QB96 Elite V2 w/ SSTX heatsink question

yummy fur

Well-Known Member
...at 85w you need probably 6-12" on the QB288 side to reach the same intensity when you run the boards at such a low level! ...

Not only that but when running at low power and super close like 6" then the penetration of the light is very poor, falloff is fast. For example at 6" from the top of the canopy the light level is reduced to 1/4 that by the time it's penetrated 6" into the canopy.
 

Or_Gro

Well-Known Member
Not only that but when running at low power and super close like 6" then the penetration of the light is very poor, falloff is fast. For example at 6" from the top of the canopy the light level is reduced to 1/4 that by the time it's penetrated 6" into the canopy.
Here’s what 288’s look like, i’ll do same for 96s at some point.

237D9CAC-4B65-4E5D-B96A-88E09C3C8898.jpeg
 

yummy fur

Well-Known Member
Here's some more 50c infomation...

I have one light on a 185W mean well 54A running at 53.7V and 3A for a total of 161W the temp is 70C but it's a 32C day. The Volt pot is on full and the current pot is on 9/11

The other one is what is puzzling me, it seems to be drawing more power than the driver should theoretically supply, which is supposed to be 3.45A. I have the Volt pot on full but I've turned the current pot up to 10/11 so it's still a notch away from full and moving from 9 to 10 has made a huge difference.

The second one is now running at 55.5V and 4.18A for a total of 232W. How is this possible? Temperature at the back is 80C

EDIT: temp moved up to 88C but a better directed fan got that down to 85C which is the max recommended temp. I rechecked V and current and even though the temp rose the V stayed constant at 55.5 and the current was 4.16 so no thermal runaway.

EDIT: Fan directly on lamp has the temp back down to 75C however it's still drawing 4.2A @ 55.6V for over 233W from a 185W driver, which is probably pulling 260+ at the wall.

Mind you it's particularly hot today so that 85 is only going to go down, but how am I drawing 4.1+ Amps? that is close to the max rating of the board. Should I turn it down?

EDIT: update.

With the Voltage pot on maximum the Current pot is very sensitive at its upper range. I have discovered that these heat sinks are pretty efficient, by putting a fan blowing directly on them I've got the temps down to 55 and 60C, with them running 3.5A@55V and [email protected] so that's 190W and 210W for a total of 400W pulling 450W at the wall.
 
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Zipz55

Well-Known Member
I just purchased 2 QB96 and need a little help

Im gonna get 2 HLG-185-54A to power them.Is Arrow.com a good site to get the meanwells from?

if not then what site do you guys usually get your drivers from

also what other wires and connectors do i need to get

im a complete newbie when it comes to this stuff.Any help would be greatly appreciated
 

Or_Gro

Well-Known Member
Some 96 elite growporn:

4x4, 8 plants, pair of 2-main same strain/bucket, four 96elites, each on a 240h-54a, runnin 180w/light @ 22”, layin down ~1000ppfd on those tops, 17 days after 12:12.

7559DCA9-5C44-45E4-9B90-35A2610B4EEA.jpeg

9DE59EA7-D541-4D43-B819-A9D57D2460E7.jpeg

Mainlines 34 days from cloner, just after final topping for 8 mains, under 3 96s running 240w each, laying down ~550 ppfd. Hoping to go 12:12 in two weeks.

1F507A03-5580-4918-9F1D-09F4B90D1155.jpeg

Mothers of the clones in both tents above, 34 days since 12:12, under 3 96s at various wattages layin down a 1000ppfd w 3 rapidled far red pucks, in a 3x3, shortly after 5th major defol.

848741A1-DB3F-491E-B793-CFFB231D4960.jpeg

 

User64

Well-Known Member
Have to start somewhere. Only need two for a 2x4 but wanted some backup in case more room is available in the future.
Thank you everyone for your help and input on these lights. Pretty confident in this purchase.
HLG_HDR.jpg
 

Jetfixer100

Well-Known Member
No, you will be able to run them cooler and get optimal intensity: 1000ppfd at 18” between 160-200w per 96...check the mapping....

Center 2 of them, and run for prop and veg...

Get yourself dimmable drivers to go with them....
I am buying 4 of the 96’s tomorrow. Is there any advantage to either series or parallel wiring? Also a recommendation on driver, please? Thank you!
 

pulpoinspace

Well-Known Member
I am buying 4 of the 96’s tomorrow. Is there any advantage to either series or parallel wiring? Also a recommendation on driver, please? Thank you!
You don’t mention your grow space but if 4x4 I would get a 640h-54 and wire in parallel. These things get plenty hot at 160w. If 3x3 I would get 480h-54
 

Or_Gro

Well-Known Member
I am buying 4 of the 96’s tomorrow. Is there any advantage to either series or parallel wiring? Also a recommendation on driver, please? Thank you!
I have 13 of these in 3 veg/flower tents and 2 prop/cloning tents, which requires a range of wattages.

My recco is 240w per light, for max wattage range depending on footprint size, look at the mapping.

and the “a” version dimmer, these lights need dimmers....and the “a” version gives max dimming range

A dedicated or detachable dc meter is nice to have as well, like
DA09EF3A-D6BC-40EF-A2DF-45E27D7FF044.jpeg

I use a single hlg-240h-54a per 96... an example of how this flexibility comes in handy is in this situation

9987E610-2255-47D7-A5C4-313A69477946.jpeg

Where this is very handy

09103C8F-B74F-4C35-8EC8-5D29E586ED59.jpeg

if you have heat issues wire your setup with the drivers located outside the tent.

Get a light meter, even if just a cheap lux meter like this (for 96elite, divide lux by 64 to get ppfd)

6986013E-ADD1-4DB2-8D47-F92916558592.jpeg

Check out page 16 of this, for ppfd levels (and other useful targets) at various devel stages: http://fluence.science/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/High-PPFD-Cultivation-Guide-9.27.16.pdf

As for parallel or serial, i’ll leave that to the electricians here...i prefer max flexibility, so for me, only one driver per light, with disconnect connectors, on inexpensive aluminum rails...plug and play, position anywhere, anytime...in seconds. Goes really well with this small form factor.
 
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