DiY LED - Cree CXA3070

purplegrower02

Well-Known Member
I know most of the "cree headlights" out there say they put out 2000 lumens and run at 25w. I'm wondering what the lumen output would be with those at 11w. Also they don't say if that 2000 lumen is both or one of the headlights. I'm not to concerned about the HP the c4 corvette it would go into dynoed 583 at the rear wheel.
 

SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
For the set I ordered, the lumen claims were accurate (shockingly). There are 2 COBs in each headlamp. Each lamp drew 26-27W and should be putting out well over 2000 lumens. The problem is that they run so hot you cannot even touch the heatsink so they will suffer significant lumen depreciation and temperature droop. After modification each headlamp is drawing 11W and putting out over 1000 lumens with no significant depreciation or temp droop. They are brighter than the stock halogen low beams, but won't blind other drivers.

When it comes to high beams though, I plan to keep them running hard but I will replace their thermal paste with PK3 and improve the thermal transfer to the heatsink fins by scraping off the paint layer and adding PK3 between the pieces.

Ya .25 HP is a drop in the bucket compared to 583. Gas misers only need 20 HP to cruise so a savings of 1HP is a 5% improvement in efficiency. For a 600 sportbike it could be just over 1% improvement in acceleration.
 
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FranJan

Well-Known Member
Hey Supra, finally got sick of my CREE bulbs and went with the Luminus 18 basically because they should work great with the drivers I have, (900mA), should work well with my Illumitex's in my new grow cab, shouldn't have too much of a heat output that the heatsinks I have can't handle and I got sick of being a bin whore :). Gonna see if they do well in the flowering tent as side/secondary lighting other wise they should be great in my veg cab.

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/CXM-18-27-80-36-AA00-F2-3/1214-1204-ND/4729067?WT.z_cid=ref_ihs_dkc_buynow

http://www.luminus.com/products/Luminus_XnovaCXM18_Datasheet.pdf

 

puffenuff

Well-Known Member
I was thinking the xnova cxm-27 are looking pretty good considering the price compared to the cree cxa 3070s/3590s. Would like the opinions of the pros through.
 

HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
I, too, would love to hear... almost 50% cheaper? How does it stack up in efficiency and reliability will be the true question. I like that price difference a lot...
 

getsoutalive

Well-Known Member
To be fair, the chip linked above more closely matches the Vero 18 or Cree 2530 than 29 or 3070. Sure It is half the price, but it maxes out much lower. Granted it gets to the 50w level most are pushing the 3070s to, but IMO the smaller Vero is a better choice with more headroom in available power and even a few bucks less. In fact, we are putting a smaller version of our passive lamp with the Vero 18 as a budget entry.
 
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HockeyBeard

Well-Known Member
Thanks for weighing in, guys. Looks like I'll be ponying up for those CREE's after all. Can't wait to show you my design expansion on Westnewton's rail setup. Buying all the parts within the next couple weeks, I'm still re-mediating the space after we got hit with some massive flooding a couple weeks ago.
 

FranJan

Well-Known Member
Running at the rated 100W, or running at a sane current? Not trying to heckle, just wondering what the test parameters were.

I was planning on running these at around 60W.
They're multi-chips and by design they aren't as efficient as COBs. And remember they need a big heatsink because heat just kills their output. They're bright but aren't all that for flowering from what I've seen. Plus those are probably blue LED with just a yellow phosphor which doesn't produce a very good spectrum but does produce a pretty intense "white". Do you have any data on that chip? You may have to supplement with some red. I could be wrong, but without some kind of data it's a crapshoot whether it will work or not for you. But don't expect CREE like performance from that. At least not this month. Seems CREE and Lextar made a deal that according to some analysts was made so CREE can better compete with Chinese companies and their prices.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/lextar-cree-inc-announce-led-034500204.html
 

ballist

Well-Known Member
I MHO Cobs are just multichips without a heat spreader. In other words a cost reduced multichip. I'm also running a few cheapi multichips and they work just fine. No heat or other issues. Cheaper power supplies. I've r20140829_092826.jpg
20140829_092815.jpg 20140829_092807.jpg un them at full output for weeks without issue. Using a combination of heatsinks but standard cpu ones work well up to 100w.
Pictures you say ...day 8 of flowering. 20140829_092840.jpg
The one on the back left is around 12weeks and pretty much done. This one was started under hps.20140829_092840.jpg oh and the Orchids seem to approve of the light as well.
Basic costing for around 100ws of 3000k is.
Led 8 $
Driver 18 $
Heatsinks and fan 10$

I done plan to do a comparision test against both Cree 3070, vero 29, china 3000k 100w multichip and a china pink phosphor. These will all be running at 50 watts each and 1 light over each clone. This current flowering run will take about 10 weeks and the above test will take place after that.
 
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SupraSPL

Well-Known Member
Hey Supra, finally got sick of my CREE bulbs and went with the Luminus 18 basically because they should work great with the drivers I have, (900mA)
Always fun to try something new :) Going by the vF data from Luminus PDF, the CXM18 is slightly cheaper and slightly more efficient than the CXA3070 Z2 bin if you plan to run the CXM medium to hard. At 800mA the 2700K is 35.6% efficient and the 3000K is 37.1%. They should dissipate about 28W.
CXM18 vs CXA3070.png
 

FranJan

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the input Supra :). And goddamn I'd lose my mind trimming all that good shit. I whine when I gotta do my little ones that get over 2 zips. But not for too long :eyesmoke:.
I plan to do a comparision test against both Cree 3070, vero 29, china 3000k 100w multichip and a china pink phosphor. These will all be running at 50 watts each and 1 light over each clone. This current flowering run will take about 10 weeks and the above test will take place after that.
Looking forward to it. Should be interesting.
 

purplegrower02

Well-Known Member
I have a bunch of the xpl's. I always like to dues a few simple tests before selling them.

right now I have them in a veg cab that I will soon switch to 12/12 half is the xml2 the other half the new xpl. Both driven at the same amperage just from the human eye the light output from the xpl is greater. Only time will tell about growing. The xpl side is a little bigger/healthier looking but the true test for me anyway is penetration to the lower bud sites and how dense/frosty they are compared to the xml2.
 
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