Confirming build list: 400w DIY Vero29 build

T

Tiky

Active Member
Hello,

I am looking to complete a total buy list for a DIY LED setup. I am
already going to be running a Timber Lights 3500K Vero29fixture @
400w and I want to slowly build a second rig to learn about these things and complement it, probably a bit
more suited for flowering. Total grow space is 18 square feet if i open it up so closer to 800w total is my end goal....starting with the 400w fixture in a 3x3 area.


Requirements:

-3000K spectrum

-COB LEDs

-400 watt draw at wall

-Low heat signature

-Budget: Around $400 if possible

I know I can get “kits” from timber that achieve these specs at around
$519 for Vero29s but hope I can probably do better myself if building.

I’m thinking I’ll stick with Vero29s for consistency and go for the
3000K temp to compliment the 3500K fixture I’ll be already running.

It seems if I were to build myself the parts list I’m looking at would
be something like this:

COBs: 4X Vero29SE (3000K 90 CRI D Poke-In) @ $27 each from RapidLED=$108

Reflector and adaptor for COB: 4X Ledil STELLA @ $12.50 from RapidLED=$50

Heat Sinks: 4X 140mm PIN Heatsink @ $19.00 ea from RapidLED=$80

Dimmer: Unsure….do people put dimmers on their DIY builds?=~$20?

Driver: 2X Meanwell HLG-185H-C1400B Dimmable @ $50 from RapidLED=$100

Wires/Harnesses/Connections: Wires/Wagos/Power Cord ~$20=$20

Thermal Paste: $6

Total: ~$385

Am i way off? Would you change specs majorly in any one area?
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
That sounds pretty complete. Only thing I'd point out is that @1400mA each chip runs at ~ 53W. I run a similar setup with a single HLG-320 but will run the arrays to 2100mA and then dim if the power isn't needed. It pulls 335 W at the wall at max.
 
nc208

nc208

Well-Known Member
Tiky said:
Hello,

I am looking to complete a total buy list for a DIY LED setup. I am
already going to be running a Timber Lights 3500K Vero29fixture @
400w and I want to slowly build a second rig to learn about these things and complement it, probably a bit
more suited for flowering. Total grow space is 18 square feet if i open it up so closer to 800w total is my end goal....starting with the 400w fixture in a 3x3 area.


Requirements:

-3000K spectrum

-COB LEDs

-400 watt draw at wall

-Low heat signature

-Budget: Around $400 if possible

I know I can get “kits” from timber that achieve these specs at around
$519 for Vero29s but hope I can probably do better myself if building.

I’m thinking I’ll stick with Vero29s for consistency and go for the
3000K temp to compliment the 3500K fixture I’ll be already running.

It seems if I were to build myself the parts list I’m looking at would
be something like this:

COBs: 4X Vero29SE (3000K 90 CRI D Poke-In) @ $27 each from RapidLED=$108

Reflector and adaptor for COB: 4X Ledil STELLA @ $12.50 from RapidLED=$50

Heat Sinks: 4X 140mm PIN Heatsink @ $19.00 ea from RapidLED=$80

Dimmer: Unsure….do people put dimmers on their DIY builds?=~$20?

Driver: 2X Meanwell HLG-185H-C1400B Dimmable @ $50 from RapidLED=$100

Wires/Harnesses/Connections: Wires/Wagos/Power Cord ~$20=$20

Thermal Paste: $6

Total: ~$385

Am i way off? Would you change specs majorly in any one area?
Click to expand...
Looks good. I emailed Rapid LED and they put together a kit for me that saved some money. I wouldn't invest in the reflectors at first. Wait to see if you even need them. I'd also use thermal pads vs paste so you can swab cobs if you want to play with the spectrum.

If you've settled on the b option for the driver then yes you will need a dimmer. If you choose the a option it comes with a built in screw potentiometer on the bottom. I use the c version of the Vero and it packs a lot of punch. You may want to look at those chips only a 6 dollar price difference.
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
If you're running the cobs at 100w each then I'd get the C version and if you're in a tent I'd skip the reflectors and use that money toward C version cobs :)
 
T

Tiky

Active Member
Lets say I wanted to save even further and go to a 300w setup, how would this list look?:
-Vero29SE Type C 3500k 80CRI @$45.50 with Stella reflector=$136.50
-Meanwell HLG-320H-C2100B: $100
Heat Sinks: 3X 140mm PIN Heatsink @ $19.00 ea from RapidLED=$57
Dimmer: Generic enclosed for HLG series=~$6?
Thermal Pads: $3
Wires etc: $20
Total: ~$325

I am still leaning towards the "get 400W and dim it down vs 300w and for some reason want more power later"
 
nc208

nc208

Well-Known Member
Here's what my order was and it's also for a 3x3 space.
4 Vero 29 C 3000k 80 cri
4 x 140mm pin heatsinks
Hlg-320h-2100b
Dimmer
Wire, thermal pads, wago connectors and m3 screws.

This package came to 276$ USD shipped.

Wire in series and parallel so you split the current and am driving at 1050 ma each for about 75w. So total is 300w. This works with passive cooling. If your going higher than 75w per cob I would recommend active cooling. The way I have it is if I find the 300w not enough I can order a 2nd driver of the same and be able to crank them up to 150w each. Would need serious cooling at that power though.

