Help me understand wattage vs lumens

S

subudai

Active Member
Hi.
I have 8 strips of Samsung F-SERIES GEN3 4000k.

I am currently running 4 strips on a HLG-150H-54B ( 150w, CC driver @ 2.8amps) in my veg tent 80x80cm (2.6ft x 2.6ft, 7ft2)
Each are running at 0.7amps.

I have a few of these drivers, i got them cheap.

Had a quick look on the Samsung engine calculator and it got me thinking

My question is, is it better to run all strips from

1 driver = 8 strips @ 0.35amps, 23294 lumens @ 121w
or
2 drivers = 2 x 4 strips at 0.7amps, 23137 lumens @ 123 w x 2
(I presume lumens don't stack together as brightness doesn't increase with more strips)

I am getting the same amount of lumens with 1 driver as with 2, but 2 drivers = 224w
So is wattage important here or lumens?
 
farmerfischer

farmerfischer

Well-Known Member
Im not a led guy .. but if youre not concerned with electricity. I would use the two drivers on 4 strips just to lessen the load on them saving the life spand of them..
Just my 2cents.
 
S

subudai

Active Member
Thanks for the answer, but its different to what i am asking lol, maybe i wrote it wrong?

its basically
should i run 4 strips each on 2 drivers or 8 strips on 1 driver
 
farmerfischer

farmerfischer

Well-Known Member
I meant to say one drive per 4 strips..
Just to lessen the load
Your drivers a 121watts and your strips are 150watts..?
To run 8 on one seems like alot for that drive..
Again im no led guy..


EDIT: sorry i read your post wrong..
Your drive is a 150w. Not your lights.. lol.
Disreguard my statement..
 
Last edited:
MtRainDog

MtRainDog

Well-Known Member
I always thought lumens was a meaningless measurement based on human perception of brightness, and not a measure of how much power in light energy is being made available to the plants. Watts being the more important measurement.

It's been a long time, but if you're using a CC driver then the wattage is split among the boards/strips I thought. So if each strip is rated at 50 watts, you'll be putting down nearly half the wattage per strip if you only run one driver. No?
 
shimbob

shimbob

Well-Known Member
Another wrinkle to think about is that drivers are more efficient under heavier load. So two drivers would end up consuming more electricity than one driver when producing the same amount of light.

On the other hand, having two drivers is more points of failure, but also having redundancy is great.

Its a rabbit hole that goes deeeeeeeep! :)

In the end, nothing wrong with 8 strips on one driver.
 
S

subudai

Active Member
MtRainDog said:
I always thought lumens was a meaningless measurement based on human perception of brightness, and not a measure of how much power in light energy is being made available to the plants. Watts being the more important measurement.

It's been a long time, but if you're using a CC driver then the wattage is split among the boards/strips I thought. So if each strip is rated at 50 watts, you'll be putting down nearly half the wattage per strip if you only run one driver. No?
Click to expand...
That's what i am here for, advice.
Not sure on what the strip is rated for wattage tbh
I does seem more sensible to run 4 strips on 1 driver than 8 lol.
 
S

subudai

Active Member
shimbob said:
Another wrinkle to think about is that drivers are more efficient under heavier load. So two drivers would end up consuming more electricity than one driver when producing the same amount of light.

On the other hand, having two drivers is more points of failure, but also having redundancy is great.

Its a rabbit hole that goes deeeeeeeep! :)

In the end, nothing wrong with 8 strips on one driver.
Click to expand...
lol just when i think i am starting to understand things
I am using u channel as heatsinks and the strips are just warm to the touch running 4 to 1 driver.

I am just trying to get the max amount of light i can get from the 8 strips
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Last edited:
Horselover fat

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
subudai said:
1 driver = 8 strips @ 0.35amps, 23294 lumens @ 121w
or
2 drivers = 2 x 4 strips at 0.7amps, 23137 lumens @ 123 w x 2
(I presume lumens don't stack together as brightness doesn't increase with more strips)

I am getting the same amount of lumens with 1 driver as with 2, but 2 drivers = 224w
So is wattage important here or lumens?
Click to expand...

Of course more watts should be more lumens or you would just waste electricity for no reason. The power draw of your light doesn't grow plants... Light does.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
You have 80cm x 80cm.
You want to be running 4 strips per driver and using two drivers .

Using all 8 strips on one driver will give you higher lumen per watt, but won't compete with twice the wattage at lower efficiency
 
M

MedicinalMyA$$

Well-Known Member
subudai said:
Hi.
I have 8 strips of Samsung F-SERIES GEN3 4000k.

I am currently running 4 strips on a HLG-150H-54B ( 150w, CC driver @ 2.8amps) in my veg tent 80x80cm (2.6ft x 2.6ft, 7ft2)
Each are running at 0.7amps.

I have a few of these drivers, i got them cheap.

Had a quick look on the Samsung engine calculator and it got me thinking

My question is, is it better to run all strips from

1 driver = 8 strips @ 0.35amps, 23294 lumens @ 121w
or
2 drivers = 2 x 4 strips at 0.7amps, 23137 lumens @ 123 w x 2
(I presume lumens don't stack together as brightness doesn't increase with more strips)

I am getting the same amount of lumens with 1 driver as with 2, but 2 drivers = 224w
So is wattage important here or lumens?
Click to expand...

1 driver with 4 strips @ 700ma will give you about 23000lm
1 driver with 8 strips @ 350ma will give you about 23000lm

so

2 drivers with 4 strips per driver @700ma will give you about 46000lm (23000lm per driver)

You have 2.8A available per driver
 
S

subudai

Active Member
MedicinalMyA$$ said:
1 driver with 4 strips @ 700ma will give you about 23000lm
1 driver with 8 strips @ 350ma will give you about 23000lm

so

2 drivers with 4 strips per driver @700ma will give you about 46000lm (23000lm per driver)

You have 2.8A available per driver
Click to expand...
Thanks for the explanation, it was along the lines i was thinking but...

Forgive my ignorance but i always thought lumens don't stack ie.

If i had a 100w bulb with 1000 lumens in a room and i added another 100w (1000 lumen) bulb into the same room.
I still have 1000 lumens as the light doesn't get twice as bright but is just better spread out?

Whatever it is, i will be running 2 drivers each with 4 strips.
 
Star Dog

Star Dog

Well-Known Member
subudai said:
Thanks for the explanation, it was along the lines i was thinking but...

Forgive my ignorance but i always thought lumens don't stack ie.

If i had a 100w bulb with 1000 lumens in a room and i added another 100w (1000 lumen) bulb into the same room.
I still have 1000 lumens as the light doesn't get twice as bright but is just better spread out?

Whatever it is, i will be running 2 drivers each with 4 strips.
Click to expand...
That's not how it is, more power = more lumens/lux.
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