Can I use these Drivers to power DIY COBs?

2

2_minutes_hate

Active Member
As shown in the picture. I have 30 something of these that all work from ViparSpectra type lights with burned out panels.

Can I save money by using these to power COBs? If so, where can I start looking for information on everything I'll need?

Thanks!
 

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nfhiggs

nfhiggs

Well-Known Member
2_minutes_hate said:
As shown in the picture. I have 30 something of these that all work from ViparSpectra type lights with burned out panels.

Can I save money by using these to power COBs? If so, where can I start looking for information on everything I'll need?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Yes, you could drive 1 or 2 COBs with each one.
 
2

2_minutes_hate

Active Member
Bad ass. I'm trying to do some homework on which COBs I should buy for the best coverage over 4 auto flowers in 2 2'x4'x6' tents (2 per tent).

Do you think I'd be better off to try to run 2 32-36v COBs off of each driver or use a single 50+v? If my understanding is correct, I'll use roughly 25w per chip with the 36v, and 38 with the 50+.

I was looking at the Citizen 1212 or 1812 - Because budget is a prohibitive factor, and I planned to get 3500k to use from start to finish. I figured I'd need 12-16 for each 2x4 tent of the 1212, or 8-10 of the 1812 to use 300w-400w per tent.

Electricity use isn't a big factor, that's cheap here. Heat efficiency is semi important, though. These are tight closet grows, and the less heat they produce, the better.

Am I off in my estimation, or is my estimation pretty close?

Are there maybe cheaper, similarly effective lights I'm overlooking?

Thanks!
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
little late but 12 series (1212, 1216) woulda been a better fit
you'll only get one 50V 1812 on a driver
 
2

2_minutes_hate

Active Member
CobKits said:
little late but 12 series (1212, 1216) woulda been a better fit
you'll only get one 50V 1812 on a driver
Click to expand...
That's okay, I used one driver per COB - I put 4 in each 2x4 tent. Plants are loving it compared to the blurples.


VegasWinner said:
A 72v cxb3590 3500k would give you 50w from that driver. If you have 30 that would be 30x50 1500w total.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I did a bit more research and found that that'd be way too much light for my space. I'm running ~140w per tent now with those 1812s and getting all kinds of crystals on my buds now :)

I think this might do the trick!
 
Randomblame

Randomblame

Well-Known Member
2_minutes_hate said:
That's okay, I used one driver per COB - I put 4 in each 2x4 tent. Plants are loving it compared to the blurples.




Yeah, I did a bit more research and found that that'd be way too much light for my space. I'm running ~140w per tent now with those 1812s and getting all kinds of crystals on my buds now :)

I think this might do the trick!
Click to expand...
That's only 20w/sft., mate..... a bit low IMO.
I would at least recommend to use 30-35w/sft. for best results ... and less popcorn..
 
2

2_minutes_hate

Active Member
Just a follow up, 140w of COBs (35w x4) running at about half their rated wattage, which equals higher efficiency or more light per watt, I am yielding pretty good results. I just pulled an estimated 5oz off of 2 Sour Crack that were brought to flower with kinda working blurples, then changed to this COB scheme - and I have a pair of skywalkers in another identical tent that were stunted already from lack of light, overfeeding, light root rot (I found hydroguard and mitigated that well enough that they look good), and all the other first grow follies, and they are not looking shabby, either. Very sparkly and greasy, standing tall, nice and green.

Not shabby for a first grow with not quite enough air, a pretty mild case of the brown and slimeys, and terrible lights through the second week of flowering.

I'm doubling the air into each bucket, starting with hydroguard in my buckets from the start, and will be starting and finishing with these lights this time around. Hopefully that gives me happier, fatter plants this time around.

On thing I did consider, though, is maybe getting like 1 or 2 more red cobs or something of that nature to run in flower. I don't know if it'll really help, but I don't figure it will hurt.

Any thoughts on what I might use for something like that?

Thanks!
 
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