DIY with Quantum Boards

[Rakin]

In gonna order a new driver and just use this 320h 2100 to power some Cree 3590's I have.
But seeing thses boards have an absolute power rating of 250w. But due to the heat sink can only run at 150w.
But if I put a fan blowing across the sinks can I put more power to em?
That way I can drive em at more then 1400mA?

Fans work wonders. Makes a warm or hot heatsink cool. Even a big dc fan laying on top pulling air off the top would probably work awesome

 

[IndicaDogo]

I love wagos I use the three ways on everything. Benefits are the first board not carrying all the current of the next board(s) I’ve done it both ways and even with just 2 boards wired board to board in parallel the first board will be hotter then the second.

Awe I see. Makes sense, thank you!

 

[IndicaDogo]

Fans work wonders. Makes a warm or hot heatsink cool

Ya and seems like the only thing holding back the boards potential is the sink.
Maybe I'll look at a 480h constant voltage driver. If I can figure out which one to get.
These 2 boards in series with 2100mA puts the voltage pretty high, ya?

 

[jayblaze710]

Morning everyone, I thought I knew what I was doing when I bought a few QB288 54v boards, first came with a Hlg120-54A driver so my logic was buy a HLG 240-54A to run 2 boards I started wiring but thought I should look online how to wire, everyone seems to be using a different style driver ending in 2100a or similar and not 54A, I plead ignorance and have looked for weeks but my ability to understand the lingo has kept me using HPS lights, Am I able to use this driver? I now have 4 boards thinking I would use two drivers any help greatly appreciated

There are two different types of HLG drivers. Constant current and constant voltage + constant current drivers. The C-series (240h-c2100a for example) are constant current. 240h-54A is a constant voltage + constant current driver.

A CC driver maintains a constant current and allows the voltage to fluctuate. This driver tends to be better suited for wiring boards or strips in series, and adjusting the pot will adjust the amount of current being output.

A CV + CC driver will output a constant voltage and the current can fluctuate depending on what the light wants at that voltage (need to look at the IV or current-voltage curve for that particular light). If the driver current output is maxed out, then it will function as a CC driver. Since a CV + CC driver outputs a constant voltage, you want to wire your boards in parallel. The CV + CC driver comes with two pots, one controlling the voltage and one the current. Dimming the lights effectively isn’t as simple as just fiddling with the pots though.

I recommend checking out LEDgardener’s YouTube video series on the HLG drivers. He covers pretty much everything you need to know about either driver type.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4ZeBGl9K1KS0VOElerZym9GeFiVK9AnC

 

[jayblaze710]

Ya and seems like the only thing holding back the boards potential is the sink.
Maybe I'll look at a 480h constant voltage driver. If I can figure out which one to get.
These 2 boards in series with 2100mA puts the voltage pretty high, ya?

You need to run your boards in parallel with a CV driver.

 

[Rakin]

Ya and seems like the only thing holding back the boards potential is the sink.
Maybe I'll look at a 480h constant voltage driver. If I can figure out which one to get.
These 2 boards in series with 2100mA puts the voltage pretty high, ya?

You would need the constant currant driver. the hlg-480h-2100 wired series on those 2 boards would max them out. I feel you could get away with it just fine if you did some active cooling on the heat sinks. It is amazing what a little air blowing over heatsink or across the light does for bringing the temp down of the board. If I ever get a pair of qb324 Ive got some 172mm dc fans I’m going to lay flat on top and let it pull the air thru and off the fins

 

[Rakin]

You need to run your boards in parallel with a CV driver.

He has 108v boards.

 

[pop22]

4 in parallel, running for a year and a half @ 363 watts from the wall

I haven't tried parallel yet.
I wanted to ask the guys here first before trying it. But gonna try it out here in a second.
Lol maybe I should have done the same thing you did bad get the driver in the pic.
I also asked what driver they'd recommend. And they said a 240h-2100 or a 320h-1400.
And after re reading that email I'm realizing I must have mixed up the driver numbers when I ordered the driver...

