Best cree set up for tiny, micro grow :)

[shiva71]

Hiya
I've been growing on and off for a good few years, and ive decided to start again, basically planning a micro grow in a cab ive made, 30 x 30 x 100cm. I know thats tiny! But a) I know how it is, you start thinking 'hey, if I increase the space a bit, more light, I could do x plants' and it just gets ridiculous...and b) I dont really partake of the herb - it makes me go a bit wacko So its really just a hobby I guess, I always thought a budding, sparkling plant is a beautiful thing.
So: one plant in my 30x30 space in a bubble bucket, plan on scrogging it to fill the space (not that it would be difficult!)
Ive been planning a CXB3070 @ 1400 - for no other reason than the cxb3070 + Mean Well LPC60-1400 seems like a fairly tried and trusted combo.
But im just wondering if there would be an interesting alternative, I guess im thinking 4 lower power LEDs to give a more even light source...or with such a small space, would it really be such an issue just having one central light source?
Any advice much appreciated chaps!!
Cheers
ps - if this should be in the micro/cab grow section, can someone notify the mods. Thanks!

 

[JorgeGonzales]

Go bigger and grow tomatoes next to the pot plant. Growing things is fun. Peppers. Lettuces. Mmm.

Anyway, one cob per sq ft is pretty much the gold standard, it will be plenty even. But consider the tomato.

 

[Growmau5]

LPCs are an economical choice, but they don't dim. Could you source or recycle an old laptop or other type of 36v DC power supply (pictured). then you could run meanwell LDD bucking drivers on DC power. these ldds are available in 1500ma flavors now. and you could expand and add some red that your tomatoes, microgreens etc might want

also, I dont know if a single cob is the right choice here. perhaps a series of Cree XM-L2, XPL, MKR, or XHP30,50,70s would give you a more diffuse and spread out lighting array.

 

[JorgeGonzales]

It's an interesting question...My thought process was a bare cob at 8 inches makes a footprint of like two feet, surrounded by reflective walls only a foot apart. It might be surprisingly even.

Those 8 inches might be hard to come by in a 3ft high space though.

Edited to add: tomatoes!

Also, maybe google space buckets and see if anybody has done a single cob grow.

 

[Will Thayer]

@Growmau5,
Have you done a video about using LLD bucking drivers?

Cheers,
Will

 

[Growmau5]

@Growmau5,
Have you done a video about using LLD bucking drivers?

Cheers,
Will

not yet Will, but I have all the components now. so I certainly will. Mark at Cutter has made one about LDDs driving cobs.
2:06 into this video.

 

[Will Thayer]

not yet Will, but I have all the components now. so I certainly will. Mark at Cutter has made one about LDDs driving cobs.
2:06 into this video.

I would be very interested in how you calculate what power supply to use. I am wanting to add CXA2530 to the perimeter of a 140w Plant Photonics Blurple panel. My friend wants to have a small grow at his and I offered him the panel as I use COBs now.
I would only be adding 4 CXA2530s to give the panel a little boost.
Any thoughts?

Cheers,
Will

 

[Growmau5]

@Will Thayer calculating how large of a power supply is pretty easy. there are a couple factors to consider.
- in non buck boost drivers, aka simple bucking drivers like the meanwell LDD series. you lose a couple volts across the driver.
for example 36v dc power supply into the driver yields 34v out for driving the leds. this will not be a problem for cxb at low currents since cxb forward voltage is in the 34v range at lower currents.
(I measured 34.5v at 1400ma on cxb3590).
- assuming enough voltage to run the cob, then its one little $6 driver per cob.
-a 36v 2.5amp DC power supply is good for 90w max.
-for CXA2530 you would need a 48v dc power supply to yield around 46v since CXA is going to need 40v up to 42v.

 

[Will Thayer]

Thank you, I will apply this information to help my friend. I look forward to watching your LDD video soon.

Cheers,
Will

 

[shiva71]

Thanks for the replies thus far...yeah growing veggies would be fun, herbs as well. Fresh Basil and Oregano (I think that's what you guys call coriander?) is always nice to have...
Yep Im familiar with the smaller cree LEDs from bike lights which i use for night time mountainbiking.
Ill have a google and see if anyone has made a set up with XHPs. What do you think the cooling situation would be? I cant imagine each would need a heatsink/fan (Arctic 64 type) but Id imagine it would need some cooling?
Also Growmau, you said the LPCs dont have dimming...is that something you'd recommend and why so?
Thanks again guys!

