Please Check My Proposed Driver/Strips
Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 5:16 am
Hello all! Excited to be here.
Thanks for the great site!! I have been pondering an LED build for a while, your site helped motivate me. I love HPS results, but they're more high maintenance than my ex's!!
I have been having issues with my HPS 1000w, both heat (obviously) and condensation on my cool tube dripping onto my plants.
I decided I need to build an LED setup, before spring/summer, but the DIY kit builds didn't quite match exactly what I need. I need a rectangle and they are set up square.
What I thought I could do was use the 5x5 build guide, specifically for the Bridgelux strips (‎I picked out the BXEB-L1120Z-35E4000-C-B3‎ on DigiKey's site in 3500K Natural White color)
The thing is, I don't need all 18 strips, I have 3 HLG 100's (that I may build a seperate mount for or just suspend not sure) that can roughly replace the 6 strips and the one driver out of the 5x5 guide.
So I am going to just go with 12 - 4' Bridgelux strips mounted to a (roughly) 46-47" x 34-36" light fixture. Exact dimensions not important more worried about electrical.
The suggested driver for the 12 strips is the HLG-480H-42B.
I am not worried about having an external dimmer, so I was thinking of just getting the A model and saving some parts and wiring.
So, question 1 is:
I can still dim that driver down, but just on the driver itself, and with a screwdriver, correct?
I would probably mount the driver remotely on my tent somehow so I can access the dimmer slot easily, possibly outside the tent too.
OK, so I also used the strip driver selection tool, and it seems that the suggested driver (HLG- 480H-42) will only push that setup at 50%. If I want to step it up to 75%, it says I need the HLG-600H-48 series. Beyond 75% apparently requires multiple drivers. 75% is good enough. IIRC, it comes out to nearly 600W across the 12 strips. With my HLG 100's added, that puts me up at just under 900W spread nice and evenly over a roughly 48" x 48" grow area. Roughly 56 w/sq ft
Hopefully, enough.
Question 2 :
Is it correct that I need a HLG-600H-48 (A or B) to drive the 12 - 4' strips at 75% ? Just want to make sure I used that tool correctly, or that the strips I picked out are actually covered by the tool.
Question 3:
When it says 75%, does that mean I can only turn the dimmer up to 75%, or I risk burning out the strips, or is that value an internal value that has nothing to do with the dimmer and not to worry about it?
Question 4:
Is a 16AWG power cord heavy enough for that driver and strip setup, running at up to 75%?
Sorry if these are rookie questions, just don't want to burn my house down or grossly under/overpower the setup.
Thanks for the great site!! I have been pondering an LED build for a while, your site helped motivate me. I love HPS results, but they're more high maintenance than my ex's!!
I have been having issues with my HPS 1000w, both heat (obviously) and condensation on my cool tube dripping onto my plants.
I decided I need to build an LED setup, before spring/summer, but the DIY kit builds didn't quite match exactly what I need. I need a rectangle and they are set up square.
What I thought I could do was use the 5x5 build guide, specifically for the Bridgelux strips (‎I picked out the BXEB-L1120Z-35E4000-C-B3‎ on DigiKey's site in 3500K Natural White color)
The thing is, I don't need all 18 strips, I have 3 HLG 100's (that I may build a seperate mount for or just suspend not sure) that can roughly replace the 6 strips and the one driver out of the 5x5 guide.
So I am going to just go with 12 - 4' Bridgelux strips mounted to a (roughly) 46-47" x 34-36" light fixture. Exact dimensions not important more worried about electrical.
The suggested driver for the 12 strips is the HLG-480H-42B.
I am not worried about having an external dimmer, so I was thinking of just getting the A model and saving some parts and wiring.
So, question 1 is:
I can still dim that driver down, but just on the driver itself, and with a screwdriver, correct?
I would probably mount the driver remotely on my tent somehow so I can access the dimmer slot easily, possibly outside the tent too.
OK, so I also used the strip driver selection tool, and it seems that the suggested driver (HLG- 480H-42) will only push that setup at 50%. If I want to step it up to 75%, it says I need the HLG-600H-48 series. Beyond 75% apparently requires multiple drivers. 75% is good enough. IIRC, it comes out to nearly 600W across the 12 strips. With my HLG 100's added, that puts me up at just under 900W spread nice and evenly over a roughly 48" x 48" grow area. Roughly 56 w/sq ft
Hopefully, enough.
Question 2 :
Is it correct that I need a HLG-600H-48 (A or B) to drive the 12 - 4' strips at 75% ? Just want to make sure I used that tool correctly, or that the strips I picked out are actually covered by the tool.
Question 3:
When it says 75%, does that mean I can only turn the dimmer up to 75%, or I risk burning out the strips, or is that value an internal value that has nothing to do with the dimmer and not to worry about it?
Question 4:
Is a 16AWG power cord heavy enough for that driver and strip setup, running at up to 75%?
Sorry if these are rookie questions, just don't want to burn my house down or grossly under/overpower the setup.