Question about HLG drivers....

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

Where you at LED members....this is for you.

I currently looking to add a tad more actual watts from the wall in my current setup. I am posting the specs to my lights in my main flower room below...My question is, can I change the drivers on my current kits to something else to draw more power? When I was in the planning stages of the build, the seller said something about adding 4 I believe 125 drivers or along those lines.

This is each kit....I run 2 of these in a 4x8. They currently pull about 615 real watts from the wall per kit.

ilovereggae · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
Where you at LED members....this is for you.

I currently looking to add a tad more actual watts from the wall in my current setup. I am posting the specs to my lights in my main flower room below...My question is, can I change the drivers on my current kits to something else to draw more power? When I was in the planning stages of the build, the seller said something about adding 4 I believe 125 drivers or along those lines.

This is each kit....I run 2 of these in a 4x8. They currently pull about 615 real watts from the wall per kit.

View attachment 4747119

im guessing these from the ebay seller ucandewit? I think I was looking at these strips the other day.

if its the same person, the listings say they will take 1800ma each strip max.

and if my math is right you are running them at @ 625ma now which is much more efficient.

would need to know what the exact layout of your strips are and confirmation on the max current per strip + heatsink, but guessing you could probably double the wattage.

however you are already over 35w/sf. it seems like it would be overkill to boost it any more than it is now, and doubling it would most likely bleach your plants.

how close are your lights to your canopy? are there other environmental improvements you can make instead with that $? i would do those first.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

ilovereggae said:
im guessing these from the ebay seller ucandewit? I think I was looking at these strips the other day.

if its the same person, the listings say they will take 1800ma each strip max.

and if my math is right you are running them at @ 625ma now which is going to me much more efficient.

would need to know what the exact layout of your strips are and confirmation on the max current per strip + heatsink, but guessing you could probably double the wattage.

however you are already over 35sf/w. it seems like it would be overkill to boost it any more than it is now, and doubling it would most likely bleach your plants.

how close are your lights to your canopy? are there other environmental improvements you can make instead with that $? i would do those first.

Yes, seller is friggin awesome. He worked a ton with me and didnt push a product on me but helped me build what I needed and how I wanted it. I am currently in the 18 in above but any closer and they do start bleaching. Right now I am running about 75% and I don't want to go a full 100% as I am trying to be more efficient. I build the room from ground up so everything is in check from fans to temps. Even if I don't double my output, I was just trying to get in that 50w/sf range.

ilovereggae · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
Yes, seller is friggin awesome. He worked a ton with me and didnt push a product on me but helped me build what I needed and how I wanted it. I am currently in the 18 in above but any closer and they do start bleaching. Right now I am running about 75% and I don't want to go a full 100% as I am trying to be more efficient. I build the room from ground up so everything is in check from fans to temps. Even if I don't double my output, I was just trying to get in that 50w/sf range.

that is too much for high efficiency led. 50w/sf is for hid - HPS or CMH. there are ppl on here pulling 2g/w on 30w/sf of Samsung strips. more than that you probably need supplemental c02 anyway to use the higher PPFD.

you are running super efficient custom spectrum lights as well, which is better than most ppl on heres setup including me.

i would hold off on upgrading your lights until everything else temps/humidity/airflow/automated watering/etc is all dialed in.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

ilovereggae said:
that is too much for high efficiency led. 50w/sf is for hid - HPS or CMH. there are ppl on here pulling 2g/w on 30w/sf of Samsung strips. more than that you probably need supplemental c02 anyway to use the higher PPFD.

you are running super efficient custom spectrum lights as well, which is better than most ppl on heres setup including me.

i would hold off on upgrading your lights until everything else temps/humidity/airflow/automated watering/etc is all dialed in.

Makes sense....I always see the 50 range but also forget I am running more efficient. I appreciate you answering. I wasn't really complaining about results...just looking for someone to weigh in as lighting specs just aren't my cup of tea. Thanks!!!

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

Now that I do the math....I realize I am at a little over 38w/sf....oops lol

DrKiz · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
Makes sense....I always see the 50 range but also forget I am running more efficient. I appreciate you answering. I wasn't really complaining about results...just looking for someone to weigh in as lighting specs just aren't my cup of tea. Thanks!!!

I have a 9 x 5 with two 800 watt LM301b fixtures. Waaaaaaay overkill. The 50 watt per is definitely not needed for high efficiency LED fixtures as stated above.

I run them 25 - 50 - 75%, depending on stage of growth. Full power and I have to raise them waaaay high or I get bleaching. 1200 watts works fine for me. I have a par meter and have played with wattage and distance... you will have no problem with PPFD at 30w/sq foot.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

DrKiz said:
I have a 9 x 5 with two 800 watt LM301b fixtures. Waaaaaaay overkill. The 50 watt per is definitely not needed for high efficiency LED fixtures as stated above.

I run them 25 - 50 - 75%, depending on stage of growth. Full power and I have to raise them waaaay high or I get bleaching. 1200 watts works fine for me. I have a par meter and have played with wattage and distance... you will have no problem with PPFD at 30w/sq foot.

