Cob Lighting For A 4x8 Flowering Tent

[h4ppyf4rmer]

you just listed all the reason i dont like them haha.smaller cob so you need more cobs per sq foot.driver problems due to cob holder volt max of 250v so it makes series wiring more expensive.more drivers so now not as cheap as they seemed.but the 31 factor in my choice of cobs comes down to actual grow journals.untill i see more quality grows with these other cobs i will keep buying cree and vero because i know they work and there are tons of good looking grows with them.

interesting, after crunching numbers, it turns out that the overall price of a Luminus build for 18 cobs turns out to be slightly more than the VERO29 because of the "more drivers" factor. So, now I'm kind of leaning back to a VERO29 build. I wonder what the voltage rating is for the VERO29 built in holder. If it's rated over 350v, I can put 9 of them on a HLG-480H-C1400 and run two setup to get me to 18 total. or I could use the HLG-340H-C1400 and put 6 cobs on there and just run 3 setups.

 

[sixstring]

interesting, after crunching numbers, it turns out that the overall price of a Luminus build for 18 cobs turns out to be slightly more than the VERO29 because of the "more drivers" factor. So, now I'm kind of leaning back to a VERO29 build. I wonder what the voltage rating is for the VERO29 built in holder. If it's rated over 350v, I can put 9 of them on a HLG-480H-C1400 and run two setup to get me to 18 total. or I could use the HLG-340H-C1400 and put 6 cobs on there and just run 3 setups.

Dont quote me on it but i think the vero is rated for the same 250v if you use the built in holder,maybe 300v.its not hard to solder the vero though,they have a bigger solder pad than most any other cob so lots of room to work.
I will check the voltage when i get home tonight, would be a game changer if it was good to like 350v

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

and.... the bloom room build begins... ordered the tent, started buying the components for the hydro system... now only if could figure out how to grow cannabis.... };-)

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

@sixstring I just took a look at the new Pacific Lighting Concept LED systems, that is one crazy light. according to the specs, it's running a meanwell HLD-600H-54A which I think means he's running 52V VERO29s. the picture shows only 6 which means he's running them at about 2100ma each to hit the capacity of that driver. That's a crap load of lumins(bright). He (greengenes) also says he's has optics build in, which I'm guessing will spread the light to completely fill a 4x4 footprint. The light looks nice, just a bit out of my price range at $799.

 

[sixstring]

@sixstring I just took a look at the new Pacific Lighting Concept LED systems, that is one crazy light. according to the specs, it's running a meanwell HLD-600H-54A which I think means he's running 52V VERO29s. the picture shows only 6 which means he's running them at about 2100ma each to hit the capacity of that driver. That's a crap load of lumins(bright). He (greengenes) also says he's has optics build in, which I'm guessing will spread the light to completely fill a 4x4 footprint. The light looks nice, just a bit out of my price range at $799.

Yeah its def a badass light.he just posted some sphere numbers on instagram that are pretty impressive. Its a direct replacement for a 1000w hps using only 600w so that with no lamp changes for 8 or 9 years and 799 aint bad at all.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

so, I've been chatting with cobkits.com and after cranking some numbers, it looks like if I use there CXM22 cobs, it turns out to be almost the same cost as using VERO29SEs
I can get six CXM22 on a HLG-320H-C1050 and I can get 6 VERO29 50v on the same supply.
they claim the cxm might be 1-2% more efficient at 50W, he said it was pretty much splitting hairs at this point. Now I'm kind of leaning toward the CXM22s just to be different and to get more knowledge of these cobs out on the boards with real results.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

@sixstring A while back in this thread you mentioned the Growers Choice 630W DE CMH https://www.growersc.com/gc630
How do you think two GC630W-DE fixtures would compare with running say 18 VERO29 36v running at 50 watts (1400ma) in an 4 x 8 tent. It's probably going to be less up front money for the CMH fixtures and I think these fixtures would completely fill the tent versus the 18 COBs.
I was talking to @DemonTrich and he really likes his 315cmh fixtures and says LEDs are stupid!!!! (just kidding about the last part) };-)

I'm wondering if the power usage (from the wall) is roughly the same.

 

[DemonTrich]

The reason why I hate (yes hate) led wattage is so very misleading towards growers. If an led panel says it's an 1800w panel, it better be a FN 1800w panel, and NOT 1000w actual.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

The reason why I hate (yes hate) ledsare the wattage is so very misleading records growers. If an led panel says it's an 1800w panel, it better be a FN 1800w panel, and NOT 1000w actual.

yeah, a lot of panel specs are misleading, I agree. Well, here's the thing for me: I know 18 COBs chewing up 50w per cob, will not fill my bloom room completely. I was going to space them at 14" on center and them place the plants under them with hopes of covering the whole canopy(six large plants). 18 * 50w is 900 watts being used to run the COBs with probably a little more at the wall because the drivers are not 100% (94 I think)efficient. It's going to cost me roughly $1200 to build this 18 COB system and not have full coverage. for $1100, I can have 2 630DE cmh fixtures that @sixstring believes would fill the whole tent with light. The downside is bulbs need to be replaces and they are $150+. The growers choice site only gives the 630DE bulbs 10000 hours of life with a consistent 10 on time (little over two years at 12/7/365).

