Recommendation: Cheap PPFD meter?

[Skillcraft]

Hookers and blow?

I like the way you think. But does sound fun. Lmao

 

[Jjgrow420]

I like the way you think. But does sound fun. Lmao

It wasn't my idea!

 

[iggy097]

I did a review on a few of these a while back - Phototone PAR Meter App test vs Photobio vs Apogee - YouTube

 

[TCH]

I did a review on a few of these a while back - Phototone PAR Meter App test vs Photobio vs Apogee - YouTube

Do you recall how far off the app was using the 20lb paper?

 

[J. Rocket]

Money's just paper with dudes on it. Spend it or be the richest guy in the graveyard. Take your pick

yours has a chick on it!

 

[Jjgrow420]

yours has a chick on it!

More like an old hag

 

[TCH]

More like an old hag
View attachment 5303294

I loved her in The Naked Gun!!!!

 

[Burndoggin]

I just got the Dr..meter lux $36 and use the online calculator to figure out ppfd.
Pretty dam close enough for me. Already helped me adjust a bit.
Photon app isn't accurate as I want to keep my screen protector on.
Gl

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Migro has tested a $20 Uni-T Lux meter against his Apogee PAR meter.
The results were linear and within a few percent.
More than enough accuracy for any home gardener.

 

[1212ham]

Photone app

The problem is that different phones give different readings, especially Android's.

 

[1212ham]

Migro has tested a $20 Uni-T Lux meter against his Apogee PAR meter.
The results were linear and within a few percent.
More than enough accuracy for any home gardener.

I use the bluetooth version paired with the PPFD Meter app.

 

[Laughing Grass]

Been using this one for a year. Cheap and works well.

Amazon.com

 

[Greengrouch]

If you have an iPhone then the Photone app, if not the photobio

 

[hotrodharley]

Currently using Androids PPFD meter app and actually it works pretty well but my money's burning a hole in my pocket and I'm looking to get an actual cheap PPFD meter. Any suggestion? Or are the cheap ones not even worth buying? Thanks

EDIT: Also the meter must have a PPFD reading. I don't want to fiddle around with any other measures (ie. par or lux etc).

I use this one. Measured it against a friend’s Apogee ($700) and it was within 10 at 1000 ppfd

Quantum Par Meter Light Meter for Plants Led Grow Lights Indoor High Precision Rechargeable https://a.co/d/htBnoMn

 

[dwc420letsgo]

At the end of the day, you just need a reference point. So for me the app works great, I already know what my environment can handle so I just use the app to get the readings to where I already know im on the limit.
If u are running a big operation then for sure get the device, but if ur doing small amounts of plants, the app works more than fine. Ever since I got the app, I’ve managed to get to harvest without burning my plants or heat stressed and the flavors have dramatically improved. My $.02

 

[pegboy]

At the end of the day, you just need a reference point. So for me the app works great, I already know what my environment can handle so I just use the app to get the readings to where I already know im on the limit.
If u are running a big operation then for sure get the device, but if ur doing small amounts of plants, the app works more than fine. Ever since I got the app, I’ve managed to get to harvest without burning my plants or heat stressed and the flavors have dramatically improved. My $.02

Valid point for sure.

 

[Burndoggin]

I use the bluetooth version paired with the PPFD Meter app.

great timing, love the bt conversion with the app. Order placed.
Returned the Dr.meter, just got it 2 days ago.
My gf google pixle was 300 diff from my Samsung 20fe.....figured out it was due to my screen protector.... And I can't have phone without one.

 

[Hobbes]

.

umol/m2/s - is this the reading for PPFD?

Looking at the Photobio, looks good.

.

 

[Burndoggin]

The Uni-T bt arrived last night and pairs flawlessly with the PPFD Meter app.
Going to be nice on my next grow as my lights at 100 atm and getting numbers similar to the test pattern at Photontek for my led.
FYI:Screen protector definitely threw off my Photon app sensor on my phone. Android.

 

[Delps8]

I use an Apogee MQ-500 and have tested both Photone and the Uni-T light meter.

After tested Photone and, after trading "programmer to programmer", I would recommend growers not use a phone + an app, especially on Android.

Photo BIO - no thanks. Per the Apogee website, the sensor that's used in the OEM sensor that Photo BIO repackages cannot read light levels if light wavelength > 660nm. That's OK for up to red but it does not respond to photons that are in the far red and high parts of the spectrum. In addition to documenting that limitation of the sensor, Apogee also documents the inaccuracy of the sensor. Check out their white paper for additional info.

I don't know much about the Spot On. It's $400 and it's got a wand which, in some situations, is very helpful.

Having tithed to Apogee to the tune of $600, I'd argue that most personal growers are a lot better off spending $35 on a Uni-T than they are spending $$ on an Apogee. The Apogee is a superb instrument but the law of diminishing returns kicks in really hard…at about $36.

I don't specify Uni-T over any other lux meter for reasons other than it's very popular, it's cheap, and I've tested it against my Apogee (Chilled X2 veg light, Chilled X3 flower light, Vipar XS-1500, and Mars SP 3000). A grower using a conversion factor of 0.015 or 0.016, will get results that are, in practical terms, the same they I get from my $600 Apogee set up.

In short, if you need a wand to take measurements or if you're spending someone else's money and want to CYA, I'd go with the Apogee ePAR sensor. Other than that, a Uni-T for $35 will do just fine.