All COB Users - Lettuce Grow Challenge!!

[muleface]

ROFL! i just clicked on your Cheap-o ebay led box thread. you really should continue it, its hilarious/fascinating/awesome. I would watch youtube videos of you doing stuff like that all day. Before i had kids, i used to have a stupid winter project every year. One year we made a snow gun, another we made a fog chiller box, also made a jello shot cannon. Most projects were brainstormed sitting on my kitchen counter getting hammered with a buddy of mine. Ah the good ol'days

 

[PicklesRus]

ROFL! i just clicked on your Cheap-o ebay led box thread. you really should continue it, its hilarious/fascinating/awesome. I would watch youtube videos of you doing stuff like that all day. Before i had kids, i used to have a stupid winter project every year. One year we made a snow gun, another we made a fog chiller box, also made a jello shot cannon. Most projects were brainstormed sitting on my kitchen counter getting hammered with a buddy of mine. Ah the good ol'days

LOL that was fun, born out of desperation for something I could hide. LOL.

 

[pinner420]

Collectively some of these folks making $1500.00 units would be wise to have us test their gear for 6 months to a year. Have any of you guys worked the sponsor angle?

 

[PicklesRus]

Collectively some of these folks making $1500.00 units would be wise to have us test their gear for 6 months to a year. Have any of you guys worked the sponsor angle?

What now. Are you talking about people on the forum that make cob lights?

In the commercial lighting market testers have to pay for sample lights. Usually they get them at cheaper than retail (volume pricing), but there are so many people that want to test compared to how many actually buy the companies would
Be hemoraging money if they gave stuff away - unless you have a YouTube channel

 

[brahbbyB]

Taking some advice from @robincnn I went over to digikey to look at the LED strips... I downloaded the products table and let excel crunch some numbers for me.

Here's a clipping of the top of the table.

View attachment 3860820

From all of this it looks like I have two things to figure out right now

1. Which color temps will work best for what I want to grow.

I heard that 4500k was the feedback farmers were providing as best for lettuce to a commercial led lighting supplier - not sure about other crops or if that is even really valid.​

1. Should I go with 20,000 (4x 4' t5ho equiv.) or 40,000 (8x 4' t5ho equiv.) lumens per 2'x4' level

One commercial led lighting supplier recommended the equivalent of 4x t5ho bulbs over a 2'x4' space. According to their data would be an even spread of around 200umol​

Here's 4x4 coverage that equals 8x t5ho. Looks like this meanwell matches this configuration almost perfectly. All 16 LED strips are within 5V of the driver's max.

The following picture used some random pic of LEDs online, the actual LEDs look different than this.
View attachment 3860827
CANADIAN DOLLARS: Cost (in progress) $ 536
709-HLG240H-C700B $ 102
16 x BXEB-L0560Z-50E2000-C-A3 $ 354
16 x 300mm x 25mm Heatsinks $ 80

I'm not sure if these heatsinks would be good enough, one per strip.
View attachment 3860832
View attachment 3860833

Datasheets:
Driver: 709-HLG240H-C700B
LED: BXEB-L0560Z-50E2000-C-A3

I just checked the datasheet on the LED strips and found this... seriously?

View attachment 3860834

If hearsink isn't required I can just go get some aluminum channel from Home Depot and stick it on with this

View attachment 3860843

I've already got some of these powered up, they just got in stock a week or two ago:

https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-series-build.928676/page-2

 

[PicklesRus]

I've already got some of these powered up, they just got in stock a week or two ago:

https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-series-build.928676/page-2

Very Nice! You even picked the type of drivers I was looking at

I'm going to dig around on your thread a bit - what power supply did you use to power the meanwells?

Awesome

Is there any sort of major efficiency difference going with a power supply and dc/dc drivers compared to a ac/dc driver?

 

[PicklesRus]

Planted my lettuce and some Chinese vegetable

Temps are at 71 so will probably take a while to germinate

 

[robincnn]

@PicklesRus
Those 300mm x 25mm heatsinks are ok. Fins too close so not much cooling. I used them here
https://www.rollitup.org/t/active-and-passive-cooling-on-anodized-heatsinks.873356/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/micro-greenhouse-with-luxeon-xf-3535l-led-strips.875345/

These are better


Not sure about spectrum 4000K or 5000K..
Who knows. 70 CRI may be better for lettuce?
70 CRI has more green right ? anyone tried this with lettuce ?

HLG-240H-700. not so friendly voltage. I would look into possibility of CV drivers or lower voltage with parallel connections.

