Lighting a 3.5x4.5ft with f-series strips

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toast88

Member
I'm getting ready to purchase parts for a light(1st time).I will use the light seedling threw flower.
As stated above my room is 3.5ftx4.5ft. I was thinking about putting 10, 4ft strips (SI-B8U521560WW)the forward voltage is 46 and powering them with 2 HLG-480H-C1400B. I'd like to be able to dim them as well as run only half during veg. maybe add some UV or far red in the future. I'd wire them in series.
2 main questions.
1. Is this the correct amount of light?
2. Is wiring in series or parallel better?
Any and all help is appreciated.
 
Humple

Humple

Well-Known Member
toast88 said:
I'm getting ready to purchase parts for a light(1st time).I will use the light seedling threw flower.
As stated above my room is 3.5ftx4.5ft. I was thinking about putting 10, 4ft strips (SI-B8U521560WW)the forward voltage is 46 and powering them with 2 HLG-480H-C1400B. I'd like to be able to dim them as well as run only half during veg. maybe add some UV or far red in the future. I'd wire them in series.
2 main questions.
1. Is this the correct amount of light?
2. Is wiring in series or parallel better?
Any and all help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
At less than 16 square feet, that is way more light than you need (or will likely ever be able to use in that space). A single 480H driver would be more appropriate, but if you want a little more headroom, you could go for two 320's.

Parallel has become the common preference around here. Lower voltage (safer) and expandability are the primary reasons for that. If you opt for parallel, you will need a CC+CV driver such as the 480H-48(A or B) or 320H-48(A or B).
 
T

toast88

Member
I understand how to do the actual wiring in parallel but am a bit lost how you pick out correct driver that will work with lights and give desired output. Or an article you could point me toward.
Thanks for answer my other previous questions.
 
Airwalker16

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
toast88 said:
I understand how to do the actual wiring in parallel but am a bit lost how you pick out correct driver that will work with lights and give desired output. Or an article you could point me toward.
Thanks for answer my other previous questions.
Click to expand...
You'd get the 48A driver like he said above and use the potentiometer to dim the voltage down to 46Volts for your strips. Then you'd split it's 6.7 amps among 5 strips to achieve 1,340mA per strip.
 
Boatguy

Boatguy

Well-Known Member
Humple said:
At less than 16 square feet, that is way more light than you need (or will likely ever be able to use in that space). A single 480H driver would be more appropriate, but if you want a little more headroom, you could go for two 320's.

Parallel has become the common preference around here. Lower voltage (safer) and expandability are the primary reasons for that. If you opt for parallel, you will need a CC+CV driver such as the 480H-48(A or B) or 320H-48(A or B).
Click to expand...
This probably isnt the place for this, but is lower dc voltage at higher amperage really any safer?
I work with large battery banks pretty frequently and have had my share of 12v blasts. I understand that higher voltage has the ability to carry more current but we are limited by the cc driver right?
I wouldn't want to be hit by 46v at 48amps, or the 480v at 1.5amps. I have trouble calling either safe.
 
GBAUTO

GBAUTO

Well-Known Member
I think that it has more to do with ohms law. Skin usually has a high resistance so it takes higher voltage to produce a sufficient current to harm you. When we use a cc driver, especially higher wattage units, they will produce hundreds of volts DC.
 
1

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Boatguy said:
This probably isnt the place for this, but is lower dc voltage at higher amperage really any safer?
I work with large battery banks pretty frequently and have had my share of 12v blasts. I understand that higher voltage has the ability to carry more current but we are limited by the cc driver right?
I wouldn't want to be hit by 46v at 48amps, or the 480v at 1.5amps. I have trouble calling either safe.
Click to expand...
"This probably isnt the place for this, but is lower dc voltage at higher amperage really any safer?" Absolutely! Search electrocution!

"I wouldn't want to be hit by 46v at 48amps, or the 480v at 1.5amps. I have trouble calling either safe." To me, 46v is child's play, 120v can kill by electrocution!
While I think it is possible to be electrocuted by 46v, it's extraordinarily unlikely.... just don't bathe in salt water and wrap the wires around your arms. ;)
And don't touch the wires to you tongue!:o

Under about 50V is generally considered low voltage and safe from electrocution. Very high currents can melt things and cause dangerous arcs, but we don't have have these high currents in our LED lighting. I assume the "12v blast" you refer to was an arc... stop shorting those large battery banks! Large battery banks can be dangerous for their ability to deliver extremely high currents, hundreds or thousands of amps that can melt metal and generate explosive arcs. Search arc flash. The battery banks for electric cars and solar power are examples.

"I understand that higher voltage has the ability to carry more current" Not really a logical statement/question.
"but we are limited by the cc driver right?" A constant current driver limits the current.
 
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Boatguy

Boatguy

Well-Known Member
1212ham said:
"This probably isnt the place for this, but is lower dc voltage at higher amperage really any safer?" Absolutely! Search electrocution!

"I wouldn't want to be hit by 46v at 48amps, or the 480v at 1.5amps. I have trouble calling either safe." To me, 46v is child's play, 120v can kill by electrocution!
While I think it is possible to be electrocuted by 46v, it's extraordinarily unlikely.... just don't bathe in salt water and wrap the wires around your arms. ;)
And don't touch the wires to you tongue!:o

Under about 50V is generally considered low voltage and safe from electrocution. Very high currents can melt things and cause dangerous arcs, but we don't have have these high currents in our LED lighting. I assume the "12v blast" you refer to was an arc... stop shorting those large battery banks! Large battery banks can be dangerous for their ability to deliver extremely high currents, hundreds or thousands of amps that can melt metal and generate explosive arcs. Search arc flash. The battery banks for electric cars and solar power are examples.

"I understand that higher voltage has the ability to carry more current" Not really a logical statement/question.
"but we are limited by the cc driver right?" A constant current driver limits the current.

About high voltage drivers.... To be electrocuted, your body needs to complete an electric circuit. Touch one wire (Not recommended!) and you shouldn't feel a thing , touch both wires and the electricity flows through your body from one wire to the other, it will hurt and may kill you. Probably the worst, touching each wire with an extremity so the current flows through your torso and heart.....
Click to expand...
Not sure how to take this reply, but i will try to assume your intention is to be helpful.

I do think you are generalizing alittle bit. A static shock and an electric fence are thousands of volts, both are not deadly.

48amps at 46 volts dc is more than enough to kill a person.
 
T

toast88

Member
Thanks guys for your input. I'm going to back down the lights a little and go with the 2 320s and run 4 strips in series on each.
 
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