Need driver advice for EB Gen3 Strips

[Ganjedi]

Hello !

Gonna be buying 10x BXEB-L1120Z-30G4000-C-C3 (4feet EB Gen3 90cri 3000K strips) or 10x BXEB-L1190U-30E3000-C-C3 (4feet EB Slim Gen3 80cri 3000K strips)

Thinking to run them soft at 700mA if that will make it more efficient. (or any other way you think will make it more efficient)

Grow area 2x4 feet or 2.5x4.5 feet.


Need help with :

1) Which driver to buy

2) Which way to wire the strips to make them safer to use (series / parallel / etc.)

3) How soft to run the strips to make them more efficient

4) Would like to have a potentiometer so I can dim/increase the brightness according to the plant life cycle

Thank you all in advance !

[PeteR_1]

Your grow area in square meters (m2);
2 x 4 = 8 sq ft or ~ 0.8 sq m (m2)
2.5 x 4.5 = 11.25 sq ft or ~ 1.125 sq m (m2)

Use the grow area to choose the required fixture size...
0.8 m2 * 800 PPFD (CO2 enhanced Flower) = 640 PPF
1.125 m2 * 800 PPFD (CO2 enhanced Flower) = 900 PPF

Grow Light Sizing by Area and Plant Growth Stage

BXEB Gen3 90 CRI 3000K Strips are 4390 Lm @ 27 Watts, 700 mA, 39 Vdc each = ~ 74 PPF(*) @ 2.7 PPE
BXEB Gen3 80 CRI 3000K Strips are 4980 Lm @ 27 Watts, 700 mA, 39 Vdc each = ~ 79 PPF(*) @ 2.9 PPE
(*) Note; 90 CRI = ~ 0.017 PPF/Lm factor, 80 CRI = Generic 0.016 PPF/Lm Factor.

10 Gen3 90 = 740 PPF @ 270 Watts 7.0 Amps, 39 Vdc
10 Gen3 80 = 790 PPF @ 270 Watts 7.0 Amps, 39 Vdc

Select LED Drivers for Parallel Wiring, either;
240 Watt (HLG-240H-42-B/AB) for increased LED efficiency at ~ 24 watts max. per strip or
320 Watt (HLG-320H-42-B/AB) drivers for versatility and increased output capacity.

The 320 Watt driver would be "Current Adjusted" (-A internal potentiometer) or dimmed to 85% for 270 Watts output and can be dimmed (-B external 100K Ohm Pot) to 40% minimum for efficient driver operation. -B/AB drivers require additional external dimming 100K ohm (10%, single turn) potentiometers...

HLG-320H-48B (AB) LED Driver Sizing for 39 Vdc Bridgelux EB series LED Strips

240 W @ 100%
Gen3 90 @ 240 Watts (* 2.7 PPE) = 648 PPF
Gen3 80 @ 240 Watts (* 2.9 PPE) = 696 PPF

240 W @ 40% = 96 Watts
Gen3 90 @ 96 Watts (* 2.7 PPE) = 259 PPF
Gen3 80 @ 96 Watts (* 2.9 PPE) = 278 PPF
(Note; PPE would actually increase due to lower LED temperatures @ 9.6 Watts each strip)

320 W @ 100%
Gen3 90 @ 320 Watts (* 2.7 PPE) = 864 PPF
Gen3 80 @ 320 Watts (* 2.9 PPE) = 928 PPF
(Note; PPE would actually decrease due to higher LED temperatures @ 32 Watts each strip)

320 W @ 40% = 128 Watts
Gen3 90 @ 128 Watts (* 2.7 PPE) = 345 PPF
Gen3 80 @ 128 Watts (* 2.9 PPE) = 371 PPF
(Note; PPE would actually increase due to lower LED temperatures @ 12.8 Watts each strip)

The selected drivers are all SELV rated (60 Vdc Max), the Bridgelux Strips have a 60 Vdc insulation rating...
SELV Rating... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extra-low_voltage

Lm to PPF Conversion... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=5756
BXEB Gen3 90 CRI tests... viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5575
HLG-320H-42B... https://octopart.com/search?autosugg_id ... 2b&specs=1
HLG-240H-42B... https://octopart.com/search?q=hlg-240h- ... SD&specs=0
XLG-240-H-AB... https://octopart.com/search?autosugg_id ... ab&specs=1
100K Ohm 10% Pot... https://octopart.com/search?q=450t328s1 ... SD&specs=0

