A51 or DIY CXA3070?

mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Tent size is 32by32by84in. I originally got a 400w mh/HP's to run that tent but I thought I could get away without all the inline fans plus it emmits too much rf. So now it's between another rw-75 or 2-3 Cree chips to add for more flower power. Would DIY be cheaper for same amount of producing power of the rw-75? How much led would really maximize that size. Adding another 75 would be 232.5w or 34w per square foot which is good for these quality LEDs. But what about the COBs. How many watts of COB added to 155w of A51 would be the sweet spot for that size spot. Its 6.76sf BTW.
 
ballist

ballist

Well-Known Member
I gather your running 2x RW75 presently? If this assumption is correct then you could take around another 100watts in the space. Depending on how you grow you could also consider added side lighting as well. Adding a DIY lamp would be a good idea and cheaper than an Rw75 I believe. I think a vero 29 would be the cheapest option and it should be doable for under $100. I guess a CXA3070 probably would come in a little more than the Vero29. Also 1 vero 29 would be enough and be more efficient than running a CXA at 100watts. 2 CXA running at 50 watts each would be more efficient but cost you more.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Thanks. Correct I already have 2x rw75s. My thoughts on running two lower wattage LEDs is due to the spread. Just trying to figure out the placement of one vero 29 and coverage compared to the two CXA 50 waters. The hps setup cost $150 so I'm tryna to keep the DIY in that range, give or take a few bucks. Have no idea what type of drivers or cooling to run with, even after looking at others. But I'm gonna do more research.

Any tips/ideas are welcomed.
 
tenthirty

tenthirty

Well-Known Member
4ea. 3000k ab bin 3070's at 1400ma would rock your tent. The A51 really is not on the same level. (Apples and Oranges) .
2 of them will fit your budget. You won't be disappointed.
 
ballist

ballist

Well-Known Member
With a budget of 150 you could get 2 vero18 and a driver plus a couple of CPU heatsinks. run them @1400mA. CXA ab bins are going to cost about 60 each so it would be a little more efficient but it will blow your budget I suspect. Vero 18s are around 12 each, 1.4 amp ebay drivers (approx 12 each) and ebay heatsinks (10each ) you do it really cheap under 100 I guess. You could put 4 vero 18 on this driver HLG-185H-C1400B. Thats about 70 for the driver 40 for heatsinks and 50 for veros.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
ballist said:
With a budget of 150 you could get 2 vero18 and a driver plus a couple of CPU heatsinks. run them @1400mA. CXA ab bins are going to cost about 60 each so it would be a little more efficient but it will blow your budget I suspect. Vero 18s are around 12 each, 1.4 amp ebay drivers (approx 12 each) and ebay heatsinks (10each ) you do it really cheap under 100 I guess. You could put 4 vero 18 on this driver HLG-185H-C1400B. Thats about 70 for the driver 40 for heatsinks and 50 for veros.
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I was on digi-key looking at the vero 18 and 29. I saw the diff colors they of for but didn't have luck with how many watts each one is. Where do I go or look to find that? I'm pulling the trigger this week so tryna get all the info as possible. Do I need COB holder? The 4 vero18 set up you meant sounds interesting. Would that be able to run the tent by itself or would it still be lacking in light with those 4?
 
ballist

ballist

Well-Known Member
You could run each Vero 18 up to around 60watts, with 1400mA drivers they will run around 40 watts. Price of drivers goes up a bit if you want to run them at 60 watts, sorry I haven't recently looked for a suitable driver. You would want one that puts out 2100mA with a Vmax of say 36Vdc for 60watts. You could find something on ebay I suspect. Don't pick a driver rated higher than 2100mA. This should give around 110lm/watt with the 3500k spectrum. You might be better off with 3000k, i've been looking at using 3500k and possibily adding some 660nm but not much. To equal a 400watt hps you would want around 300watts of vero so 5 chips at 2100mA. This should give you 30watts/sqfoot which is which should be nice. It will be a little cooler than the hps but you would still need an inline fan IMO.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
The 3K Vero 18 at 1.4A is 34.8% efficient while the CXA3070 3K AB bin is 43.3%. That is an increase of 24.4% light/W and 13% less heat so it is not a small difference in this example. But a Vero29 @ 1.4A is 40.2% efficient and cost a little less than the CXA so that might be a good option, although the Vero29 is still 7.7% less light/W (on paper).
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
The 3K Vero 18 at 1.4A is 34.8% efficient while the CXA3070 3K AB bin is 43.3%. That is an increase of 24.4% light/W and 13% less heat so it is not a small difference in this example. But a Vero29 @ 1.4A is 40.2% efficient and cost a little less than the CXA so that might be a good option, although the Vero29 is still 7.7% less light/W (on paper).
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Do you think its possible to do 2x CXA 3070 3K setup for my price range? Could a single driver run both LEDs or what I need separate drivers? So far on my list I have the COBs, CPU cooler, driver, cob holder, power supply. I'm sure I'm missing something so feel free to feel me in
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Can't find the AB bin at all. Its either out everywhere or I'm looking in the wrong places. If I can find it then the its gonna be 2x CXA3070 AB 3K or Vero 29
2x Meanwell LPC-60-1400
2x Solderless COB holder
2x Arctic apline 11
12v fan power supply
18 gage wire