 

[Growmau5]

Thanks for the replies thus far...yeah growing veggies would be fun, herbs as well. Fresh Basil and Oregano (I think that's what you guys call coriander?) is always nice to have...
Yep Im familiar with the smaller cree LEDs from bike lights which i use for night time mountainbiking.
Ill have a google and see if anyone has made a set up with XHPs. What do you think the cooling situation would be? I cant imagine each would need a heatsink/fan (Arctic 64 type) but Id imagine it would need some cooling?
Also Growmau, you said the LPCs dont have dimming...is that something you'd recommend and why so?
Thanks again guys!

100cm tall, whats that around 40inches. you may not want or need dimming. but it can be nice to have during heat waves allowing you to give the plants some light while keeping heat in check. and also to dim during transplant and or bleaching events. not necessary. just nice to have the option.

XHP line (i believe) is two pairs of diodes in one package, often on a copper star. you can choose to wire them at 6v or 12v (Fv) so there is a lot of flexibility there to suit various drive currents. for the heatsink, I was thinking a single panel 20x20cm or as large as 25x25 cm probably a standard fin heatsink, possibly even a salvaged one or something on ebay that suits your needs.

for the XHP, I have seen them on www.cutter.com.au as well as www.fasttech.com

the single cob route may prove to be the easiest, it depends on what your goals are for the project. but if you want to break out of the COB mould. something like this might be an economical solution for you.
https://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10010823/1924902-cree-mk-r-1200lm-4500k-led-emitter

cheers

 

[Will Thayer]

Corriander is called cilantro by some or chinese parsley.

Cheers,
Will

 

[shiva71]

Brilliant, cheers Growmau. Yeah I think ill just go with the Cxb at the moment.
But the XHPs do look interesting...

 

[shiva71]

Corriander is called cilantro by some or chinese parsley.

Cheers,
Will

Ah yeah, cilantro, thats the stuff. Indispensable for a good curry...butter chicken, yeah baby!!
Just supposing you did want to use smaller LEDs like the XHPs, would connecting them up to a driver be basically the same principle as how this guy does it (at around 28:10)?

And the driver needs to be able to manage the combined volts and watts...?
Cheers!

 

[Will Thayer]

@Will Thayer calculating how large of a power supply is pretty easy. there are a couple factors to consider.
- in non buck boost drivers, aka simple bucking drivers like the meanwell LDD series. you lose a couple volts across the driver.
for example 36v dc power supply into the driver yields 34v out for driving the leds. this will not be a problem for cxb at low currents since cxb forward voltage is in the 34v range at lower currents.
(I measured 34.5v at 1400ma on cxb3590).
- assuming enough voltage to run the cob, then its one little $6 driver per cob.
-a 36v 2.5amp DC power supply is good for 90w max.
-for CXA2530 you would need a 48v dc power supply to yield around 46v since CXA is going to need 40v up to 42v.

@shiva71, My apologies for stepping on your thread. Hopefully our discussion will help you find what you need as well.

@Growmau5 ,
Sorry to tax your time my friend. I will ask this one more question if I may. I have two 140w Plant Photonics panels to offer my friend. I intend to place 4x CXA 2530 with their own passive sinks on each panel (one at each corner).

If you would be so kind as to review my parts list and yah or nay it please.

For each panel : 4x CXA2530, 1x Meanwell LRS-75-48, 1x Coralux LDD-4 Driver Board, 4x MW LDD-500H

Links to above mentioned parts:

http://www.tme.eu/en/details/lrs-75-48/industrial-power-supplies/mean-well/
http://coralux.net/?wpsc-product=ldd-4-driver-board
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/ldd-500h/dcdc-converters/mean-well/

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Will

 

[Growmau5]

@shiva71, My apologies for stepping on your thread. Hopefully our discussion will help you find what you need as well.

@Growmau5 ,
Sorry to tax your time my friend. I will ask this one more question if I may. I have two 140w Plant Photonics panels to offer my friend. I intend to place 4x CXA 2530 with their own passive sinks on each panel (one at each corner).

If you would be so kind as to review my parts list and yah or nay it please.

