Soil2Coco
Well-Known Member
I was running two qb96elite v2’s on an HLG-320H-54a over a 2x4 area. The plants love them.
Club Quantum Board
- Thread starter Budzbuddha
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WwonKa
Active Member
Thanks man followed you here. Can't wait to add the 2nd QB96.
Running 2 QB 288's on a meanwell 240 in my first grow and I have to say I am incredibly pleased. These things are so easy and cool running, its fantastic for my situation. Oh and yea they put out a buttload of light as I'm sure everyone here know. I was running them full blast for a few weeks but it stressed the plants a bit and I found that running at 60 watts on each board was actually just what I needed. I'm sure they could take more power towards now but they are packing on the weight just fine and my electric bill is thanking me. So glad I went with QBs off the bat, I couldn't imagine a light much better than these.
Unorthodoxy
Active Member
Just finished putting together my 2x Qb288v1 with a HLG-240H-C2100. Wired in series and using a 50k pot. With the pot all the way up I'm only pulling 130 wall watts. Should I be pushing more at maximum with this setup? All the way down, it pulls just under (edit:10) watts.
I'm very happy with the quality and amount of light, but why did I go with the 2100 over the C1700? (it was recommended).
I'm very happy with the quality and amount of light, but why did I go with the 2100 over the C1700? (it was recommended).
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ChiefRunningPhist
Well-Known Member
Use a 100kΩ POT for full power. With only 1 driver a 50kΩ POT tops off at 50% of your driver output.
If you use a 100kΩ POT and keep it in series you CAN NOT turn it up all the way or you'll burn your chips up. You could ONLY turn it up to about 70%. So a 70KΩ POT would probably be closer to what you'd want if you kept them in series, as that would be a maximum current of ~183mA per chip.
If you wired in parallel you could use the 100kΩ POT. You wouldn't have to worry about turning it up too high. You'd get about 131mA per chip maximum. 131mA is the same max intensity you are getting now.
If I were you I'd go with the 70kΩ POT and keep your QBs in series like you have. You won't have to worry about turning it up too high and you get more performance than you are getting right now.
×××××××
100kΩ POTs are a typical value for additive resistance dimming (for a 100% driver output). It sounds backwards, but if you are using more than 1 driver, then you have to size your POT smaller, not bigger.
[(Desired max driver output %) × 100kΩ] ÷ [# of drivers] = [POT size in kΩ]
Check data sheets for max driver output resistance, I'm pretty sure most Meanwells are 100kΩ though.
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Unorthodoxy
Active Member
Thank you SO much for this detailed and helpful reply! This is exactly the info I need.Use a 100kΩ POT for full power. With only 1 driver a 50kΩ POT tops off at 50% of your driver output.
...
Check data sheets for max driver output resistance, I'm pretty sure most Meanwells are 100kΩ though.
I actually had a 100k pot, but then I read something that suggested I use a 50k pot. I think what I read said to use 50k when using two drivers and I got confused. I have two boards and one driver.
Can I actually just add 20k of resistance to my 50k pot instead of switching to a 70k pot - so that I can use more power and not have to worry about over driving the boards?
Again thanks a lot. I've been learning a LOT on these forums, it's awesome. And I'm super excited to be beginning this journey! I've been using cannabis and paying for it for way too long.
Including a Pic of my best friend the Solar cat soaking up the rays.
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ChiefRunningPhist
Well-Known Member
Absolutely!
Unorthodoxy
Active Member
Thanks!, but...
I think I'm asking the wrong question.
If I wanted to continue to drive these QBs soft, but make better use of the remaining driver power...
What would be best to add? Far red? UV? Other spectrums that may be missing from these chips?
I think I'm asking the wrong question.
If I wanted to continue to drive these QBs soft, but make better use of the remaining driver power...
What would be best to add? Far red? UV? Other spectrums that may be missing from these chips?
ChiefRunningPhist
Well-Known Member
Far red is beneficial in my opinion. I also think the single most cheapest thing you can do to gain immediate improvement in potency is adding UV. Try a CFL UVB reptile bulb at 10."
Unorthodoxy
Active Member
Awesome. Thanks, I will do exactly that.
I've got beans coming in the mail, then we are off to the races.
I've got one strain of photo period, and several of auto's. I think I may start a grow journal here as I navigate through this first grow.
I only have the one 2x4 tent right now, so this may get interesting.
I've got beans coming in the mail, then we are off to the races.
I've got one strain of photo period, and several of auto's. I think I may start a grow journal here as I navigate through this first grow.
I only have the one 2x4 tent right now, so this may get interesting.
TheTinkerer
Active Member
Tell me more!
Wattage per foot?
Veg through flower?
All the time the lights are on, or…?
ChiefRunningPhist
Well-Known Member
On when lights on. I use (4) 23w UVB150s for a 4 x 4. I've never seen any damage. The only reason I hang at 10ish is to have a better spread.
Some use the more powerful t5ho fluoros but you can only run them for a few minutes a day. Reptile bulbs are a quick set it and forget it.
ThE_420KING
Member
how much does a hlg 260 actually draw from the wall? growers lights says 135-285 adjustable but the actual meanwell driver says max 249.9 watts on the label.I read online somebody said they only actually draw 201 watts and we all got scammed
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
lol 285w . There is a tiny variation between drivers though.
Im pretty sure we would of realised a long time ago if they pulled 200w because that would mean our GPW would be higher.
Most of us have kilowatt meters too.
pop22
Well-Known Member
Instead of reading "online" sources other than forums, try reading here in threads that actually USE LED garden lighting. The facts are most Meanwell drivers supply MORE than the rated level stated on the label. We all use Meanwell driver because they are the best and have a 7 year warranty to boot!
You can be scammed just as easily by misinformation as anything else. You'll find the truth in the large number of LED lighting threads in this forum alone. (90% use Meanwell drivers, that alone should tell you of their value
You can be scammed just as easily by misinformation as anything else. You'll find the truth in the large number of LED lighting threads in this forum alone. (90% use Meanwell drivers, that alone should tell you of their value
ThE_420KING
Member
oksoback tothe question how much does the quantum board draw at 100%
ThE_420KING
Member
so it does use 285 on full power?
coreywebster
Well-Known Member
Yeah 285w at the wall.
pop22
Well-Known Member
As much as the driver can put out.... example, I have a HLG320H-C2100B that draws 363 watts from the wall. -5% for driver losses thats about 340 watts to the boards when the driver is run at max. I've also got an 80 watt driver that draws 118 watts at its max setting. If you want to know how much yours draws, buy a watt meter.