I Want to Build My First LED Fixture

T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
Rahz said:
Osram?

Anyway, you could do a 4x4 DIY with mid 40% efficiency for $1000-1200.

Or for $2400 you could get mid 60% efficiency.

Not books unless you want general electrical knowledge, read forum posts, DIY builds, read and understand datasheets for both the emitter choices and driver choices. Consider Cree and Bridgelux cobs. For drivers many use Meanwell... several performance choices, many favor the HLG-C lineup. Ask questions.

We can give driver/cob recommendations, but a little more info about your price and efficiency expectations would be helpful. Having a driver matched up with X number of cobs is the big decision, then, knowing how to wire them in series if applicable, being able to solder (possible to avoid soldering), drilling and tapping screw holes, either building a frame or enclosure (fancy), or just mounting everything to a large heat sink. The other general method is to use CPU coolers per each emitter. A path less traveled is under driven emitters on passive heat sinks, but still a very viable strategy for DIY.

Getting to 4x4 size my personal thought is not wanting a gob of CPU coolers and fans in there, and I would tend to lean towards passive cooling on radial heat sinks... which is what I've done in my flowering chambers.

50 watt radial LED heatsinks ($13 on ebay) would be very nice for mounting a CXB 3590 at .7 amps. That would be less than 10 watts of heat each. You have options, if you're going to spend $2400, that will blow the BML away in both output and efficiency. Or you can spend much less and get something very similar.[/QUOTE
What would be a good watt and passive heat sink to run a Vero 18 for flowering
Click to expand...
 
T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
Does any body know what would be a good passive heatsink and driver for a Vero 18 I have bought 12 Vero 18s I'm want to go passive or one fan per heatsink. Could somebody help me please . This is for a flowering light in a 4x4 tent.
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
Tjblack said:
Does any body know what would be a good passive heatsink and driver for a Vero 18 I have bought 12 Vero 18s I'm want to go passive or one fan per heatsink. Could somebody help me please . This is for a flowering light in a 4x4 tent.
Click to expand...
On the heatsinks I mentioned Vero 18 at nominal current (1.05 amps) runs a little warm. I have a few fans up top that keeps the whole array cool but because of that I didn't truly meet my original goal. The next lamp used the same sinks with Vero 29 at .7 amps and they do stay nice and cool, so I'd say Vero 18 at .7 amps would work great on them.

Those sinks do take a bit of sanding with a sanding block to get them smooth, warned.

Search ebay for "50W Watt LED Aluminium Heatsink Round"

If you end up going that route, bid low in your bulk offer. Last time I checked they were like $17 each!! which is bullshit considering how rough they are. It's just an extruded chunk of aluminum. offer them 12-13 each and tell them to bugger off if they decline. Back when I bought them there were lots of sellers, so now maybe someone thinks they've cornered the market...

Thing is, there's nowhere else to find them. I did find something very similar at digikey, nice finish and anodized black but they were like $40 each.

Edit: 12 Vero 18s at .7 amps isn't going to fill a 4x4. DIY is cheaper but still costs bucks.
 
T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
Rahz said:
On the heatsinks I mentioned Vero 18 at nominal current (1.05 amps) runs a little warm. I have a few fans up top that keeps the whole array cool but because of that I didn't truly meet my original goal. The next lamp used the same sinks with Vero 29 at .7 amps and they do stay nice and cool, so I'd say Vero 18 at .7 amps would work great on them.

Those sinks do take a bit of sanding with a sanding block to get them smooth, warned.

Search ebay for "50W Watt LED Aluminium Heatsink Round"

If you end up going that route, bid low in your bulk offer. Last time I checked they were like $17 each!! which is bullshit considering how rough they are. It's just an extruded chunk of aluminum. offer them 12-13 each and tell them to bugger off if they decline. Back when I bought them there were lots of sellers, so now maybe someone thinks they've cornered the market...

Thing is, there's nowhere else to find them. I did find something very similar at digikey, nice finish and anodized black but they were like $40 each.

Edit: 12 Vero 18s at .7 amps isn't going to fill a 4x4. DIY is cheaper but still costs bucks.
Click to expand...
How many do I need ? I also ordered two Area 51 Vero 29 4000 K and thanks
 
T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
Rahz said:
On the heatsinks I mentioned Vero 18 at nominal current (1.05 amps) runs a little warm. I have a few fans up top that keeps the whole array cool but because of that I didn't truly meet my original goal. The next lamp used the same sinks with Vero 29 at .7 amps and they do stay nice and cool, so I'd say Vero 18 at .7 amps would work great on them.

Those sinks do take a bit of sanding with a sanding block to get them smooth, warned.

Search ebay for "50W Watt LED Aluminium Heatsink Round"

If you end up going that route, bid low in your bulk offer. Last time I checked they were like $17 each!! which is bullshit considering how rough they are. It's just an extruded chunk of aluminum. offer them 12-13 each and tell them to bugger off if they decline. Back when I bought them there were lots of sellers, so now maybe someone thinks they've cornered the market...

