Fanleaf's Huge 42 COB Array Build Plus Other Builds

I have some questions to the Big Fanleaf and friends

What would be the difference in a 50k, 100k and 200k pot, or, What would be the difference in a 100k pot working at 104K compared to a faulty one only 82k Ohms? Maybe on 2x Vero 29.7 36V as example.

I havent tested my pot. Dont know how it works with a cheap multimeter. My Vero COBs D version should pull ~128W at 1750 and my ELG driver pulls 140. I think my pot is good because minus the driver efficiency loss i end up where i should be. I wont be able to check the pot during my plants are harvested... It doesnt makes sense to do it now or change anything in mid to late flower, i am just curious and dont know nearly as much as you do.



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A pot that only goes to 82k Ohms would behave exactly the same as a 104k Ohm pot that is only turned to 82k Ohms.
You can even use a 200k Ohm pot to control your dimming, but it would reach maximum light intensity when you reach 100k, and the remaining 101-200k would do nothing. Remember that when the leads are unconnected, it is effectively infinite Ohms, so the extra resistance really doesn't do anything.
 
Hello my 420 friends and COB experts!!! I need your help! I would have sent this in a message but unfortunately I usually just creep around and read people's threads so I don't have enough posts to message you. I'm firing up my closet grow again and I'd like to build a light. I've been reading and trying to catch up on this whole journal, in the process I am getting a basic understanding of COBs but I'd like some help so I don't mess anything up.

I have about a 4x4 footprint and I'm only going to be growing one or two big plants with lots of training. I want to build a light that I will use for the whole grow; veg and flower. I'm thinking 4 COBs, 2 high in blue spectrum and 2 high in red spectrum. What COBs would be the best choice and what driver would I need?

I will most likely add supplemental lighting on the sides later for flower. For the time being, would 4 COBs be adequate to cover that 4x4 footprint? Also, I'm new to COBs and I'm still trying to get a full understanding of them. My last grow I used 2 mars hydro 300w LEDs (100x3w) and a 900w LED. When you talk about these COBs the overall wattage sounds much lower but from what I'm reading it sounds like you're getting the same results, if not better. So with whatever recommendations you have, can you give me an idea of how much wattage that would be equivalent to?

Thank you so much for being an amazing supportive community that encourages people to do what they love and shares the knowledge to do it the best we can. Sorry if I hijacked this thread!


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SENSIble said:
Hello my 420 friends and COB experts!!! I need your help! I would have sent this in a message but unfortunately I usually just creep around and read people's threads so I don't have enough posts to message you. I'm firing up my closet grow again and I'd like to build a light. I've been reading and trying to catch up on this whole journal, in the process I am getting a basic understanding of COBs but I'd like some help so I don't mess anything up.

I have about a 4x4 footprint and I'm only going to be growing one or two big plants with lots of training. I want to build a light that I will use for the whole grow; veg and flower. I'm thinking 4 COBs, 2 high in blue spectrum and 2 high in red spectrum. What COBs would be the best choice and what driver would I need?

I will most likely add supplemental lighting on the sides later for flower. For the time being, would 4 COBs be adequate to cover that 4x4 footprint? Also, I'm new to COBs and I'm still trying to get a full understanding of them. My last grow I used 2 mars hydro 300w LEDs (100x3w) and a 900w LED. When you talk about these COBs the overall wattage sounds much lower but from what I'm reading it sounds like you're getting the same results, if not better. So with whatever recommendations you have, can you give me an idea of how much wattage that would be equivalent to?

Thank you so much for being an amazing supportive community that encourages people to do what they love and shares the knowledge to do it the best we can. Sorry if I hijacked this thread!


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Click to expand...
Fanleaf would use 16x Cree CXB3590 High Binned COBs in there. I use 2 bigger and 6 smaller Chips (vero 29 and citizen 0481212 for 6 sqft canopy and think soft driven 320W is on the edge to too much light even on 16 inches.

What do you think how many sqft the canopy would use from the 16 available sqft? You want some space between the plants and the walls for an ac or bigger fans? I would count between 40 and 50W per used square foot if going with Vero29.7 (4000K) or Cree CXB3590 (3500K). Veros are slightly warmer (light colour temp not actual COB temp) then CXB. They both will do from start to finish

With these cobs and a full 4x4 canopy i would aim for dimmable 600W. I dont think more will do anything without 1500ppm CO2, but i would think it will be enough to think about CO2 later on. But wait on the fanleaf... He lives dat s...tuff.

Check out if you can afford Cree or go with another manufacturer (more light per watt from cree, more light per dollar with Bridglelux or Citizen) then you can think about drivers



Current Grow Nebula & Atomical Haze - Soil - 2'x3' Flower - 420W DIY COB - SCROG 45W DIY Veg Light

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I love you guys, you're so helpful.

Let me clarify!!
My closet is much bigger than 4x4, it's closer to 8x8 but I won't be taking up the whole closet. So my canopy will be the 4x4 and I will be using as much as I can. My girlfriend only wants me to grow one or two plants so I'm going to make one big ass plant (super cropping and LST). I will have about 2 ft of space between each wall.

