DIY with Quantum Boards

Trojan420

Member
Hey folks, long time lurker. First time diyer lol. I’m going to be replacing my 450w viparspectra in a 2x4x6’ sog cabinet and have a few questions. Should I go qb or strips? This would be a China build as cheap as possible lol. Eventually i would like to expand my growing area, is it possible to build a light I can expand on as well. Example, run a larger driver than required at first and add a board or more strips later? Or is that going to destroy the over all Efficiency of the light of until it’s expanded? If that’s possible series or Parallel?
Thanks in advance
I could read for hours on here
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
Hey folks, long time lurker. First time diyer lol. I’m going to be replacing my 450w viparspectra in a 2x4x6’ sog cabinet and have a few questions. Should I go qb or strips? This would be a China build as cheap as possible lol. Eventually i would like to expand my growing area, is it possible to build a light I can expand on as well. Example, run a larger driver than required at first and add a board or more strips later? Or is that going to destroy the over all Efficiency of the light of until it’s expanded? If that’s possible series or Parallel?
Thanks in advance
I could read for hours on here
If youre intending to go the china way this is not the right place to come for advice, you should take this to the china knockoff thread. This the thread of a sponsored advertiser. Its a pity they dont do them anymore, there used to have really cheap V1 boards a while a go.
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
I hear HLG is going to start suing these thieves.

If youre intending to go the china way this is not the right place to come for advice, you should take this to the china knockoff thread. This the thread of a sponsored advertiser. Its a pity they dont do them anymore, there used to have really cheap V1 boards a while a go.
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
Consider that by saving $10 - $15 your buying an inferior product, you have to deal with a foreign company to get customer support, and you have no way of knowing what LEDs your actually getting, ALL these companies in China are famous for lying about what LEDs they use. Also HLG offers a 3 year warranty and have been safety tested. You only think your saving money!


I apologize, first time poster,
 

pop22

Well-Known Member
I've been looking at the QB 144. I have a pair of 40" slab heatsinks from Heatsink USA that were to be used for COB lighting. But before I got the completed, I discovered Quantum Boards so they've been collecting dust. 4 QB 144 per heatsink would work very nicely I think. Hmmmmm...
 

ThatKidiscrying

Active Member
I read an article on heatsink USA that pin style heatsinks can be cooled by blowing air from any direction. The round pins permit proper airflow.

Ac infinity make a few different size fans that can be laid down or stood up vertically. It appears not all fans are designed to be ran in certain positions..

The ac infinity shows laying on top of the heat source pulling air up and away from the heatsink.
 

ThatKidiscrying

Active Member
I’m going to power some QB96v2’s over 200 watts and was wondering if anyone knows how to space them for even coverage

I have 4 lights now but may purchase two more for a total of 6.

How would I space 4 lights ?

How would you space 6 lights ?

1’ apart ? 2’ apart ? I can hang them at any height. Space is not an issue.
 

Barristan Whitebeard

Well-Known Member
Consider that by saving $10 - $15 your buying an inferior product, you have to deal with a foreign company to get customer support, and you have no way of knowing what LEDs your actually getting, ALL these companies in China are famous for lying about what LEDs they use. Also HLG offers a 3 year warranty and have been safety tested. You only think your saving money!
HLG's complete fixtures come with a 3 year warranty (E.G.: HLG 550 V2 R Spec, HLG 650R).

When I bought QB 132's I thought they came with a one year warranty. I don't see warranty Information on any of the DIY items at this time, but I believe they come with a one year warranty.
 

Barristan Whitebeard

Well-Known Member
I’m going to power some QB96v2’s over 200 watts and was wondering if anyone knows how to space them for even coverage

I have 4 lights now but may purchase two more for a total of 6.

How would I space 4 lights ?

How would you space 6 lights ?

1’ apart ? 2’ apart ? I can hang them at any height. Space is not an issue.
Are you lighting an open space or a tent?

Former member Or_Gro made some PPFD maps in tents with the QB 96 V2 Elite shortly after they came out(this was on GC). He made the maps with various configurations using I think 2,3,4,5 and 6 QB 96 in a 4x4 tent. If you haven't seen those posts before, you may find some helpful information there.
 

ThatKidiscrying

Active Member
Are you lighting an open space or a tent?

