Building New Panels - Sharing the Process

[rrog]

Speaking of voltmeters and ammeters, I've decided I don't want a crap multimeter. I'll order one online. I know Rives likes Fluke. Is there another (little less expensive) quality brand I can look for? If I pump out more panels I will use it and crap equipment at my age is a waste.

EDIT: Well, so I'm looking around the web to get some #4 x 3/8" self-tapping screws. Kind of interesting, but there's a whole world of different tapping threads Type A, Type AB, etc.
http://www.engineeredpartsinc.com/screw-point.htm

You don't use chisel point screws. Seems like Type AB would hold better but Type A is probably what everyone uses. Rives likes: http://www.mcmaster.com/#90925A108

THis guy has some nice wire JohnsWireShop

Seems to be a shortage of U-bins on the CW, NW and WW. Habeeb - did you say you had sources outside the US?

 

[habeeb]

Don't want to be considered spam, but I found this site that have various XM-L LEDs on 20mm and 16mm star PCB :

http://www.fasttech.com/products/1609/10001903/1189702

Available models and parts:
Cree XM-L T4-7C 2800-3000K White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
T4-7C: 16mm: $5.12
Cree XM-L T4-7C 3000K White LED Emitter with 20mm Star Base
T4-7C: 20mm Star: $6.51
Cree XM-L T5-5C1 / 4000K Neutral White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
T5-5C1: 16mm: $6.90
Cree XM-L T5-5C1 4000K Neutral White LED Emitter with 20mm Star
T5-5C1: 20mm Star: $6.91
Cree XM-L T6-1A 7000K White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
T6-1A: 16mm: $3.81
Cree XM-L T6-1A 7000K White LED Emitter with 20mm Star Base
T6-1A: 20mm Star: $3.82
Cree XM-L T6-3C 5000K White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
T6-3C: 16mm: $4.51
Cree XM-L T6-3C 5000K White LED Emitter with 20mm Star Base
T6-3C: 20mm Star: $4.52
Cree XM-L T6-4C 4300-4500K 943-Lumen White LED Emitter on 16mm Base
T6-4C: 16mm: $6.38
Cree XM-L T6-4C 4300-4500K 943-Lumen White LED Emitter on 20mm Star
T6-4C: 20mm Star: $6.39
CREE XM-L White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
U2-1A: 16mm: $4.11
CREE XM-L White LED Emitter with 20mm Star
U2-1A: 20mm Star: $4.12
CREE XM-L White LED Emitter with 16mm Base
U2-1B: 16mm: $4.11
CREE XM-L White LED Emitter with 20mm Star
U2-1B: 20mm Star: $4.29
Cree XM-L U2-2C 5300-5700K 950-Lumen White LED Emitter on 20mm Star
U2-2C: 20mm Star: $4.71
Cree XM-L U3-1C 6000-6500K 1100-Lumen White LED Emitter on 16mm Base
U3-1C: 16mm: $5.16
Cree XM-L U3-1C 6000-6500K 1100-Lumen White LED Emitter on 20mm Star
U3-1C: 20mm Star: $4.92

looks pretty good.. thing I always wonder about is if people really use the bin listed... that goes for all companies.. I would love if someday they could come up with a identifying mark for the bins on the emitters..

 

[habeeb]

Speaking of voltmeters and ammeters, I've decided I don't want a crap multimeter. I'll order one online. I know Rives likes Fluke. Is there another (little less expensive) quality brand I can look for? If I pump out more panels I will use it and crap equipment at my age is a waste.

EDIT: Well, so I'm looking around the web to get some #4 x 3/8" self-tapping screws. Kind of interesting, but there's a whole world of different tapping threads Type A, Type AB, etc.
http://www.engineeredpartsinc.com/screw-point.htm

You don't use chisel point screws. Seems like Type AB would hold better but Type A is probably what everyone uses.

THis guy has some nice wire JohnsWireShop

well, fluke is like for "pro's" .. but then again I own shit "pro's" use..

ask rives, but I'm sure, what were doing any meter is just fine.. I used a cheapo meter ($30 ) and my voltage seemed very spot on, also .1 difference from one driver to the next...

 

[rrog]

Thanks Habeeb- I mentioned I'm not finding XM-L in WW, CW and NW in high bin. Do you have outside-US sources?

 

[rives]

I think that probably the majority of offshore DVM's available are probably a lot like Chinese LED fixtures - they all roll out of the same factory with different labels attached. I would go over the reviews in Amazon pretty closely and see what looks like it doesn't give flaky readings or die prematurely. Triplett used to have a pretty good name - I haven't used one in years. The one in the following link doesn't look bad, but the reviews are all over the map.


http://www.amazon.com/Triplett-9045...359424858&sr=1-160&keywords=digital+voltmeter

 

[habeeb]

Thanks Habeeb- I mentioned I'm not finding XM-L in WW, CW and NW in high bin. Do you have outside-US sources?

here man.

says CW is out of stock till 30th..

highest bins.

hempfiled just linked a place in Hong Kong though with seems cheaper pricing..

