Review of reviews???

BecauseIgotHigh said:

Really easy stuff. We could offer you on what to buy, so you don't need to read to much.
First decide on what leds you like to use, Vero or Cree. I haven't read much on about VERO.

Basic 200w build
4 x CXA3590 3000k-3500k
1x 4 COB holders
1x HLG-185-C700A/B (A has a internal dimmer, where as B, you got to wire up with a 100k pot.
600V 18AWG solid wire
18AWG primary wire ( If you decide to extend your AC plug)
Thermal paste
Heatsink
Heatshrink
Male & female spade connectors
Connectors
10A fuses
Aluminum 90degree angle sticks to mount your heat sinks on.

My first build. 200W CXA3590 5000K @ c700a. 50w per chip.

View attachment 3519980

Second build. 400W CXB3590 300K @ C700A. 50w per chip, but two drivers this time.

View attachment 3519981

It's all about your area and the spacing of the chips.

If ever I decide to build another one, I just contact Jerry from Kingbright. He sells the drivers, chips, led holders & lens. If you're from the states, purchase your wiring at elecdirect.com.
Also buy heatshrinks and some spade connectors. And again, if you're from the states, you are in luck because you have heatsinkusa.com. Purchase the heatsinks there, someone from here can help you on the size.

Click to expand...

Hmmmm....

Here we go.... you got me thinking....

And questions of the most elementary kind. What's the diff between Vero and COB. Tried to google it, but...

And what tools would be necessary?

4 CXB 3590CD and driver is about $325 shipped. You'll need a couple things like heat sinks and whatnot but there are companies charging 3x that for half the lights.The general greatness of cob lighting is you can turn then down and get amazing effiency ~60% where as if the light is run full power then you're getting close to the HID effiency and at a point HID is the smarter purchase by far......

the COB is creating light more efficiently, but I think the performance of the driver typically begins to drop...at least some drivers work in this manner

alesh said:

BML claims 1.7µmol/J typical for the 665W fixture. I've got no reason not to believe that. That's quite good value and I'm sure it has a very even distribution pattern. Vero29 based lights run at around 2.1A should have similar efficiency and DIY fixtures with underdriven CXA/Bs can surpass this value, depending on the bin and the driving current - top bin CXB3590 at <25W could be reaching 3+ µmol/J, that is 75+% more photons with the same energy dissipated.

As of Heliospectra, I can't really say because I haven't been able to find any data I could work with. Perhaps I missed a datasheet?

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Like these? Or do you need to know what LEDs they use?
http://store.heliospectra.com/pages/manuals-downloads
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8261/files/Product_Leaflet_-_RX30.pdf?8354]

I think that if you plan on using 1.4A on each chip, you choose VERO as it is most cost efficient. If you are planning for efficiency, you choose the Cree and run them at 700ma.

I like to say 700ma, will be the lowest constant voltage, that I'll choose. Even if 350ma, will be more efficient on the Cree, I don't think she will have enough penetration strength. Efficient & heat will be dramatically reduce.

Solid wires, so you won't need to solder the wires to the chip, just clip the COB chips, onto the LED COB holder, and have solid wire hooked onto the entry points.
Heatgun/ Lighter for the heatshrink.

You need a drill tappet, I think thats what it called. So you can drill holes through your heatsink. When I buy another build, I'll make a thread on how to build it for others.
But on the other hand, ask us for help. You can just choose Cree, and most of the work will be already done for you. If you choose cree, then buy CXB3590 3000K-3500K.
Now do you want to run 36V or 72V.....
If you run 36V, you can hook up 8 CXB3590 onto one Driver. But if you run 72V like me, you can only hook up 4 CXB3590. Having higher voltage is dangerous, but by wiring everything correctly, and using heat shrinks and GFCI plug, you can reduce your chance of getting shocked. Sometimes, when I touch my build, i feel tingling feeling through my body..

36V is more efficient than 72V. But don't let it trouble you too much. Only reason I went 72V, because I didn't have much money to spend. Also, if I were to use 36V @ c700ma, I think the wattage will be halved, so 25w but the efficiency is like 80%+ or something, I cannot remember. So I might have to use 1400ma driver to bring it back to 50w if i were to use 36V chips.

CHOOSE YOUR PLAYER!

Also OP, don't stress about building these. TBH, i have never built these myself.
I bring the parts and theory to the build. My pop's bring his practical expertise with machinery & tools. He didn't expect these chips would shine so bright. He goes its bright, that I can't see what I'm doing.

FranJan said:

Like these? Or do you need to know what LEDs they use?
http://store.heliospectra.com/pages/manuals-downloads
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0621/8261/files/Product_Leaflet_-_RX30.pdf?8354]

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Yeah like these. 1.37-1.6µmol/J for the 630W models. No info for the 315W version (why?).

What you can expect from using CXB3590 3000K @ end of week 6 flowering... Would've been bigger, but I had to relocate her and remove the scrog net. Plus I will need to re-mod my setup, after doing this grow. This grow has shown me, how they perform, and how you should distance the COB and space them.


What can you expect from the buds. BTW, these buds aren't as frosty as the one furthest away from my COBs. I got buds behind the centre, that are completely filled with THC, and everywhere on the fan leaves.

BecauseIgotHigh said:

What you can expect from using CXB3590 3000K @ end of week 6 flowering... Would've been bigger, but I had to relocate her and remove the scrog net. Plus I will need to re-mod my setup, after doing this grow. This grow has shown me, how they perform, and how you should distance the COB and space them.
View attachment 3520298

What can you expect from the buds. BTW, these buds aren't as frosty as the one furthest away from my COBs. I got buds behind the centre, that are completely filled with THC, and everywhere on the fan leaves.
View attachment 3520300

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Well done! Whats the strain?

Now there is something i didnt even think of until you mentioned it.... getting the spacing right while building....

Ive got a 9x5 space that is almost 7' high.... how would i light that up properly with the crees? Or rather what would i need? Number of lights... how many rigs?

And....why do you think the frostier buds were the one furthest from the lights?