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Homemade LED Design PCB Doubts

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Homemade LED Design PCB Doubts

Ganjalf 13 Replies 5,078 Views
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Ganjalf

Ganjalf

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Hi there guys I am considering creating my own LED light to substitute the one I have, I am a microgrower, it would be for a space of 0.5x0.5 m2.
I thought of 272 Samsung LM301B, 6 deep red Osram OSCONIQ P 3030 and a 200W Mean Well or Inventronics Driver, my question comes regarding the PCB. My idea was to create an aluminum structure to dissipate heat and use 4 PCB strips of 380x30 mm where to put two rows of LEDs, but I don't know whether there are better options or if I have to use a Metalcore PCB, a regular PCB or a starboard. Could anybody point me in the right direction?
 
What are you looking for exactly? Maybe I can help but Im not really sure what you are looking for.
 
I want to build a LED light for both grow and floration, for the design I'm mainly checking the Gavita pro 1700e, but I adapted the size since I need aproximately 1/3 of the area that it covers. As I previously said I have somewhat of an idea of the components to use and the schematics, but I have my doubts regarding the PCB material I should use, I don't know if a Metalcore PCB would adequately dissipate heat and that's my main concern.
Do I have to design and order a strip like PCB like the following?
Are there prebuilt PCBs of this sort where I can weld my diodes and can handle 200W?

LED
 
For mid power strips, you would be better off just buying pre-soldered ones. AduraLED, cutter.com.au, maybe cobkits.com. Plenty of places but most of the PCBs come from China or South Korea.
 
Digikey has lm301b strips for pretty cheap.
 
Don't solder your own LEDs. Get them pre done. The other option is I've seen people use a heating plate and soldering paste but it's still just more work than is necessary. Just last week I finished a light for my micro grow where I soldered each individual LED. It ended up working but it was a ridiculous amount of work and it required a lot of trial and error. PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
 
Don't solder your own LEDs. Get them pre done. The other option is I've seen people use a heating plate and soldering paste but it's still just more work than is necessary. Just last week I finished a light for my micro grow where I soldered each individual LED. It ended up working but it was a ridiculous amount of work and it required a lot of trial and error. PLEASE DON'T DO IT.
I did a reflow soldering thread about 5 years ago here. Not the prettiest things I ever created but it was fun to learn about and dismantle a POS blackdog that I spent an arm and a leg on. I don't think reflow soldering strips on a griddle is going to work with mid powers too well though.
I agree with @gorrillagluearron . Too easy to buy pre made strips.


 
If you did want to customize your board. Adura will do it for a price. Either your diodes or theirs but I think they may only use MCPCBs for high powered Cree and Osram but I may be wrong. Give them a call and see what they offer. They are out of California.
 
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Ok guys, thank you for your advice, I am considering those prebuilt strips you mentioned, I have two options for the white LED strips (and I'll add the red ones in a starboard):

Option 1)

Strip with Samsung LM301B diodes, 22W (25 W max.) per strip I'd use 10 strips, that'd require a 300W driver (after the red diodes)

Option 2)

Strip with Samsung LM561C diodes, 46W (48.4 W max.) per strip I'd use 4 strips, that'd require a 250W driver (after the red diodes)

Other options include LM561B diodes but I have the impression that the performance of the diodes goes as following: LM301B > LM561C > LM561B

Any ideas or opinions?

Is it crazy to use the LM561 series? After reading the specs I can see they're a bit less efficient, but is it a dealbreaker?
 
I think I would either use the lm301b or lm301h. They are both about the same performance but have different spectrums.
 
I checked the spectrum in 3500K and 80CRI and all are pretty similar.
LM301H:
LM301H


LM301B:
3500K LM301B


LM561C:
LM561C
 
I think it might even be cheaper to buy them pre made anyway.

Having done the same thing in designing several LED lights, I'd have to say that if I were to do it all over again, I would buy the pre-made strips. Time and effort involved in this type of project certainly makes purchasing the "already made ones" very cheap in comparison.
 
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