Flower tent LED build

[Airwalker16]

Finally!!!! The drivers finally got here. Yes they got here when the company said they would, I’m just impatient. Just got the 6 strips of 3k on two heat sinks wires up for testing, final wiring will be a lot cleaner. Still have a lot of work to do, but damn these are bright. Camera dimmed them pretty good. Each set of 3 I have running at 120watts, max would be 150. Back to work!

How do these XLG drivers work? I looked at data sheet and H version is 4100-6000MA constant current with 27-56V Max open is 60V. So is this treated like a CC driver where everything gets that adjustable current of 4-6K? I see they're wired in Parallel... So... It's just 2.7am driver amongst 6 strips, therefore they're all getting 450ma?
What's the voltage range for?
Little confused here...

 

[Powertech]

How do these XLG drivers work? I looked at data sheet and H version is 4100-6000MA constant current with 27-56V Max open is 60V. So is this treated like a CC driver where everything gets that adjustable current of 4-6K? I see they're wired in Parallel... So...

Yes these are in parallel. This was my best option for 6 lights and not going with either 2 drivers or almost to 300volts. If one set goes out, the other 5 SHOULD be able to handle the extra current. I check my tent at lights on, and lights off every day, with multiple checks when lights are on every day.

The other lights I have will be wired in series in case of failures so I should be covered, but please correct me if I am wrong so I can fix it before I destroy something or a lot of somethings

EDIT: Sorry i didnt answer your question. They have a wide output voltage range, which will be whatever your string needs as long as it is in that range. Then it changes current off the pot(s). Yes if you wire in parallel, and you do not have the room for the extra current if a light fails, you will fry things fast

 

[Airwalker16]

Yes these are in parallel. This was my best option for 6 lights and not going with either 2 drivers or almost to 300volts. If one set goes out, the other 5 SHOULD be able to handle the extra current. I check my tent at lights on, and lights off every day, with multiple checks when lights are on every day.

The other lights I have will be wired in series in case of failures so I should be covered, but please correct me if I am wrong so I can fix it before I destroy something or a lot of somethings

EDIT: Sorry i didnt answer your question. They have a wide output voltage range, which will be whatever your string needs as long as it is in that range. Then it changes current off the pot(s). Yes if you wire in parallel, and you do not have the room for the extra current if a light fails, you will fry things fast

Still confused. So this driver is supposed to be done in Parallel. Can it be done in series too then??

 

[Powertech]

Still confused. So this driver is supposed to be done in Parallel. Can it be done in series too then??

It can be series or parallel depending on your needs. As long as you are in range if it’s parameters, but it is always recommended to go in series for protection
Unless they have fancy drivers that will sense the dropped light and reduce the current?

 

[Airwalker16]

It can be series or parallel depending on your needs. As long as you are in range if it’s parameters, but it is always recommended to go in series for protection
Unless they have fancy drivers that will sense the dropped light and reduce the current?

Fuses can give any parallel wiring peace of mind.

 

[Powertech]

Fuses can give any parallel wiring peace of mind.

Well, not sure why I didn't think of that, considering I have installed thousands of fuses to protect things when I used to work as an electrical tech at a power plant. Thank you sir for jogging my memory and giving me a big wake up slap across the face

 

[Powertech]

Well, I got the rest of the white tested. Still a lot of work to do, gonna take a bit as I don’t have much free time

 

[Powertech]

Got the last of what I have here tested. Still have some coming, like all the uv (except the tiny amount on these, but I have some straight uv coming), and a whole lot of work on a frame, final wiring, etc

 

[fragileassassin]

Well, not sure why I didn't think of that, considering I have installed thousands of fuses to protect things when I used to work as an electrical tech at a power plant. Thank you sir for jogging my memory and giving me a big wake up slap across the face

I saw something about fuses yesterday and pretty much felt the same.
I went as far as sizing my drivers so I can lose a board at 100% and it wouldn't overdrive the other 3 but never thought to just add fuses. Going to look into adding some.

 

[Powertech]

Well here is everything so far. Getting at least 2 more strips of us from my brother in law today, then some more hopefully soon to finish it

 

[1212ham]

I saw something about fuses yesterday and pretty much felt the same.
I went as far as sizing my drivers so I can lose a board at 100% and it wouldn't overdrive the other 3 but never thought to just add fuses. Going to look into adding some.

