spread more evenly
Yes , he is right , you will still have the same heat overall but more strips = less heat per strip. Saving the strips lifespan and raising efficiency waaaay up.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
sorta sorta not you'll still have 300-450 watts of power running it would just be spread more evenly
That's kinda why I'm wanting to go with strips. I like the cobs, but it seems like too much intense focused light only in certain areas. The qbs are good but I feel the strips give more spread. Plus if a diode burns out on a strip, it seems like it would be cheaper and easier to replace a strip. Just my thinking. I may be wrong, and most likely am. Lol
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
My mind keeps going to stereo equipment wiring. So in other words, no bridging? Lol
on a side note :clap::clap: i have "bridged" two drivers together to get the needed voltage. I needed 24 volts but only had 2x 12 volt drivers. it worked but i wouldnt recommend running um that way ..... im not sure , it may not hurt them at all.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Yes , he is right , you will still have the same heat overall but more strips = less heat per strip. Saving the strips lifespan and raising efficiency waaaay up.
That's what I meant. Lol.... not driving the diodes as hard, makes them last longer, no?
 

getogrow

Well-Known Member
That's kinda why I'm wanting to go with strips. I like the cobs, but it seems like too much intense focused light only in certain areas. The qbs are good but I feel the strips give more spread. Plus if a diode burns out on a strip, it seems like it would be cheaper and easier to replace a strip. Just my thinking. I may be wrong, and most likely am. Lol
Nope , you are thinking like me.... The strips are way better coverage then a QB or most cobs but the same can apply to them if you lower the current going to each board/cob. more of them will be better spread no matter what.
 

dtcharneski

Well-Known Member
Nope , you are thinking like me.... The strips are way better coverage then a QB or most cobs but the same can apply to them if you lower the current going to each board/cob. more of them will be better spread no matter what.
yes Its all about spread, if you can spread the heat out you can run the lights closer to the canopy and get deeper penetration
 
Top