Lighting The new DIY Section

[BigSm0]

Now he tells me! Geez am I not an idiot for not seeing that myself. Huge stoner moment.
If I had done that, would I have been safe spreading out the COBs more? If so, i’ll Just redo it.

Also could you tell me, is there a post around here that explains the formula involved with determining how much one of these drivers is going to send to the COBs? I am currently only pulling 85 watts at the wall with all three and the fans powered on.

I wouldn’t spread them out unless you added some material as we spoke about. 25 watts doesn’t need much to run cool. I have used angle aluminum, u channel,ext. pasted and screwed to the plates before and have had super cool cobs.

As for your wall wattage.. it’s really irrelevant, well for the most part. I don’t know the exact efficiency numbers off the top of my head at 25w each cob but it’s over 50%. 85 wall watts, 75 watts at the cobs is 37.5 par watts at 50%. Before drawing 130 wall watts, 120 at the leds at 20% efficient that’s 24 par watts. You new have 30% more light, 40% less wall wattage, 40% less heat and a much better spectrum.

To figure the wattage of each cob you can use Amps X volts = watts. 650ma driver is .65amps X 50v cob = 32.5watts.

 

[HemiSync]

I wouldn’t spread them out unless you added some material as we spoke about. 25 watts doesn’t need much to run cool. I have used angle aluminum, u channel,ext. pasted and screwed to the plates before and have had super cool cobs.

As for your wall wattage.. it’s really irrelevant, well for the most part. I don’t know the exact efficiency numbers off the top of my head at 25w each cob but it’s over 50%. 85 wall watts, 75 watts at the cobs is 37.5 par watts at 50%. Before drawing 130 wall watts, 120 at the leds at 20% efficient that’s 24 par watts. You new have 30% more light, 40% less wall wattage, 40% less heat and a much better spectrum.

To figure the wattage of each cob you can use Amps X volts = watts. 650ma driver is .65amps X 50v cob = 32.5watts.

Thanks for that. I haven’t used ohms law in over 40 years, so I’m a little oxidized. :smoking:I will take 75w of cob power for that price. I only was monitoring the wall wattage to be able tell my friend how much less it was using. Going to leave it the way it is, I think it is appropriately ugly for our first DIY. If we run across some free HS materials we might pull it back apart, separate the COBs more, and reassemble with the plate turned around.

again for the help. I should have my Platinum P300s back today and will send some pics. I’m hoping they have a little more heat sink than the Galaxyhydro.

 

[Quentin3176]

@mikey2017 During flower around 16-18”. If it seems too close raise them a little wouldn’t go to much closer the power of the cob could start to dry out the resin. During seedling and early veg up around 24-30”. That’s a sweet upgrade. I wanna convert my viparspectra 600.

Jumping in on an old post, i'll forget by the time i've read the thread haha. I've a vipar 450 + 600, considering converting 1 then 2 of them. Have you done yours? If so how was it?
Cheers mate

 

[Mizzo81]

Jumping in on an old post, i'll forget by the time i've read the thread haha. I've a vipar 450 + 600, considering converting 1 then 2 of them. Have you done yours? If so how was it?
Cheers mate

Have not done mine but @BigSm0 is the one ask.

 

[Quentin3176]

Cheers mate, yeah i was pestering him the other day about the auto cobs, but with shipping being expensive (i'm uk) and after reading how easy it "can" be in this thread i might have a go at upgrading my 600 Once i've done some research. It will be out of action after this grow for a bit while we have electricians in anyway. So it'll be outdoor only. Perfect time for some tinkering. :smoking:

 

[Quentin3176]

@BigSm0 i don't suppose you have any pics or ideas of the internals of the viparspectra 600 + 450 do you? Drivers/heat sink & such. I'm itching to research what & how to do it and what i need but my lights are in use for another 6 weeks+

 

[BigSm0]

I have one right in front of me but these clowns swap drivers all the time. It’s really best to open it up and get the specifics on the drivers and quantity. Also the heatsinks and size. I have seen a lot of variations. Even with 85% mark up they cut corners from time to time.

 

[Quentin3176]

I have one right in front of me but these clowns swap drivers all the time. It’s really best to open it up and get the specifics on the drivers and quantity. Also the heatsinks and size. I have seen a lot of variations. Even with 85% mark up they cut corners from time to time.

ahhh....no problem matey. Thanks for your reply. I'm just going to have to sit and wait then aint i?
I'm kicking myself because i sold a cheapo chinese 900w dimmable cob to a mate not long ago........i want it back so i can tear it apart haha. If only i knew then what i know now

 

[HemiSync]

I have one right in front of me but these clowns swap drivers all the time. It’s really best to open it up and get the specifics on the drivers and quantity. Also the heatsinks and size. I have seen a lot of variations. Even with 85% mark up they cut corners from time to time.

Here is one of the two PlatinumLED P300s I own opened up. There are four drivers and the fan power supply. At least these have a little bit bigger heat sink than the Galaxyhydro I just converted. What would you suggest I put in this one?
Driver x 4

Am I correct in that these drivers are going to be able to drive two 1812s each at 30?

 

[BigSm0]

Here is one of the two PlatinumLED P300s I own opened up. There are four drivers and the fan power supply. At least these have a little bit bigger heat sink than the Galaxyhydro I just converted. What would you suggest I put in this one?
Driver x 4
View attachment 894834 View attachment 894835 View attachment 894836

Am I correct in that these drivers are going to be able to drive two 1812s each at 30?

The top driver picture may run 2. It all depends on the drivers actual output. I don’t have much faith in these products or their real output based on labeling.


The second picture is a fan driver.