DIY kits now available from Timber!

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Just 1 cob holder and 1 adapter per light. So no extra sets.
If I wanted to use angelinas, I'd need an extra. What I mean is, with the adapters I have on now to hold my reflectors, I couldn't use again if I modified them to fit the stella Lens.
 

Desmond J

Active Member
Hey everyone,
I could use your input here, as I don't know if Dan is available in weekends and I've been very confused since yesterday.

So here is the thing, I just got a 4 COB kit from Timber (4 x cxb3590 + hlg185h-1400b). Everything allright, a bunch of light. BUT, my cheap killawatt thingy says it's running at 0.7A, giving me 156W.
I was expecting +200W. Still doesn't make any sense, as that wattage (156.6W) would be @1.0875A.

I'm from EU, in case the different voltage is causing this behaviour. Or maybe my cheap electric monitor is giving me fake data.

Thanks,
J.
 

BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone,
I could use your input here, as I don't know if Dan is available in weekends and I've been very confused since yesterday.

So here is the thing, I just got a 4 COB kit from Timber (4 x cxb3590 + hlg185h-1400b). Everything allright, a bunch of light. BUT, my cheap killawatt thingy says it's running at 0.7A, giving me 156W.
I was expecting +200W. Still doesn't make any sense, as that wattage (156.6W) would be @1.0875A.

I'm from EU, in case the different voltage is causing this behaviour. Or maybe my cheap electric monitor is giving me fake data.

Thanks,
J.
I only have 1 together so far and it's reading 165 from the wall on a kill-o-watt here in the us.

Also remember you're at 50hz. I don't know for sure how it plays to driven LEDs but in the phase change days it was always 1/5th weaker
 

BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
HMM. I just wired my other kit together and it's pulling 213 watts.......


Ahhhha. It's the grounds. If the two grounds that come with the kit touch(are grounded out) it's only pushing ~ 165w for me.
disconnect the grounds and it's 213w...

Fuck man. I can't explain that. Grounding out the potentiometer changes the resistance.
 
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BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
I could kiss you right now! Thanks man, that was it. It's giving me now [email protected].
Still weird numbers, and my ocd is freaking out about it, but oh well at least I have my +200W.

Again, thanks man! :clap:
make sure to keep the drivers ground connected just in case.
The pot Is ungrounded..... I am not sure this is the right answer tho. As Dan added grounds for a reason....maybe legality or maybe something important. I licked my fingers and touched both grounds and felt no love. Lights dimmed 40 watts tho haha.
 

BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
Actually it was him who told me to connect the 2 grounds together (or grounding them to the power supply case) until I have the frame to connect them to it.
Right but even properly grounding them to the frame case or whatever you use drops it back to 164w....
 

Desmond J

Active Member
Right but even properly grounding them to the frame case or whatever you use drops it back to 164w....
I guess we'll just have to wait till him or someone more knowledgeable than us can answer it.
Damn I hate not knowing things!
 

BM9AGS

Well-Known Member
I guess we'll just have to wait till him or someone more knowledgeable than us can answer it.
Damn I hate not knowing things!
Here's a good explanation. If it's not grounded it works as a variable resistor.
So I assume Dan gave us the option to use the pot as a pot or as a VR by giving us the wire. So I'm just gonna tape it off
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wire-a-Potentiometer-as-a-Variable-Resistor/

Also, FYI the drivers being 94% efficient means they need about 12 watts to run at 200 watts total. That's why we are getting about 212 ish watts from wall Hommie.
 

Desmond J

Active Member
Also, FYI the drivers being 94% efficient means they need about 12 watts to run at 200 watts total. That's why we are getting about 212 ish watts from wall Hommie.
See, that I knew, and the numbers makes sense (4*36*1.4*1.06 = ~213) just like I like it.

This other "pot vs vr" thing... Idk man.
 

RainDan

Well-Known Member
Here's a good explanation. If it's not grounded it works as a variable resistor.
So I assume Dan gave us the option to use the pot as a pot or as a VR by giving us the wire. So I'm just gonna tape it off
http://www.instructables.com/id/Wire-a-Potentiometer-as-a-Variable-Resistor/

Also, FYI the drivers being 94% efficient means they need about 12 watts to run at 200 watts total. That's why we are getting about 212 ish watts from wall Hommie.
Hello Desmond J and BM9AGS,

The ground wires coming off the potentiometer are not necessary and were included in error. They will have no impact on safety of operation, but as you both demonstrated, attaching them to a ground will lower the wattage output. Please remove them or tape them off using electrical tape.

Apologies for the oversight - and thank you for bringing it to our attention.

Have a good weekend!

Regards,
Dan
 

bottletoke

Well-Known Member
Just a heads up for Canadians, after extra $50 shipping, $144 in custom clearance, the $500 kit endup being $850 CAD....
Next time use a mail forwarding site like shipito.com, you fill out your own customs declarations so I usually state everything is a warranty return or an exchange and everything comes through with zero charges. I bought 9 gavita 1000's and they all made it with zero duty, taxes or brokerage and I never changed the packaging either.
I use this service for everything mail order, its awesome on saving $$$.
They even offer a service where they take everything out of its packaging and toss out all paperwork then repack everything in a new box. Use their Oregon service and it saves you the sales tax.
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Next time use a mail forwarding site like shipito.com, you fill out your own customs declarations so I usually state everything is a warranty return or an exchange and everything comes through with zero charges. I bought 9 gavita 1000's and they all made it, I never changed the packaging either.
I use this service for everything mail order, its awesome on saving $$$.
They even offer a service where they take everything out of its packaging and toss out all paperwork then repack everything in a new box.
So, frauding federal international customs? Awesome.
 

Nu-Be

Well-Known Member
These lights just continue to amaze me for the price. I can't believe they're completely pre-assembled and tested, with only name brand components, yet cheaper than all other kits on the market.
 
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