For each panel : 4x CXA2530, 1x Meanwell LRS-75-48, 1x Coralux LDD-4 Driver Board, 4x MW LDD-500H

Links to above mentioned parts:

http://www.tme.eu/en/details/lrs-75-48/industrial-power-supplies/mean-well/
http://coralux.net/?wpsc-product=ldd-4-driver-board
http://www.tme.eu/en/details/ldd-500h/dcdc-converters/mean-well/

Your thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Will

hmmm, power supply LRS-75-48 is borderline. You are proposing 80 watts worth of led on a 75w powersupply. not sure if it will do the trick. Can you bump up to LRS-100-48? ($16usd)
other options to economically run 4x CXA2530 @ 500ma include:
ELG-100-c500b (would run 5) ($35usd)
LPC-100-500 (not dimmable) ($25usd)
(2) PCD-60-500b (internal dim) ($22usd ea x 2)

depends on your goals Will. if its simply economics, pick the cheapest option. if you want to be able to dim to zero, then the DC route with the LDDs is the way to go.

 

[shiva71]

No worries Will...

 

[Will Thayer]

hmmm, power supply LRS-75-48 is borderline. You are proposing 80 watts worth of led on a 75w powersupply. not sure if it will do the trick. Can you bump up to LRS-100-48? ($16usd)
other options to economically run 4x CXA2530 @ 500ma include:
ELG-100-c500b (would run 5) ($35usd)
LPC-100-500 (not dimmable) ($25usd)
(2) PCD-60-500b (internal dim) ($22usd ea x 2)

depends on your goals Will. if its simply economics, pick the cheapest option. if you want to be able to dim to zero, then the DC route with the LDDs is the way to go.

My gratitude for your suggestions. I was in need of good advice. I purchased 2x LPC-100-500 for this project as dimming is not a requirement. I also purchased the LDD and Coralux boards and power supplies because I would like to have a play. I am sure I can find a project for them soon.

Cheers,
Will

 

[Will Thayer]

Hiya
I've been growing on and off for a good few years, and ive decided to start again, basically planning a micro grow in a cab ive made, 30 x 30 x 100cm. I know thats tiny! But a) I know how it is, you start thinking 'hey, if I increase the space a bit, more light, I could do x plants' and it just gets ridiculous...and b) I dont really partake of the herb - it makes me go a bit wacko So its really just a hobby I guess, I always thought a budding, sparkling plant is a beautiful thing.
So: one plant in my 30x30 space in a bubble bucket, plan on scrogging it to fill the space (not that it would be difficult!)
Ive been planning a CXB3070 @ 1400 - for no other reason than the cxb3070 + Mean Well LPC60-1400 seems like a fairly tried and trusted combo.
But im just wondering if there would be an interesting alternative, I guess im thinking 4 lower power LEDs to give a more even light source...or with such a small space, would it really be such an issue just having one central light source?
Any advice much appreciated chaps!!
Cheers
ps - if this should be in the micro/cab grow section, can someone notify the mods. Thanks!

Hey Shiva,
Look into CXA2530 or Vero 18s or even Citizen CLU048 -1212, they are all cheap as chips now. For one square foot of grow space you can illuminate it on a very tight budget if you prefer to have multi points of light.
On the other hand one CXB3590 would be great over a sq ft run at 1005ma upto 1400ma. I run CXB3590 @ 700ma but I had to spend more on COBs to gain efficiency. Running Cree COBs soft is my preference but there plenty of options to choose from.

I agree with you about a flowering cannabis plant, it is a thing of wonder. I have always had more fun growing it then smoking it.

Good luck with your build and let us know how you got on.

Cheers,
Will

 

[Will Thayer]

Ah yeah, cilantro, thats the stuff. Indispensable for a good curry...butter chicken, yeah baby!!
Just supposing you did want to use smaller LEDs like the XHPs, would connecting them up to a driver be basically the same principle as how this guy does it (at around 28:10)?

And the driver needs to be able to manage the combined volts and watts...?
Cheers!

Wiring is the easy part like in the video. Picking the right parts is the hard graft. I am a mathtard so I always ask someone here. Has kept me out of trouble thus far.
Growmau5's mega veg panel video brought to this forum initially and his youtube videos are second to none. Watch them when you have a chance. He has a flair for design and always pushes the envelope with his creations. If these attributes where not enough he is also a really nice person. A definite "keeper" phenotype.

Cheers,
Will