LM561c vs LM301b vs EB Gen2

[Stefan]

Hello, forum
I am new here, so good day to you

For the last 2 weeks I've been researching appropriate LED lights for vegies. I do have experience with T5 HO LEDs (3900 lm, 26W) and they give me great results. I would like to not depend anymore on the internal drivers of these tubes, as they might start switching on and off uncontrollably in a foreseeable future. I want to just need to replace the said drivers, therefore is easier with rigid strips (it's nice to use said 50.000 hr life LEDs when shitty drivers don't come into play).

I have 3 options and would like to get the best "bang for the buck". I want to use them at the test parameters to get the best output.
1. LM561c H series B8R221B2HUS. 1120 mm, 5000K, 960 mA/22.5 V (~21,6W), 192 lm/W - 4156 lm, 200€ 10 pieces
2. LM301b Q series B8R201B20US, 1120 mm, 5000K, 450 mA/43,8 V (~19,7W), 203 lm/W - 4000 lm, 186€ 10 pieces
3. EB Gen 2 BXEB-L1120Z-50E4000-C-B3, 1120 mm, 5000K, 700 mA/37 V (~27,3W), 180 lm/W - 4920 lm, 118 € 10 pieces

I will need 8 strips, 4 per shelf, but will get 10 to have some spares. I see in the data sheet of the HLG-100H-48 recommended by LG that I can use max. 4/B16 switch, so this is tight space. The efficiency is very good at 94%, but if I want to have 2 more shelves I may not be able to run them all. Are there any other choices?
For 2 of the LM301b strips I could use a 900 mA driver and drive them in parallel, this will give me some mobility as I can put more of these drivers on a switch (I think/hope). With EB Gen2, using PCD-60-700B I can drive 2 in series and won't have to deal with high voltage.
For each shelf I need not more than 16000-17000 lm.

What would you do? Would you take the high-efficiency LM301b over the electricity hogs EB Gen2 (which I could actually drive at 600 mA to consume only 22W for a ~3960 lm output)? The H series do seem a bit expensive but they are a middle of the road solution, as I think I read that they have more chips per strip (72 vs 40 or so), so the light will be less focused and create less shadows.
And the last question is, how and with what would you drive them?

This is a handful, but thanks for anything you might share
Stefan

[Takeshy]

You forgot LM561C F Series, which is the best value on the market, at the moment.

[Ted]

You forgot LM561C F Series, which is the best value on the market, at the moment.

I'd definitely look at the F series. The cost-benefit analysis if going to be better than the EB strips. check out SI-B8R521560WW for the model number.

[Stefan]

Thank you both for the sugestion, I am reading the data sheet now. The efficiency is equal to that of EB Gen2 at 181 lm/W, but FB22B has many more chips per strip, I imagine double the amount of EB Gen2. Price-wise they are almost the same, 118 vs 196 for 10, but I need the light to be spread uniformly over 120 x 60 cm and 4 of the cheaper EB would accomplish more than 2 highly concentrated F series, thus giving ~ the same lm value.
It seems that the Bridgelux are starting to win.

Stefan

[majorana]

The numbers say LM301b Q series, don't they?

[Ted]

Thank you both for the sugestion, I am reading the data sheet now. The efficiency is equal to that of EB Gen2 at 181 lm/W, but FB22B has many more chips per strip, I imagine double the amount of EB Gen2. Price-wise they are almost the same, 118 vs 196 for 10, but I need the light to be spread uniformly over 120 x 60 cm and 4 of the cheaper EB would accomplish more than 2 highly concentrated F series, thus giving ~ the same lm value.
It seems that the Bridgelux are starting to win.

Stefan

The F series is driven harder and is less efficient, as they are meant for high output industrial lighting. Its the same diode as the H series. If you turn down the power you'll get to the same efficacy numbers as the H series.

I see what you mean by uniformity though. Us cannabis growers are trying to get as much light as possible on our plants, and its a little different for orchids. I'm just a fan of the samsungs, as the only superior aspect of the EB series is their cost. Obviously the Q series is the most expensive, but considering your not only saving electrity on lighting, but also on A/C or ventilation as they'll produce less heat than the others for a given amount of light. I think on just price alone the Bridgelux wins, but the Samsungs have some benefits of ownership that merit some consideration.

[Stefan]

Hello again, guys, and Merry Holidays!

Now that the EB2 are ordered I would like to get the drivers before the strips arrive (estimated for the beginning of January).
The strips having 37-39 Vf and I max 1400 mA, I would like to drive them at around 600-700 mA. There is a HLG-120H-C1400A that I was thinking to split in parallel and then run 2 strips in series from each parallel. Each shelf has 4 of these strips, so I would need a driver for each shelf (or 4, so 1 for each strip, or even 2 x 2).
What is your opinion, is this math good? Can it be done in a better way with another driver?
I failed to find a 600 mA (for each) or 2400 mA (for all 4) one with good specs, perhaps something could shed some 30000 lumens on this?

Thank you

[Stefan]

So after the January 2nd estimated shipping time for the EB Gen2 expired and waiting for 2 more days without any news, I decided to cancel that order and order the in-stock Q series 1120 mm 5000 K which arrived today. Hooray.

Now for the problem. I ordered from Amazon some wire because I cannot find 1 square mm wire in the stores, but what I received is not solid core, but stranded. Can this be used instead? This project is pilling delays over delays, I can't wait to be done with it.

[LEDG]

Stranded will work just fine. It's a little harder to get in and out of the connectors but if you have a soldering iron you can tin the ends and solve this problem completely. If not, it'll still work okay but you'll have to fuss with it a little more.

[Stefan]

Thanks, great news!