Help buying New Led Light: Growers Choice

[hybridway2]

Yes, quite a bit concerning.

I had a pretty extensive discussion with the good people at Growers Choice, and effectively while not "perfect", we're talking a level of light that is significantly less than a 1/4 moon, let alone a full moon. It wouldn't even register on my lux or par meter. But you know, as growers we all worry about any little possible thing.





I found it was every diode. My understanding is that the issue was during the early production runs of the light. There is a very slight trickle current that is constantly available from each driver to its light strip. As a note, each strip/bar/whatever you wanna call it has its own driver. Not a bad idea as if one has a problem, it doesn't take out your entire light. Anyway, that trickle current helps in minimizing a startup voltage spike, and helps extend the life of the diodes.

It's this trickle current that was leaking to the bar, and thus creating the extremely faint glow. This would be with or without a controller. So it was a known issue, and they immediately offered to exchange the light out. I opted to not do so at this time. Kind of hard to grow plants without a light. Funny how that happens.

Once this round has completed, I may take them up on the offer and exchange it. Going to be a pain though as I have to ship back first, then they ship one to me once they have the old one. Had they been willing to ship first, then me ship back, I would have done it already.

The end result is it really isn't that big of a deal. The amount of light is so faint it won't make a difference. If these plants can do just fine at night under the moon, then this wouldn't have had any impact. For now I simply put the main power to the light on it's own timer that turns on/off 30 minutes before/after the controller turns the light on/off. Problem solved. No harm.

They were not born under the moon conditions therefore are not acclimated to them. Any light in your room is a major risk to herm the whole room. Only takes one plant to do them all in. Especially if the faint glow is above the plant.
This is not something i would take lightly or dimmly. Har, har!
I Recommend immediate return & supplemental till then.

 

[Moflow]

They were not born under the moon conditions therefore are not acclimated to

 

[hybridway2]

View attachment 4518737

Bruce is testing exactly how little light will cause ill effects now.
They're finally getting the ball rolling. Had to wait for Federally legal. (which i did not know it was till now)

EDIT: I hear it only takes a lil dot of light from a digi-fan or De-Hu to getchu though.
I've seeded once over tiniest light coming in through venting of hps hood.
Allot less then the moon.

 

[PhatNuggz]

Bruce is testing exactly how little light will cause ill effects now.
They're finally getting the ball rolling. Had to wait for Federally legal. (which i did not know it was till now)

EDIT: I hear it only takes a lil dot of light from a digi-fan or De-Hu to getchu though.
I've seeded once over tiniest light coming in through venting of hps hood.
Allot less then the moon.

I look at plants in nature, lots of light leaks, full moons, electrical storms, they seem to have survived hundreds/thousands of years just fine, but that doesn't sound like much of a light

I was shocked to see he is only using a drip spike in maybe 2-3g grow pots. Should be using something like Hydro Halo Drip rings which would equally feed all surrounding roots

 

[hybridway2]

I look at plants in nature, lots of light leaks, full moons, electrical storms, they seem to have survived hundreds/thousands of years just fine, but that doesn't sound like much of a light

I was shocked to see he is only using a drip spike in maybe 2-3g grow pots. Should be using something like Hydro Halo Drip rings which would equally feed all surrounding roots

I hear the Blu-mats or other drip system work fine with one stick in a pott that size. Could see bigger pots maybe being an issue. His BruceB made media sounds like it distribute the water fairly even as it settles.

 

[hybridway2]

I look at plants in nature, lots of light leaks, full moons, electrical storms, they seem to have survived hundreds/thousands of years just fine, but that doesn't sound like much of a light

I was shocked to see he is only using a drip spike in maybe 2-3g grow pots. Should be using something like Hydro Halo Drip rings which would equally feed all surrounding roots

I guarantee you if you were to place a flowering plant say 4wks in & its used to pure darkness. out under just the moon, it Will herm.
Now if from veg then it probably won't but may need a cover to keep 12/12 schedule or might get lucky n not seed.
I have NO outdoor experience, only know what i gather from my Gorilla friend's.

 

[TreeFarmerCharlie]

They were not born under the moon conditions therefore are not acclimated to them. Any light in your room is a major risk to herm the whole room. Only takes one plant to do them all in. Especially if the faint glow is above the plant.

Playing Devil's advocate here...But, if they are "born" under moonlight, and acclimated to some light during dark periods due to that, then how is that any different than being "born" in a tent that has tiny light leaks that are less powerful than moonlight?

 

[hybridway2]

Playing Devil's advocate here...But, if they are "born" under moonlight, and acclimated to some light during dark periods due to that, then how is that any different than being "born" in a tent that has tiny light leaks that are less powerful than moonlight?

Good point & Prob not much difference except we do not understand how strong the effects are of each wavelength to the sleeping plant. White light leak, red dot, slight light blue illumination from a humidity/temp gauge, ect... each will have a different threshold as well as illuminosity.
I use these throughout veg which emits a slight UV range light to attract fungus gnats but would not dare put one on my flower room even know they were born into it.
All i can say is GoodLuck & i AM super curious to the outcome so please keep us posted.

 

[vorTx]

Seems to be quite the interesting expansion to the conversation. Test results will be interesting to see.

They were not born under the moon conditions therefore are not acclimated to them. Any light in your room is a major risk to herm the whole room. Only takes one plant to do them all in. Especially if the faint glow is above the plant.
This is not something i would take lightly or dimmly. Har, har!
I Recommend immediate return & supplemental till then.

Let me tell you about the option I was given (at the time) for a return: Box it up and ship it back, then wait a few weeks until they had more in stock. Not exactly a viable option in the middle of a grow. The alternative was to simply cut the power to the light itself, independent of the controller. That worked, cut the light off completely (as it should), and there have been no issues in flower.

Of course a ship the new and the ship the old back would have worked better, but wasn't an option apparently.

The grow will be finished up in a week or two, and once I go into clean/update mode I'll be contacting them again to find out the options. Not sure what they will be, but at the very least it will be replaced one way or another.

If ur light was not completely shutting off or flickering ur timer or power bar is causing the problem. Don't blame growers choice when 90% time its the power bar or timers. Watch this video all was user error just my 2 cents.

No, it was not a timer or power bar or anything other than the light. I don't believe you took the time to read and comprehend my explanation of the situation. It is 1000% on Growers Choice. So much so, it's a known issue to them from the first wave of production units. They went on to correct it with a design change, and everything they have sent out since has been fine.

 

[Sirgrassalot]

Love my e680 works great no problems. Funny must be all the black friday lights got nailed LOL.