LED strip spacing

Hey so I have 6 22” Bridgelux EB gen2 strips to make a light out of for my grow fridge which measures 26”x26”inside the cabinet.

My question is what would be the best lay out for this application, spaced evenly? Groups of 3 with a space in the middle?

I read some where (of course can’t find where) it is most effective to divide the frame into 3 equal spacing and have the strips equally spaced in the first and third section and leave the middle open? What are your guys thoughts on this? Maybe I’m overthinking it?

Space each strip the SAME DISTANCE away from the next.

Yes for best uniformity, use equal spacing between the strips (and half that spacing on each side to the reflective wall).

Awesome thanks guys! So now important is the thermal paste? I have some 1-1/4”x1-1/4” angle to make my frame

What amperage will you be running these EBs? I run most of my EBs at 700ma without any heatsinking.
If you have the aluminum, that's a great way to frame it up, I personally go with thermal tape for that, but paste is certainly a viable option.

Honestly I don’t really know what I’m doing. I have a basic idea Lol I’m just following the led gardener 2x2 strip build. I got the Hlg-120H-C1050B to power them, I think it’s going to be running 1050mA.

Rattlehead121 said:

Honestly I don’t really know what I’m doing. I have a basic idea Lol I’m just following the led gardener 2x2 strip build. I got the Hlg-120H-C1050B to power them, I think it’s going to be running 1050mA.

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I would cut that in half. And run 525mA to each strip. Running at 1050mA they probably will need heatsinking. If you run 2 groups of 3 in series then parallel to the driver. They will only get 525mA per strip. Which is under driven. And makes them more efficient. Just my opinion.

You'll be able to run them at 1050ma with minimal heat removal. Frame them up on that aluminum u have and let them rip....they'll run for YEARS.....

Chip Green said:

You'll be able to run them at 1050ma with minimal heat removal. Frame them up on that aluminum u have and let them rip....they'll run for YEARS.....

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Free air at 1050mA is kinda high when 700 or 900mA is max on them. Isnt it? I dont have EB strips. But I've seen several postings of them being driven at 1.0A I think and they were pretty warm. Just attached to aluminum is heatsinking and would be more than enough. But I wouldnt run them without any type of metal on the back of them over typ amperage. But that's just me. What do I know. I'm a Samsung guy.

whytewidow said:

Free air at 1050mA is kinda high when 700 or 900mA is max on them. Isnt it? I dont have EB strips. But I've seen several postings of them being driven at 1.0A I think and they were pretty warm. Just attached to aluminum is heatsinking and would be more than enough. But I wouldnt run them without any type of metal on the back of them over typ amperage. But that's just me. What do I know. I'm a Samsung guy.

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I appreciate your opinion whytewidow! Like I said I’m new to this with only a basic understanding. You seem to have great knowledge So thank you. I always appreciate another opinion. I have a piece of aluminum for each strip so there will be metal backing for each strip. I’m gonna get my frame made up and then decide on the wiring. Gonna go see if I can find some thermal grease around town tomorrow anyways for what it’s worth

Cheers!

Rattlehead121 said:

I appreciate your opinion whytewidow! Like I said I’m new to this with only a basic understanding. You seem to have great knowledge So thank you. I always appreciate another opinion. I have a piece of aluminum for each strip so there will be metal backing for each strip. I’m gonna get my frame made up and then decide on the wiring. Gonna go see if I can find some thermal grease around town tomorrow anyways for what it’s worth

Cheers!

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No I was being serious when asking. And I 9nly ask bc I thought eb series were epoxy/resin strips as opposed to aluminum backing like.on samsungs. And being 2 footers. Typ is 700mA pushing over an Amp with nothing I would think they would get pretty hot. And then sag. But if you have alum for the back and gonna drive them soft you dont even need thermal grease. Jus throw a few screws in through the alum to hold the strip on. Like 4 to 6 screws. So they lay flat on the alum. Good luck with the build. DiY is awesome. I love building the lights as much as growing.

