Driverless Cobs, with a driver?

Parceveinte4

New Member
I know that everyone hates driverless Cobs, and rightfully so. But, I bought about 5 of them for 10 bucks to do some testing.
I've been growing plants for a long time, however I'm newer to the diy led scene and not experienced in electricity, just decent.
My question is, could I potentially use a driver on these driverless Leds? I would like to try to find a way to make something as cheap as they are, but without the danger and power wasting of plugging into mains.
If I did use a driver, I'm guessing their min. Voltage is 110v (US here)?
I'm just wondering if there is a way to use the Leds themselves, which I think would function pretty decently given they are not being drowned in 110v constantly - basically, reducing the power to maybe 50%-70% to reduce the electricity being drained, and especially the crazy amount of heat they put off.
If a driver wouldn't work, would a dimmer work?
Would it be possible to lower the power enough where they still turn on, but don't draw as much electricity, shine at least 50% as bright, and don't get so damn hot?
I use quantum boards and am making some DIY quantum boards, so this is not what I'll be using for my main lighting, I'm trying to see if there is a cheap way to integrate supplemental lighting for my lower shelves where I keep my seedlings (which don't get much light as they are 4 shelves down).
I included a few pics of what I'm growing now: 5 or 6 passion fruit varieties, bunch of cacti varieties, pineapple, yellow-fleshed watermelon, carambola, pomegranate, kiwi, multiple pepper varieties, and a lot more. Plus the weed is cherry pie and blue mystic, about a week old.
All of this is going into the tent this week for the winter.
Anyone with more electrical knowledge please chime in!
Can I use a driver, or a dimmer, or both? Which would be better in terms of efficiency and practicality? I know the amperage will increase when lowering the voltage but I'm more so concerned with how hot they get.
Please don't jump in to say something negative, I know they're shit, and I don't use them for my main lighting, I also have citizen regular Cobs, I'm just purely playing around in the name of experimentation.
 

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No not a way that i know of without cutting the chip up to bypass the onboard driver on the Driverless cob. They have drivers they are built into the chip not sure why they are called driverless. They sell basically the same chips cheaper just without the onboard driver. Might want to get a few of those. " I know the amperage will increase when lowering the voltage but I'm more so concerned with how hot they get. " opposite happens when you lower voltage.
 
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