LightScout Quantum par meters

SoOLED

SoOLED

Well-Known Member
I personally never seen one, I don't think as single operator types; we need a very exact number. even if its 10% +/- and affordable it would do the job. if it saves you a few $100 bucks.
 
rayuki

rayuki

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
I personally never seen one, I don't think as single operator types; we need a very exact number. even if its 10% +/- and affordable it would do the job. if it saves you a few $100 bucks.
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yeah for $300 AUD i think its a good deal im not trying to do anything commercially just want it for my own space going forward but dont want something thats gonna be way off. they seem like a decent company just couldn't find many reviews on this one specifically and i know some of the cheaper par meters struggle with the new LED lighting?
 
SoOLED

SoOLED

Well-Known Member
rayuki said:
yeah for $300 AUD i think its a good deal im not trying to do anything commercially just want it for my own space going forward but dont want something thats gonna be way off. they seem like a decent company just couldn't find many reviews on this one specifically and i know some of the cheaper par meters struggle with the new LED lighting?
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I use a hydrofarm one it was like $140 bucks or so, maybe cheaper now.

not saying this site, but I just googled it
https://www.nwgsupply.com/products/quantum-par-meter-micromols?gdffi=87c68efd9c9b487981a9b67a4daa2ec6&gdfms=8219DB94A8034F9E9880EE783D096703&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxdPNBRDmARIsAAw-TUmTOBT3aHTMfB8xPyKnYZ9ZsXZ1WMyEKzn83KymCzFBF18iKcrV2d0aAkwmEALw_wcB
 
rayuki

rayuki

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
I use a hydrofarm one it was like $140 bucks or so, maybe cheaper now.

not saying this site, but I just googled it
https://www.nwgsupply.com/products/quantum-par-meter-micromols?gdffi=87c68efd9c9b487981a9b67a4daa2ec6&gdfms=8219DB94A8034F9E9880EE783D096703&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxdPNBRDmARIsAAw-TUmTOBT3aHTMfB8xPyKnYZ9ZsXZ1WMyEKzn83KymCzFBF18iKcrV2d0aAkwmEALw_wcB
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awesome thanks! can get one of these that ship to AUS from amazon for $179 so even better then the one i was looking at.
 
rayuki

rayuki

Well-Known Member
CobKits said:
unless the manufacturer provides the response curve its anybodys guess

cheapest accurate par meter is the apogee sq series at about $400.

below that you might as well buy a $30 lux meter
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Thanks thats the info I was after so can you explain a bit more what makes the difference between the cheaper units like the hydryofarm? I want something accurate that I'm gonna be able to keep using years down the track and still have it be accurate across upcoming new led tech etc
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
flatness of response curve is the difference. if the mfr doesnt provide it (or if it is provides but not very flat from 400-700 nm) its basically a lumen/lux meter with a correction factor built in. it will not measure monos like red and blues accurately
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
thats pretty much all you need to know. can you imagine trying to accurately measure a spectrum such as these with that? it would grossly exaggerate the 580-660 range and underestiamte the 450 nm peak

upload_2017-9-11_2-6-34.png



heres an apogee sq500 (green plot):

upload_2017-9-11_2-3-33.png

heres a licor li-190R:

upload_2017-9-11_2-4-49.png

in this case you get what you pay for. the response curve on the lightscout is really no better than a $30 lux meter. if youre using it to balance your garden where everything is the same spectra lux meter is fine for that
 
rayuki

rayuki

Well-Known Member
thanks now i have a better understanding of what to look for i can make sure i dont waste my money on one of these or a cheaper option.
 
P

Photon Flinger

Well-Known Member
SoOLED said:
I use a hydrofarm one it was like $140 bucks or so, maybe cheaper now.

not saying this site, but I just googled it
https://www.nwgsupply.com/products/quantum-par-meter-micromols?gdffi=87c68efd9c9b487981a9b67a4daa2ec6&gdfms=8219DB94A8034F9E9880EE783D096703&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxdPNBRDmARIsAAw-TUmTOBT3aHTMfB8xPyKnYZ9ZsXZ1WMyEKzn83KymCzFBF18iKcrV2d0aAkwmEALw_wcB
Click to expand...

Hydrofarm works fine - better than the Apogee, close enough to a licor and somewhat affordable if you accidentally step on it.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
i have yet to see an actual response curve for the hydrofarm unit. anybody got it?

also not all apogees are equal, that sq500 series is better than their other ones
 
P

Photon Flinger

Well-Known Member
Neither have I, but I have compared it directly to a licor and found it acceptable for hobby growing. There is a youtube video out there that actually convinced me to try, and I can say it works as advertised.

2 units so far and they both worked fine until one got stepped on.

+/-50 ppfd is all we need.
 
CobKits

CobKits

Well-Known Member
for sure. seems like a solid buy if they are as accurate as that datasheet indicates. ive seen some guys on youtube testing half a dozen side by side and they all tracked each other pretty well.

thats the older licor sensor theyre comparing it against btw (LI190-SA), but again for most growers purposes the LI190SA/hydrofarm/apogee SQ type accuracy is fine, the flat li-190R response is a bit overkill. most people dont need calibration, NIST traceability, etc
 
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