DiY LED - Cree CXA3070

K

kkman

Member
SupraSPL said:
HLG-185H-C1050B is a great option, can run (5) Vero 29s or (5) CXA3070s, dimmable and 94% efficient. That works out to $14/ COB pretty tough to beat.

For separate drivers, Fasttech 50W drivers should give you 1.1-1.2A for $11 each. About 91% efficient but not power factor corrected which may affect you since it will be a large build. Same goes for the Mean Well LPC-60-1050, 87-88% efficient and not power factor corrected.

For a large build I would recommend a HeatsinkUSA design with multiple COBs on each heatsink and 1 fan each. Maybe the 4.23" profile depending on the spread you want.
Click to expand...
But wont the 94% drop to 80% if you dim down?
 
Romz1

Romz1

Member
Hey guys I am wondering are AB bins that good since they cost 60% more comparing with Z4 bins? Like for the price of four AB you can get six Z4's and still have some money back (and maybe run these six Z4's at 1 or 1.1 A, so they are more efficient per watt?)
 
Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
Romz1 said:
Hey guys I am wondering are AB bins that good since they cost 60% more comparing with Z4 bins? Like for the price of four AB you can get six Z4's and still have some money back (and maybe run these six Z4's at 1 or 1.1 A, so they are more efficient per watt?)
Click to expand...
If your source for ABs you are talking about are 60% more than Z4s it is not worth it IMO. Z4s at 1050mA have just a slightly better efficiency than ABs at 1400mA so that would be a good choice (Z4s at 1050mA). At the same drive currents ABs are ~3% more efficient than Z4s but driven a little softer the Z4s can be as efficient or more than the ABs just takes more of them to get the same wattage and efficiency. 4 ABs @ 1400mA each is about 208w LED dissipation at 42.07% and 6 Z4s @ 1050mA each is about 228w LED dissipation at 42.39% efficiency, so the 6 Z4s would be giving you 20w more total output along with same/slightly better efficiency. Also 6 vs 4 COBs will spread your light out better over the canopy (something I personally think a lot of DIYers overlook).
 
Romz1

Romz1

Member
Bueno Time I found the prices on mouser, sounds like there is no reason to pay more than 60% extra money for 3% efficiency...Thanks! :-)
Looks like I am going to buy 6 Z4's (if I won't find cheaper AB's), any suggestions what driver to choose? Buy a single for every unit? Or one that can support multiple units?
Finally! After 4 years break, can't wait to grow some plants again! ;)
 
Greengenes707

Greengenes707

Well-Known Member
Romz1 said:
Bueno Time I found the prices on mouser, sounds like there is no reason to pay more than 60% extra money for 3% efficiency...Thanks! :-)
Looks like I am going to buy 6 Z4's (if I won't find cheaper AB's), any suggestions what driver to choose? Buy a single for every unit? Or one that can support multiple units?
Finally! After 4 years break, can't wait to grow some plants again! ;)
Click to expand...
One of the coolest things is that by improving driver efficiency ~5%(based on load) will give you the same as increasing a bin instead of the driver.

Z4's on HLG185's will run about the same as an AB's on LPC or anything in the 86-87% range when driving @1.4a.

So if you count the driver efficiency(your electric meter does)...

Z4@1.4...6674lm:
Chip efficiency only 6674lm/52.22w...127.8lm/w...÷ by 325(the LER) = 39.32%
On an LPC running 87% efficiency... 52.22*1.13=59w... 6674lm÷59w= 113.12lm/w...÷ by the LER(325)= 34.8%
On an HLG running 94% efficiency... 52.22w*1.06=55.35w...6674lm÷55.35w=120.58lm/w...÷ by LER= 37.1%

AB@1.4...7140lm:
Chip efficiency only 7140lm/52.22w...127.8lm/w...÷ by 325(the LER) = 42.06%
On LPC running 87% efficiency... 52.22*1.13=59w... 7140lm÷59w= 121.02lm/w...÷ by the LER(325)= 37.24%
On HLG running 94% efficiency... 52.22w*1.06=55.35w...7140lm÷55.35w=129lm/w...÷ by LER= 39.69%


Just to clarify something...the AB has ~2.47% higher efficiency at 1.4a...BUT that means a ~7% increase in light over the Z4....
7140-6674=466...466÷6674= .0698...or 6.98%. I'm not saying that justifies going AB in your case...but that it is more than a simple 3% increase.
Mouser is a rip off...but they are the only one who has singles...so it's like 15$ beers at a ball game.
Good luck man, I think the 6 Z4's is a smart choice, and in the end will be better if you pair it right, plus you can spread more.
My 2¢
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
If you are willing to wait for the Z4s from Amelia Liu ($40 shipped) and you run at 900mA or lower, the Z4 overtakes the Vero29. But above that current, the Vero looks better. Sometime Amelia gets ABs in stock for $42 and that is competitive with the Vero 29 up to 1.4A. All that said, those are the numbers "on paper" and they are close enough with a large enough margin of error, that we don't really know how they will stack up in practice. One thing is for sure though, those 3 are all awesome choices for a flowering lamp.
CXA vs Vero29.png
 