 

[xmobotx]

hell yeah! i finally kno what a merkaba is

 

[hempfield]

Off topic: I think Merkaba is a good candidate as a name for a very meditative Indica strain.

 

[rrog]

Thanks Rives for the Multi-meter recommendation

Habeeb- LED Group Buy is great, but other than the CW IN U3, the NW and WW are T5 and T3.

Hempfield's list is great too, but no WW, CW, NW listed...

Rapid LED doesn't have the XM-L in these, either. I'm still looking and looking for ideas.

Looking for Cree XM-L CW, WW and NM in high bin on 20mm star PCBs

Thanks!

EDIT Per LED Group Buy, there are no WW and NW in U3. Only T3 and T5. They say the U-bins are not even made. I suppose that's true.

 

[rrog]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=industrial&field-keywords=fluke+multimeter

I think maybe I should stick with a Fluke. There are several under $200

 

[xmobotx]

AHHHH! rumbleThunderCrash ~AHHHH!

my multimeter cost like $3 @ harbor freight ~tests diodes and everything

 

[rrog]

Xmobo- What's happenin? That's funny about your multimeter. Maybe I'm over-thinking this.

That Mount Olympus link to Hempfield's new-found site (fasttech) is cheap as shit, but I didn't see anything specifically labeled "Neutral White," etc., and I wasn't sure that these CW, NW, and WW weren't a broader spectrum sorta deal. So I've been looking for that very specific LED mounted on 20mm star.

I just found out, though, that LED group buy (claims) they have the highest rated diodes, and that some only go to T3 and T5. Just the CW is available in U3. So Habeeb was right when he said they were the highest bins

 

[habeeb]

^ exactly..

I will give you some advice people told me when i first started.. you need to learn the data sheets.. it has all calculated watts as they have a amp/voltage chart, shows bins and other crap.. these you want to see. go check the data sheet again if you haven't and see what I'm talking about..

rapidled has the data sheet, when you select the xm-l, there is a link to data sheet.


that link hempfield found does have some other then CW, there just showing more info, "color bin" , "kelvin rating" and "bin code" .. kinda confusing.. also to know not all U2 CW are the same, they are grouped by what actual color they are giving off and sorted to what color there making.. that's where you see on there website like for example 1C , different from the lumens bin number you know ( U2 / T5 ...


yes I do think your over thinking the voltage meter.. but honestly you don't even really need one as the calculated is fine enough to make the LED.. you only need one to know exact voltages if you want to know to just know.. like my calculated watts to real calculated ( actually have to check actual amp draw ) is off by 1.232 for 16 LED.... not bad at all to even go by calculation

your choice though man, if it gives you peace of mind to know, get the fluke, if you can get by with a cheapo then do that.. just follow your heart....





have fun

 

[xmobotx]

that diode i linked from hemp's referred site ~isnt that a top bin xmL neutral white?

*edit*huh

now i m confused; that is a different diode isnt it

oh well; i still bought some ~i guess we shall see

 

[hempfield]

You must always check the XM-L specs for labeling (binning) , as many sellers make confusions and they don't have any clue about what they are selling. It would be much easy if CREE could mark the chips (with some label of color code).

CREE did not update the XM-L specs on their site and U3 bin specs could not be found there. As I read on different sites, U3 is the latest generation of XM-L , with a light output compared with XM-L2 U2.

There is no high demand on warm white LEDs, so the market price for this type is sometimes double compared with T6 (CW).

In my opinion, for this kind of projects - aka "grow lights" - a wide range of bins or even different color temperatures on the same bin ,instead of single one will be more appropriate , because this mean a wider spectrum. Of course, this is not desirable for example in automotive industry, where the aesthetic aspect is the most important ( I have in mind the LED headlight of Audi - just for example). So don't be upset if you don't find identical chips.

 

[xmobotx]

yeah i m a little confused since i cant seem to find a data sheet which includes that particular diode

gives '5300k to 5700k' like neutral/cool {daylight?}

i liked the lamp as i read that 5000k to 5500k is closest to natural light and figured it for being a neutral cree xmL

close enough ~i still like the lamp

 

[guvoo]

some tests of xml-Emitters

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...umens-efficiency-and-spectral-characteristics

 

[rrog]

Lots of good info and advice here. I'll just get the WW, CW and NW from LEDgroupbuy.

Thanks!

 

[habeeb]

yeah i m a little confused since i cant seem to find a data sheet which includes that particular diode

gives '5300k to 5700k' like neutral/cool {daylight?}

i liked the lamp as i read that 5000k to 5500k is closest to natural light and figured it for being a neutral cree xmL

close enough ~i still like the lamp

here you go, here

 

[habeeb]

some tests of xml-Emitters

http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb...umens-efficiency-and-spectral-characteristics

good stuff, I will add one for the XM-L2.

here.