LEDgardener

This will be my second build. Looking to build a setup for an 8 square ft coverage. The first light is 3 Vero 29s 36 volt driven 2100, before I understood anything bout cobs. This time I was looking to get some 70 volt and drive them softer.

if your looking for roughly 50w per sqft... 8 of the Vero 29C's (the 70v ones) on 2 hlg-185h-C700's would put you pretty much dead on.. the data sheet shows at 855ma they need 66.2v and give 56.6 watts.. drop that to a 700ma driver your at/around 50w each.... I used the 855ma voltage(even though 700ma will be lower) to see that 4.3 of the cobs would fit on each of those drivers...

color temps would depend on what you plan on doing... just veg.... just flower.... or both..... 3000k 4000k mixes are nice for both... straight 3500k also nice.. I use 3500k quantum boards for both veg/flower and love them.

Jolly Green Giant wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:38 am

if your looking for roughly 50w per sqft... 8 of the Vero 29C's (the 70v ones) on 2 hlg-185h-C700's would put you pretty much dead on.. the data sheet shows at 855ma they need 66.2v and give 56.6 watts.. drop that to a 700ma driver your at/around 50w each.... I used the 855ma voltage(even though 700ma will be lower) to see that 4.3 of the cobs would fit on each of those drivers...

color temps would depend on what you plan on doing... just veg.... just flower.... or both..... 3000k 4000k mixes are nice for both... straight 3500k also nice.. I use 3500k quantum boards for both veg/flower and love them.

I thank you for the reply. I would like to use like to use a few less cobs to do the job. Heat is not a huge problem and electric is cheapish round here.

Is it difficult to solder wire to cob?

Jibblerjoe wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:00 pm

Is it difficult to solder wire to cob?

I didn't have a clue about soldering before I built my first fixture. I was actually scared, that learning a new skill will be difficult, or hard to master. Looking up on youtube "soldering for dummies" taught me everything I needed to know. I bought a $20 solder online, practiced on a few electrical wires I had lying around, and it didn't take long to feel competent enough to solder the wires to the cobs. Go for it.

(But then again, Bridgelux has Vero 29's also in the SE version, which uses connectors that save you from soldering altogether.)

majorana wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2017 3:10 pm

Jibblerjoe wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:00 pm

Is it difficult to solder wire to cob?

I didn't have a clue about soldering before I built my first fixture. I was actually scared, that learning a new skill will be difficult, or hard to master. Looking up on youtube "soldering for dummies" taught me everything I needed to know. I bought a $20 solder online, practiced on a few electrical wires I had lying around, and it didn't take long to feel competent enough to solder the wires to the cobs. Go for it.

(But then again, Bridgelux has Vero 29's also in the SE version, which uses connectors that save you from soldering altogether.)

Thanks. I watched the videos, I have practiced on a couple wires my self. I got the got cheapo solder too, glad to hear it's not to difficult. My first build used the se veros.

This is an updated pic dec29.

Looks great!

Jibblerjoe wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 01, 2018 2:29 pm

This is an updated pic dec29. IMG_20171230_180507058.jpg

Looks great!

Jibblerjoe wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 13, 2017 2:16 am

This will be my second build. Looking to build a setup for an 8 square ft coverage. The first light is 3 Vero 29s 36 volt driven 2100, before I understood anything bout cobs. This time I was looking to get some 70 volt and drive them softer.

Driving those "D"-type Veros a 2.1A isn't a bad idea - esp since it's just 3 COBs...

• The additional power provides for canopy penetration.

Running them soft, and out of many more emitters (COBs) is what creates a "blanket" of photons, perfect to envelop your plant's canopy.

BTW - I'm in a 2 x 4 also.

I think you'll find between 250-425w (of quality LEDs) will be as much as you'll require w/o supplementing CO2.

• 250-425 = range for veg/flower

I get that from:

• 5 x Veros Ds @ 1.75A (~350w)
• 2 QB 304s @ 2.1A (~260w).
  • Having the extra power available, allows me to run them softer (thru dimming)

On this last run, I added 20 Cree XPEs @ 660nm to bolster the flowering response (~35w).

If you're in the US - 2 QBs or Phantom boards would give you great spread to supplement the penetrating power you currently already possess.

Good luck. Keep us posted on your build and your crops. Later.