Sevren

Sevren

Well-Known Member
Greengenes707 said:
Just to clarify something...the AB has ~2.47% higher efficiency at 1.4a...BUT that means a ~7% increase in light over the Z4....
7140-6674=466...466÷6674= .0698...or 6.98%. I'm not saying that justifies going AB in your case...but that it is more than a simple 3% increase.
Mouser is a rip off...but they are the only one who has singles...so it's like 15$ beers at a ball game.
Good luck man, I think the 6 Z4's is a smart choice, and in the end will be better if you pair it right, plus you can spread more.
My 2¢
Click to expand...
Mouser was a rip off, but that extra $40+ went into this sweet, sweet, black cardboard and black foam presentation.

IMG_20150112_163406.jpg
 
Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
SupraSPL said:
If you are willing to wait for the Z4s from Amelia Liu ($40 shipped) and you run at 900mA or lower, the Z4 overtakes the Vero29. But above that current, the Vero looks better. Sometime Amelia gets ABs in stock for $42 and that is competitive with the Vero 29 up to 1.4A. All that said, those are the numbers "on paper" and they are close enough with a large enough margin of error, that we don't really know how they will stack up in practice. One thing is for sure though, those 3 are all awesome choices for a flowering lamp.
View attachment 3330318
Click to expand...
So is this the newest spreadsheet? The numbers are a higher than the one I was going off of.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Once warmed up they put out 1250mA and about 88.5-89% efficient. Max Vf is 45-47. They are not power factor corrected. The ones pictured are 1450mA, 90-91% efficienct, max Vf 40, and power factor corrected. I complained to perfectdeal_US and they made it right but I cannot believe they still have not changed the auction pics and description, not cool.
 
Bueno Time

Bueno Time

Well-Known Member
Ya thats pretty shady how they did that switcharoo and still havent changed the info and pics after all the business they got they shoot themselves in the foot now by trying to sell those decievingly.

I think of all the times we have suggested and linked those drivers in threads and people see that and go to buy them still not knowing they arent the same drivers anymore. I searched for and removed my link to them in my thread on the other forum because of that.
 
E

Elibrium

Member
SupraSPL said:
Once warmed up they put out 1250mA and about 88.5-89% efficient. Max Vf is 45-47. They are not power factor corrected. The ones pictured are 1450mA, 90-91% efficienct, max Vf 40, and power factor corrected. I complained to perfectdeal_US and they made it right but I cannot believe they still have not changed the auction pics and description, not cool.
Click to expand...

Dammit... ok well I want 1400mA. got another source for what I need? On the cheap preferably without being total crap.

They should take these back but do I have to pay shipping too? I just emailed them and asked for the right products or my money back, I will report back when I hear anything.

Supra did they give you the right ones or just give you your money? I've got a few weeks till I need to cycle again but damnit I just want to play with my new toys! My crees should be here soooooon
 
Last edited:
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Yea I hear that. I intended to send them back but they shut me up with a 20% refund, save me the trouble and cost of shipping them. So now I have a big bag of 1250mA drivers I am sure they will come in handy for some project. These are good 1475mA drivers, 89% efficient, power factor corrected. Downside, $15.50 and they ship from China.
 
JavaCo

JavaCo

Well-Known Member
I wouldnt pay shipping it is their mistake they should cover it. Dangle that feedback in front of them. They will lose their power seller discount on Ebay if they receive too many back feed backs. I would just tell them you will have no choice but to leave Negative feedback if they don't pay shipping. Dont wait file a item not as described claim threw ebay. Worst case you will have to send the drivers back and ebay will refund your money. This is why i will only use name branded Drivers that have a data sheet now. I got sent 600 mA drivers with 1500mA stickers on them. I believe somewhere back in this thread there is a few pages about it.
 
SupraSPL

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
I remember that, it was Sure-Display on eBay, they got me good! I buy and test a lot of generic drivers so I expect to get screwed occasionally. But in hindsight I should have done exactly what you described with Sure-Display.
 
E

Elibrium

Member
SupraSPL said:
Yea I hear that. I intended to send them back but they shut me up with a 20% refund, save me the trouble and cost of shipping them. So now I have a big bag of 1250mA drivers I am sure they will come in handy for some project. These are good 1475mA drivers, 89% efficient, power factor corrected. Downside, $15.50 and they ship from China.
Click to expand...
20% refund? Like they gave you only 20% back or did you also get the correct drivers? Sorry I miss understood that..? Lol
Have you orderd these other ones before?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top