Optic Lighting Vero COBs updated

SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I received and tested the new version of the 120W Vero18 unit, huge improvement in thermal performance. Previously 14% temp droop, now 2%. He upgraded the heatsinks and fans and switched from thermal pad to thermal paste.

The unit is very light. When you close the lid, the top rim of the fans line up very well with the holes in the case, so the fans are doing double duty ventilating the case and blowing into the heatsinks. Fans are powered by Mean Well psu at 12V, not silent but quiet, drawing only 1.8W total.

It dissipates about 107W and I estimate 35% efficiency "typical" on the Vero 18 unit. The Vero 29 unit. should dissipate 158W and run at 39.5% efficiency.

The lenses are glass, 90º and magnetic so they can be adjusted or removed easily, but looking at the impressive boost I see on my lux meter I would not recommend removing them. They project very well and create a nice round cutoff. I checked temp droop with and without lenses, no significant difference (2% vs 2.1%)

So I am convinced it deserves a place on the short list of quality commercial lamps. With components like Mean Well and Bridgelux running cool, it should run reliable for many years. I suspect it is the best commercial LED grow lamp currently available to us.

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Full disclosure, I stumbled across their light on ebay and contacted them asking for a sample, they did not come to me. I have no affiliation with the company and have received nothing for reviewing the product. Just doing this because I am an LED nerd and I want to see more LED grown nugs. I believe the company will provide us with a discount code :leaf:
 
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deadgro

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
I received and tested the new version of the 120W Vero18 unit, huge improvement in thermal performance. Previously 14% temp droop, now 2%. He upgraded the heatsinks and fans and switched from thermal pad to thermal paste.

The unit is very light. When you close the lid, the top rim of the fans line up very well with the holes in the case, so the fans are doing double duty ventilating the case and blowing into the heatsinks. Fans are powered by Mean Well psu at 12V, not silent but quiet, drawing only 1.8W total.

It dissipates about 107W and I estimate 35% efficiency "typical" on the Vero 18 unit. The Vero 29 unit. should dissipate 158W and run at 39.5% efficiency.

The lenses are glass, 90º and magnetic so they can be adjusted or removed easily, but looking at the impressive boost I see on my lux meter I would not recommend removing them. They project very well and create a nice round cutoff. I checked temp droop with and without lenses, no significant difference (2% vs 2.1%)

So I am convinced it deserves a place on the short list of quality commercial lamps. With components like Mean Well and Bridgelux running cool, it should run reliable for many years. I suspect it will prove to be the best LED grow lamp available to us.

View attachment 3350901
View attachment 3350902
View attachment 3350903

Full disclosure, I tracked them down for a sample they did not come to me. I have no affiliation with the company and have received nothing for reviewing the product. Just doing this because I am an LED nerd and I want to see more LED grown nugs. I believe the company will provide us with a discount code :leaf:
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The Vero 29 unit advertises 26k lumens.. That seems very low to me. Any idea what distant that was measured at?

I ask because my a51 190W measured 90k lumens at 12".
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I would estimate 20000 lumens for the 4000K Vero 29 X 2 unit at operating temp. I don't think Optic tried to measure it, probably just going by the Bridgelux data sheet.

The A51 would have to make 500 lumens/W to get 90,000 lumens, must be a typo there somewhere.

But to make a direct comparison, the Optic 4000K Vero29 dissipates 152W and emits 62.5 PAR W. The A51 XGS190 should dissipate 162W and emit 51.5 PAR W
 
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deadgro

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
I would estimate 20000 lumens for the 4000K Vero 29 X 2 unit at operating temp. I don't think they tried yo maesure it probably just going by the Bridgelux data sheet.

The A51 would have to make 500 lumens/W to get 90,000 lumens, must be a typo there somewhere.
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I measured lux on the a51. Sorry. Was just about to edit it.
 
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deadgro

Well-Known Member
churchhaze said:
Lux is intensity while lumens is total brightness.

1 lx = 1 lm/m2 = 1 cd·sr/m2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lux

Think of a laser pointer. It has very high intensity in one spot, but relatively low total output power. The same total output power could be spread over a large area, but would not be very bright anywhere.
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So is lux taking into account the size of the measuring instrument's sensor?
 
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deadgro

Well-Known Member
churchhaze said:
Lux is just one spot while lumens tells you the whole story.
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Think I get it hah, thanks churchhaze.

Lux is a better reference then when comparing lights with secondary optics, lenses and reflectors? And considering a specific plant footprint.

And FYI I used an android phone app that uses the light sensor normally used for adjusting screen brightness, and while its supposed to be calibrated for my phone model, I'm sure there's some variance.
 
Positivity

Positivity

Well-Known Member
Sounds like you taught him a lot about led lights...he should give you free lights for life. Seriously..there would have been lots of unhappy customers with the original temps.

Good on them for fixing everything. Hopefully they work their designs more before selling them in the future. I know whats its like to spend hard earned money on a led light only to have it heat up the room like a hid
 
thisusernameisnottaken

thisusernameisnottaken

Well-Known Member
Supraspl how much you think it will cost you to make that light? I have the apolo/gn light and the only problem i have with that light are the noisey fans and the weight of the light.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
@POS True I helped by pointing out the low hanging fruit, but I picked up a few things in return. In particular I realized the potential of the large glass lens vs reflector. I was surprised to see how well it performed compared to my best reflectors, although it needs more study. The lens may also be more marketable than the reflector design just by being sturdier. (I still love your reflector setup POS, very pro job!)

@thisusername It is true that COB lamps are much easier to DIY than mounting dozens of small LED and the parts for these lamps are probably half the retail cost. I am a big advocate of DIY but for those who can't or don't want to DIY this is a contender.
 
Positivity

Positivity

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
@POS True I helped by pointing out the low hanging fruit, but I picked up a few things in return. In particular I realized the potential of the large glass lens vs reflector. I was surprised to see how well it performed compared to my best reflectors, although it needs more study. The lens may also be more marketable than the reflector design just by being sturdier. (I still love your reflector setup POS, very pro job!)

@thisusername It is true that COB lamps are much easier to DIY than mounting dozens of small LED and the parts for these lamps are probably half the retail cost. I am a big advocate of DIY but for those who can't or don't want to DIY this is a contender.
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Good info as usual supra..

I admit i never tried those glass reflectors. I just assumed it was a bad idea. But, i should have rigged one up a long time ago and taken a closer look. Reflectors are hard to find and pricey compared to the bubble optics.

I think the problem for me was too expensive a experiment. I had $500 of cxa ab that i didn't want to sacrifice...lol. looks like it's time to order a few and take a closer look..
 
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