I'm sorry if I ask questions that I should research myself but at the moment I'm at work, I will do the real digging and order the parts when I get home tonight.

So 600w is a good amount for a full 4x4 canopy? How many watts can each COB put out? I understand Fanleafs perspective on the more COBs you have the lower you can run them, thus the more efficient they are. I do want them to be dimmable but the cost will really determine how many COBs I start out with and I can always aim for more light and more efficiency as time goes on.

I am of the belief that the amount of light I have is much more critical during flower, I can always add more light before I flip to 12/12, so the cost determines how many COBs I'm going to start with. I just need something to start vegging her under for now. I also intend to add some UV in flower but that's not important for now.


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Fanleaf's Huge 42 Cree CXB3590 COB Array Build Plus Other Builds

SENSIble said:
I love you guys, you're so helpful.

Let me clarify!!
My closet is much bigger than 4x4, it's closer to 8x8 but I won't be taking up the whole closet. So my canopy will be the 4x4 and I will be using as much as I can. My girlfriend only wants me to grow one or two plants so I'm going to make one big ass plant (super cropping and LST). I will have about 2 ft of space between each wall.

I'm sorry if I ask questions that I should research myself but at the moment I'm at work, I will do the real digging and order the parts when I get home tonight.

So 600w is a good amount for a full 4x4 canopy? How many watts can each COB put out? I understand Fanleafs perspective on the more COBs you have the lower you can run them, thus the more efficient they are. I do want them to be dimmable but the cost will really determine how many COBs I start out with and I can always aim for more light and more efficiency as time goes on.

I am of the belief that the amount of light I have is much more critical during flower, I can always add more light before I flip to 12/12, so the cost determines how many COBs I'm going to start with. I just need something to start vegging her under for now. I also intend to add some UV in flower but that's not important for now.


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Click to expand...

An individual COBs watt consumption depends on 2 factors. 1) the COBs rated voltage (36,56,72v etc) 2) the current of your selected driver (1050mA, 1400mA, 1750mA, etc).
An example of this would be four 36v Vero 29 driven at 1400mA would give you 50w per cob. While the same chip driven at 2100mA would give you 79w per cob.

To fill a 4x4 area I would recommend a minimum of 9 COBs. Though 16 COBs driven at a lower current will give you more even coverage.
If your budget is low you may want to consider using less COBs at a much higher current. The best example I can give is using 9 x C-Series (69v) Vero 29 chips running three HLG 320h-c1400. 9 chips...900w. Approximately 120,000 lumens.


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That C version sounds good if you want pretty efficient chips (i would pick 4000K chips). I have one of these and it pulls ~50W at 700ma mars 2 driver :-)

If you pick the B Version of the 320 drivers you can add a potentiometer with some nice knobs and dim the cobs down so you maybe end at only 300W for veg withing a second. You can play with light distance, light intensity, spread by using reflectors or not... Its up to you and how you grow your plant.

Check how much you would have to pay for the drivers on your location. Maybe thats the pricey point on the bill when you go that route. If notI think that is way enough light for a 4x4 when you see what Mono and his 600W HPS can do .



Current Grow Nebula & Atomical Haze - Soil - 2'x3' Flower - 420W DIY COB - SCROG 45W DIY Veg Light

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SeymoreNugget's DIY talk - Building lights - Sharing ideas
 
Nice work man, glad you got it working. Pretty nifty idea for someone who vegs and flowers in the same area. I was told that veg only needs about half the PPFD as bloom and if you balance you color temps you are good to go. Interesting idea man, nice work.
 
Thank you. It's part of a large 600w modular array. The customer wanted the ability to use less electricity during veg.
Special thanks to Fanleaf.


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Yeah man, it actually makes perfect sense. Just balance out the temps so you get perfect color for veg AND bloom, you save electricity, and you have one nice fixture that can do it all. Very well thought out. Fanleaf did come through with the switching, but he is a madman, so I had a feeling he would know what to do.
 
Soldering those tiny switches doh...
420-magazine-mobile864580897.jpg



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You could grab some Oslons SSL 80 and learn reflow soldering on some starboards and add them to parts the garden. If you want far red after lights out i would go Oslon, or if you want some specific on point veg or flower wavelenght adding to you allstar 3500k.... Go for oslons. But 1000mA is the max for permanent use... I would aim for 600mA like Budmaster does or 700mA.... They are pretty efficient for single LED even up to 1000mA. You could power quite alot on that driver. Is it internal or external dimming?

Or grab some nice uv bulbs...but i dont think uv LED are as good as bulbs.

No need to get bored mate

Current Grow Nebula & Atomical Haze - Soil - 2'x3' Flower - 420W DIY COB - SCROG 45W DIY Veg Light

My journey seeking the light. Found some
SeymoreNugget's DIY talk - Building lights - Sharing ideas
 
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