Lighting Upgrade DIY COB lights or Purchase new lights

[deuce5]

I recently damaged 1 out of 4 COBs this past weekend during a recent relocation of the lights. That leaves me 3 COBS (Cree B3590N) connected to a Meanwell HLG-240H-C1750B (143V, 1.75) driver. This setup was built about 3 years ago, however only used in about 4-5 grows. I had to take some time off from growing for a while, I think the remaining equipment still has plenty of life left. I currently grow one plant in a 20 gallon pot in a closet (2x2 foot print). I don't foresee this setup changing anytime soon. To get back to growing have narrowed down my options. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

1. Locate (1) Cree B3590N and get back to previous setup
   1. Cheapest fix
2. Upgrade all COBs to a different Cree 3590 Bin or Vero29 gen 7
   1. Will this be a worth while upgrade?
3. Replace the DIY light with a solarextreme 250 or Phlizon 2500W (True 440W)
4. Thoughts on using a COB lens with either DIY option?
   1. Provide the COBs some protection

My gut tells me to keep using the DIY solution in some form, but I have a feeling that I maybe missing out on bud quality. Thanks in advance for helping me get back operational!

 

[Death The Cultivator]

I recently damaged 1 out of 4 COBs this past weekend during a recent relocation of the lights. That leaves me 3 COBS (Cree B3590N) connected to a Meanwell HLG-240H-C1750B (143V, 1.75) driver. This setup was built about 3 years ago, however only used in about 4-5 grows. I had to take some time off from growing for a while, I think the remaining equipment still has plenty of life left. I currently grow one plant in a 20 gallon pot in a closet (2x2 foot print). I don't foresee this setup changing anytime soon. To get back to growing have narrowed down my options. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

1. Locate (1) Cree B3590N and get back to previous setup
   1. Cheapest fix
2. Upgrade all COBs to a different Cree 3590 Bin or Vero29 gen 7
   1. Will this be a worth while upgrade?
3. Replace the DIY light with a solarextreme 250 or Phlizon 2500W (True 440W)
4. Thoughts on using a COB lens with either DIY option?
   1. Provide the COBs some protection

My gut tells me to keep using the DIY solution in some form, but I have a feeling that I maybe missing out on bud quality. Thanks in advance for helping me get back operational!

You could upgrade to Bridgelux EB gen3 strips for a smaller profile, less heat, and higher efficiency on a meanwell HLG 120H 24a or HLG 240H 24A. These can run pretty close without burning leaves. Here's the data sheet.

BXEB-L0560Z-35E2000-C-C3 x 6 or 12, depending on the driver, for your space.

Better upgrade than the pre built you mentioned and higher efficiency than the Vero.

You'll need to wire in parallel and get some aluminum channel to hold the PCB rigid.

There's also a company is Australia that manufacturers full spectrum 3300k 400-800nm boards that are rated at 3.0umols/j.

220W Plug & Play – Grow Lights Australia

growlightsaustralia.com

It's definitely pricier. Discount code FORUM takes 10% off. Higher quality heat sinks, diodes, etc.

 

[Olderfart]

I recently damaged 1 out of 4 COBs this past weekend during a recent relocation of the lights. That leaves me 3 COBS (Cree B3590N) connected to a Meanwell HLG-240H-C1750B (143V, 1.75) driver. This setup was built about 3 years ago, however only used in about 4-5 grows. I had to take some time off from growing for a while, I think the remaining equipment still has plenty of life left. I currently grow one plant in a 20 gallon pot in a closet (2x2 foot print). I don't foresee this setup changing anytime soon. To get back to growing have narrowed down my options. Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

1. Locate (1) Cree B3590N and get back to previous setup
   1. Cheapest fix
2. Upgrade all COBs to a different Cree 3590 Bin or Vero29 gen 7
   1. Will this be a worth while upgrade?
3. Replace the DIY light with a solarextreme 250 or Phlizon 2500W (True 440W)
4. Thoughts on using a COB lens with either DIY option?
   1. Provide the COBs some protection

My gut tells me to keep using the DIY solution in some form, but I have a feeling that I maybe missing out on bud quality. Thanks in advance for helping me get back operational!

