DIY with Quantum Boards

numberfour

Well-Known Member
Few pics from my last run. I normally run a variation of lights from different manufactures but decided to just use my 4 year old HLG 304 Quantum Boards (back then sold as 250w kits).

I've 4 of the kits (2 boards on XL slate per kit) running 1000w covering 4x8 tent, temps averaged at 29c (Summer time in UK), lights run 11 on 13 off, plants flowered in soil.

Mint Julep #4
(Mint Chocolate Chip x Kosher Kush f2)
Bred by Thunderfudge Genetics
mint 4 - Copy.JPG

Demo
(GMO x Dessert Breath)
Bred By Chuckers Gear
Demo - Copy.JPG

Florida Kush #3
(LA Kush Cake x TK bx1)
Bred by Jungle Boys
fk3 (1) - Copy.JPG

Golden Retriever #2
(Jew Gold x Ultimate Chem SFV)
bred by Thunderfudge Genetics
golden r 2 - Copy.JPG

Gelato 41 x Dosidos
Bred by Archive
ge41xdosi#6 - Copy.JPG
 

Skunkbudz

Well-Known Member
I run them in parallel. In fact, HLG promotes running them in parallel. You have to buy a matched set so that they all draw the same voltage. Thermal runaway is not an issue with these. The likely hood of an entire board failing is quite unlikely. Ask the company, they'll tell you. And if that were actually a worry, then fuse each board, a simple enough task. I'm running 4 boards on one driver.
The HLG web page even shows you how to wire them in parallel, series, and series/parallel.
@pop22

Can you explain how to fuse the boards or point to a page or video? Any links for parts would also be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Peace
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
@pop22

Can you explain how to fuse the boards or point to a page or video? Any links for parts would also be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Peace
You don't really need fusing for this, if you have a meanwell A-type internal dimming driver you can set it up so that there is max current for each board by setting on up some voltage regulation. This is by far the easiest way, all you need is a multimeter and a small screw driver
 

Skunkbudz

Well-Known Member
You don't really need fusing for this, if you have a meanwell A-type internal dimming driver you can set it up so that there is max current for each board by setting on up some voltage regulation. This is by far the easiest way, all you need is a multimeter and a small screw driver
@Rocket Soul

Thank you !

I purchased the 320W XL QB V2 R SPEC LED KIT from HLG and believe it comes with the A driver. I just want to be safe 1 , and 2 have a clean build that I can rely on to be plug and play without issue.
Thank you

▪☆ I have not received kit yet...
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
It's an easy process: assemble the kit and then turn both Vo and Io to max, or maximum desired level per board if you want to cap it at lower than max. Then turn down Vo until just right where you start losing output. You can gauge it by eye (harder) or by multimeter (easier). After that the kit will be voltage throttled; the boards can't draw more current individually due to this.

I still recon like pops : this is so ewhat of a none issue. Hlgs qbs can take more than their max current without burning out. See ledgardener quantum board torture on YouTube for a good laugh
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
I'm not familiar with anyone actually fusing the boards, it's just not needed or else HLG would put fuses on their lamps and I've not seen anyone actually use them. Consider the durability of these boards, LED Gardener put over 500 watts through a single QB 288 without it failing! If I come across someone who has put fuses on their boards, I'll post it here.

@pop22

Can you explain how to fuse the boards or point to a page or video? Any links for parts would also be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Peace
 

Skunkbudz

Well-Known Member
I'm not familiar with anyone actually fusing the boards, it's just not needed or else HLG would put fuses on their lamps and I've not seen anyone actually use them. Consider the durability of these boards, LED Gardener put over 500 watts through a single QB 288 without it failing! If I come across someone who has put fuses on their boards, I'll post it here.
@pop22
Thanks
I was curious as I assumed you had or know how to add a fuse for protection as stated in your post above.



@Rocket Soul

Where exactly do I place probes from multimeter and what settings on meter? Would a kill a watt work as well?

Thanks so much:peace:
 

Skunkbudz

Well-Known Member
I'm not familiar with anyone actually fusing the boards, it's just not needed or else HLG would put fuses on their lamps and I've not seen anyone actually use them. Consider the durability of these boards, LED Gardener put over 500 watts through a single QB 288 without it failing! If I come across someone who has put fuses on their boards, I'll post it here.
I run them in parallel. In fact, HLG promotes running them in parallel. You have to buy a matched set so that they all draw the same voltage. Thermal runaway is not an issue with these. The likely hood of an entire board failing is quite unlikely. Ask the company, they'll tell you. And if that were actually a worry, then fuse each board, a simple enough task. I'm running 4 boards on one driver.
The HLG web page even shows you how to wire them in parallel, series, and series/parallel.
Ok, ...
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
@pop22
Thanks
I was curious as I assumed you had or know how to add a fuse for protection as stated in your post above.