Yea I am thinking to grab a meter. Like I said, this type of stuff isn't by thing so just wanted to see what others had to say. The lights are crushing it but was just looking to see if there's anything else I can do to really push it. Adding additonal CO2 is not an option.

DrKiz · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
Yea I am thinking to grab a meter. Like I said, this type of stuff isn't by thing so just wanted to see what others had to say. The lights are crushing it but was just looking to see if there's anything else I can do to really push it. Adding additonal CO2 is not an option.

Technically you don't need a meter. I'm just re-affirming that the 30watt/sq foot will give you ample PPFD. I have 3 different types of LM301B fixtures. They all crush it with par. So yeah, pretty much your limiting factor does become CO2 availability.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

DrKiz said:
Technically you don't need a meter. I'm just re-affirming that the 30watt/sq foot will give you ample PPFD. I have 3 different types of LM301B fixtures. They all crush it with par. So yeah, pretty much your limiting factor does become CO2 availability.

That could be something I venture down in the future...just glad to be assured I am getting more then enough out of my current lights. Saved me some money too. Would you think red booster strips would be beneficial or am I ok with what I am currently running?

DrKiz · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
That could be something I venture down in the future...just glad to be assured I am getting more then enough out of my current lights. Saved me some money too. Would you think red booster strips would be beneficial or am I ok with what I am currently running?

Yeah, I'd switch to Coco DTW first before I upgraded to CO2 if I was you. The performance increase and yield increase will be comparable to CO2, and you can build an irrigation system so you don't have to water anymore.

I'd leave the lights for now and just run your system a few more times before sinking more cash into it. What you want now, you probably won't want in 9 months.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

DrKiz said:
Yeah, I'd switch to Coco DTW first before I upgraded to CO2 if I was you. The performance increase and yield increase will be comparable to CO2, and you can build an irrigation system so you don't have to water anymore.

I'd leave the lights for now and just run your system a few more times before sinking more cash into it. What you want now, you probably won't want in 9 months.

Yea coco is something I have not done yet. I have done the DWC thing and crushed it with 6 plants but man it was a pain in the ass topping off over 10 gallons a day lol. I really gotta give coco a run though as I always read that it's the best of both worlds.

NukaKola · Nov 20, 2020

615w per 4x4 is plenty, no need to boost your wattage.

I’d be interested in seeing some pics of your lights if you wouldn’t mind. What manufacturer are the reds/deep reds from?

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

NukaKola said:
615w per 4x4 is plenty, no need to boost your wattage.

I’d be interested in seeing some pics of your lights if you wouldn’t mind. What manufacturer are the reds/deep reds from?

Here's one of them prior to going in...

ilovereggae · Nov 20, 2020

NukaKola said:
615w per 4x4 is plenty, no need to boost your wattage.

I’d be interested in seeing some pics of your lights if you wouldn’t mind. What manufacturer are the reds/deep reds from?

this is the standard version they sell but I think @Red Eyed got some custom ones made. pretty sure they will make ones with whatever you ask for

SunBoard 96 LED Samsung lm301h lm301b 3000 4000 6500k 660 IR UV Grow Light Strip | eBay

WITH BOTH THE SAMSUNG LM301H AND LM301B IN A. 56 - Samsung lm301b LEDs in 3000k. 14 - Samsung lm301b LEDs in 4000k. 14 - Samsung lm301h LEDs in 6500k. 4 - 730nm Far Red(IR) LEDs. The 3000k is a good spectrum for budding/blooming.

www.ebay.com

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

ilovereggae said:
this is the standard version they sell but I think @Red Eyed got some custom ones made. pretty sure they will make ones with whatever you ask for

SunBoard 96 LED Samsung lm301h lm301b 3000 4000 6500k 660 IR UV Grow Light Strip | eBay

WITH BOTH THE SAMSUNG LM301H AND LM301B IN A. 56 - Samsung lm301b LEDs in 3000k. 14 - Samsung lm301b LEDs in 4000k. 14 - Samsung lm301h LEDs in 6500k. 4 - 730nm Far Red(IR) LEDs. The 3000k is a good spectrum for budding/blooming.

www.ebay.com

Yep. We sat and planned every detail on my lights. Instead of pushing shit on me....he asked what I need and he suggested certain things while listing pros and cons of each choice. Very stand up guy. Total cost with shipping for both lights....under $1,000 USD for a 4x8.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

But also....the purchase and build was done outside of ebay.

ilovereggae · Nov 20, 2020

Red Eyed said:
Yep. We sat and planned every detail on my lights. Instead of pushing shit on me....he asked what I need and he suggested certain things while listing pros and cons of each choice. Very stand up guy. Total cost with shipping for both lights....under $1,000 USD for a 4x8.

I might have to price out a 240W build bc at that rate its like $1/w including heatsinks + drivers for custom strips? his ebay prices seem way higher but if he makes deals for complete kits this might be a no brainer.

Red Eyed · Nov 20, 2020

ilovereggae said:
I might have to price out a 240W build bc at that rate its like $1/w including heatsinks + drivers for custom strips? his ebay prices seem way higher but if he makes deals for complete kits this might be a no brainer.

His prices are higher on ebay because of seller fees....message and ask for his direct email. I paid a little over $400 for each one.

Question about HLG drivers....

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