@damien50's advice is solid, I would not hesitate to try the strips if I were looking for a high quality DIY upgrade.

My main thought on your dilemma is that you do not need anything like 440 watts of high quality LED light in a 2X2. That kind of power is a waste of money, and a risk to your plants IMHO. I think you don't need more than ~200 watts, and 150 might actually do the job well, especially with efficient LED's like the strips that @damien50 suggests.

If I were in your boots and wanted to stick with a central driver, I would see if your existing driver would handle the necessary Bridgelux strips to cover your 2x2. Perhaps there is a compatibility issue here, I have not dug into the specs, but if your driver could do the job, switching to the strips might prove to be an attractive option.

Good luck getting it sorted.

 

[deuce5]

440 is overkill, I got sucked in with the dimmability and price. So it sounds like the overall recommendation is to scrap the COBs and go with the strips. Will these strips have the same penetration as the COBs?

 

[Death The Cultivator]

440 is overkill, I got sucked in with the dimmability and price. So it sounds like the overall recommendation is to scrap the COBs and go with the strips. Will these strips have the same penetration as the COBs?

I use the second generation of these strips. Penetration is not a problem, that is why I suggested a 240w driver just in case you want to dim them. Plus these can run pretty close at 6 inches but driving them hard can let you run them higher

Under 12x 44" 3000k bridgelux EB Gen 2 wired in parallel to a 480w Meanwell

@Fitzy also uses these strips with great results

 

[deuce5]

Thanks for the feedback, it helped me decide on my plans. The strips will not work on my existing driver, when ran in parallel. I’m going to buy the single COB I need to get back up and running. Meanwhile I will work on building the strip light and perhaps figure out a separate grow area to have a veg and flower area.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

Thanks for the feedback, it helped me decide on my plans. The strips will not work on my existing driver, when ran in parallel. I’m going to buy the single COB I need to get back up and running. Meanwhile I will work on building the strip light and perhaps figure out a separate grow area to have a veg and flower area.

https://www.arrow.com/en/products/si-b8t15156cww/samsung-electronics%3Fq

Super cheap deal. 16w per strip at 2ft pretty good deal.

 

[Olderfart]

Bloody hell mate, is that really the price??? ~$6 for 20 strips??? Would have done it in a heartbeat at that price. At that rate, the only significant cost is the Meanwell driver. Christ, at that rate the wire to put the array together would cost more than the leds.

When I first looked at the link and saw the ~$.30/strip price, I thought it must refer to something oddball, not to the price of an led strip with similar light power to one of my screw in bulbs at literally ten times the price.

By the way, as near as I can tell, similar strips on Digikey are also about ten times the price.

I still wonder if I am missing something...

 

[Death The Cultivator]

Bloody hell mate, is that really the price??? ~$6 for 20 strips??? Would have done it in a heartbeat at that price. At that rate, the only significant cost is the Meanwell driver. Christ, at that rate the wire to put the array together would cost more than the leds.

When I first looked at the link and saw the ~$.30/strip price, I thought it must refer to something oddball, not to the price of an led strip with similar light power to one of my screw in bulbs at literally ten times the price.

By the way, as near as I can tell, similar strips on Digikey are also about ten times the price.

I still wonder if I am missing something...

You aren't missing anything. Arrow has been routinely discounting Samsung strips periodically this year for super cheap prices
I'm thinking about ordering 80 to handle some projects in not particular about having certain light for.

If you can afford it I would do it

 

[deuce5]

Good looking out Damien, While looking at arrow I also found these https://www.arrow.com/en/products/si-b8u15156cww/samsung-electronics?q=SI-B8U15156CWW . They are 3500k versions but they are really cheap as well. Looks like I am going to to end up using my current COB setup for veg, since the leds are 3500k, and go with the 4000k Samsungs that you linked for flower. I'm also looking at the https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MEAN-WELL/HLG-240H-24A?qs=Pc4kzEvJlcTa%2Bof/rhqkdA== as the driver, though it seems to be a lot of power for 6 led strips. Your thoughts on the driver?

I see that you guys have a lot of posts providing advice, but didn't see anything on your light builds. Do either you guys have a post showing how your light build went?

I'm going to start the build soon as I just popped tangilope today, giving me a good 5-6 weeks to get it ready.