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The 1.4a option is a better one. I recommend the HLG-185H-C1400B (edit-baked) because it has the external dimming option which gives a much wider dimming range. As far as the driver retaining efficiency while dimming, I think they do but I am not positive about that. The efficiency gained by...

2 Meanwell HLG-120H-C1050B will work well. The voltage needed to drive 4 is about 82% of the max output of the driver which is over 92% efficient. The driver maintains over 90% efficiency all the way down to 60% of rated max voltage.

Why? I run 2 fans in series on my lights and they work just fine. In series the voltage is shared in balance by the fans. They turn at equal rpm just as they would if run from a single 6v source in parallel.

If your 12v power source puts out enough amperage you can wire your fans in series like your cobs. At 6v you should still get enough air and less noise.

It looks like Digikey has 68 but will not stock any more when those are gone. http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/BXRC-50G1000-B-04/976-1195-ND/4747501

I have had that problem when I haven't made a clean twist of the wire ends before soldering. It's true that some heat shrink is pretty thin but thicker walled stuff exists. I found some at Lowes.

Tape is less than ideal because it eventually loses adhesion and doesn't fully seal the connection. The stretchy silicone tape that sticks to itself is a better alternative but heat shrink is the best solution.

Those are called butt connectors. To make a solid solder connection you will need some heart shrink tubing. Cut about 1/2" of the heat shrink and slide it over one of the two wire ends before stripping the wire ends back about 7/16" and twist them together and solder them. Once they have...

Please consider that all life on Earth evolved under the white light of the sun. Most of us have found that when growing with narrow band monochromatic leds the results are often inferior to the results with 3000k warm white. It turns out that plants need the entire spectrum, especially...

The HLG is better driver for those reasons but it's also dimmable which is really nice when less light is needed.

You're welcome. Happy growing!

If you drive the Vero 18 3500k at 1050ma it draws ~30w and produces ~3500 lumens. At that current you would need 50 emitters. You could drive them harder and use less emitters but at a cost to efficiency. Even if they are driven a 2100ma they are still more efficient than what you were about...

The picture is of the type of emitter you should try to avoid if possible. Check out Bridgelux Vero or Cree CXA series. How many emitters will depend on the how you much light you need, the size of emitter you choose and at what amperage you want to drive them. To adequately light 4.5 square...

The spectrum you first posted will work fine. As far as I know, no Chinese led grow light manufacturer uses anything but lower quality Epistar emitters. Those are comparatively inefficient and have a much shorter life span. I was just pointing out that you could use less power and get better...

That would work but white cobs provide every color your plants need. They are also more efficient and less expense to build. My favorite is the Bridgelux Vero 18 but there are many other options available in cob emitters.

I've seen a 50% increase in yields over when I used top lighting only. For every gram I got with top lighting alone, with side lighting I get 1.5 grams. This is in the same size space and using and the same amount of power.

I haven't read that about the perpendicular angle but it makes sense. I do know that lighting the bottom of the leaves isn't productive though. My sidelighting is all at a ~45 degree angle to the plants. With that light totally surrounding the crop everything gets light mostly to the top...

Thanks. The directional light of led makes them exceptional for getting light right on target. The light chamber idea isn't a new one but until recently it had to be done with omnidirectional light sources which needed reflectors and made too much heat. With led the dream is achievable. I...

Side lighting works very well for me. Buds like the tops all the way to the bottom.

OOOPS! You're absolutely right about the 80H. That's what I get for posting while baked. I was thinking 700ma and writing 500ma.