Help buying and building my first cob light.

M

Mike10gs

Member
Hey everyone I am new to this site but not to growing. I have been using a viparspectra 450w. I bought another 450w but was reading around and saw what cob lights are doing. So thought I'd try and make one myself.

I want to make one with 2 cobs. Don't know much about cobs so help on where to buy all the parts needed would be appreciated. I'm growing in a 2x2 tent, so is 2 cobs Ok? I bought my vipars for 140 US. Can I make one with 2 for around that price range.? If not willing to spend a little more just want to get some info on where to begin. Thanks everyone.
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
You can get everything you need in one package, ready for easy assembly. Several places sell kits. You can check out Timbers kits HERE
100w Citizen kit for $200 or a 200w kit for $260. You can dim them.

He also sells them assembled, like the 200w Vero for $299 seen here.

Cobkits also sells all the parts separately or partially put together. You could get the CXM's for $46 each already mounted to a heatsink, you just need get a driver and connect them.

Those are pretty top of the line cobs to be using and it's fairly close to your budget.
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
Wow thanks for the quick response. So the 100w citizen kit is 100 actual watts?
Been trying to read up on cobs for past 3 hrs and getting a headache. So much different stuff.lol
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
I tried posting url to a cob cree light I found on Amazon. It's from roleadro. If anyone has time to look at it and let me know if it would be any good. Or if for that price I can make a better one. Thanks guys
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Mike10gs said:
I tried posting url to a cob cree light I found on Amazon. It's from roleadro. If anyone has time to look at it and let me know if it would be any good. Or if for that price I can make a better one. Thanks guys
Click to expand...
You get what you pay for. The Roleandro is cheap because it uses cheap drivers and older, less efficient cobs. Get a light from Timber, Cobkits or wait for a Quantum Board kit and own the best. Yes the 100w Citizen is a true 100w. It's only $60 more for the 200w Vero which would be perfect for your 2'x2' and dimable.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
150W would be fine for your 2x2.

you can so that with anything from 1 large cob at 150W, or 4 small cobs at 35W each. bout $150 either way. the single cob setup is less handiwork required as your hanging a single fixture from a single point and dont need a frame.

either way you choose its not a difficult project and there are plenty of people to help you. DIY is not for everybody but has its advantages:

1. you can build exactly what you want
2. its the cheapest option
3. you will learn valuable LED fundamentals in the process
4. many people take pride in building stuff themselves
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
150w for around 150 does not seem bad. But where do I find everything for that price. From everything that's been shown to me seems I have to pay somewhere in the 250 to 300. Which I will get to in the future. But for now the 150w would work.
Where can I find that.
Thanks guys for helping.
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Mike10gs said:
150w for around 150 does not seem bad. But where do I find everything for that price. From everything that's been shown to me seems I have to pay somewhere in the 250 to 300. Which I will get to in the future. But for now the 150w would work.
Where can I find that.
Thanks guys for helping.
Click to expand...
Get 2 of the CXM light engines from Cobkits and a driver like the HLG-120H-C1400. Mount cobs on simple aluminum frame, connect driver to cobs, done.
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
I have another question. I'm looking at the engines on cobkits and some say 120mm and the other 133mm. What does this mean.?
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Mike10gs said:
You make it sound so easy lol hopefully it is as easy as it sounds.
Click to expand...
All you have to do is build a frame which is easy if you have a few simple tools. Then you simply connect the driver wires to your cobs wires by either using a wago connector or soldering/shrink wrap. Then plug it in. It's pretty easy stuff.
 
Danielson999

Danielson999

Well-Known Member
Mike10gs said:
I have another question. I'm looking at the engines on cobkits and some say 120mm and the other 133mm. What does this mean.?
Click to expand...
120mm is the diameter of the round heatsink. The 120mm heatsinks are good for cobs running up to about 50-60w, the 133mm is probably up to 75w. If you have a fan blowing air around in your tent it helps alot, even more if you have a fan pointed right at them.
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
Danielson999 said:
All you have to do is build a frame which is easy if you have a few simple tools. Then you simply connect the driver wires to your cobs wires by either using a wago connector or soldering/shrink wrap. Then plug it in. It's pretty easy stuff.
Click to expand...
That was something else I was wondering about. It does come with a plug to plug it to wall after assembling it together?
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
Danielson999 said:
120mm is the diameter of the round heatsink. The 120mm heatsinks are good for cobs running up to about 50-60w, the 133mm is probably up to 75w. If you have a fan blowing air around in your tent it helps alot, even more if you have a fan pointed right at them.
Click to expand...
So the ones you told me to get I believe say 54w. So the 120mm would be ok for this right.
I do have an intake and also a fan clipped up top to for air to move around a bit better. Also have exhaust on top.
 
M

Mike10gs

Member
rkymtnman said:
do you know much about electricity? parallel vs series wiring to be specific?

and don't forget to add an inline fuse b/t driver and cobs.
Click to expand...
Not a whole lot. Parallel vs series. Meaning positive to positive, or positive to negative.

Yea you lost me on inline fuse b/t
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top