XL Quantum Board and seedlings

combo801

Active Member
Sorry if it’s been talked about before but there are so many threads it’s hard to filter through sometimes.

I appreciate any tips, help, advice, etc.

How high above seedlings would you hang a 260w XL quantum board in 4000k? It’s the triple long heatsink with a board on each end. And with that being said, how hard would you run the lights. It’s my first full grow using them from seed through harvest. Im not sure if I should hang it close over seedlings and dim the lights down? Or raise the light and run it hard? Not worried about the power bill.

I also have two of the 320w R-spec XL long quantum boards with three boards in 3000k. One on each side of the 4000k that I plan to run along with 4K once the plants get a little bigger. And this is in a 4x4 gorilla grow tent.

I’d start a journal if anyone were interested in following. I already germinated a few Sensi Seedbank Bruce Banger and random feminized seeds. Otherwise I won’t waste my time with that.

And again, thanks in advance for any words of wisdom!
 

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combo801

Active Member
Instead of raising the light you want to dim it, unless you need the heat I guess. Anyways in a 4x4 tent I'd start off with 200 watts and raise the wattage by 50 watts every 3-5 days until you're at 400 watts, then when you flip to bloom crank it up to the max..

EDIT: ok I read a little too fast, you just want to use the center light for now.. well raising the light and running it hard will do the same as keeping it closer and dimming, so if you don't need to heat just run it close and dim it.
When you say “keep it closer and dimmed” how many inches above the 1” inch tall seedlings would you say to hang the center 4000k 2pc board? Thanks for the swift reply!
 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
As close as you can while maintaining an equal amount of light across the canopy, I’d guess maybe a foot or so.. I like to use a light meter to figure out how far from the canopy to run my lights otherwise it’s just a guess.
What do you aim for on the light meter with seedlings?

I have to have mature rooted clones about 18" away with the 4k light dimmed to 130w (in a 2x4)
 

piratebug

Well-Known Member
I run single 240 like yours on a long slate @ 22" at 140 watts at the wall until two weeks before I flower them. I always have 8 seedlings under that light in (2) column of (4) seedlings in (1 1/2) gallon pots. Then when I flower them in a 6 x 6, using only 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 in each of those tents, I run 3 x 320(s) side by side @ roughly 4" a part using (3) 320 drivers and each driver runs at 150 watts at the wall, and I again run (2) column of (4) plants in (5) gallon tall pots. My center 320 runs 4K, 3K with reds, 4K, and the two 320(s), one each side of the center 320 runs, 3K with reds, 4K, 3K with reds at 22" at all times. And I can't ever turn the drivers up cause its simply to much light for the plants in that area, seriously they get totally stressed out if even try doing that for a few hours a day. Anyhow... even so, those rooms easily pull 40+ zips, (and I only top them at the 5th node one time, and that's it), which is pretty amazing when you figure in the actually true watts I am using, which comes in at roughly 422 watts and that produces 2.65 [W/g].
 

combo801

Active Member
I run single 240 like yours on a long slate @ 22" at 140 watts at the wall until two weeks before I flower them. I always have 8 seedlings under that light in (2) column of (4) seedlings in (1 1/2) gallon pots. Then when I flower them in a 6 x 6, using only 3 1/2 x 4 1/4 in each of those tents, I run 3 x 320(s) side by side @ roughly 4" a part using (3) 320 drivers and each driver runs at 150 watts at the wall, and I again run (2) column of (4) plants in (5) gallon tall pots. My center 320 runs 4K, 3K with reds, 4K, and the two 320(s), one each side of the center 320 runs, 3K with reds, 4K, 3K with reds at 22" at all times. And I can't ever turn the drivers up cause its simply to much light for the plants in that area, seriously they get totally stressed out if even try doing that for a few hours a day. Anyhow... even so, those rooms easily pull 40+ zips, (and I only top them at the 5th node one time, and that's it), which is pretty amazing when you figure in the actually true watts I am using, which comes in at roughly 422 watts and that produces 2.65 [W/g].
This may sound like a silly question but they’re my first dimmable lights. What’s the easiest way to tell how dimmed or how many watts their dimmed to? Would one of the outlet watt meters do the trick?
I have the Meanwell AB drivers with a dimmer knob on each board. I can visibly see they’re dimming obviously but looking for the easiest way to tell how hard each board is running... thanks for your help!
 

2com

Well-Known Member
Just ordered two 320 rspecs wanted the meanwell drivers switched out so I could do inventronics drivers and stephen said he would get it done can’t wait
Wow, that's awesome man. Lucky guy.
I been trying to get hands on some inventronics drivers for ages. Need some for about a dozen qb96's we bought from them.
 
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