3 shelf LED DIY

[ToFarGone]

Hello everyone. I’m hoping to make a 3 shelf led grow unit. The bottom would be for clones and a mother plant. The middle and top I would use for a short veg.
I would love to hear some opinions on a DIY lighting rig to serve this purpose. I have already built myself a 4x4 bridgelux EB2 DIY rig for flower. I was thinking maybe 3-4 4’ bars per shelf. Though wondering what others opinions would be.

here is a pic of what I was thinking for the shelfs.

 

[Hairybuds]

My estimate is Aim for 15 watts per sqft for mother plant and 10-15 for clones

 

[ToFarGone]

should I just go straight 4000k or add any other color mixes? can you suggest any LED strips? I haven't researched or built a light in almost 2 years/

 

[ToFarGone]

What watts per Sq foot for a simple small veg?

 

[Hairybuds]

5000 K for both, you want to slow those things down unless you are taking cuts frequently off it

 

[ToFarGone]

appreciate it. so i'm about going for the what i know and looking at purchasing the. Bridgelux EB gen 2, 5000k, 2' Strips. each strip is 13.6Watts so probably 7-9 per shelf is what im thinking.

BXEB-L0560Z-50E2000-C-B3

they have a Rated current of = 0.700mA, Forward voltage of 19.5v and Wattage of 13.6w per strip.

ideally 3 separate drivers would be nice to be able to shut each shelf off as needed. however maybe 2 drivers. 2 shelf on 1 and then 1 shelf by itself to save some power and dim as needed.

can someone help me size the drivers and tell me the most ideal way to do this?

 

[ToFarGone]

Here is a pic of my current flower lights

 

[Hairybuds]

Put them in series, add voltages then select driver. Nice light!! It’s been awhile since I selected drivers but you should be looking at a voltage of 157 for 8 strips

 

[cobshopgrow]

sounds like you could checkout the HLG 120 series.

HLG-120H-MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply Manufacturer

MEAN WELL is one of the world's few standard power supply mainly professional manufacturers, covering 0.5 to 25,600W products are widely used in industrial control, medical and other fields, in line with international safety certification, short delivery of spot inventory.

www.meanwell.com

36 or 54V ones, 2 or 3 in series, other groups in parallel.
(edited, wasnt correct).
or

HLG-120H-C-MEAN WELL Switching Power Supply Manufacturer

MEAN WELL is one of the world's few standard power supply mainly professional manufacturers, covering 0.5 to 25,600W products are widely used in industrial control, medical and other fields, in line with international safety certification, short delivery of spot inventory.

www.meanwell.com

C700, and all in series.
f.e. 9x19.5Vx0.7A makes 122W.

dont think you will need 15W a square feet to veg, but as long you can dim you should be fine.
in the EB2 datasheet should be a curve for the needed voltage at a specific current, it will be likely a tad less then 19.5 when you dont push them with 700mA.

 

[ToFarGone]

What driver would I need to power 2 racks off the same driver?

 

[cobshopgrow]

hm, on the quick.
a HLG240 1400 could do the trick if you put 2 racks in parallel so each gets 700mA.
when you disconnect one rack the remaining will get the 1400mA, so be warned that you dim down before you do.
pricewise the 240w ones are pretty good btw.

theoretically the hlg 240 700 would do too, all in series for 2 racks, even without needing to care to dim before disconnecting one rack , but voltage is quite high them, beeing over 300V.
these drivers are quite safe to use, well protected, galvanically isolated etc. but over 300 is some, should be ok if youre savy with electricity, otherwise may stay lower.

 

[ToFarGone]

hm, on the quick.
a HLG240 1400 could do the trick if you put 2 racks in parallel so each gets 700mA.
when you disconnect one rack the remaining will get the 1400mA, so be warned that you dim down before you do.
pricewise the 240w ones are pretty good btw.

theoretically the hlg 240 700 would do too, all in series for 2 racks, even without needing to care to dim before disconnecting one rack , but voltage is quite high them, beeing over 300V.
these drivers are quite safe to use, well protected, galvanically isolated etc. but over 300 is some, should be ok if youre savy with electricity, otherwise may stay lower.

Appreciate the help. Now just need to wait for things to arrive