Lexan QB Heatsink or none

ben10inches

Active Member
Hello, I've recently been wanting to upgrade my set up from bridgelux strips to quantum boards. Purchased a SSK-272-VB-V2 from cutter and a cheaper 3000k light on amazon. Plan on using HLG-120H-54A with the SSK board and an HLG-120H-48A for the amazon board. I've notice compared to the bridgelux strips, these lights start getting very hot when full power. I would like to hang these lights without a heat sink like the bridgelux strips but worried about the heat killing my boards. Could a small 6" fan cool them effectively? I also have some lexan sheets sitting around and have the tools to cut holes into them.
 

ben10inches

Active Member
Typically you can't run those boards on full power without sinking., 50-60w seems to work okish. Fan isn't going to make much difference here, but simple Alu sheet would. Alu sheet + fan is a decent ticket to full power.
Thanks for the advice, I wanted to use an aluminum sheet but I have some 12" lexan sheets left over with some spare 80/20s. Through some engineering.... stoner engineering, I drilled holes into the lexan and mounted the QBs onto them, slid the lexan between two 80/20s then taped the edges so it wouldnt slide out. It seems to work but still hesitant to crank it up full power. Just found my heatgun so I'll test it tonight.
 

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ben10inches

Active Member
Took some temp readings with the heat gun. It starts maxing out at 78C around 170F near the middle LEDs. Lexan doesnt seem to be such a great thermal conductor as the heat is mainly felt around the board and doesnt reach to the edges of the lexan. This is not including a fan, ran the lights full power one after the other for 20 minutes.
 

Rocket Soul

Well-Known Member
I have no idea what lexan is, for sinking go Alu or copper, it's what works

Imo 78C is way above what's recommended but under the 85C Max, although your diodes might be a bit hotter without it being picked up by your temp reader. Basically diode temp below 50C and the diodes will last a ridiculous time, over 50C then they will lose performance. I think Shane / migro has a YouTube vid on this
 
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grotbags

Well-Known Member
I have no idea what lexan is, for sinking go Alu or copper, it's what works

Imo 78C is way above what's record but under the 85 Max, although your diodes might be a bit hotter without it being picked up by your temp reader. Basically diode temp below 50C and the diodes will last a ridiculous time, over 50C then they will lose performance. I think Shane / migro has a YouTube vid n this
lexan is another name for polycarbonate
 

ben10inches

Active Member
Havnt really looked into data or any charts but I will change this set up soon enough. Don't really know a source for an alum heatsink in Canada, Ill look for more spare 80/20s to make them wide enough for the QBs. Thanks for the feedback, I'll run another test with the fans on with lexan
 

nogod_

Well-Known Member
Buy a 1/4 aluminum bun pan from a restaurant supply and save the plastic sheet for another project.

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Havnt really looked into data or any charts but I will change this set up soon enough. Don't really know a source for an alum heatsink in Canada, Ill look for more spare 80/20s to make them wide enough for the QBs. Thanks for the feedback, I'll run another test with the fans on with lexan
 

1212ham

Well-Known Member
Took some temp readings with the heat gun. It starts maxing out at 78C around 170F near the middle LEDs. Lexan doesnt seem to be such a great thermal conductor as the heat is mainly felt around the board and doesnt reach to the edges of the lexan. This is not including a fan, ran the lights full power one after the other for 20 minutes.
That lexan is insulating the board and increasing temperature, get rid of it!
 

welight

Well-Known Member
Our 272 is robust but sticking it to plastic is probably not where I would go. For simplicity and fan removal, 3 mm flat plate will work a treat. The only fan you want is the main one you likely use in your area to just push air about. Most panel designs make assumptions about the rooms having some level of airflow from cooling/rh fans
cheers
 

ben10inches

Active Member
Follow up: Yeah the lexan was the big problem. Had to cool the lights with the fan it would've been better even without the lexan. Couldnt really get my hands on wide aluminum heatsinks so I picked up the cookie/bun pan. Quick read of the heat gun shows at 27c on top, 32c on the leds at 50%
 

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