 

[OneHitDone]

@PicklesRus
Those 300mm x 25mm heatsinks are ok. Fins too close so not much cooling. I used them here
https://www.rollitup.org/t/active-and-passive-cooling-on-anodized-heatsinks.873356/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/micro-greenhouse-with-luxeon-xf-3535l-led-strips.875345/

These are better
View attachment 3861411

Not sure about spectrum 4000K or 5000K..
Who knows. 70 CRI may be better for lettuce?
70 CRI has more green right ? anyone tried this with lettuce ?

HLG-240H-700. not so friendly voltage. I would look into possibility of CV drivers or lower voltage with parallel connections.

We need to try something in the 5750 - 6500K range

 

[PicklesRus]

@PicklesRus
HLG-240H-700. not so friendly voltage. I would look into possibility of CV drivers or lower voltage with parallel connections.

What about LDD drivers running off a ac/dc power supply instead?
Not friendly voltage as in dangerous to handle?

I was thinking of something like this

http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut1704

 

[PicklesRus]

@PicklesRus
Those 300mm x 25mm heatsinks are ok. Fins too close so not much cooling. I used them here
https://www.rollitup.org/t/active-and-passive-cooling-on-anodized-heatsinks.873356/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/micro-greenhouse-with-luxeon-xf-3535l-led-strips.875345/

These are better
View attachment 3861411

I take your word for it, but a lot more expensive.
Also I'm in Canada my wallet gets raped at the border unless I order from China.
I'll keep looking for a cheaper option.

 

[robincnn]

What about LDD drivers running off a ac/dc power supply instead?
Not friendly voltage as in dangerous to handle?

I was thinking of something like this

http://www.cutter.com.au/proddetail.php?prod=cut1704

OneHitDone will one hit us if we talk too much off topic here.
Yes good to avoid high voltage if possible.
Those LDD great for use with micro controllers. they add cos thou. I used them with a cheep Meanwell LPC 48V/54V driver and then i can run any cob or strips.
Or best to find 12V or 24 V strips and go with a Type A meanwell driver.

 

[OneHitDone]

OneHitDone will one hit us if we talk too much off topic here.
Yes good to avoid high voltage if possible.
Those LDD great for use with micro controllers. they add cos thou. I used them with a cheep Meanwell LPC 48V/54V driver and then i can run any cob or strips.
Or best to find 12V or 24 V strips and go with a Type A meanwell driver.

I don't care what is talked about in this thread as long as it relates in some way to being used for the stated purpose of the thread.
All of the led driver talk does, hopefully collectively we can come up with a solution that does work for lettuce / greens / veggies at a significant power savings and also not break our bank accounts in the process

 

[PicklesRus]

OneHitDone will one hit us if we talk too much off topic here.
Yes good to avoid high voltage if possible.
Those LDD great for use with micro controllers. they add cos thou. I used them with a cheep Meanwell LPC 48V/54V driver and then i can run any cob or strips.
Or best to find 12V or 24 V strips and go with a Type A meanwell driver.

I don't care what is talked about in this thread as long as it relates in some way to being used for the stated purpose of the thread.
All of the led driver talk does, hopefully collectively we can come up with a solution that does work for lettuce / greens / veggies at a significant power savings and also not break our bank accounts in the process

amen - I'm glad I ran into this thread. I was here exactly one year ago wanting to grow lettuce but I didn't get much response (or
I didn't understand it) so I'm really glad to be seeing this thread and all of the advancement here with the knowledge of LEDs.

 

[PicklesRus]

OneHitDone will one hit us if we talk too much off topic here.
Yes good to avoid high voltage if possible.
Those LDD great for use with micro controllers. they add cos thou. I used them with a cheep Meanwell LPC 48V/54V driver and then i can run any cob or strips.
Or best to find 12V or 24 V strips and go with a Type A meanwell driver.

I want to run 2 or 4 2'x4' levels at around 20000-30000 lumens per level so I think a bigger driver is better. I'll stay under 280 volts - unless you think that's too high.

I've been advised by a commercial lighting provider that their customers for lettuce type greens aim for 20,000 lumens per 2'x4' space.

I think we can use one driver per level. I'm having a hard time finding a driver configuration that's both cost effective and matches the bridgelux strips well. Check out these tables - I took @SupraSPL matching drivers to cobs spreadsheet and used it for the bridgelux 4000, 5000 and a few Samsung strips (can't remember which ones just lookup the part number from the table if you're interested)

https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-series-build.928676/page-3#post-13238003

 

[pinner420]

What now. Are you talking about people on the forum that make cob lights?

In the commercial lighting market testers have to pay for sample lights. Usually they get them at cheaper than retail (volume pricing), but there are so many people that want to test compared to how many actually buy the companies would
Be hemoraging money if they gave stuff away - unless you have a YouTube channel

Because so many folks are on the fence I'd guess it's great loss leader. Here's my state of the art light. If you like it buy 3 in 6 months. So you get the old buy 3 get one free state of mind that we all know and love.