With parrallel wiring, it's a good idea to have voltage limiting or fuses. I suggest a driver with a safe max voltage, or A, or AB dimming to set a safe voltage.

I haven't looked into it, but the XLG is constant power, rather than cc or cv. Here's the catalog.......

https://led.meanwell.com/Upload/PDF/meanwell_LED.pdf

 

[Powertech]

With parrallel wiring, it's a good idea to have voltage limiting or fuses. I suggest a driver with a safe max voltage, or A, or AB dimming to set a safe voltage.

I haven't looked into it, but the XLG is constant power, rather than cc or cv. Here's the catalog.......

https://led.meanwell.com/Upload/PDF/meanwell_LED.pdf

Yeah, drivers are sized small, like the better of the whites from cutter can go to 300W, but they are running on a 240W xlg, light takes a shit and they are fine. Reds/UV in series, so no big deal

 

[WillieP]

PT,
That's gonna be a hell of a light!!
What's the total wattage from the wall going to be when it's finished?
Looking good so far.
WillieP

 

[Powertech]

PT,
That's gonna be a hell of a light!!
What's the total wattage from the wall going to be when it's finished?
Looking good so far.
WillieP

Ummmm.with the Spider farmers, 1090 from the wall. So, it is actually a 5,000W LED, and comparable to a 2000W HPS lol,

 

[Powertech]

Oh yeah......the last of my strips should be on their way shortly! Of course from Australia, so could be a bit lol. Other than what is in the picture, there are 6 more 1 ft strips. More mixture of reds and U/V, but not the same as what is already in the picture. I absolutely love Cutter.

 

[Airwalker16]

Oh yeah......the last of my strips should be on their way shortly! Of course from Australia, so could be a bit lol. Other than what is in the picture, there are 6 more 1 ft strips. More mixture of reds and U/V, but not the same as what is already in the picture. I absolutely love Cutter.

If you're in the states, cutters shipping is notorious for being stupid quick

 

[Powertech]

Last strips for the build will be here in a couple days. There will basically be total of 6 more 1 ft strips added to the last picture. I changed what I was adding because there would have been WWWAAAYYY too much UV, would have fried them. I'm still getting the 280nm and 310nm, just not nearly as much lol. The last two blocks will have 3 strips each, each strip pair will be on its own driver (will be in series with the same strip on other block)
Far Red(6) Channel 1, UV 280nm(1), UV310nm(2), UV 365nm(3), Channel 2
365nm(6) Channel 1, 380nm(6) Chanel 2
Far Red 730nm(12)

Flower tent is hang drying a harvest at the moment, but as soon as it gets jarred up, i'll sterilize then start setting up the new lights! The total wattage will be 1115W, all dimmable, with room to upsize drivers if i wanted more power for some reason.

 

[Airwalker16]

Last strips for the build will be here in a couple days. There will basically be total of 6 more 1 ft strips added to the last picture. I changed what I was adding because there would have been WWWAAAYYY too much UV, would have fried them. I'm still getting the 280nm and 310nm, just not nearly as much lol. The last two blocks will have 3 strips each, each strip pair will be on its own driver (will be in series with the same strip on other block)
Far Red(6) Channel 1, UV 280nm(1), UV310nm(2), UV 365nm(3), Channel 2
365nm(6) Channel 1, 380nm(6) Chanel 2
Far Red 730nm(12)

Flower tent is hang drying a harvest at the moment, but as soon as it gets jarred up, i'll sterilize then start setting up the new lights!

So, these UV are LEDs? I thought you'd need at least 10w worth per 4X4 and don't they only output like 0.2w?

 

[Powertech]

So, these UV are LEDs? I thought you'd need at least 10w worth per 4X4 and don't they only output like 0.2w?

Well shit I was looking at electrical power not the photonic power....
guess I will still be getting more strips lmfao...damnit

Well hell, its still gonna be a bad ass light, and i have nothing even starting flower for a month or so....i have time

 

[Airwalker16]

Well shit I was looking at electrical power not the photonic power....
guess I will still be getting more strips lmfao...damnit

Well hell, its still gonna be a bad ass light, and i have nothing even starting flower for a month or so....i have time

Get yourself a pair of AgroMax Pure UV t5 bulbs and buy a DIMMABLE BALLAST for them because they're WAY OVERPOWERED and really gotta be dialed down to like 25-50%.