I finally set up the 4x4 and put up the lights and driver. QB 288 and MeanWell 240H-C2100A. This is my first indoor grow but alot of outdoor experience. Couple questions. 1. How much should i dim the lights if any and where is the dimmer. 2. What distance should Ihave the lights from my plant? Last thing i notices is the temp went up 10 degrees in a dry run is that normal with these LEDs. Sent from my SM-G892A using Grasscity Forum mobile app
Not sure bout the light dimming question but wanted to say congrats on set up I’m saving for those lights. Im sure ya won’t be disappointed with them.
If you mean is it normal for the lights on temp to be 10 degrees higher then lights off then yes. It's more like almost 20 degrees sometimes depending on where your tent is and what time of year it is. Strange looking layout on those lights. You want them side by side parallel to each other. You'll have lower light readings under the dead area where your filter is. Move your filter and mount it vertical pointed up in the very top corner so you can hang the lights side by side. The dimmers are under rubber plugs on the drivers. Use a small phillips screwdriver or flathead if that's all you can find. They are plastic head screws for adjustment so don't get crazy turning them and strip them out. All the way clockwise is max power. All the way counter clockwise is a little below half power. I would veg with them dimmed all the way to start with about a 30" or more light distance possibly only one plugged in for seedling stage and then work your way up in light intensity as the plants get larger. Plug in second light then start turning up dimmers and working down in light distance until you're max at about 18". That's target in flower approx for even spread but high intensity. Some plants can tolerate a little closer but even 18 is too close to some plants with a maxed out qb260 type setup.
Where did you get the short filter? Ac infinity is putting out a line of charcoal filters, I think they come out this month
Tbone thanks this helped out alot. I am going to look at trying to move that filter. I agree side to side is better.
Better but I would have the boards more centered like 9" or more away from the walls on the long sides.
Wall mounting the drivers outside of the tent or inside even if you have to lets the drivers run much cooler. Probably 30 degrees or more cooler operating temp with the driver not being on the top of the light. The whole fixture creates less heat with the driver wall mounted somewhere. Outside the grow space makes for really easy access to the dimmer. I don't have room in my area so mine are wall mounted inside the space. All you really have to do is extend the driver output wires. 18awg is fine for that watt range.
Honestly the fixture should have been designed to wall mount the driver. They just want to simplify the design putting it on top of the fixture and being such a heavy duty driver made for extreme environments it can take it. It's not ideal though. Growers should be sort of used to this routine by now with HPS lights. Most have remote ballasts. A ballast is only another name for a driver.
That helps alot. I know you run a 4x4. Can you post how you indoor mounted yours? I will decide if I will outside tent mount mine.
Dont worry about the picture. I think I am going to wall mount drivers outside of the tent. I will get longer wire.
It probably could be done better. The only wall I have to mount to is the back wall of my tent so I just mounted them maybe a foot off the ground and I can crawl under the canopy to dim. After I did mine I saw that meanwell recommends horizontal mounting for best temp management. They really don't get warm at all compared to when on top of the fixture though so I haven't changed them to horizontal.
