How To Find The Most Efficient Driver?

[BDGrows]

Ok, so I am trying to figure out the whole driver thing and honestly, I don't get it... I know I need a certain number of volts to get the cob to fire and after that, I have no idea what to do. So how do I calculate the ideal voltage, wattage, etc? I am trying to power two 50V cobs that are optimal between 90w-150w. Thanks for the help.

-BD

 

[mandalaman]

I don't have the link on my phone, but if you google DIY LED COB CALCULATOR then you will find a downloadable jar file.

You are going to have to be familiar with how Volts, amps and watts work together along with the different drivers. If you aren't familiar i recommend a quick primer and then studying some data sheets on the led cobs as well as the drivers and understand how it all works together. Then you can use the calculator to mess around and find ideal combinations.

I am not familiar with the 50v Cob. I believe 36v and 72v are the most commonly available.

Hope this helps! Cheers :)

 

[mandalaman]

One thing I didn't grasp at first was:

Take the voltage of the cob (36v) and multiply it by the amps on the driver (HLG-185h-1050a in this case the amps are 1.05, there's also 1400a, 2100a etc)

36x1.05=37.8

Now you take that number and however many times you can divide it into the wattage of the driver (185 in this case, there's also 120,240,320 etc) is how many cobs you can fit.
185/37.8=4.89. Now you can technically fit 5 because it's close. I am not positive why that is, I still have much to learn.

If you had a Meanwell HLG-240h-2100a with 36v Cobs you would take 36x2.1 and get 75.6 and you can run up to 3 for a total of ~225w (3 36v Cobs at 2.1amps for ~75w a piece).

This is just the very basics, I hope it helps get you started and if I have a concept wrong please someone let me know.

 

[BDGrows]

Honestly I think I am going to just go with the better chips and save myself a headache... I think I am just going to do 2x CXB3070 3000k and 2x CXB3070 3500k using a HLG-120h-c1050. Would that work and be a good idea for seed to harvest light?

 

[mandalaman]

Any reason you would choose the CXB3070 over the CXB3590?

If you did the same setup with the 3590, you would jump to 60% efficiency (from ~51%).

What area are you trying to cover? What light are you replacing?

 

[BDGrows]

Im replacing a 400w hps in a 3x1.8x6. And how were you able to calculate efficiency of the setup? I've been trying to figure that out for awhile now. And how do I figure out the ppfd? Thanks for the help and sorry for all of the beginer questions.

- BD

 

[BDGrows]

And I went with the CXA's because I cant find any of the CXB's. Any ideas where to get some right now?

 

[sixstring]

And I went with the CXA's because I cant find any of the CXB's. Any ideas where to get some right now?

if you want efficeint lights use 5 x cree and a meanwell 185-1050ma driver for 35w per cob.or use the mw 240-1400ma for 50w per cob. if you choose the second option you will be @ 250w for the 5 cree.

 

[sixstring]

what i was getting at is,its better to use 5 x 50w cobs than it is to run 2 of them at 125w each.you will have better coverasge with 5 cobs .yes up front costs will be higher but you will get that back in a run or 2