Thing is, there's nowhere else to find them. I did find something very similar at digikey, nice finish and anodized black but they were like $40 each.

Edit: 12 Vero 18s at .7 amps isn't going to fill a 4x4. DIY is cheaper but still costs bucks.
Click to expand...
Thanks a lot and what driver would I use?
 
Rahz

Rahz

Well-Known Member
HLG-185H-C700 can output 286 volts. 10 Vero18s at .7 amp (asuming the Vero 18s are version 2) would want 287 volts when turned on... incredibly close, I suspect it would work no problem to run ten of them with it.

You could also run 6 each on HLG-120H-C700. 2 of those plus 4 A51 units would give you about 750 PPFD in a 4x4.

But since you have A51 Vero 29s already in the mix at nominal current, you should consider running the Vero 18s at nominal as well... that way you don't need to buy more A51 units. (Sorry EH :)

So, to get the light you want in that 4x4 for the least amount of money, here is what I would do. Two HLG-185H-C1050, each running 6 of the Vero 18s, along with the two Area 51 lamps, would give you a PPFD of over 850.

But passive is kinda iffy like I said at 30 watts, on the radial heat sinks I mentioned. Heatsinkusa has a couple nice profiles, maybe the 4.6 in a 36 inch length, two of those. On each run 6 Vero 18s with 2 fans, 12 volt driver for the fans, and HGL-185H-C1050. Would be close to $400 to get the rest of the parts you need.

And then you set it up like this:

a51andv18.jpg
 
T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
Rahz said:
HLG-185H-C700 can output 286 volts. 10 Vero18s at .7 amp (asuming the Vero 18s are version 2) would want 287 volts when turned on... incredibly close, I suspect it would work no problem to run ten of them with it.

You could also run 6 each on HLG-120H-C700. 2 of those plus 4 A51 units would give you about 750 PPFD in a 4x4.

But since you have A51 Vero 29s already in the mix at nominal current, you should consider running the Vero 18s at nominal as well... that way you don't need to buy more A51 units. (Sorry EH :)

So, to get the light you want in that 4x4 for the least amount of money, here is what I would do. Two HLG-185H-C1050, each running 6 of the Vero 18s, along with the two Area 51 lamps, would give you a PPFD of over 850.

But passive is kinda iffy like I said at 30 watts, on the radial heat sinks I mentioned. Heatsinkusa has a couple nice profiles, maybe the 4.6 in a 36 inch length, two of those. On each run 6 Vero 18s with 2 fans, 12 volt driver for the fans, and HGL-185H-C1050. Would be close to $400 to get the rest of the parts you need.

And then you set it up like this:

View attachment 3470012
Click to expand...
Thanks so much I'm ordering this morning
 
robincnn

robincnn

Well-Known Member
Growmau5 said:
Congrats! you are well on your way. wiring is super easy. (see diag) To start you can just cap off the wires on the dimming leads if you dont care to dim the driver. just dont connect the blue and white wires together
Click to expand...
The driver has ACL or A.C. line and ACN or A.C. neutral. Also the ground.
when connected to USA power wall socket it might be good idea to make sure the driver ACL is connected to HOT side. And ACN to left neutral as in this photo
2015-07-31-23-26-04--835844479.jpeg
Any expert advise welcomed.
 
T

Tjblack

Well-Known Member
robincnn said:
The driver has ACL or A.C. line and ACN or A.C. neutral. Also the ground.
when connected to USA power wall socket it might be good idea to make sure the driver ACL is connected to HOT side. And ACN to left neutral as in this photo
View attachment 3470633
Any expert advise welcomed.
Click to expand...
Could anybody recommend an cob holder
robincnn said:
The driver has ACL or A.C. line and ACN or A.C. neutral. Also the ground.
when connected to USA power wall socket it might be good idea to make sure the driver ACL is connected to HOT side. And ACN to left neutral as in this photo
View attachment 3470633
Any expert advise welcomed.
Click to expand...
thanks
 
IAreRobLowe

IAreRobLowe

Active Member
Growmau5 said:
Congrats! you are well on your way. wiring is super easy. (see diag) To start you can just cap off the wires on the dimming leads if you dont care to dim the driver. just dont connect the blue and white wires together
Click to expand...
Do you have any tips when it comes to drilling the heat sink
 
BenSeiDank

BenSeiDank

Well-Known Member
The TE connectivity holder, you can try to order them as sample from there homepage. I got about 40 pieces. These holders are nice. I cut of a little stemp on the downside. I did not youse screws. I simply glue them on the heatsink. Sorry for my bad english....
 
HydroDC

HydroDC

Well-Known Member
littlejacob said:
Bonjour
Is anyone know if it is the same with french plugs?
Have a great day ★
Click to expand...
Room outlets in the US are 120v, so the receptacle shown above in Robinson's post has one Hot leg and one Neutral leg in addition to Ground. In France, room outlets have 220V so both legs are Hot, there is no Neutral.

power_socket_fr.jpg

Did you get any information from GrafTech about thermal pads?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top