Driver (or light) options...

2com

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to decided whether to buy a couple hlg-600h-54ab drivers for a roughly 8x4 area (already have the qbs). Two of these drivers would cost $600cad.
I wonder;
What are some other driver options (like optotronic - is this "eldoled" brand, or osram brand?, or inventronics) that are comparable in quality but might be cheaper and available?

$600+tax is a lot for 2 drivers.
I have several 320w drivers, half have never been used, but not sure where I could sell them to anyone looking for a bit of a deal. Any suggestions on that?
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
I'm trying to decided whether to buy a couple hlg-600h-54ab drivers for a roughly 8x4 area (already have the qbs). Two of these drivers would cost $600cad.
I wonder;
What are some other driver options (like optotronic - is this "eldoled" brand, or osram brand?, or inventronics) that are comparable in quality but might be cheaper and available?

$600+tax is a lot for 2 drivers.
I have several 320w drivers, half have never been used, but not sure where I could sell them to anyone looking for a bit of a deal. Any suggestions on that?
I'd use the 320's if possible, what's the part number? People say they are more reliable than the bigger Meanwell. Inventronics is good.
I believe Delta is cheaper, don't know about quality.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
I'd use the 320's if possible, what's the part number? People say they are more reliable than the bigger Meanwell. Inventronics is good.
I believe Delta is cheaper, don't know about quality.
I have 320h-54ab. But I wanted to use less drivers (two, rather than four).
Say I have six qb288 per 4x4, twelve qb288 total, over the 4x8. (I had been making two-board fixtures and running them off hlg-320h drivers, knowing that I could also run three or four of the same boards without having to change up the driver.) I'd rather use a 600h-54ab for six qb288, for convenience, but also because 1) the 600h-54ab has an Io *and* a Vo pot. (allowing it to be used to qb648 boards), and 2) because it has dim-to-off functionality (dim to 0% instead of only 10%).

I'm not exactly how to seamlessly run six qb288 off two 320h-54ab. I guess you wouldn't/couldn't (ie: you can't just splice the dc outputs of the two drivers to one extension cable to the boards). But you'd just wire each 320h-54ab to a set of three qb288. Then you could splice all of the dimming leads to a single pot or controller. (And even splice the ac power cords together, for two drivers per cord, or all four).

I've had to use hlg-320h-54a for a pair of qb648 (because they require closer to 56v+, not 54, and they have a Vo pot and ability to turn up to over 57-58v). I hate having to dim with a screwdriver and having to then match the two drivers/fixtures based off a killowatt meter/similar.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
4 drivers per 4x8 surely isn't that bad lol. I think you are better off with 4 drivers vs 2 for reliability. 1/4 drivers failing you can limp to the end vs 1/2 is a big difference. Another thing is bigger drivers are known to fail a little more often.

HLG has some cheap 600w drivers on their site. Was extra cheap with the 25% off.And they ship to Canada straight form US now.

$179 CAD
 

2com

Well-Known Member
4 drivers per 4x8 surely isn't that bad lol. I think you are better off with 4 drivers vs 2 for reliability. 1/4 drivers failing you can limp to the end vs 1/2 is a big difference. Another thing is bigger drivers are known to fail a little more often.

HLG has some cheap 600w drivers on their site. Was extra cheap with the 25% off.And they ship to Canada straight form US now.

$179 CAD
I hear you on the "redundancy" or failsafe angle. I don't remember hearing about the "larger drivers having more issues or tendency to fail" thing.
But the 320h drivers are missing two *key features* that I want.

HLG; The customs/duties are still there, just built in. And the shipping seems to have increased based off what it used to cost.
I know, I see the (now two) driver options they have there and have been asking about them. The back and forth is a bit slow. Anyways, they're both CC. I want CV drivers. The price for one of them comes to almost $300 cad anyways, so what am I saving over a meanwell from canada - the tax, maybe a bit more.

If I could figure out exactly what is required to be able to program (and re-program) the optotronics driver, I might be interested - if I could do it myself at a later date.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
Have you thought about the XLG 240? I know it would be 6 drivers total. But that drivers is constant power dim to off.

You can negotiate down to $55 each on their chat thing. Still let's say $60 each. $180CAd for 720W.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Have you thought about the XLG 240? I know it would be 6 drivers total. But that drivers is constant power dim to off.

You can negotiate down to $55 each on their chat thing. Still let's say $60 each. $180CAd for 720W.
No, I haven't considered xlg ever. I've tended to stick with what I've used (meanwell hlg series). That'd be going the opposite direction than I want to, haha. Also, I'd still be stuck with using a screw driver for the qb648 and their 320h-54a drivers.
You can haggle with digikey.ca!?
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
No, I haven't considered xlg ever. I've tended to stick with what I've used (meanwell hlg series). That'd be going the opposite direction than I want to, haha. Also, I'd still be stuck with using a screw driver for the qb648 and their 320h-54a drivers.
You can haggle with digikey.ca!?
Ya I haggle the fuck out of everything with them. Including strips, drivers, heatsinks, power cords for ballasts, plug ends everything. Lol.

i don't understand stAnd about the screw driver thing. You can just dim with a potentiometer.
 

2com

Well-Known Member
And again, the qb648 diablo boards need 56v+ (so if using CV driver, you need an Vo internal pot, AND have to check data sheet to see how high the V can be turned up.)
 

2com

Well-Known Member
The one I linked is an AB driver. You can dim with a screw driver as will as a potentiometer or trolmaster. Best of both worlds.
I'm talking about the drivers I have. hlg-320h-54a (no dim leads, but has 56v+ ability), and the 320h-54ab (has dim leads, and Io but no Vo pot, and can't do more than about 54v and change). So I need something else, at least for the qb648 borads.

How many fuckin' drivers do you have running your solid ceiling/sky of diodes? Hah.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
I'm talking about the drivers I have. hlg-320h-54a (no dim leads, but has 56v+ ability), and the 320h-54ab (has dim leads, and Io but no Vo pot, and can't do more than about 54v and change). So I need something else, at least for the qb648 borads.

How many fuckin' drivers do you have running your solid ceiling/sky of diodes? Hah.
24x200w TRP drivers.
39,984 diodes

will change them out by year end for something more spectrum oriented and even more drivers lol.
 

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
Very neat looking. So they're built more like "all in one" fixtures then. Power supplies/drivers mounted right to the fixture, and then each fixture has to be plugged into a receptacle?
I had an idea of what I needed/wanted, but now you're fucking with it.
Ya each light has a 220V power cable which is connected to my relay switched 240V wall outlets. . I also did some remote driver fixture. But I like the drivers mounted actually easier to move.

everyone imagines their build differently. That's the cool part and why I love coming on here.
 
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