LED nomenclature clarification please - Vero people?

Hey guys, I'm delving deeper and deeper into the world of diy led and am getting a bit confused by a couple of things. This really started happening when I began researching Vero LED's. I would like to make my first DIY LED on as much of a budget as possible, so Vero 29's seem to be the way to go.

So the confusion revolves around relative luminous flux in relation to temperature. As I understand it, basically as temperatures increase, relative luminous flux decreases. Cool.

When I look at a datasheet for a Cree - as an example I'll use a CXB3070 part number CXB3070-0000- 000N0HAD30G. This is a 3000k top bin 3-step COB. The datasheet provides relative luminous flux @85*C as well as @25*C. Ok still cool, makes sense and when you go shopping, the vendor's are consistent with the datasheet.

Now I move to a Vero 29. Datasheet's basically the same. Makes sense, all is well. Now we move to part numbers provided by vendors. BXRC-30G10K0-L-23 is an example. 3000k 3 step COB. Right. But wait, there's also a BXRC-30G10K0-L-03 which is a 3000k 3 step COB as well. So what's the difference?

When I compare the two here: http://www.digikey.com/product-search/compare/en?returnUrl=/product-search/en?pv1614=304&pv1614=343&pv1614=306&pv1614=345&pv1614=308&pv1614=348&FV=ffecbce9%2Cfff40008%2Cfff80354&k=vero+29&mnonly=0&newproducts=0&ColumnSort=0&page=1&quantity=0&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25&part=976-1257-ND&part=976-1150-ND pricing is about the same, as is most of the data with the exception of the flux at a rated temperature and the max current. This is making me scratch my head - why would a part number change for a testing variance?

On a side note, with relation to MacAdam Ellipse's - I rarely see mention of the use of 2 or 3 or even 4 step models. Is there any relevance in the real world comparing the MacAdam Ellipse's or is it functionally splitting hairs?

Major Blazer said:

Now I move to a Vero 29. Datasheet's basically the same. Makes sense, all is well. Now we move to part numbers provided by vendors. BXRC-30G10K0-L-23 is an example. 3000k 3 step COB. Right. But wait, there's also a BXRC-30G10K0-L-03 which is a 3000k 3 step COB as well. So what's the difference?

When I compare the two here: http://www.digikey.com/product-search/compare/en?returnUrl=/product-search/en?pv1614=304&pv1614=343&pv1614=306&pv1614=345&pv1614=308&pv1614=348&FV=ffecbce9%2Cfff40008%2Cfff80354&k=vero+29&mnonly=0&newproducts=0&ColumnSort=0&page=1&quantity=0&ptm=0&fid=0&pageSize=25&part=976-1257-ND&part=976-1150-ND pricing is about the same, as is most of the data with the exception of the flux at a rated temperature and the max current. This is making me scratch my head - why would a part number change for a testing variance?
?

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I believe its 1st generation and 2nd generation veros. yu want the 2nd gen.

MacAdam Ellipse is for household lighting so you can "color match" and you dont have a lot of variance. Plants dont care as much as the human eye does about the variance so get whatever is cheaper.

Major Blazer said:

BXRC-30G10K0-L-23 is an example. 3000k 3 step COB. Right. But wait, there's also a BXRC-30G10K0-L-03 which is a 3000k 3 step COB as well. So what's the difference?

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The L-03 is the original Vero. L-23 is the revised version. Unlike CXB and CXA both being available (CXB is the revised version of CXA) it's very difficult to find original Veros, not that you want them. Go with the L-23 version. In your digikey link the L-03 shows more lumens but as you probably noticed is being tested at a lower temp.

As far as the color step it's an indicator of how closely the cob will match the stated Kelvin temp, basically useless for horticulture. Go for whatever is cheaper. Similar principal for CRI, higher is not better when it comes to total photon output.

Thank you guys, very much.