Soalr Flare 440 lens discolouration???

Gquebed

Well-Known Member
Who else is running the Solar Flare 440? Is the glass fogging/discolouring on the inside?

I don't think it can be humidity because the marks never change. They're always the same.

Any ideas about what's going on here?
 

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Positivity

Well-Known Member
I was thinking either quality of leds used or temps it's running at....maybe combination. Never seen one in person but reports seem to be they run a bit hot. Kinda look like cooked plastic..

Havent had that happen yet and ive had some 100% humidity weeks in my tent
 

FranJan

Well-Known Member
Why is there glass in front of your diodes :)?

Anyway look at those screws. Could be a clue Shaggy. Vaporized paint? Have you opened it? Maybe white cheddar popcorn residue :P?
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Why is there glass in front of your diodes :)?

Anyway look at those screws. Could be a clue Shaggy. Vaporized paint? Have you opened it? Maybe white cheddar popcorn residue :P?

Yeah , its not discoloration as it would be directly under the emitters on a pmma cover(think they use glass though?). Off to the sides means a seal issue
 

Gquebed

Well-Known Member
It is a Solar storm 440 so...i dunno...they put glass on em. It is suppossed to be higher end diodes and such....

I dont think its moisture. It is really dry around these parts and i struggle to get rh to 45%. At lights off it has climbed to 60% a few times but not regularly. Also, those marks are not only around the edges. They are all over...it just happens that the pics show them better at the edges where there is less glare...

Very puzzling...
 

cityworker415

Well-Known Member
It's not glass it's either polycarbonate or acrylic, on mine there is no discoloration but warpage from a 100 degree fup. That looks to me like a chemical exposure like alcohol in a plastic bong (high school ) or etched from a solder Flux vapor? Ditch the lense?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Rollitup mobile app
 

medicinehuman

Well-Known Member
Who else is running the Solar Flare 440? Is the glass fogging/discolouring on the inside?

I don't think it can be humidity because the marks never change. They're always the same.

Any ideas about what's going on here?
I had a 200 and I removed the glass, you will get more light from it. You will probably have to drill out rivets and void warranty. Mine did somewhat better after removing glass. I pop riveted the sides back together, ended up selling it and the guy like the fact that I had removed the lens. Good luck on whatever you do.
 

PSUAGRO.

Well-Known Member
Obviously removing the pmma cover will increase performance/cooling but depending on how long he's owned it, voiding a 3yr warranty on a $900 piece of kit(440) is not an easy decision imo....

good luck and I would try to work it out with CLW....
 

Gquebed

Well-Known Member
Well...CLW emailed me back. They admitted that they have seen this problem before and say it is humidity. Given that it happened while under warranty they will be happy to replace the lens once my grow is finished.

I have to say...this is the second problem i had and the second time time they stepped right up an owned it. Im very impressed with customer service...not sure yet about the the lights (i have 2) yet. Ill decide that in about 7 weeks...

Dunno if i will take them up o the replacement. I think i like the idea of permanently removing the lens when the warranty is up...
 

cityworker415

Well-Known Member
i think i need to apologize, I made a mistake saying your lense was not glass, my flare has a glass front and my 440 is acrylic i think, sorry, cheers!
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
I own the clw solar storm as well. I've never seen that before though. Pretty good light though in my opinion. On my first grow ever I yielded almost 6 ounces from 320 actual watts. On my second grow I got 7 1/2 ounces. In fact both grows were using autos. So I'm satisfied with its production. It does run pretty warm however. Gonna add 3 area 51s with it in a 4x4. Waiting on my taxes and to move into my new house.
 
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