I am weighing all options, the CMH option would be easier for me.

I have no idea about hight of canopy or coverage of these lights.

 

[REALSTYLES]

The reason why I hate (yes hate) led wattage is so very misleading towards growers. If an led panel says it's an 1800w panel, it better be a FN 1800w panel, and NOT 1000w actual.

You must learn about leds before buying them. I learned the hard way with mars lol. Now I make lights and if I say it's 600w it's 600w and I will also say 1000w of my led lights wouldn't be a fair fight against a 1000w HPS

 

[DemonTrich]

Instead of 2x630de, why not 4x315? I span 12" with 4x315 with about 2" between the walls and hoods. Great overlap, and wall reflection rh is way. Bulbs are iirc 75@ for agro and elite Philips bulbs when you shop around.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

Instead of 2x630de, why not 4x315? I span 12" with 4x315 with about 2" between the walls and hoods. Great overlap, and wall reflection rh is way. Bulbs are iirc 75@ for agro and elite Philips bulbs when you shop around.

I think four of them in a 4 x 8 might be a bit too much. four fixtures, four bulbs, more failure points. I don't think running four 315s are a bad thing, I just think it's going to be cheaper buying 2 fixtures versus buying 4 fixtures. *** shrug ***

gc315se-cmh are $300 each, gc630de-cmh are $545 each

on the Plus side, it might give a more even distribution using 4 fixtures versus 2 fixtures

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

You must learn about leds before buying them. I learned the hard way with mars lol. Now I make lights and if I say it's 600w it's 600w and I will also say 1000w of my led lights wouldn't be a fair fight against a 1000w HPS

so here's what's worrying me: I have budgeted(what I told my wife) $1200 for lighting. I'm worried that 1200 forth of COBs won't be enough and I'll have to spend another 1000 to get enough. I was planning three 6-COB units chewing up 50watts per COB being a total of 900W. I don't think I'll need the whole area for 6 large plants... that's still my current plan, just looking into the CMH units.

 

[sixstring]

I think four of them in a 4 x 8 might be a bit too much. four fixtures, four bulbs, more failure points. I don't think running four 315s are a bad thing, I just think it's going to be cheaper buying 2 fixtures versus buying 4 fixtures. *** shrug ***

gc315se-cmh are $300 each, gc630de-cmh are $545 each

on the Plus side, it might give a more even distribution using 4 fixtures versus 2 fixtures

you would use those 630 de like a gavita 750w,keep them about 20 to 24 in above the canopy and they will cover alot of area and grow solid nugs to the soil.but so will a tent full of cobz haha.i would expect to replace the lamps at 1 year like a gavita,by then they should be around 100 bucks each.remember this is newer tech,when gavita first came out they were also 140 per lamp but now i see them for 85 to 95 bucks alot.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

you would use those 630 de like a gavita 750w,keep them about 20 to 24 in above the canopy and they will cover alot of area and grow solid nugs to the soil.but so will a tent full of cobz haha.i would expect to replace the lamps at 1 year like a gavita,by then they should be around 100 bucks each.remember this is newer tech,when gavita first came out they were also 140 per lamp but now i see them for 85 to 95 bucks alot.

hmmm, 20 to 24" might be too much for a tent. I don't plan on doing a scrog, I think I like the way you grow yours, a bit larger.

 

[sixstring]

50w cobs in a tent will rock.use citizen or vero if you need to stick to that 1200 budget,its doable

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

50w cobs in a tent will rock.use citizen or vero if you need to stick to that 1200 budget,its doable

so I priced out the VERO29SE having 18 on 14" centers and it's about $1100 not including the aluminum framework. it might be enough as I don't really need to fill the entire room. I'm just worried it won't be enough and I have to fork out more money to get close.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

oh yeah, I measured my current grow, and the kolas are 24" from the ceiling of a 80" tall gorilla tent, my current LED light is sitting at 12" from the Kolas, so if I were using CMH lights this time, I'd be in trouble, lol

 

[DrMcSkunkins]

so I priced out the VERO29SE having 18 on 14" centers and it's about $1100 not including the aluminum framework. it might be enough as I don't really need to fill the entire room. I'm just worried it won't be enough and I have to fork out more money to get close.

I suggest building small straight framewoks since Ive built a big square one and a small straight one. The bigger they are the more flimsy and awkward they are.

 

[h4ppyf4rmer]

I suggest building small straight framewoks since Ive built a big square one and a small straight one. The bigger they are the more flimsy and awkward they are.

yeah, I was going to build three 6-COB units, 2 rows of 3 on 14" centers. Total width would be 20", total length would be 34". each unit would be run by a HLG-320H-C1400B driver mounted on a power wall outside the tent. I'd be running a 15a 220/110 circuit over to the power board