 

[pop22]

Mini SOG started under 2-QB96 running @ 40 watts each

31, 3 1/2" pots, two strains ( Blaqck Domina x Stone Dragon ) x Chazy Ice F1, and Critical 2.0 x Dragon's Blood. pots have soil with 25 % coco and worm castings. At 2 weeks, they'll go on Megacrop. 4 are under a different light and will be moved here later.

 

[Rakin]

4 in parallel, running for a year and a half @ 363 watts from the wall

View attachment 4125716

What kind of tomato plant is that? How well did it fruit inside?

 

[pop22]

Its my own cross I call Candy. Yes it will fruit in there when I lower the lights to 12/12. At the time of that pick, she was on 24/7 and didn't grow fruit. It was a cutting I kept going all winter, a year ago

What kind of tomato plant is that? How well did it fruit inside?

 

[IndicaDogo]

4 in parallel, running for a year and a half @ 363 watts from the wall

View attachment 4125716

Those are the 304 boards you mentioned?

 

[Rakin]

Its my own cross I call Candy. Yes it will fruit in there when I lower the lights to 12/12. At the time of that pick, she was on 24/7 and didn't grow fruit. It was a cutting I kept going all winter, a year ago

Do you have to hand pollinate inside? I’ve always been outside to fruit but plan on keeping a cherry and an heirloom indoors this year. Pretty sure one of my heirlooms that I save seed on that I call Space Tomato crossed with something else last year as it is growing a lot differently then the others. Can’t wait to see what it puts out. So far it is a little more compact and not as stretchy as the other Space Tomatoes. Bushy as hell too.

 

[Rakin]

@pop22 , how are you liking mixing boards with diff color temp? Do you think it there is any advantage to it as apposed with using a color inbetween? Are you putting 2 diff temps on one driver? I’ve been contemplating it. I’ve really been liking the 4000k the most lately but just wonder at times if I would benefit from more red. I wish there were some more side by side grows with quantum’s. Specifically a 3000k vs 4000k from start to finish. I might do that.

 

[pop22]

Yes they are

Those are the 304 boards you mentioned?

 

[pop22]

I put 2 different temps on one driver with the QB 96, because................................. that's all I had lol! They are running in series on a 80H-54. I've had then to 110 watts total on that driver, but I like them at 40 watts each, I had an awsome seed run under them at that level. Don't know that I'd try that with the bigger boards, at least not on one driver, I believe its not recommended

@pop22 , how are you liking mixing boards with diff color temp? Do you think it there is any advantage to it as apposed with using a color inbetween? Are you putting 2 diff temps on one driver? I’ve been contemplating it. I’ve really been liking the 4000k the most lately but just wonder at times if I would benefit from more red. I wish there were some more side by side grows with quantum’s. Specifically a 3000k vs 4000k from start to finish. I might do that.

 

[Humple]

Mini SOG started under 2-QB96 running @ 40 watts each

31, 3 1/2" pots, two strains ( Blaqck Domina x Stone Dragon ) x Chazy Ice F1, and Critical 2.0 x Dragon's Blood. pots have soil with 25 % coco and worm castings. At 2 weeks, they'll go on Megacrop. 4 are under a different light and will be moved here later.


View attachment 4125717 View attachment 4125718

QB120s, don't you mean?

 

[skoomd]

I put 2 different temps on one driver with the QB 96, because................................. that's all I had lol! They are running in series on a 80H-54. I've had then to 110 watts total on that driver, but I like them at 40 watts each, I had an awsome seed run under them at that level. Don't know that I'd try that with the bigger boards, at least not on one driver, I believe its not recommended

AFAIK you can mix color temps on the same driver no problems. I'm running 2 different color temps (5x 3000k and 5x 3500k) for samsung strips and it is working fine. Been running the light 24/0 for 3 weeks straight now and no issues. It's not like the different color temps pull different voltage/current loads.

 

[jayblaze710]

He has 108v boards.

Good point. I believe 54V is the highest constant voltage driver I’ve seen.

 

[nfhiggs]

Good point. I believe 54V is the highest constant voltage driver I’ve seen.

You know you can actually "stack" CV drivers in series to get higher voltage. Just connect the positive wire from one driver to the negative wire of the second driver, and the other two wires go to the load.