I have been running several EB 560mm Gen1 3500k panels at 1050ma, with only a paper thin sheet of aluminum flashing holding them together, for over 2 years....
The entire circuit gets less than 1% voltage drop from cold startup, to full operating temp.

Chip Green said:

I have been running several EB 560mm Gen1 3500k panels at 1050ma, with only a paper thin sheet of aluminum flashing holding them together, for over 2 years....
The entire circuit gets less than 1% voltage drop from cold startup, to full operating temp.

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I thought you were meaning free air. On a sheet of alum does alot for heat exchange. Even thin flashing. How many strips you running and what drivers. I looked at the EB gen1 and 2s. And ended up going with sammy f562b 3k,4k. And Sammy H inFlux_L06 4ks. And some custom built reds. On copper pcb strips. But I keep lookn at EB series to do a veg light upgrade. Bc the price of them is on the cheap now. Do you veg n flower with them?

Yes, I have used 3500k for Veg successfully, and they flower fantastic. Most of my Rigs are 700ma "free air" racks....For the older panels, the Gen1 EB 560mms there are 8 strips in series with a HLG185hC1050B....2x2 panel of flashing on those. I have Samsungs too, the EB strips are super rigid in comparison....... I've never actually tested it, but I suspect you could run an EB 560mm at 1050ma in free air without a huge drop in voltage....
I did an entire 9wk flower cycle with one panel of 6 Gen1 3500k EBs, at 1400ma on that same flashing with no problem. That panel only lost 3 volts at full temp....HLG185C1400B= 143v, only slipped to 140 after hours of running.

That's a test with EBgen1, with gen2 you'll get even less heat...


EBgen2 also don't need thermal grease or so. Simply screw them onto your frame! Maximum for the 2 and 4footers is 1400mA, nominal current is 700mA. Pretty sure even without heat sink EBgen2 stays below 50°C at 1050mA..

Well here’s my frame. Riveted the angle all together and got some self tapping screws to mount the strips. Worked good. Happy how it’s turning out.

Beauty of a frame-up right there. As it stands, I would have no reservation whatsoever plugging an HLG-185h-C1400 driver onto that rack, turning it into a 200+watt flower lamp.... Not that you would need that kinda push with where you are at, but ya could!!! With any air movement those brackets will be plenty of cooling, IMO.
What you have right there, is a convertible....
Im finding that the EBs are outperforming their specs consistently.

Chip Green said:

Beauty of a frame-up right there. As it stands, I would have no reservation whatsoever plugging an HLG-185h-C1400 driver onto that rack, turning it into a 200+watt flower lamp.... Not that you would need that kinda push with where you are at, but ya could!!! With any air movement those brackets will be plenty of cooling, IMO.
What you have right there, is a convertible....
Im finding that the EBs are outperforming their specs consistently.

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That would be awesome! I may just have to try that down the road.

So I’m waiting on a amazon order that has my wago’s and potemeter and it’s not supposed to be here till the end of the month. Do you think I could get it going temporarily with some twist on merets? And then as far as the dimmer goes would I just wire the driver wires together? I have a wall dimmer on hand. Do you think that could work? I don’t want to fry anything.

Rattlehead121 said:

Hey so I have 6 22” Bridgelux EB gen2 strips to make a light out of for my grow fridge which measures 26”x26”inside the cabinet.

My question is what would be the best lay out for this application, spaced evenly? Groups of 3 with a space in the middle?

I read some where (of course can’t find where) it is most effective to divide the frame into 3 equal spacing and have the strips equally spaced in the first and third section and leave the middle open? What are your guys thoughts on this? Maybe I’m overthinking it?

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You could try adjustable spacing like I done here over some tomatoes?

Old Thcool said:

You could try adjustable spacing like I done here over some tomatoes?View attachment 4266278

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That looks like a neat set up you got there