My First DIY, is this the best build I can do?

Hey guys,

Im enthusiastically reading thread after thread, and there is so much information and help to get, which is cool!
Still, since Im only going to be building one setup, at least thats the plan, I would like to make sure, that I am making the most of it moneywise.

So far I am thinking:
6 Cree CXB3590 72v each,
2 Meanwell HLG-120H-C700 powering 3 COBs each
6 Arctic Coolers,
So far, thats 460 USD, is that the best build that I can build for my 6sq ft? I really want some potency in my room, so Im not looking for fewer watts, Id just like to know, if this is the best I can do for lamp<500USD?

Also, I dont understand why Jerry would suggest the HLG-185-c700 for this build, when, according to Supra's Drivermatch calculations, the former should fit better, right?

I hope for some input! Thanks!

benbud89 said:

Hey guys,

Im enthusiastically reading thread after thread, and there is so much information and help to get, which is cool!
Still, since Im only going to be building one setup, at least thats the plan, I would like to make sure, that I am making the most of it moneywise.

So far I am thinking:
6 Cree CXB3590 72v each,
2 Meanwell HLG-120H-C700 powering 3 COBs each
6 Arctic Coolers,
So far, thats 460 USD, is that the best build that I can build for my 6sq ft? I really want some potency in my room, so Im not looking for fewer watts, Id just like to know, if this is the best I can do for lamp<500USD?

Also, I dont understand why Jerry would suggest the HLG-185-c700 for this build, when, according to Supra's Drivermatch calculations, the former should fit better, right?

I hope for some input! Thanks!

Click to expand...

per the meanwell question .. I won't tell you which one to get, that's your choice.

generally 1 meanwell HLG is cheaper than 2 meanwells HLG. to keep things simple an HLG-120 handles about 120 watts, while an hlg-185 handles about 200 watts. Unless you absolutely need 240 watts total versus 200 watts from the hlg-185, I would go with the hlg-185.

But isnt that a bad match for my COBs? Shouldnt that be able to power 4 72v CXB3590 instead of only 3?

benbud89 said:

But isnt that a bad match for my COBs? Shouldnt that be able to power 4 72v CXB3590 instead of only 3?

Click to expand...

yes, but not for 8 cobs, remember the ratio

If running 240V the difference between running HLG-185 at 100% vs 75% will be maybe 1/2 percent efficiency. At 120V there is no difference. The 185 at 75% might run a bit cooler than the 120 at 100%. Personally I would go with the 185.

We are doing the "popular" 220v here,hehe. I dont know where that puts me regarding the drivers, but if the 185 is the best solution for turning on 3 at ~50w, then thats what Ill be getting. Thanks guys! Can I take from that, that you think this is a good solution? I mean, the combo $/w is good?

Whether it's best is mostly opinion. The 120 will run 3 CXB3590s just fine at that current. I've made the point that LED manufacturers recommend having 15% overhead on the driver. The counter to that is that the commercial/residential lighting world might involve applications where space or airflow is limited, or drivers are placed where solar radiation will heat up the enclosure. In our little world we take steps to keep the components cool and hopefully don't have heat problems to begin with, so the feasibility of running the drivers at 100% is much better.

I think down the road cost of ownership is going to be very similar. The 185 might last a little longer. The 120 might save a few bucks in electricity over the years at 220V. When it's all said and done it won't make much difference either way.

Perfect, then I will probably go for the 185 just to be on the safe side. I also think they seem quite similar, but perhaps it would be nice to keep some voltage space left for an extra cob or whatnot in the future. Thank you very much, Rahz. That goes for you, too, PurpleBuz. So, it is an agreeably nice combo, right? It should make for some nice penetration and big buds and easily win over my SGS-160, right? Thanks for taking your time to answer me.

Bonjour
What is the size of your room? (H L D) please?
The best should be 8 cxb 3590 3500ºk 36V CD on an hlg-185h-c700b...200w (a bit more if you use 220V I believe...)
of very very efficient and effective lights with a perfect coverage and dimmable! Best bang for your buck! Jmo!
Have a great day ★

Maybe 50 $ more...I would say 550 $(if you are in US!)
And with this no need to add anything in the future...unless you buy a bigger grow box...
CU

littlejacob said:

Bonjour
What is the size of your room? (H L D) please?
The best should be 8 cxb 3590 3500ºk 36V CD on an hlg-185h-c700b...200w (a bit more if you use 220V I believe...)
of very very efficient and effective lights with a perfect coverage and dimmable! Best bang for your buck! Jmo!
Have a great day ★

Click to expand...

140cmH,60cmD,90cmW, almost five feet high, 2deep,3wide. Ill keep thinking then... I thought 6 would be just fine for my space and then with a little more power

benbud89 said:

Perfect, then I will probably go for the 185 just to be on the safe side. I also think they seem quite similar, but perhaps it would be nice to keep some voltage space left for an extra cob or whatnot in the future. Thank you very much, Rahz. That goes for you, too, PurpleBuz. So, it is an agreeably nice combo, right? It should make for some nice penetration and big buds and easily win over my SGS-160, right? Thanks for taking your time to answer me.

Click to expand...

Space left over yes, but also yes winning over your other lamp. I mean, have you done the math to determine PPFD? It's probably something like 1400! I don't think you will need to add anything in the future except perhaps a dimmer.

As far as that goes, if it's a veg/flower lamp there would be a slight bonus for the 120 in veg. At 50% current the efficiency spread changes and the 120 will perform about 2% better so if that's meaningful to you it's worth considering. If you did decide to incorporate a dimmer, consider running it during flower at 90%, that would be your driver overhead and you would still have a lamp running about 1250 PPFD. With 2 drivers b series ran together a 25k ohm resistor will drop the current to .35 amps. A 45k ohm resistor would run it at .63 amps (90% of 7 amps). It's possible to wire two switches with those, or use one of the 3-in-1 methods listed in the datasheet.

Using two switches would actually give you 4 lamp modes. Open open, open closed, closed open, and closed closed. The 4th mode, running two resistors in parallel would actually be the lowest, maybe good for seedlings and clones.

Don't you want to go with 36v instead of 72v because you get higher efficiency ? I just read that on here somewhere... someone tell me I'm totally wrong so I can do more research!

Seriousbuds said:

Don't you want to go with 36v instead of 72v because you get higher efficiency ? I just read that on here somewhere... someone tell me I'm totally wrong so I can do more research!

Click to expand...

They have the same efficiency as long as they are the same bin.

Bonjour
36 & 72V are the same...I believe it is better to use 36V cause if you want to upgrade cxb and use them at lower current in the future to increase efficiency it will be easier to source 350mA good driver to run them at 13w!
Harder to source a good 175mA driver!
If you do not plan to add more cob in the future both are good (I know the prices are going to drop so I am going to add some till I reach 60% and more efficiency!)
Have a great day ★

I would be curious to know how 12 cxb 3590 3500ºk 36V CD on an hlg-120-350b X 2 so 24 cxb and 300w in a 4x4 would perform?
I do like to know if there's a big gpw difference between this and 6 V29 @2800mA in a 4x4???
CU