The Chinese Quantum Board Knock Off Builds
- Thread starter zypheruk
- Start date
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
The key to longevity of these fixtures is to run them soft as Rockets stated before. He recently posted something a page or two back about diminishing light output for led units when run hard. Worth the read.
@ Airwalker16 and bigmikey86
Thanks guys I really appreciate it. I'm hoping to get a few years out of them because I'm not exactly made of cash these daysStay lifted my friends!
LordKaranja
Member
Hey guys I'm looking to light a 4x8x8. What's the best way to do this with Alibaba boards or strips? About how much would that cost for a full build?
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
Depends on how much you’re looking to spend. Strip wise I wouldn’t go with Ali as there’s cheap high quality options from North American suppliers.
in terms of boards, you could outfit you’re unit with 2 x 480w 4 board fixtures ooooor, IMO, you would be better off with 4 x 240w fixtures due to be able to spread the light better and avoid hot spots in the centres. Only issue is have 4 hlg-240h drivers on a regular 15amp circuit. Unless you offset the turn on times like I do with 3 hlg-240’s. Price wise, I can give Canadian prices. For a single 240w unit you’re looking at just under $200 cdn shipped to your door, taxes and duties included.
in terms of boards, you could outfit you’re unit with 2 x 480w 4 board fixtures ooooor, IMO, you would be better off with 4 x 240w fixtures due to be able to spread the light better and avoid hot spots in the centres. Only issue is have 4 hlg-240h drivers on a regular 15amp circuit. Unless you offset the turn on times like I do with 3 hlg-240’s. Price wise, I can give Canadian prices. For a single 240w unit you’re looking at just under $200 cdn shipped to your door, taxes and duties included.
LordKaranja
Member
I'm looking to spend about $1200 usd, more if needed. Are the fixture prices comparable to the DIY route and I'm guessing the stips are a bit more expensive than the boards?
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
Surprisingly enough the strips can turn out to be cheaper, depending on what type of strips you go with as there are many to choose from. China is a bit locked down at the moment so getting stuff shipped is seeming to be a challenge for everyone.
with $1200 usd you could spank the fuck outta that 4x8, regardless whether you go boards or strips. HLG has a really good deal on the V1 boards at the moment if you’re in a rush. If not I’d wait for China to get more bang for your buck.
with $1200 usd you could spank the fuck outta that 4x8, regardless whether you go boards or strips. HLG has a really good deal on the V1 boards at the moment if you’re in a rush. If not I’d wait for China to get more bang for your buck.
LordKaranja
Member
ok, I think I can wait until China gets back online lol. so you recomend 4 x 240w fixtures. What about the just the boards? Would more than 8 individual boards be overkill? I think I want to avoid the fixtures so I can get the perfect spread for my area.
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
I built this for my 4x4 using boards, strips, heat sinks and drivers from King Brite. So far they’re rocking it.
So yes I’m in the boat of more boards for any space. I have the ability to dim each pair of boards separately from the others as well. Plus running them soft will greatly extend their life. Once China is back up I’m ordering 3 more boards and heat sinks so that my next run will have a total of nine boards, each group of three on their own 240 making it light spread city in there. I’m messed up like that lol but If you want to go that route, I’d recommend 6 individual boards per 4x4 to get a solid even spread. Problem you’ll face going that route though is the amount of drivers you’ll have on one circuit unless you simplify it with 2 drivers.
So yes I’m in the boat of more boards for any space. I have the ability to dim each pair of boards separately from the others as well. Plus running them soft will greatly extend their life. Once China is back up I’m ordering 3 more boards and heat sinks so that my next run will have a total of nine boards, each group of three on their own 240 making it light spread city in there. I’m messed up like that lol but If you want to go that route, I’d recommend 6 individual boards per 4x4 to get a solid even spread. Problem you’ll face going that route though is the amount of drivers you’ll have on one circuit unless you simplify it with 2 drivers.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
Very cool. Only thing I can say again,is that being built into 3 separate fixtures with 2 boards each, would have made hanging heights a lot more versatile.
LordKaranja
Member
what's the lowest number of drivers needed for 12 boards and what driver
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
It all depends on what you wanna run them at wattage wise. You could use a 48v driver that's 12watts or 600. So each board could get 1 watt or 50.
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
I agree, but baby steps my friend. I like the process
it will be a modular design at some point.
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
id say go with two 600’s. 100w a board is pretty nice. Although I gotta ask, what’s the electrical like? Will the entire tent be on one circuit?
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LordKaranja
Member
I have a 30 amp breaker for that room. Ive been using 3 600w HPS in that space, ready to make the switch to LED.
LordKaranja
Member
12 over a 4x8 what should I want to run them at for flowering?
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
4x HLG-320H-48A or HLG-240H-48A MeanWell drivers for each 2X4 fixture of a trio of boards getting 110/80ish watts each board. Dependant on what driver you go with. Either the 240watt or 320watt. Or you could always do 2 of each and put the higher wattage fixtures on the 2 outer edge spots.
Whatever you do, these drivers wire to your boards in Parallel. Meaning every board must connect to the drivers Positive AND Negative.
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bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
Oooooweeee you can have some fun with that! And yes, what Airwalker said above. I always lean on the side of overkill so I’d go with the 4 320’s. If you run each board at their full 125w they run pretty hot and you will almost guarantee diminishing light output over a year or so.
LordKaranja
Member
I'm liking the 12 board 2 240w 2 320w driver idea. I think the $1200 budget it broken lol
bigmikey86
Well-Known Member
Well for $1200 US you can most certainly do a twelve board set up with 4 drivers. Like I said earlier. I got a 240w lm301h kit with separate heat sinks to my door for just under $200 cdn. So even that time by 6 would be well under $1200 American shipped.
For my flower light I went with 3000k lm301h w/ Cree xpe2 660 on separate heat sinks, each kit was $241 totally $723 Canadian. So even if you went that route, with top notch China boards you’re still only at $1088US. Plus you’re not even using 6 drivers, if you go for 4 320 that price will be even cheaper when you package it out. Of course you’d have to add in shipping but you’d be just over the budget with everything you need.
Or you can go with all white boards and have a ton of money for supplemental lighting. I’ve seen amazing grows with the boards that have the epistar 660 730 lg 385 as well. Id just rather have cree diodes instead of epistar but that’s personal opinion.
For my flower light I went with 3000k lm301h w/ Cree xpe2 660 on separate heat sinks, each kit was $241 totally $723 Canadian. So even if you went that route, with top notch China boards you’re still only at $1088US. Plus you’re not even using 6 drivers, if you go for 4 320 that price will be even cheaper when you package it out. Of course you’d have to add in shipping but you’d be just over the budget with everything you need.
Or you can go with all white boards and have a ton of money for supplemental lighting. I’ve seen amazing grows with the boards that have the epistar 660 730 lg 385 as well. Id just rather have cree diodes instead of epistar but that’s personal opinion.
LordKaranja
Member
Oh ok, that sounds great! Can get a link to the kit you have