Former member Or_Gro made some PPFD maps in tents with the QB 96 V2 Elite shortly after they came out(this was on GC). He made the maps with various configurations using I think 2,3,4,5 and 6 QB 96 in a 4x4 tent. If you haven't seen those posts before, you may find some helpful information there.
5x5 tent and an open space on occasion. Tent wouldn’t be full.
 

Barristan Whitebeard

Well-Known Member
As an aside, looking at images of HLG96 / 360 Elites with the installed heatsinks, I find them very appealing. Timber uses them in some products, I think.

Surface area on them appears immense. I bet even with fan on lower rpm, the effect of adding them is positive.

Do you remember your before and after running temperatures? What amperage are you comfortable running your 96 V2's at currently?
I have 2 QB 96 each currently powered by a HLG-240H-54AB. Running at about 3-3.5 amps max. It's a Decent compromise between power and efficacy( I try to maintain 2.25 μmoles/joule at the board).

The only measurement tools I have at the moment are an infrared thermometer and an electronic meat thermometer. At 3.5 amps, no fan, board temperature measured with probe 72.5°C ( average of several readings). At the same amperage, with a 120mm fan on high setting sitting on top of the heatsink, board temp measured with probe 61.5°C.
 

SCJedi

Well-Known Member
In what way do you mean? You sent for an RMA form from allied and they responded but you're waiting on where to send it?
Or do you mean you've sent them the driver and you're just waiting on your repaired driver to get back to you?
Or do you mean that they received it and MeanWell hasn't returned it to them, to then send back to you?
The latter two. I sent the RMA back to Allied mid March. I was warned that it wouldn't be looked at until early April with everything going on.

I finally called Allied and was told that Meanwell hasn't gotten back with Allied about how to remedy and I was told to wait.

I'm considering just buying a third one and returning one when the replacement comes in. I want my second light done and hanging.
 
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ilovereggae

Well-Known Member
The latter two. I sent the RMA back to Allied mid March. I was warned that it wouldn't be looked at until early April with everything going on.

I finally called Allied and was told that Meanwell hasn't gotten back with Allied about his to remedy and I was told to wait.

I'm considering just buying a third one and returning one when the replacement comes in. I want my second light done and hanging.
That sucks hope you get through soon. There is also one other option. Get the 3rd driver so you can get that 2nd light up. Then when your replacement driver comes in, buy some more QBs and another tent. Problem solved ;)
 

Moabfighter

Well-Known Member
Thank you both for the advice. I'm checking out those Cutter strips now.
Do the 4 qb132 and a HLG 100. Do it like this minus the qb96s

I love the 132s. They’re awesome I hafe 4 ran to a meanwell lrs 350-56 and they’re pushing every bit of 70 watts each. I don’t have the cool boards like others do because I guess I’m cranking them up but have a fan on the lights and on the driver and the plants couldn’t be happier.

B3E324E6-6AE4-4CBF-BB77-E098948FFEB7.jpeg
 

Airwalker16

Well-Known Member
Do the 4 qb132 and a HLG 100. Do it like this minus the qb96s

I love the 132s. They’re awesome I hafe 4 ran to a meanwell lrs 350-56 and they’re pushing every bit of 70 watts each. I don’t have the cool boards like others do because I guess I’m cranking them up but have a fan on the lights and on the driver and the plants couldn’t be happier.

View attachment 4546867
There's 112 diodes per strip on the cutters. The 132s give him 532 total. He can buy 10 cutter strips for the price of the 132s and get 1,120 LEDs for the same price. Plus if he gets 2-5 more he can run them on that same driver or an HLG-320 without heatsinks. Cutter strips are a no brainer over the 132s.
 

Jqwerty1

Well-Known Member
Hey everyone, been busy with covid and gardening ofc. I wanted to give everyone an update on my veggie grows. Im now running 12x qb132 v2 4k panels at aprox 600w. I have a 5ft pepper plant now, seemingly infinite amounts of bok choy, strawberries, arugula, romaine, beans, perilla and lots more. I've had great colors, flavor, smell and very tight node spacing. I dont harvest a whole lot but im getting there slowly. What i have harvested has been almost alien. When im washing these things or cutting them, i just see the water turning blue, red, yellow, purple. The mustard i grew was so hot i had to puree it and made like a wasabi like pesto sauce. The efficiency of the lights have let me grow perpetual crops, where as before umder HID i had lots of heat and bolting amd and constantly replanting. Thanks HLG
 

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