@Rocket Soul

Where exactly do I place probes from multimeter and what settings on meter? Would a kill a watt work as well?

Thanks so much:peace:
Not sure, but you can even do it on feel and sight only. Trick is to release one board from the 3, if you've done it right you'll see minimal to no increase in light intensity from the other boards. And even so its more or less unnecessary; if you lose one board the other 2 can handle the extra load.
For multimeter you should check with instructions of the unit and maybe someone electric savy onsite. Hard to say, never handled the hlg kits.
 

Skunkbudz

Well-Known Member
Not sure, but you can even do it on feel and sight only. Trick is to release one board from the 3, if you've done it right you'll see minimal to no increase in light intensity from the other boards. And even so its more or less unnecessary; if you lose one board the other 2 can handle the extra load.
For multimeter you should check with instructions of the unit and maybe someone electric savy onsite. Hard to say, never handled the hlg kits.
Thank you for responding.
 

V256.420

Well-Known Member
I got mine yesterday too. Your box also looks like it's been sitting in a warehouse for years. I thought these were supposed to be new and updated. They also sent you glasses..........................nice. You think for all that $$$ I spent they could have sent me one too.

How are you supposed to know if you got the "updated" version? My light looks refurbed to be honest and I'm not really happy with the looks of it. This will be my last purchase from HLG now that I see a $400 cheaper light can do just as well.

No more pics of my HLG grows and no more free advertising for HLG. Fuck them :finger:
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
I got mine yesterday too. Your box also looks like it's been sitting in a warehouse for years. I thought these were supposed to be new and updated. They also sent you glasses..........................nice. You think for all that $$$ I spent they could have sent me one too.

How are you supposed to know if you got the "updated" version? My light looks refurbed to be honest and I'm not really happy with the looks of it. This will be my last purchase from HLG now that I see a $400 cheaper light can do just as well.

No more pics of my HLG grows and no more free advertising for HLG. Fuck them :finger:
It looks like Pop got the old version based on the pic of his product manual. The new updated manual is dark, not white like that. One way you can tell is what it shows as the rated efficacy on the product manual. Does your say this?:
Screenshot - 2021-09-02T170253.842.png
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
I got mine yesterday too. Your box also looks like it's been sitting in a warehouse for years. I thought these were supposed to be new and updated. They also sent you glasses..........................nice. You think for all that $$$ I spent they could have sent me one too.

How are you supposed to know if you got the "updated" version? My light looks refurbed to be honest and I'm not really happy with the looks of it. This will be my last purchase from HLG now that I see a $400 cheaper light can do just as well.

No more pics of my HLG grows and no more free advertising for HLG. Fuck them :finger:
Are you this upset just because they didn't give you a free pair of Method Sevens, lol?
 

V256.420

Well-Known Member
Are you this upset just because they didn't give you a free pair of Method Sevens, lol?
No. It's because they sent me a possible refurb. It is NOT the newer light. It has the white manual like PJ said. It also looks like it's been around a while. It does not look like a brand new unit with new boards AND a new box. Pisses me off that they would do that. I'm returning it asap.

Also, what are they going to use as an excuse? "Oh sorry, we sent the wrong manual with the brand new light".

....................and we put a brand new light into a box that was sitting in a warehouse for 2 years.
 

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
No. It's because they sent me a possible refurb. It is NOT the newer light. It has the white manual like PJ said. It also looks like it's been around a while. It does not look like a brand new unit with new boards AND a new box. Pisses me off that they would do that. I'm returning it asap.
Have you even tried contacting them? They are really cool and they actually will care. That's one of the benefits of HLG. They'll probably send you some free glasses too, just for the hassle.
 

PJ Diaz

Well-Known Member
No. It's because they sent me a possible refurb. It is NOT the newer light. It has the white manual like PJ said. It also looks like it's been around a while. It does not look like a brand new unit with new boards AND a new box. Pisses me off that they would do that. I'm returning it asap.

Also, what are they going to use as an excuse? "Oh sorry, we sent the wrong manual with the brand new light".

....................and we put a brand new light into a box that was sitting in a warehouse for 2 years.
Here's a link to the manual for the newest version:
 
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