DIY Led Cob Build

[lxstnr]

Hey all, decided to jump on the led train and try my hand at a DIY cob.

Ive got the aluminum for the frame and a driver already but the cobs holders, and heatsinks are still in the mail.

I could not find a diy/ build section of the forum so i figured i would just do it here.

I have 5x clu048 (citizen 117.5w 3500k) and 5x clu048 (citizen 117.5 3000k) in the mail, don't intend to run them full power and will only be using 9, but buying 5 together is cheaper than 4 seperate.

 

[lxstnr]

DIY Led Cob build.

These are the tools I have for the build

My big ol grinder

My not so big milling machine

Also will be using hand tools like files, drills, hacksaw, etc.

Here are my materials so far (just a bunch of 4 ft aluminum angle iron) and a hlg-240H-C1750

finally, here is my general plan for how the fixture will look

 

[I like Cheese]

I think you can only run 4 cobs on 1 driver.

 

[lxstnr]

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First thing to do is to get my pieces size

so measure them out and cut them all with the hack saw

once im done with that ill go ahead and square them all up on my grinder

I just use a piece of wood, set it at a 90 degree angle from the belt and grind away, make sure if your working with aluminum and are creating dust to wear a respirator and get it all vacuumed up once your done.

 

[lxstnr]

this is a general idea of what is going to look like, with cobs in all corners of course. (dont mind the knife thats another project)

 

[lxstnr]

thats it for now ill update the thread once i get the rest of the parts

 

[JimmyJames905]

Sitting in. Looks like you're off to a good start.
Don't forget the paint! Lol.

 

[Kriaze]

I think they all look good bound together but running multiple lights from one driver means they all fail if that single driver does. I prefer a bit of room to manoeuvre

 

[JimmyJames905]

I think they all look good bound together but running multiple lights from one driver means they all fail if that single driver does. I prefer a bit of room to manoeuvre

I've never had a Meanwell HLG driver fail. I've had 2 out of 5 cheap Chinese eBay driver's fail though. One severely melted and almost caught fire.

 

[Kriaze]

I've never had a Meanwell HLG driver fail. I've had 2 out of 5 cheap Chinese eBay driver's fail though. One severely melted and almost caught fire.

To be truthful one of mine failed too, I just wasn't sure if it was my dodgy soldering. The rest are still going strong and probably will do for a few years

Unless I touch them while they're on lmfao

 

[JimmyJames905]

You had a Meanwell fail?

 

[Kriaze]

no, 1 out of 5 Chinese drivers. It popped but so did a few others until I realised that I can't solder direct onto the heatsink. Ho the fun we had with tingling fingers there

 

[lxstnr]

I think they all look good bound together but running multiple lights from one driver means they all fail if that single driver does. I prefer a bit of room to manoeuvre

Yeah i was thinking about that, i think i may get another, run the more powerful one to the 4 lights on the corners and the less powerful to the 5 in the middle and edges.

 

[lxstnr]

I think they all look good bound together but running multiple lights from one driver means they all fail if that single driver does. I prefer a bit of room to manoeuvre

the way that I want to make them they will at some point be able to come apart into 3 seperate light bars, but until i get 2 more drivers they will be a unit

 

[lxstnr]

Sitting in. Looks like you're off to a good start.
Don't forget the paint! Lol.

whats the footprint of your light? and hows the penetration? red looks good, i was thinking gold, cuz well gold...

 

[JimmyJames905]

DIY Led Cob build.

whats the footprint of your light? and hows the penetration? red looks good, i was thinking gold, cuz well gold...

That particular light is a 9 (or 10) cob light built on the Vero 18 platform. It has 5 Vero 18 4000k and 5 Vero 18 1750k chips. Penetration is good for SCROG and micro grows up to 2 feet tall but I wouldn't use it for anything taller.
It's a 20x20" light designed for full wall to wall coverage in a 24x24 tent. Or use two together for a full coverage 2x4 tent.
Here's the video on the 1750k "Meatchip" Vero I made for my first flowering test. I'll be posting a follow up video in June for the full 10 cob array "start to finish" grow.
PAR Testing the BXRC-17E Vero 18. Tent test. - YouTube

 

[lxstnr]

does anyone have any solid info on cree vs citizen?

 

[JimmyJames905]

DIY Led Cob build.

I'm working on it. I did a par test video of the Cree 6500k top bin DD series. Send me a CLU 048 1818 and I'll do a CXB vs CLU vs Vero
Lol

 

[lxstnr]

totally, lights are in the mail

 

[lxstnr]

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