DiY LEDs - How to Power Them

Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
Abiqua said:
@Bueno Time

Those Molex connectors are a must. . Especially with the wago's which are hidden inside, plug and play within minutes.....Here is a small sample size
View attachment 3296681 View attachment 3296682

Beware though, they do come in different gauges. For my 3500k's, I ordered [6x] of the 12" variety and they are like a 30AWG or so, thinner than the one pictured above. My new wire cutters won't even strip it, because they are so small, lol.
Basically, in Digikey I picked the $1.12 and 12" option. Don't have a part # right at the moment, but there are 3 different gauge sizes for each length of strand 6,12, 18, but they seem to do a poor job or listing them, or I did a poor job of reading :peace:
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Damn sounds like fun. I got the 6" 28 gauge ones I think since I figured I would cut them shorter and solder into a pair of positive/negative wire for each bar (Veros in parallel).
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
Driver cost is a good point. The higher voltage requirements of the MKR and Vero may actually help in some cases because small drivers do not perform well with low vF like single XML2 and XPLs. We have some very good and cheap drivers that will work great for the Veros:
$2 300mA
$2.50 300mA longer strings, 89% efficient

Wow this seller has so much to offer, $3 might as well throw in a great gag gift for your best friend:
View attachment 3296660
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lmao....funny brings new old meaning to "you shure gotta purty mouth"....:)

Here are a couple more out there.

Found these last night, says 50v-100v on the picture, but in the description they are 24v-84v @300mA
$3.81
http://www.ebay.com/itm/High-Power-8-25x1w-LED-Drive-Power-Supply-Constant-Current-SMD-Best/171505078471?_trksid=p2047675.c100009.m1982&_trkparms=aid=777000&algo=ABA.MBE&ao=1&asc=27538&meid=bc7a65073bc7446a8bb4f47c9e95e5dc&pid=100009&prg=11353&rk=1&rkt=4&

These from Fastech too, 50v-120v max @300mA
They would do a string of 4 + extra voltage for stars too.....
Naked [open case]
$6.77
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10008079/1714900-18-36-1w-85-277v-36w-high-power-constant-current

Case
$8.12
http://www.fasttech.com/products/1612/10008084/1714902-18-36-1w-85-277v-high-power-led-driver
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Interesting drivers AB, I have never seen those and will definitely have to test them out.

I like the idea of those connectors for swapping etc, but on the other hand I suspect I will be removing them from their cases to get to those direct solder pads now that I have seen the insides LOL.
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
Interesting drivers AB, I have never seen those and will definitely have to test them out.

I like the idea of those connectors for swapping etc, but on the other hand I suspect I will be removing them from their cases to get to those direct solder pads now that I have seen the insides LOL.
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Please do, I also bought some Osram 630 stars w/ my FT order and would like to add these in with the extra voltage, so I am curious what they test to...... :peace:
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Bueno Time said:
Damn sounds like fun. I got the 6" 28 gauge ones I think since I figured I would cut them shorter and solder into a pair of positive/negative wire for each bar (Veros in parallel).
Click to expand...
Yeah, I cheaped out, they do add up quick, especially when you don't have a proper soldering iron....

Gotta say definitely interested in your Vero build, Do you have a thread link at all?

I have been waiting on my FastT order for drivers and getting a bit nervous, everything else is red eye....:peace:
v10.JPG
 
uzerneims

uzerneims

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
That driver looks liek it would put out the same as the 1450mA $13 ones. But the big brother of the one you linked (84W) might come in handy if it really puts out 1800mA once warmed up. But because of its tripled cost of the driver, it is probably cheaper to use the $13 ones and run them at 1450mA.

But it would be easy to run the Vero18 very hard because of its lower Vf we have many more driver options, 2.1A for $26
http://www.ebay.com/itm/20W-150W-Waterproof-IP67-Electronic-LED-Driver-Constant-Current-Power-Supply-NEW-/111430422865?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item19f1c55151
Cheap dimmable 3A driver thanks Caretak3r!

Still, it might be better to run the Vero29 At 1475mA for $13 that is really tough to beat. The CXA3070 AB is also a great choice for 1450mA.
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Also, can you point me to best, pf corrected driver @ 1475 - i could make all boxes with 1500mA, except that large one, with 2.1A or all will be the same.

