Running cxb3590 less than 50w?

[giroldo]

hey all,

I plan to expand my led footprint slowly but surely and bought a few pieces to start experimenting.

I purchased 6 Cree cxb3590 3000k 80cri CB bin (I ordered thehighest bin, I believe CB)

I am powering these 6 crew bulbswith an hlg 240 c1400b. I read that the cxb3590s run most efficiently at 1.2A.

Should I be using all 6 LEDs at about 40w or should I only use 5 to get 50w? Also what is the best spacing for these 6 lights? 6 square feet or a little larger of an area? Will I lose any light by not using reflectors, from my understanding the beam would be about 160 degrees.

Thank you guys very much

 

[CobKits]

I read that the cxb3590s run most efficiently at 1.2A

thats not true. the lower current you run them at, the more efficient they are.

 

[Airwalker16]

What size of space?

 

[giroldo]

The space is a large commercial grow room. Right now I am only testing a single unit but I hope to replace all lighting with build custom led

 

[giroldo]

Thats

thats not true. the lower current you run them at, the more efficient they are.

thats why I'm here to ask questions

 

[Airwalker16]

The space is a large commercial grow room. Right now I am only testing a single unit but I hope to replace all lighting with build custom led

Again... with these 6 cxb3590's. What size of floor space are you trying to cover?

 

[giroldo]

Again... with these 6 cxb3590's. What size of floor space are you trying to cover?

I am attempting to cover a 4x2 area

 

[Shugglet]

Id say if you can afford it, use more COBs at lower amperage.

 

[giroldo]

Id say if you can afford it, use more COBs at lower amperage.

Would that require me to buy a ballast of a lower amperage or should I use the 240-c1400 with a potentiometer

 

[CobKits]

on a watt per watt basis cree should match HPS somewhere in the 2.4-3.6A range and beat it if run softer

 

[CobKits]

Would that require me to buy a ballast of a lower amperage or should I use the 240-c1400 with a potentiometer

dimming with the pot will do it but youre wasting a lot of your driver capacity. if you know you only want to run soft 1050 mA is a popular driver. 700 mA is diminishing returns imo, as youre using twice the cobs that you are at 1400 ma. you take those same cobs and spread them out over twice the area at 1400 ma and you will yield more.

 

[giroldo]

on a watt per watt basis cree should match HPS somewhere in the 2.4-3.6A range and beat it if run softer

So if I kept my current power supply's I would have to run 50 cobs at 1.4 amps to equal a 1000?

 

[Abiqua]

So if I kept my current power supply's I would have to run 50 cobs at 1.4 amps to equal a 1000?

No. more like 10-12 overall. Strain/ Environment/Spread will all factor in. If you have any experience, you will know how many changes you will go thru before finding an orientation you like. It takes a little time....usually.

 

[CobKits]

not sure how you arrived at that. approximately 600-750W of cree at 1400 mA usually matches a 1000W, so thats like 12-15 cobs

i was saying if you run them at 3.6A/125W each you'll prob need equivalent wattage to an HPS, so like 8 of them at 125W ea

thats all rule of thumb calcs but you get the idea

 

[bri77]

Running more cobs softer will give less heat and more even spread allowing closer placement of light. It that correct?

 

[giroldo]

I really appreciate all your info. I've been on this site 8 years but I usually lurk! I'm a mechanical engineering major so I'm a bit fuzzy with the electrical.

 

[CobKits]

Running more cobs softer will give less heat and more even spread allowing closer placement of light. It that correct?

that AND they are substantially more eficient when run softer. so for a given total wattage, more cobs at lower wattage to get that, will ALWAYS be more efficient than fewer cobs at higher wattage

a far as "optimum", chip cost, electricity cost, and how much heat your room can take become factors