Again you don't need the reflectors. These cobs blast light. The reflectors are used for pot lights in a ceiling to focus light down to the floor. Start without and save some money. If you find you want them later on you can always add them.
 
Enigma

Enigma

Well-Known Member
Let's make life easy, with headroom!


Arrow.com - Driver: HLG-320H-C2100B - $84

TastLED.com - Light Engines 150mm - $60 or $65 with Angelina Reflectors

Total - $324 or $344 with reflectors

Do note, TastyLED light engines are capable of 95W (1.4A) operation on the 150mm heat sinks with passive cooling.

I'm about to fire up some of them myself.

:leaf:
 
nc208

nc208

Well-Known Member
Enigma said:
Let's make life easy, with headroom!


Arrow.com - Driver: HLG-320H-C2100B - $84

TastLED.com - Light Engines 150mm - $60 or $65 with Angelina Reflectors

Total - $324 or $344 with reflectors

Do note, TastyLED light engines are capable of 95W (1.4A) operation on the 150mm heat sinks with passive cooling.

I'm about to fire up some of them myself.

:leaf:
Click to expand...
Yeah it's too bad TastyLed is getting out of the DIY game so that would have been another good option.
 
T

Tiky

Active Member
Thanks everyone!

Lots of options but in the end I think I want the headroom of having the available extra COB and watts. I know wattage isnt everything, though.

I'm doing a 4-cob setup as framing seems more straightforward and my space is square-ish so that helps, as well.

Used the RapidLED 10% first purchase discount, coupled with free shipping.

Final cost: $305 shipped.
COBs: 4X Vero29SE (3000K 90 CRI C Poke-In)
Heat Sinks: 4X 140mm PIN Heatsink
Dimmer: 2X Sealed
Driver: 2X Meanwell HLG-185H-C1400B Dimmable
Wires/HConnections: Wires/Wagos/Power Cord
Thermal Pads
 
T

Tiky

Active Member
PilouPilou said:
Hi! Which Stella reflector is made for the SE version?
Click to expand...
Not an expert at all on these....when you put the Vero29SE "D" version in your care at rapidLED they give an option to add a Ledil Stella Lens.

Doesnt appear to offer that same reflector with the "C" version so maybe its version specific?
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
Ledil states that p/n fits with an 'SE'. The lens looks like it actually fits around the chip so it doesn't use the same mounts-you bolt the chip to the sink and then bolt the lens to the sink.
 
tf84

tf84

New Member
Looking for assistance to update above lists to present day for my new 3x3. Have 4 micro grows under my belt (2x1 box I built just to prove to myself I could grow). Torn between pulling trigger on a ($$$ for me) timber 4vs or diy. Never built a light but I have worked part time in my younger days summer job soldering boards and building power supplies so I know I can pull it off. Need details on frame to hold the cobs, don’t see suggestions on that, guessing aluminum angle from Lowes or Home Depot would do the trick? Also tent is 3x3x7, planning on the AC Infinity fan cloudline t4 , 4” as I already have life left in my iPower 4” carbon filter. Is that enough airflow assuming I add a couple fans to move the air across the pins and canopy?
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Maybe double check. But its my understanding the reflectors can be a negative with some cobs. Cree/Vero not sure. I removed them from my vero29s.

Timber rep sent something out on this a while back.
 
PSUAGRO.

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Over 75w on the vero 29c you want active cooling or you fall way under 2 ppf/w, close to de hps 1.5-1.7 range. I would do 6 @ 50w(cxms to hit the budget), 140mm passive pin sinks (overkill for longevity)imo.. NO cob reflectors with reflective walls around the grow

4-inch exhaust WITH filter attached is borderline on maintaining negative pressure/smell in a 3x3x7, YMMV depending on ambient, RH

good luck grower
 
Last edited:
tf84

tf84

New Member
Decided on strips instead of cobs, went with 8 led strips for now, can add later. These say Samsung but could be Chinese, 96 diodes per strip in double row Lm561c S6 sunboard, 3500k cri80.

Plan to put 8 white led strips across 4 x 33” heat sinks (2 per heat sink) to make 32” x 33” light using two pieces of aluminum angle to hold them up. This is for my soon to be arriving 3x3x6 tent. And I also got two red/far red strips same size which I can place on a 5th heatsink. All powered by one hlg 320h-c1400b so I can dim if needed.

Question: how to distribute the 4 heat sinks with the 8 white leds crosswise, and the 1 heatsink with 2 red led strips? I’m thinking I should start 2” or maybe 4” in from each end and place the white leds evenly across. In the case of starting at 4” over a 24” spread means at 4”, 12”, 20”, 28” and then I would drop the red in the middle at 16” . This feels like best but I’m no expert, all I heard is that leds put off light at around 120 degree angle, hence my thinking to move in from the edge of the light. I’d be directing too much light onto the walls of the tent if I went edge to edge.

Any suggestions? Thx in advance
 
tf84

tf84

New Member
PSUAGRO. said:
Over 75w on the vero 29c you want active cooling or you fall way under 2 ppf/w, close to de hps 1.5-1.7 range. I would do 6 @ 50w(cxms to hit the budget), 140mm passive pin sinks (overkill for longevity)imo.. NO cob reflectors with reflective walls around the grow

4-inch exhaust WITH filter attached is borderline on maintaining negative pressure/smell in a 3x3x7, YMMV depending on ambient, RH

good luck grower
Click to expand...
Thx for your feedback, appreciate it!
 
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