I'm sure I'm missing something so feel free to chime in. And give advice on this setup. Thanks.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
ballist said:
You could run each Vero 18 up to around 60watts, with 1400mA drivers they will run around 40 watts. Price of drivers goes up a bit if you want to run them at 60 watts, sorry I haven't recently looked for a suitable driver. You would want one that puts out 2100mA with a Vmax of say 36Vdc for 60watts. You could find something on ebay I suspect. Don't pick a driver rated higher than 2100mA. This should give around 110lm/watt with the 3500k spectrum. You might be better off with 3000k, i've been looking at using 3500k and possibily adding some 660nm but not much. To equal a 400watt hps you would want around 300watts of vero so 5 chips at 2100mA. This should give you 30watts/sqfoot which is which should be nice. It will be a little cooler than the hps but you would still need an inline fan IMO.
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Thats not a bad set up at all. But I'm leaning towards the Cree side if I can find the AB or Z4. Just 2 for supplementing. Not having any luck so it might be Vero 29

Correct me if I'm wrong but wouldn't 300w in a 6.76sqft area be about 44.4w/sqft? And at 7.29sqft its 41.2w/sqft. With needing 5 of the Vero 18 do you think just 4 Cree CXA3070 3k ran at 1.4A would run this size efficiently. My plans are to get around to an inline fan but for now thinking of getting a duct fan. Ever use one of those?
 
ballist

ballist

Well-Known Member
Dunno how I came up with the 30 watt/sqf last , must have been dreaming lol. You want around 30watt per sqf, you have approx 7 so 210 should be enough. 4x Crees at 1.4 would work nicely, or 4 vero 18 @ . Stick with 3k spectrum. If driving chips hard the Veros are better, if going soft then Cree. With Crees, you want Z4 or better.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
ballist said:
Dunno how I came up with the 30 watt/sqf last , must have been dreaming lol. You want around 30watt per sqf, you have approx 7 so 210 should be enough. 4x Crees at 1.4 would work nicely, or 4 vero 18 @ . Stick with 3k spectrum. If driving chips hard the Veros are better, if going soft then Cree. With Crees, you want Z4 or better.
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Well the more numbers I looked at the more I leaned to the Vero 29. Wanna go easier and cheaper sense this will be my first DIY and I pretty much don't know what I'm doing. Haha. Just gotta figure out the best way to drive them sense I was told by supra its better to drive them higher than 1.4. And what driver to go with, one to run both or one each? Have no idea.
 
Sevren

Sevren

Well-Known Member
mrrager420 said:
Yeah that's a pretty nice mark up. I could've sworn people were getting them for about $40 max at one point. I'm just gonna go with 2x Vero29 and call it a day.
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Some were able to get them on Ali for 40 before they sold out. They'll probably be available again at some point, you just have to keep asking them or watch to see what they put out.
 
ballist

ballist

Well-Known Member
I think the Vero is a good starting point for a first timer as they are a little more robust machanically than the Cree. You can get plug in connectors for them to avoid soldering and you don't need holders.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
Sevren said:
Some were able to get them on Ali for 40 before they sold out. They'll probably be available again at some point, you just have to keep asking them or watch to see what they put out.
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I'll keep that in mind for later as I do plan on running some AB bins later this year. Looks like they keep the Z4 regularly in stock but at times they have the AB. Wish I had bought me a stack of COBs when I had the money. Oh well.

I'll keep that in mind as I do plan on running some AB bins later this year. Looks like they keep the Z4 in stock but sometimes they have the AB.
 
mrrager420

mrrager420

Well-Known Member
ballist said:
I think the Vero is a good starting point for a first timer as they are a little more robust machanically than the Cree. You can get plug in connectors for them to avoid soldering and you don't need holders.
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Yeah I just recently realized I don't need holders. Just gonna pic up those Pico Ezmate connectors when I place my order. How do you come up with how many watts the chip is pushing based on how hard you drive them? Saw somewhere on here a guy gets about 80 watts apiece from pushing them at 2.1a. Also what driver(s) would I need to run them? Doesn't have to be dimmable either.
 
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