Strip Build Advice

NoTillPhil

NoTillPhil

Well-Known Member
A little help would be much appreciated.

I'm wanting to build a strip light set up for a 5' x 2.25' x 7 closet. I have a couple hundred to spend on parts. While I don't need the cream of the crop I would like to accomplish decent efficiency. Upwards of 150/LM/W. I'd like to spend the money on lights and driver and source my other needs. (Fans, aluminum etc )

I do have a fluorescent four bulb troffer that I think would make an easy frame. My thought is to strip it then flip it over so the well is on top with fully flat surface facing down. The surface measures 48" x 19" so not sure if it's all that ideal for the space.

So how would you guys go about it? Any links to the parts your describing would be most helpful.

If your advice is to spend twice as much, it's not really going to be helpful to me.
 
Cold$moke

Cold$moke

Well-Known Member
Led NOOB here so take with a grain but im planning a f strip build.

Go to ledgardener.com and look up the strip build diy .

If it where me id just throw 8 2 foot f series strips (218$) and a meanwell hlg-480 driver of whichever ($117) type you prefer :)
This basically copies the specs for a 4x4 setup in his article
 
NoTillPhil

NoTillPhil

Well-Known Member
KrazyG said:
Check this thread out
http://rollitup.org/t/in-the-valley-led-strip-build.950320/
Click to expand...
It appears he was unsatisfied but doesn't nail down the strips as the problem. Not sure if you were steering me away or showing me that those strips will work.

Another member here hooked me up with a plan that seems to suit me well.

14 x https://www.arrow.com/en/products/bxeb-l0560z-35e2000-c-b3/bridgelux

With two MW drivers

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/hlg-185h-36a/mean-well-enterprises

Sound good?
 
KrazyG

KrazyG

Well-Known Member
NoTillPhil said:
It appears he was unsatisfied but doesn't nail down the strips as the problem. Not sure if you were steering me away or showing me that those strips will work.

Another member here hooked me up with a plan that seems to suit me well.

14 x https://www.arrow.com/en/products/bxeb-l0560z-35e2000-c-b3/bridgelux

With two MW drivers

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/hlg-185h-36a/mean-well-enterprises

Sound good?
Click to expand...
Yeah go Bridgelux, never used them myself but everybody rates them. As for the eBay strips they work ok for side lighting but not for your main light source.
 
NoTillPhil

NoTillPhil

Well-Known Member
Lol, now I'm confused. So is it fine or maybe there's a better option with the driver set up? Will I get better efficiency of I change something about the set up? I was planning to build it as two separate units for more flexibility with the light down the road.
 
thetr33man

thetr33man

Well-Known Member
NoTillPhil said:
Lol, now I'm confused. So is it fine or maybe there's a better option with the driver set up? Will I get better efficiency of I change something about the set up? I was planning to build it as two separate units for more flexibility with the light down the road.
Click to expand...
There is a lot of options when it comes to drivers. One thing I would recommend is stick with the Meanwell HLG drivers, they are tanks and can handle abuse, come with a long warranty also from the factory. The way I did my last strip build, I used a 185-48A driver to push the 19.5v strips, 2 hooked up in series, 3 sets of them parallel. Cranked up to full power it is drawing 180w at the wall. I used that driver because I already had it on hand and its more than enough power for the 18" x 48" shelf it is lighting. The 185-xxA drivers have adjustable voltage and can put out significantly more power than they are rated for. I just hooked up a 60H-24A driver to a single 24" Samsung F series strip and turned full power its taking 83w at the wall. I adjusted it down cuz that is significantly over powered for that strip, but Ive been pushing 60w into it for days now and it doesnt get too hot but might still decrease its lifespan, well see. Not a big deal if it blows really, they are cheap. I wouldnt push a large bank of them that hard but for a single strip, its a small investment so no real loss. You could use HLG-185H-42a also, but you will loose some power, when you could be pulling 220 from the 36v driver.
 
InTheValley

InTheValley

Well-Known Member
NoTillPhil said:
It appears he was unsatisfied but doesn't nail down the strips as the problem. Not sure if you were steering me away or showing me that those strips will work.

Another member here hooked me up with a plan that seems to suit me well.

14 x https://www.arrow.com/en/products/bxeb-l0560z-35e2000-c-b3/bridgelux

With two MW drivers

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/hlg-185h-36a/mean-well-enterprises

Sound good?
Click to expand...
Yeah, turned out nice, Decent PAR, Lux, Heat was an issue, because in a 2x2, and the box took that room up, not letting the heat rise. They gave more heat then I anticipated,lol,

Turning it into a COB build now,
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
NoTillPhil said:
Lol, now I'm confused. So is it fine or maybe there's a better option with the driver set up? Will I get better efficiency of I change something about the set up? I was planning to build it as two separate units for more flexibility with the light down the road.
Click to expand...
The strips are 19.5 volts but that driver is 36v. Get an HLG-185H-20A rather than the HLG185H-36A.
You'll get better efficiency with more strips and lower temperarture.
 
thetr33man

thetr33man

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
Or buy a 20 volt driver. ;)

Nothing wrong with pairs of strips in series though, I built my light that way as I already had an HLG-240H-42B.
Click to expand...
I'd rather use the higher voltage driver myself as there is more flexibility for future builds.
 
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