 

[muleface]

amen - I'm glad I ran into this thread. I was here exactly one year ago wanting to grow lettuce but I didn't get much response (or
I didn't understand it) so I'm really glad to be seeing this thread and all of the advancement here with the knowledge of LEDs.

couldn't agree more, did we kind of hijack this thread...maybe, are we keeping it lettuce driven, absolutely.

I want to run 2 or 4 2'x4' levels at around 20000-30000 lumens per level so I think a bigger driver is better. I'll stay under 280 volts - unless you think that's too high.

I've been advised by a commercial lighting provider that their customers for lettuce type greens aim for 20,000 lumens per 2'x4' space.

I think we can use one driver per level. I'm having a hard time finding a driver configuration that's both cost effective and matches the bridgelux strips well. Check out these tables - I took @SupraSPL matching drivers to cobs spreadsheet and used it for the bridgelux 4000, 5000 and a few Samsung strips (can't remember which ones just lookup the part number from the table if you're interested)

https://www.rollitup.org/t/bridgelux-eb-series-build.928676/page-3#post-13238003

So i am running about 11250 lm per 2x4, or 22500 per 4x4. however my bar lights run down the middle of my channels, so the light is right above my plants. I just moved my plants over to it today. mostly because i just finished it today. We shall see how it goes. This is my cheap-o light run. If it doesn't have enough light, its easy to add more, i have about 10 left, if i rob my germination area.

For whatever reason my channels don't seem to run water how i expected down them. it kind of zigzags down the channel, id assume once the roots start to develop more, it will be less of an issue.

please check it out, if you are running a similar setup, please comment and pass on some advise.

@robincnn

glad to see you back here on the lettuce thread.

 

[PicklesRus]

Because so many folks are on the fence I'd guess it's great loss leader. Here's my state of the art light. If you like it buy 3 in 6 months. So you get the old buy 3 get one free state of mind that we all know and love.

or get hydro stores to carry it.

Reason people are so paranoid about new stuff is hydro store owners sell garbage and try to get you to buy as much garbage as possible. If a local shop can't sell it they won't want to hear about it. And they definitely don't want their customers to know about it.


Think about this - I had a 30 minute discussion/argument about leds with a hydro shop owner, he basically said everything about manufacturer rated specifications in data sheets is bullshit and nothing does over 120 lumens/watt and no one pulls more tha. One gram per watt bla bla
Bla. Tell me all these specifics about LED lights and so much about the technical limitations of LED.

Then I walk over to the side of his shop and see Sunblaster 4' LED strips that put out 5000 lumens at $159. I ask him "hey! You have leds! What's the deal with these?!"

And he replies "oh I dunno anything about them I haven't checked them out." Ya fuckin right you lying piece of shit. Hydro shops are the worst and they sell garbage. People that think a hydro shop owner knows what he's talking about is the lost sheep

 

[PicklesRus]

couldn't agree more, did we kind of hijack this thread...maybe, are we keeping it lettuce driven, absolutely.



So i am running about 11250 lm per 2x4, or 22500 per 4x4. however my bar lights run down the middle of my channels, so the light is right above my plants. I just moved my plants over to it today. mostly because i just finished it today. We shall see how it goes. This is my cheap-o light run. If it doesn't have enough light, its easy to add more, i have about 10 left, if i rob my germination area.

For whatever reason my channels don't seem to run water how i expected down them. it kind of zigzags down the channel, id assume once the roots start to develop more, it will be less of an issue.

please check it out, if you are running a similar setup, please comment and pass on some advise.

@robincnn

glad to see you back here on the lettuce thread.

I wonder if those LED fixtures you have will fit other LED strips. The bridgelux eb datasheet says at 700ma they don't need a heatsink... so if they fit in your LED strips bar bodies that would be awesome

If my calculations aren't totally messed you would only need 4 of the eb strips for 2000 lumens @ 700ma

 

[OLD MOTHER SATIVA]

I don't care what is talked about in this thread as long as it relates in some way to being used for the stated purpose of the thread.
All of the led driver talk does, hopefully collectively we can come up with a solution that does work for lettuce / greens / veggies at a significant power savings and also not break our bank accounts in the process

i can tell you they all work..[have not not done head lettuce]

burples work, burples plus white work, white works..panels work, bars work, led tubes work

55w, 70w,20 w, 125 w, 250 w,..higher wattage beneed to be raised higher

we are tending towards the very cheap bought from china white led tubes for economy...

you can get really close for higher ppf and the wide beam covers a fair bit of area

microgreens takehardly any light compared to kale,lettuce, basil[a touchy plant], spinach

.....higher end are the white rigid led strips.