So that one on ebay - 50W link on a quoted post, that's right?
 
alesh

alesh

Well-Known Member
Bueno Time said:
Damn sounds like fun. I got the 6" 28 gauge ones I think since I figured I would cut them shorter and solder into a pair of positive/negative wire for each bar (Veros in parallel).
Click to expand...
They can handle up to 2.8 A according to the data sheet. Seems like you don't have to cut them.
 
Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
Abiqua said:
Yeah, I cheaped out, they do add up quick, especially when you don't have a proper soldering iron....

Gotta say definitely interested in your Vero build, Do you have a thread link at all?

I have been waiting on my FastT order for drivers and getting a bit nervous, everything else is red eye....:peace:
View attachment 3296690
Click to expand...
No I dont have any grow threads or LED threads on RIU, yet. Hopefully your drivers show up soon for you, how many V10s are you running, what color temp and drive current, and what size area is it to cover?

alesh said:
They can handle up to 2.8 A according to the data sheet. Seems like you don't have to cut them.
Click to expand...
Nice, I was just going to cut them to length just so there isnt a bunch of extra wiring dangling off my LED bars. I figured even the thin wires would carry the voltage and current required for the little guys (Vero 10s). Good to know they can handle such a high current (2.8A).
 
nogod_

nogod_

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
You have a good point Nogod, but in this scenario the CXA3070 3000K AB cost almost 2X to achieve those numbers.

For example, the CXA3590 146lm/W at .5A cost $3.10/PAR W. The CXA3070 at .5A is 167lm/W but cost almost $6/PAR W.

Another way to look at it, the CXA3590 3000K BD 146lm/W at .5A but cost $3.10/PAR W. The CXA3070 at 1.05A is 147.4lm/W and cost $2.90/PAR W.

So if you match them by cost they are pretty evenly matched. That said, both the COBs are currently out of stock for most folks.
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I guess im missing something. What is the cheapest way(without sacrificing too much efficiency or reliability) to underdrive the high voltage 3590s? I just assumed it was with one of the hlg's but i havent seen too much experimentation documented on here re: high voltage low current strings with ebay/ali drivers.
 
Abiqua

Abiqua

Well-Known Member
Bueno Time said:
No I dont have any grow threads or LED threads on RIU, yet. Hopefully your drivers show up soon for you, how many V10s are you running, what color temp and drive current, and what size area is it to cover?



Nice, I was just going to cut them to length just so there isnt a bunch of extra wiring dangling off my LED bars. I figured even the thin wires would carry the voltage and current required for the little guys (Vero 10s). Good to know they can handle such a high current (2.8A).
Click to expand...
Right now it is 6 of the 3500k V10's with 3 drivers running 63v@300mA or so...Space is 1.5' x 1.5'. It is a gutted mini-fridge that I can seal up completely. I want to make seeds on the regular....so this is going to be my 1st seed spectrum light....see what happens. I only grow for myself, so I don't need a ton of room to pollinate a couple girls in segregation.....

Just picked up 2 of the 3070AB's as well, but reversing course and going V29 :peace:
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Nogod, you could use the $2.50 driver for the CXA3590 and it will run at about 270mA and the driver is 88-89% efficienct. But to run them at a more reasonable current (700mA) the next best option that I am aware of is the $70 HLG-120H-C700A/B (3 CXA3590) or the HLG-C185H-C700A/B (4 CXA3590). Close call on both of those though as far as Vf. You might have to dim it just a bit to fit that many. Of course the 1050mA option could be used as well.
 
uzerneims

uzerneims

Well-Known Member
And by the time, I'm also searching for ebay/ali drivers, with dimming support.
Needless to say, but i can't find any info what is DALI dimming or 1-10V dimming, afaik 1-10V dimming uses some voltage, wich goes to driver - eerh... where to find any dimmer or smth
Because i want to dim my COB's anyway...
HLG in the end is the best, but i'm driving both COB's instead of one, so the same is for dimming...
 
uzerneims

uzerneims

Well-Known Member
Scornfulheal said:
What would be a good way to drive 6 Vero 18 3500k's with dimming function from ~350-700mA?
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I think for driving 6 V18, you need constant current driver, running them in parralel - 30-35V @ 4200mA = each diode dissipating ~9-21W.
Am i right?
Just trying to train my brain, i think this is what you need, but someone please confirm this:
Dimmable, from 0 - 4.2A 70$
I assume it is ok for V18, but not for V29, cuz V29 vF is higher than this driver's V.

Typical vF in sheet, that is the minimum - 31V for V29, too.. hmm...
Screen Shot 2014-11-21 at 02.19.06.png
31-45V max i see
 
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