CXA3070s for Growing Indoor Fruit and Vegetables

C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
Mellodrama said:
ARRRGH :wall:

The COB holders are installed incorrectly. The metal dimples are hanging off the sides. These Ideal COB holders rely on a sink large enough for the two metal dimples AND the two white plastic nubs underneath the wire clips. If all four contact points aren't touching down on the sink you 1) lose indication of a proper installation and 2) you risk crushing the COB.

I wish nobody had ever found these damned Arctic 11's and started pumping them on this forum! How many folks have spent their time and money on this flawed combination??!!

If I had a pile of these CPU coolers I'd recycle the damned things. Or have someone chuck them into a mill and cut the tops down. If you had that protrusion milled down about halfway it looks to me like the COB's would fit.
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Also.... Out of interest.... What is the precise and unequivocal reason why installation Must be as you say?
 
Mellodrama

Mellodrama

Well-Known Member
Clearly, it does NOT have to be just as I say. Your lights light up when electricity is applied. Who knows how many other folks are growing right now, as we speak, with this poor hardware combination. They may get just as many years of life as a "proper" installation.

I emailed an Ideal rep months ago. He confirmed that all 4 points are supposed to touch down. That's how they designed it.

Things are used outside their design parameters all the time. With varying levels of success.

I tried to get the word out on this subject a while back

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cob-holders-the-basics.805034/

And you're right, I was jumping up & down too much previously. I apologize. I just don't want people thinking that the Ideal holders and the Arctic heatsinks are a great combination. They're a workable combination but not a great one.

You mentioned that installation was easy. Have you closely inspected your work at magnification? Are you sure there are no chips of dirt in between? IMO it's very easy to build a light that you think is getting good thermal contact when it really isn't.

I'd recommend close inspection of every assembly, using some trick like a strong flashlight held behind the COB, to look for any gaps between COB and sink.
 
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C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
Mellodrama said:
Clearly, it does NOT have to be just as I say. Your lights light up when electricity is applied. Who knows how many other folks are growing right now, as we speak, with this poor hardware combination. They may get just as many years of life as a "proper" installation.

I emailed an Ideal rep months ago. He confirmed that all 4 points are supposed to touch down. That's how they designed it.

Things are used outside their design parameters all the time. With varying levels of success.

I tried to get the word out on this subject a while back

https://www.rollitup.org/t/cob-holders-the-basics.805034/
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Ok then - well that's that :)

Just a point to note, the metal dimples are not "hanging" off the side, they are actually in contact with the metal of the heatsink. Not sure if that changes anything in your / Ideal's eyes.

Either way, certainly trying to keep this as a polite difference of opinion - I didn't start this thread to have a bunch of "yes men" turn up.....every bit of criticism, as long as it is well intended, is welcome.
 
C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
So today was a day of "graduation" for 4 Jamaican Red seedlings going from the Intematix nursery to the CXA High School! They seem happy about it right now :)

This morning was also a day of experimentation - this time with "air pruning". Having read a great thread (props to this one go to @Hobbes) https://www.rollitup.org/t/diy-air-pruning-pot-experiment-pictures.303229/ I noticed the massive uplift he saw in air-pruning from seedling.......so rather than wait for my lesson in sewing landscaping fabric, I held a small fork in a candle flame and punctured the seedling pots I have ready for my chillis........will report back on how they fare.

And now for the photos. Buenas Dias everyone!

One of my new work-bench (weight's bench put to much heavier work!)
One of the kids in their new setting next to the big boys (21 day zucchini......which are truly phat!)
Some of me proudly showing off my air-prune potsIMG_20150428_090156.jpgIMG_20150428_085834.jpg IMG_20150428_085714.jpg IMG_20150428_085634.jpg IMG_20150428_084152.jpg
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
CellarDweller said:
I only know of a few people on this fine forum growing such non-smokable produce.....but here is my set-up and I'd be grateful for constructive criticism/suggestions and experience.

