COB DIY Journal

[Gree N]

Hey there fellow 420 friends, I'll be putting together a few different types of COB's and will detail them here, currency I will be dealing is AU$, just hoping for constructive feedback and to put my experiments out here for other people to build on.

My first learning curve was quick, I ordered 5

CLU038 citizen chips that have a max currant of 1380ma and test current of 550ma. On eBay the seller listed them as "55 watt cob" so I purchased 5 constant current power supply's listed as "50 watt led power supply".
After some feedback from fellow 420 members and a lot of research I found when working with cobs that watts are irrelevant, it's imperative you match the milliamps and voltage for the cob.
When running cobs for long periods of time it is recommended to run them under there maximum output the main reason is to manage heat/electricity more efficiently and extend the life of the cobs.

After a lot of procrastination I decided to purchase this

So I'll be running them at 700ma which is going to be only about 3000lumen per cob, but still manageable.

Next on purchase order I'm hoping to put some $$$$ together and build about 6-10 vero28 cobs.

In the meantime have already ordered a whole bunch of random aftermarket COBS for experimental sakes.

"100w warm white & 70w Blue"

$30

"3x100w warm white"

$18

"5x 100w warm white"

$18

"3x 50w full spectrum"

$16

"2x 100w cool white inc. drivers"

$26

Finally got a few parcels in; 5x 1500ma/36V dc constant current led power supplies for $7 each.
5x clu038 citizen chips for $12 ea.
1x 70w/34v blue cob. 1x 100w/36v warm white.

 

[Gree N]

Finally got my finger tips dirty today,

First build; $71
100w warm white $16 - 70w blue $12 - 2 x 1500ma ps $14 - heatsink (200mm x 75 mm) from bargain bin at electronic store $10 - wiring $6 - thermal past $3 - 70mm pc fan $10.

I think I might have f'd up with the blue cob because I though it was the 5500-6000k light but it appears to be a dark blue colour and after going back to the eBay listed they havnt specified a colour temp for this COB, I'm hoping it won't have any negative affect on the plants and won't be a total waste of $$$ and electricity but keen to know what you guys think, thanks.

Pretty stoked my first little frankencob works, it's blindingly bright. My multimeter wasn't working so I'll have to head out and buy another one before I install the light into the grow room.

 

[Gree N]

Anyone have an idea on what effects the blue led will have on the plants

 

[LEDBud]

In flower it will enhance trichome production in Grow in it will pump out the leaves with short internode spacing on the stalk

 

[Gree N]

Both sound like positive effects? So good too go?

Just had my elf-150-c700 arrive woot!!

Just made a call to a pc repair guy and asked if he had old CPU heatsinks laying around. Said he has box's of them and to come pick some out at $5 each

 

[Gree N]

It feels like Christmas this week with packages rolling in haha, just got home with the heatsinks from the pic repair man and had 5 x 100w cheapo Chinese cobs in the letter box

 

[Gree N]

Second Build; $120
5x Clu038 $45
1 x elg-150-c700 $40
5 x CPU heatsink w/ 2.5w fans $25
Aluminium angle & wiring $10

 

[Gree N]

The grand plan

 

[JPinkman]

Dude those are sweet! Ive been imagining something like that 5 unit guy for a long skinny semi hidden closet. How many W does it pull?

 

[BudBoy2]

I'm starting to really like those Cobs. Got me thinking for sure!

 

[MrCanada]

I'm starting to really like those Cobs. Got me thinking for sure!

Me too, I need to do something simple. Been researching for so long the amount of info is a little overwhelming.

 

[Gree N]

Dude those are sweet! Ive been imagining something like that 5 unit guy for a long skinny semi hidden closet. How many W does it pull?

It's pulling 145-149w but Kinda doubles as a heater.... I've strapped the 5 CPU fans to them aswell which draw 2.4w each - 12 w for all 5 so the whole unit pulls 155- 160w.
I feel the 100w cobs run at 50w put out less heat and a lot more light compared to these clu038 cobs running at 30w each.
For the next build im looking at an exact same size light unit fitted with vero28 chips to do a side by side comparison.
I'm going to have to invest in a light meter some time along the way as well.

 

[JPinkman]

I could make that work. Someday Im going to have to learn how to make these...thanks for the info!

 

[Gree N]

Me too, I need to do something simple. Been researching for so long the amount of info is a little overwhelming.

There are a few videos on YouTube of people doing diy spot light torches using these cobs which can be useful. Research is definitely paramount, the key is to match the leds with a constant currant power supply that won't burn them out and most of the manufacturers are doing it for us, making unique power supply's for their cobs.

 

[Gree N]

I'm starting to really like those Cobs. Got me thinking for sure!

Yeah I am really getting into this whole optoelectronics scene, it's looking like led's are moving in for a takeover of the $100billion dollar per year light bulb industry.
I'm actually enjoying the research and putting these little units together, so much so I am going to take a look at some optoelectronic uni courses and see if I can have a share of that 100billion dollar pie.

 

[AvidLerner]

Here is a cree 200w with meanwell 185h c1400b draws 200w from the wall

 

[Gree N]

I like that power supply model good value for money, what type of Cree chips are you using?

 

[AvidLerner]

I like that power supply model good value for money, what type of Cree chips are you using?

3590 80 cri cd bin 3500k 36v with mechatronics hs rated for 50w.

 

[Gree N]

How much are they?

 

[Gree N]

I've deviated from the plan slightly, still waiting on the red and purple cobs but here we go so far.