So in regards to the Meanwell LDH-45-1050 boost drives, I cross-referenced COBs at DigiKey that operate between 35-42V and max 1.05A, and got some interesting result… CREE CXB1820, which tests at 2690lm @ 550mA, and up to 160-180% rated output at max current. And just over $10 each!
Some more at Mouser… a Lumileds L2C5 that does 4900lm @ 900mA, and CREE CXB2540 rated at 4860lm @ 1.1A.
The only downside to the smaller LES COBs is they’re not as efficient but you may not care about that if you have other driving factors.
Yes - for one they’re smaller… which means better selection of optics including lenses. Second, they could be better with reflectors for more down-range illumination.
The ones I listed above are still about 130lm/W even with the LDH-45 driven to max…
Yeah, I spent a lot of time studying the Vero18 and I seriously considered using it but I like the efficiency of the bigger Vero29.
BTW, I got the StratusLED driver and Angela-S in the mail this morning.
Did you install the resistor on the adjustment pot?
Speaking of which… I just received the Vero29s…. pretty excited to test these out. Need to see what gage wore they recommend for the push-in connectors…
Resistor on pot?
BTW, I found documents suggesting that this driver should be able to handle 200w. I’m trying to get the actual datasheet for the driver chip so I can reverse engineer it a bit.
GUH no wonder why… :person_facepalming: :person_facepalming:
Well, like I mentioned I get a max reading of 42V so that would mean tis thing is capable of over 240W? For $15 that’s not a bad deal…
Well, the IC can be “programmed” to limit input current, output current, voltage……
So I suspect it can’t do 200W stock. It may need some components changed to do 200w. But the main IC can do 200w.
Well, knowing we need a 7.3kOhm resistor on the right leg of the pot, we may be able to manipulate the max current by simply trying different resistors?
I tried the Bridgelux LED, and it’s like a mini Sun… the push in connectors are a huge plus and get the wires out of the way as well, as well as allow daisy-chaining.
By the way, what version of the driver do you have? Mine do not have those instructions, and the pots are pre-wired with no resistor in series with the right leg.
Well, something just popped on mine. 
I think it was L78M05 a voltage regulator….
Does yours have an R07? Mine seems to be missing R07.
Just unplug the battery, turn the pot back down, and plug it back in… should be good. I tried to kill mine with no success.
Unfortunately, earlier this week I killed my other CXB3590, because I was to lazy to drill new screw holes on the heatsink. I just fixed the COB down with one screw. Cranked the knob up, and accidentally hit my heatsink, which shifted the COB. It didn’t take long to see the emitters die one by one. Placed COB in circular file cabinet.
R07?
No go. It definitely broken since it smells like smoke and there is what appears to be a hole in L78M05 (5v regulator)
Sorry, R7. It’s near the mosfet.
Thinking about this now, if this thing does truly pump out max 6A, I should be able to run two Vero29s in parallel at 3A each… I measured the voltage across the connectors for the Vero29 and I got 34V. We have an analog clamp meter at work, do you think that’s accurate enough?
Well I have 2 spares if you need one cheap (I have 5 more for projects.) What version is yours? I’ll put up a pic of mine.
Like I said before, I think it is programmed to limit output below that.
Then again, from what I saw for specifications on the driver chip and what Daniel at StratusLEDs has told me, makes me fairly certain he didn’t design it and doesn’t know how it works.
Anyway, I think I’m going to go for a walk with the MW driver and the new Angela-S. I played with it a little bit and it is definitely better than the Angelina-W. I wish the other reflectors I ordered to try out were here…
A quickie test with the COB TIRs seems very promising. I need a proper heatsink and adapter plate however before I can do some beam shots. Almost impossible to hold everything together.
As far as the Vero29… it seems to play well with the TIR. I was afraid the mounting ring of the COB would interfere with the optics, but it just happens to fit almost perfectly. I think though for focusing purposes I’ll have to set the Vero29 just a tad down, meaning I’ll have to mill a circular pocket for it. The TIR housing I have even has silicone gaskets!
Even at “just” ~6500lm, the Angela-S is pretty awesome. I strongly suspect the Angelette-S is probably nearly ideal as it should have a slightly wider hot spot and a tiny bit more spill. This has me rethinking making a triple. A Vero29 capable of being driven at the full ~250w with one of these reflectors would be plenty.
So I can’t turn the pot too far before the board trips. I’m getting 34V at the LED. Even with the resistor mod. However I was able to run two Vero29s in parallel daisy chained using a 1MOhn resistor in series with the negative leg of the pot. Not much diming however. With the CXB3590 I’m able to dim to almost nothing; but I suspect the resistor mod may help me get that pot all the way with the CREE CoB. Still no way however to measure current.