COBs and Intematix Remote Phosphor in front of Royal Blue LEDs are now my preference.......this is just Day 17 from sowing :)

I use the Intematix for germination on top of a radiator and then move them beneath these 6 COBs (soon to be 8......then 18!!!) where they get uniform 1100 umol/m2/s for 16 hours a day. The COBs are the CXA3070s with an even mix of 3000K and 5000K. Next order (the next 10) will be a mix of the 2700K and 5000K CXA3070s. All will be driven at 1400mA using individual drivers. The fans on the coolers are kept running using a Phobya PSU connected to a splitter.
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Can you share a bit more info on the Intematix Remote Phosphor and how that is actually uses in your system?
 
C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
What sort of product info are you after that isn't on their website?

I use it as a diffuse light source that isn't as high-intensity, but still exceptionally bright. Basically you put the remote phosphor (RP) plastic plate in front of the royal blue leds. The RP then shines like the sun :) If you want to blend different colour temperatures, this could be an obscenely excellent way of doing so.

Imagine strips of RP of 5000k and 2700k, each 10mm thick, in front of a set of RB LEDs.......the light would be beautifully mixed and a perfect intensity for small flowers / veg / seedlings etc. The penetration isn't there, but the quality IS :)
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
Very interesting, this may be the trick for a "seed starting light" the will be close to what a t8 tube give seedlings.
Do you have any pics of how this material is applied to your lights?
 
bicit

bicit

Well-Known Member
CellarDweller said:
What sort of product info are you after that isn't on their website?

I use it as a diffuse light source that isn't as high-intensity, but still exceptionally bright. Basically you put the remote phosphor (RP) plastic plate in front of the royal blue leds. The RP then shines like the sun :) If you want to blend different colour temperatures, this could be an obscenely excellent way of doing so.

Imagine strips of RP of 5000k and 2700k, each 10mm thick, in front of a set of RB LEDs.......the light would be beautifully mixed and a perfect intensity for small flowers / veg / seedlings etc. The penetration isn't there, but the quality IS :)
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What's the advantage over just using a 5000k cob?
 
C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
bicit said:
What's the advantage over just using a 5000k cob?
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@bicit well......um........."insert totally unscientific opinion here".......that's what!

;)

Seriously though, the COB has a wide angle, but relatively poor light distribution on an even basis. The RP panel is very uniform in terms of PPFD across the size of the panel. This uniform footprint can be larger and less "spotty" for less money, though it IS less intense. I liken it to wanting to light up a theatre in a comfortable glow, or pick out a specific spot on stage in bright light. Perhaps not the best analogy, but it makes my point.

The mix of spectra is nice because.....I like it. Is that ok?
 
p4id

p4id

Well-Known Member
I have both cobs, and remote phosphor plates over royal blues, I assumed that the cobs just used a thinner layer of phosphor for the same affect ? What is the yellow coloured stuff that covers the cobs ?
 
C

CellarDweller

Well-Known Member
bicit said:
Did you do the same with a cob?
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Yes sir :) relativity requires both! If you want I'll take some readings tomorrow and show you. Just finished up boring hundreds of holes into my 9 new 4 litre pots for the next stage of my zucchini growth. The feeling of accomplishment would be massive, if that didn't mean I had now 9 empty 2.5 litre pots waiting to have holes bored into them.......along with the other 15 I bought today, all for the next stage of tomato growth. Typing this with a claw hand is not easy! :)

It's all good though - it's been a long while since something grabbed my enthusiasm and passion, whilst at the same time making me so proud of such small accomplishments and learnings.

In essence you're right @p4id ......but they are just much more intense with a tighter beam (in spite of the quoted 115 degree angles).
 
bicit

bicit

Well-Known Member
p4id said:
I have both cobs, and remote phosphor plates over royal blues, I assumed that the cobs just used a thinner layer of phosphor for the same affect ? What is the yellow coloured stuff that covers the cobs ?
Click to expand...
Yup, IIRC they are essentially identical in function. Except the vero 29 has something like 176 blue emitters under the LES.
 
p4id

p4id

Well-Known Member
I'm with you there CellarDweller, i have also re caught the growing bug after a few years absence.
I think there will be many 100% home grown meals this season, in my house hold.
 
OneHitDone

OneHitDone

Well-Known Member
In an area where overhead space is limited and your only trying to grow plants to a height of 12-14" are cobs not a good fit due to intensity?
 
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