Matching Drivers and COBs

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
No doubt the cobs can handle that power, but defeats the point of using cobs IMO, since efficiency is reduced so much.
The CView attachment 3600267 D bin CXB3590 is under 50% efficient at 2.1A, and just over 43% efficient at 2.8A.

At those driver currents might as well use the Vero 29 V2.0 as they about the same efficiency at those high drive currents and half the price, and dont require mounting brackets
Yeah for sure. Now that i've found out DigiKey carries the new Vero29's Im debating on which CRI is better for yield if efficiency is less important. Instead of 4 cobs, could I use 5 or 6? How would I power them? Im planning to buy my drivers from www.jameco.com they seem to have many options and are better priced then anywhere else Ive looked.
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
They say its driven at 2.9 amps but the driver shown is only 2.1 amps. No clue how they do it.

Enclosed in a case, I bet it gets hot.
They will put out more current since the CXB3590 draws way under the 42Vf potential of the driver
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
Also, check out how the temp affects the lumen output. At 2 amps you lose 750 lumens at 85c compared to 50c. Running the chips softer and closer to the plant is a better method imo.
Yeah, thats definitely what I want to do. I want to run the lights at the minimum 12 inches above the plants. But what would the spread be? how much distance would I have to space the cobs?
 

grouch

Well-Known Member
Yeah, thats definitely what I want to do. I want to run the lights at the minimum 12 inches above the plants. But what would the spread be? how much distance would I have to space the cobs?
The golden recipe seems to be one per sq ft at 50w
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
No doubt the cobs can handle that power, but defeats the point of using cobs IMO, since efficiency is reduced so much.
The CView attachment 3600267 D bin CXB3590 is under 50% efficient at 2.1A, and just over 43% efficient at 2.8A.

At those driver currents might as well use the Vero 29 V2.0 as they about the same efficiency at those high drive currents and half the price, and dont require mounting brackets
This is helpful!!
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
Yeah for sure. Not that i've realized DigiKey carries the new Vero29's Im debating on which CRI is better for yield if efficiency is less important. Instead of 4 cobs, could I use 5 or 6? How would I power them? Im planning to buy my drivers from www.jameco.com they seem to have many options and are better priced then anywhere else Ive looked.
With CXA and Vero 29's I think the best and constant V drivers like the type they used in your link, but you can go for larger ones like HLG-240H-42B, or HLG-320H-42B
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
With CXA and Vero 29's I think the best and constant V drivers like the type they used in your link, but you can go for larger ones like HLG-240H-42B, or HLG-320H-42B
yeah, i agree. They are really reasonably priced too at Jameco.com They also allow you to have more reliability if 1 of the drivers fails. Atleast you will still have 3 left running.
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
yeah, i agree. They are really reasonably priced too at Jameco.com They also allow you to have more reliability if 1 of the drivers fails. Atleast you will still have 3 left running.
With the larger drivers you would ad as many cobs as you want, and the more cobs you add the lower current each gets, unlike the constant current drivers
 

bassman999

Well-Known Member
With the larger drivers you would ad as many cobs as you want, and the more cobs you add the lower current each gets, unlike the constant current drivers
The Drivers that end with (B) and dimable with external potentiometers, and the (A) with internal ones. The B dim all the way to 10% of full output. I like this for when I am tending to plants I dont need sunglasses.
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
With the larger drivers you would ad as many cobs as you want, and the more cobs you add the lower current each gets, unlike the constant current drivers
I get what your saying

The Drivers that end with (B) and dimable with external potentiometers, and the (A) with internal ones. The B dim all the way to 10% of full output. I like this for when I am tending to plants I dont need sunglasses.
yeah I do want to be able to dim them for sure
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
If I was to build fixtures to cover 2x3 foot sections how many cobs would I need to use per fixture? I basically want 16 fixtures in my 15x8x8. So ideally having each fixture come out to 300W. Or, I can build fixtures that cover 12 sections of 5x2 FT. Again having each fixture running at 300W. Sorry if this is confusing. Im trying to figure it out too lol
 
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Danielson999

Well-Known Member
If I was to build fixtures to cover 2x3 foot sections how many cobs would I need to use per fixture? I basically want 16 fixtures in my 15x8x8
You would simply go 15x8=120sqft 2x3=6sqft. 6sqft x 20 = 120sqft. If you have 60 cobs divided by 20 sections you'd put 3 cobs every 2x3 space. 3 cobs running at 100w would be 50w per sq foot.
 

STR8QU4D5

Active Member
You would simply go 15x8=120sqft 2x3=6sqft. 6sqft x 20 = 120sqft. If you have 60 cobs divided by 20 sections you'd put 3 cobs every 2x3 space. 3 cobs running at 100w would be 50w per sq foot.
Hmmmm.. this seems like a better plan. This way the bars can fit in any space in the future. Would 300 watts for 2x3 ft be overkill? Would the plants even make use of the extra Watts? or should I just drive each cob at 50W?
 

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Hmmmm.. this seems like a better plan. This way the bars can fit in any space in the future. Would 300 watts for 2x3 ft be overkill? Would the plants even make use of the extra Watts? or should I just drive each cob at 50W?
That's alot of drivers.
1 - HLG-240-2100 would give 80w per cob for 3 cobs. 240w for every 6sq feet = 40w per sqft
1 - HLG-120-1400 would give 50w per cob for 3 cobs. 150w for every 6sq feet = 25w per sqft
 
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nevergoodenuf

Well-Known Member
If you run 4 per 240 driver @ 40w per square foot, you will save 1200 watts and possibly produce similar # as 50w per square foot.
 
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