My Nextlight Mini stopped working

tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
I'm running a small 3 X 3 tent for clones under my older Nextlight Mini. But this morning, it wasn't on when I checked the tent! I hurried up and dug out my old Area 51 fixture to fill in for the moment, so that's under control.

This is the motivation I've been needing to pull the trigger on a new light. I need to be around the 300 watt mark for my size grows....I'm considering HLG Patriot X 2 or possibly their "Black Wing" fixture....not sure which is the better choice.

I also considered a ChilLED fixture -not sure which one

Also considering going to take a serious look at ApacheTech, too...*shrugs* Hey, they are at least a well-established brand that's been around for a long time and still are!

I have not really studied all the newer "import" lights, but that's part of the reason for this thread -to ask you all to help me decide.

I'm not going to build my own light, etc. I'm just not that guy.

I've checked Shane at Migro and there are a few lights he likes that I've never heard of, so I'm not sure on any of his choices.

Again...~300 watts for a 3 X 3 tent....I can run 2 ~150 watt fixtures or a singe ~300 watt fixture. Or, I could consider a higher watt fixture and dimming it, but I don't see the point in that unless I plan on getting a bigger tent one day....so far, I'm not.

I really liked the Nextxlight and I would have been an ongoing customer....until this morning. And the real bummer is that the Nextlight Company has gone silent -all new fixtures are out of stock...no reply to several emails...basically they have gone out of business and no one knows anything. Shit!

Any advice for a new light suggestion will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
 
tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
Oh...and just out of curiosity...When I plugged the non-working Nextlight into another outlet, part of the LEDs came on, but extremely dim. Then, when I unplugged it, the dim LEDs stayed on for a few seconds -even with the power cord unplugged! I don't smell anything that would indicate something burned out....but it's obviously broken somehow. Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone?
 
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pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Sounds like your driver is dying.

what’s your budget? Sounds like youre more interested in high end over the budget gear.
 
tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
The driver...yes, that's what I was thinking, too. Damn. It's a Meanwell driver, too! I thought they were supposed to last forever! Ironically, my 30+ year-old Hydropot MH magnetic ballast and fixture, still work like new! Go figure! Well, that's another check in the positive box for going back to an all HID setup! Except, now, I'm sure the new digital ballasts are designed to burn out, too. Everything is designed to be shit after a few years...pisses me off.

I'm willing to spend a bit more to get something of high quality. I know there are many new imported lights, too...but I haven't studied up on any of them....ViparSpectra, Spider Farmer, etc. And then there are many new lights that look great and have great specs and high quality builds...but no real-world reports about any of them.

Man, I thought my Nextlight was supposed to be all the best components and all that, too. I've had it for several years. I don't remember whether it would have been under warranty by now or not. It's certainly been handled with kid gloves the entire time -never gets bumped...always stored in it's original packing/box when it's not being used...etc. grrrrrrrr.... Just tell me where to look for something that I can rely on! Sheesh!
 
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pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
Can you remove the driver? The diodes are probably still good to go.

reach out to next light and kindly ask if you can replace the driver. (HLG sent me a driver without any proof of purchase).

If I was going budget I would probably dig deep into product review by the migro dude and the coco for cannabis dude.

HLG is always recommendable. Growers choice, Gavita, photontek, luxx…etc all seem nice.
 
MidnightSun72

MidnightSun72

Well-Known Member
You could just replace the driver. It would be 2-4 wires to reconnect. Not too much effort. But if you are down for an upgrade anyway I'd do a 2x2 bar fixture for the best spread and efficiency.
 
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Nope_49595933949

Well-Known Member
Instead of the HLG patriot you can do a single Diablo board hooked up to a 200 watt driver. I am currently running mine at 138 watts in a 3x3 for veg.
 
tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
MidnightSun72 said:
You could just replace the driver. It would be 2-4 wires to reconnect. Not too much effort. But if you are down for an upgrade anyway I'd do a 2x2 bar fixture for the best spread and efficiency.
Click to expand...
It appears that the entire housing around the driver is RIVETED together.
 
tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
pahpah-cee said:
Can you remove the driver? The diodes are probably still good to go.

reach out to next light and kindly ask if you can replace the driver. (HLG sent me a driver without any proof of purchase).

If I was going budget I would probably dig deep into product review by the migro dude and the coco for cannabis dude.

HLG is always recommendable. Growers choice, Gavita, photontek, luxx…etc all seem nice.
Click to expand...
I have been trying to "reach out" to Nextlight....But the original company went out of business and has apparently been taken over by another company that is supposedly honoring th warranty...but I can't get a contact for that company....no one is talking. I have no idea.
 
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pahpah-cee

Well-Known Member
CMH is pretty awesome.

As far as replacing the old driver - just leave the old one on the fixture. Cut the wires and splice/wago the new driver on. You could remote mount the driver outside your grow space.
 
tstick

tstick

Well-Known Member
pahpah-cee said:
CMH is pretty awesome.

As far as replacing the old driver - just leave the old one on the fixture. Cut the wires and splice/wago the new driver on. You could remote mount the driver outside your grow space.
Click to expand...
Welllll....I'm not sure I'm that guy, but I'd keep it in mind for a rainy day project, maybe. I'm pretty OCD when it comes to that kind of stuff. I think that solution would bug me too much! LOL! Thanks though! I'll keep it in mind! :)
 
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