[Ganjedi]

Hey @PeteR_1 !
Thanks a lot for taking all that effort and putting up so much information for me , but looking at all that math and not having any electrical knowledge I kind of feel bad that I couldnt gather much from all that info. As far as I could understand , for a 2x4 feet space it would be best for me to connect those 10 eb gen3 90cri strips to the 240W driver and then use the dimmer to lower the brightness according to the plant life cycle where my dimmer will be turned all the way to 100% for the flowering phase. Did I understand it right ? Also using the 240W driver will be cheapest efficient way to get it done right ?

HLG-240H-42-B/AB (which one do I get , -B or AB ?)

[PeteR_1]

@Ganjedi ,

You're welcome. Have been sizing a similar 2 x 4 Bridgelux Light fixture... viewtopic.php?f=32&t=5761
The least expensive would be the XLG-240-H-AB, with an internal (-A) Pot (on the bottom side of the Driver) and the external wires for (B) 100K Ohm Pot...
The HLG-240 or HLG-320 require additional parts and wiring for an external Pot for the B or AB suffix drivers or the Internal Pot and infrequent adjustments for A or AB suffix Drivers.

Using the -A (suffix) / internal Pot is not usually recommended for frequent dimming due to possible damage to the plastic adjustment slot / "knob". Good luck.

BTW the -AB drivers are often recommended due to versatility (Current Adjustment for "Max. Current" at A / internal pot and independent Dimming at B / external pot), but are not always available or Stocked...

[TEKNIK]

Always buy AB drivers when possible
15watts per 2 ft length is the sweet spot for the bridgelux strips or 30W per 4ft length
Run them in parallel not series.
10 pcs of 4ft strips running on a HLG 320H42-AB is about right. 16 4ft strips on a 480W driver to do a 4X4 will be plenty of grunt.

[Ganjedi]

@TEKNIK the HLG 320H42-AB driver that you mentioned , I cant seem to find it anywhere online ... seems to be out of stock.

Should i go for HLG 320H42-B instead or something else ?

[TEKNIK]

@TEKNIK the HLG 320H42-AB driver that you mentioned , I cant seem to find it anywhere online ... seems to be out of stock.

Should i go for HLG 320H42-B instead or something else ?

Alot of meanwell drivers are out of stock, they are focusing more on the XLG range due to the low price of them
You can use the B driver, it wont make too much of a difference with your set up, The advantage to the A and AB drivers is you can push the current a little higher. It will still be a good set up

[Ganjedi]

@TEKNIK Thanks a lot man ! Sorry to be a bother but can you link me the potentiometer , knob , or other such things that I will need for this setup that I can buy from digikey along with the driver .

Would be nice to get as many things as I can together from digikey since the shipping will be free on 100$+ order , I'm from Asia so it costs quite a lot in shipping alone.

Also is there any meter like Kill A Watt on digikey ?

Any other small parts that you normally need in a grow room that can be bought from digikey ? (this is my first ever setup and I dont think I can get any related stuff locally)

[Ganjedi]

Also would it more sense to make 2 fixtures with 2 drivers so that if one fixture stops working for whatever reason , I have the other one to rely on ?
Since replacing/buying new driver would take a long time with overseas shipping ?

If the 2 fixture setup sounds good and more reliable so that my grow doesnt stop abruptly then I can consider buying a few m

[TEKNIK]

Also would it more sense to make 2 fixtures with 2 drivers so that if one fixture stops working for whatever reason , I have the other one to rely on ?
Since replacing/buying new driver would take a long time with overseas shipping ?

If the 2 fixture setup sounds good and more reliable so that my grow doesnt stop abruptly then I can consider buying a few m

Upto you there, the HLG range from meanwell is pretty reliable now days. I would expect some faults with the XLG because they are new and alot cheaper. I get about 1 in 1000 to 1 in 2000 HLG drivers failing over the past 5 years. Upto 320W they are pretty stable.
If you wanted your lights more modular and built 2 smaller lights then its worthwhile using 2 drivers.