Lighting Repairing/upgrading Spectra180w light

[M4A]

Prior to my current setup I was running a Spectra180 from GrowLEDHydro which at the time was a nicely reviewed unit. After about 2 years, the LEDs in the middle stopped working. I attempted to contact the company and got no response so I just tucked it away in the closet and forgot about it.

After reading about repairing a BS light, I decided I had nothing to lose and took the spectra apart to see if it was similar. What I discovered was that all of the LEDs were functional by switching led drivers, but one of the 3 drivers was dead. The drivers are enclosed in an unmarked black plastic box, and inside is the only markings I can find are on the back of the circuit board. LT-PCB-1019E is the number on it but searching it doesn't bring up any results.

I'd like to replace the bad driver, but I have no idea where to find a replacement unit, or what specs I should be looking at. I'm assuming they're 60w since I have 3 of them, but I haven't found anything that has plastic plugs for direct replacement.

Am I limited to 60w drivers, or since the panel has 100 3w LEDs, could I replace all of the drivers with 75w units and push more power?

 

[Muddy]

I've been running one of their 280 watt units for 4 years now and had a driver fail as well. Fortunately it was before they went out of business and I was able to get a replacement, as well as a spare, from them. Last I heard the business was for sale on eBay but that was some time ago. It's a shame as the original 2010 models were excellent but the 2011 models had problems and that, along with a huge price increase, more of less put them out of the business. I'm not an expert on their workings but I'm sure they are standard, off the shelf drivers that were used and should be available somewhere. I would be hesitant to increase the power as it might overdrive the LEDs and shorten their life.

 

[pop22]

Prior to my current setup I was running a Spectra180 from GrowLEDHydro which at the time was a nicely reviewed unit. After about 2 years, the LEDs in the middle stopped working. I attempted to contact the company and got no response so I just tucked it away in the closet and forgot about it.

After reading about repairing a BS light, I decided I had nothing to lose and took the spectra apart to see if it was similar. What I discovered was that all of the LEDs were functional by switching led drivers, but one of the 3 drivers was dead. The drivers are enclosed in an unmarked black plastic box, and inside is the only markings I can find are on the back of the circuit board. LT-PCB-1019E is the number on it but searching it doesn't bring up any results.

I'd like to replace the bad driver, but I have no idea where to find a replacement unit, or what specs I should be looking at. I'm assuming they're 60w since I have 3 of them, but I haven't found anything that has plastic plugs for direct replacement.

Am I limited to 60w drivers, or since the panel has 100 3w LEDs, could I replace all of the drivers with 75w units and push more power?

I believe that each color has its own driver. That would make sense as each color operates at a different voltage. Most LED drivers are variable current/fixed voltage. Your best bet before you buy a driver would be to check the amperage across the ciruits of the other LEDs. I believe there are also drivers with multi voltage circuits.

Being a 180 watt unit, the drivers are probably actually 40 watt drivers, as a 30%+ cushion is industry standard to prevent LED burnout.

Your driver is probably one of these, or similar:

http://www.ic-on-line.cn/view_online.php?id=1986224&file=0494\led-40w_7395167.pdf

 

[M4A]

Yep, last I saw the business was up for sale on Ebay also. It was a good light prior to losing a driver and I pulled about the same yeilds as i do with my cali lightworks 200. I'd like to get it up and running as a spare, or just to use it for veggies and herbs. I was hoping to find a direct plugin replacement but after hours of searching I've had no luck.

The unit pulled 180w with the fans, so its probably true that the drivers are 40w units, however, since there are 100 3w leds in the unit, I'd still be under driving them if I replaced the drivers with 60 or 70w units and 30% under their max.

There is not a single driver for each color spectrum, there is a driver for each 1/3 of the led panel.

 

[nomis]

Hey man,
I run a 96x3w LED using 3 power supplies for the lights & 1 smaller one for the fans I think. I draw 180-190w on full power. Maybe you can use the same driver over there?
Not sure what the '55' is, maybe watts? If not usable, hopefully help point you in a better direction.

 

[M4A]

Awesome, that looks exactly like what mine has, even the plugs. Now the question of the day is, where can I purchase one?

 

[nomis]

Ebay has a lot of results for '50w LED driver'. I'm no electrical genius but think you simply need something similar with the same voltage and at least the same minimum amps. There's a few guys on here who know their stuff, will see if I can find them and ask them to comment.

 

[GoeRilla]

Prior to my current setup I was running a Spectra180 from GrowLEDHydro which at the time was a nicely reviewed unit. After about 2 years, the LEDs in the middle stopped working. I attempted to contact the company and got no response so I just tucked it away in the closet and forgot about it.

After reading about repairing a BS light, I decided I had nothing to lose and took the spectra apart to see if it was similar. What I discovered was that all of the LEDs were functional by switching led drivers, but one of the 3 drivers was dead. The drivers are enclosed in an unmarked black plastic box, and inside is the only markings I can find are on the back of the circuit board. LT-PCB-1019E is the number on it but searching it doesn't bring up any results.

I'd like to replace the bad driver, but I have no idea where to find a replacement unit, or what specs I should be looking at. I'm assuming they're 60w since I have 3 of them, but I haven't found anything that has plastic plugs for direct replacement.

Am I limited to 60w drivers, or since the panel has 100 3w LEDs, could I replace all of the drivers with 75w units and push more power?

I would say that you can replace the driver with one that provides 600 to 700 ma. The voltage should follow the number of diodes multiplied with the diodes voltage or more. It´s not so critical if the voltage is higher.
I have bougt some drivers cheap in China but i would prefer some Meanwell or something like that, they have any size you want.
Edit: I see now that the data is already on the boxes. 600 ma 100 volts.:clap:

Rilla.

 

[KsjAuto]

Bi the looks of the picture it looks like a 50 - 100v 600ma constant current driver. slow start up if it´s 50 - 100v..
30 - 60w output.
Go out buy your self a volt-meter / multimeter . cost pennys. maybe 15 bucks.
Messure the one that works when it is turnd on and powering the light. Go for the volt first.
Do the amp/s after that.

Messure the volt exatly when you turn on the lamp and see if the voltage goes up ore are steady.
same thing with the amps


Post the result
Should not be to difficult to get that up and running in no time :tiphat:

I just woke up so still sleepe so cant tell you how to do the amps messuring.
But im sure some one with your native language can tell you how to do that..

Just give me a pm if any probs..
Peace


But go messure that thing out. Cheaper to be right the first time.. than fry 1/3 of leds in the panel.
And they will fry if they get to mutch current trust me.

 

[KsjAuto]

How To Test Amperage

[video=youtube;HWA9WqSEjg8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWA9WqSEjg8[/video]

There you go