Lighting Grow Northern Live Tech Talk

[Corgy]

I wouldn't worry to much about dust getting inside the diffuser as its sealed with a gasket and if it's hung in a grow room gravity will stop dust from settling on the front of the diffuser,I've never needed to clean the optics of any of my other lights so doubt I will need to now.

Ok, Question........both my HS1.1 with a 60 x 90 diffuser is gaping in a nice curve on the inside side of the diffuser, in the middle by 3-4 millimeters, and is not sealed........I can already see dust on the side of the diffuser facing the diodes. It actually looks like it is a deliberate design, both are identical in the way they gape on the same side.
The outward side is sealed fine and both "ends". I'm talking about the 90 degree outward side, i'e the long side, and the 60 degree short ends.

Is this the way it is supposed to be ?

 

[HubbaBubba]

Mine has a similar problems on two sides, but the gap is smaller. Obviously the seal is not sealing. I said I would pipe down, so no ranting.
I'll just post a photo.

 

[puffman420]

Id be concerned if humidity could cause an issue especially if it gets in under the unsealed diffuser.
It appears like the bow is starting to cause a light leak in your first couple pics.
It may result in a loss of light output being directed at the canopy especially if that gap opens up anymore.

Get in touch with GN via email privately and get them sorted under warranty. You have 3 years for this very reason.

Goodluck

 

[Corgy]

Yes, I will get in touch with GN, and hear what they have to say.

I have 3 concerns with this bending /warping /curving, whatever the correct technical term...

- the effect on the optical properties as you said

- dust settling on the inside of the diffuser, again negatively affecting the optical performance, and necessitating cleaning with dry compressed air or something similar as per advise from Daniel previously in this thread....... don't touch the inside of the diffuser....

- yeah, humidity too but more so condensation on the diffuser when switching off

Since the warping is on the same side on both diffusers, I think this is a manufacturing problem, and QC problem, rather than it happened during use due to heat distortion from the diodes. At least I hope so, because if it is a result of use, then it looks like a general recall is in the cards.

Well, so far 8 toddlers, 7 x AU and 1 Vertigo from Paradise Seeds has vegged okie dokie under 1 HS1.1, they other one is comforting a 2 months old TD.

Here's the toddlers at 16 days

And here's the TD at 62 days old, I did notice that as soon as she got under the HS1.1, she spent the first part of her life in a Marshydro 5w diode glow of 500w nominal, frosting started to appear in a day or so. Could be a coincidence of course .....

 

[TaNg]

Yes, I will get in touch with GN, and hear what they have to say.

I have 3 concerns with this bending /warping /curving, whatever the correct technical term...

- the effect on the optical properties as you said

- dust settling on the inside of the diffuser, again negatively affecting the optical performance, and necessitating cleaning with dry compressed air or something similar as per advise from Daniel previously in this thread....... don't touch the inside of the diffuser....

- yeah, humidity too but more so condensation on the diffuser when switching off

Since the warping is on the same side on both diffusers, I think this is a manufacturing problem, and QC problem, rather than it happened during use due to heat distortion from the diodes. At least I hope so, because if it is a result of use, then it looks like a general recall is in the cards.

Well, so far 8 toddlers, 7 x AU and 1 Vertigo from Paradise Seeds has vegged okie dokie under 1 HS1.1, they other one is comforting a 2 months old TD.

Here's the toddlers at 16 days

View attachment 470234 View attachment 470240

And here's the TD at 62 days old, I did notice that as soon as she got under the HS1.1, she spent the first part of her life in a Marshydro 5w diode glow of 500w nominal, frosting started to appear in a day or so. Could be a coincidence of course .....

View attachment 470245 View attachment 470246

If I may be so bold as to advise you drop the unit to 20cm above the flowering plant and 40-50cm above the vegging plants also 65% RH under LED is very high and will affect growth,the ideal RH and temp I have found is between 35-45% RH and 26-28c . Just as your plants have a sweet spot PH-wise they also have a sweet spot environment wise.

 

[Corgy]

Thanks man, I hear you. Be as bold as you like, I'm always up to listen and a good haggle over the inns and outs of the finer details!!! Needless to say, your advise is born out by your grows.... Stellar stuff.

It's a rainy day here in the Netherlands, and this room has no ventilation today as I'm redoing ducting and getting the Can 350 filter outside, it's way too big, weighs 37 kg and is hogging too much space, hence the high humidity. It is normally in the 40-50% range, and if not, the Meaco dehumidifier will be press ganged into service. Hate the additional power and heat though..... Oh well! The temp is also a bit low for the same reason, room been open all morning and windows open as I wrestle with the goddamn sonoconnect that is full of real shite itchy glasfiber wool......

I'm running 24/0 for this first grow to have a reference, well, the TD is part of first grow, I had to move it out of the 120x120 room as space was running out with 5 plants in there. Below a pic of what it looks like with 4 plants, 3 x Frisian Dew and a sister TD that has Donald Trump ambitions height wise, she's 132 cm at day 62 and still adding 2-3 cm/day, bit leggy and spindly though compared to her HS1.1 frolicking sister..... Can't quite believe the growth, I want to stick Bear Grylls with no scissors in there and see how long he would make it...... Lol

Actually the height over the toddlers is 50 cm in the pictures, and 25 cm over the TD, and I did have it at 20 cm for about a week, but I backed off a little because to my inexperienced eyes, the pistils in the top buds turned brown quick, so was a little cautious. I reckon the TD still has some 40 odd days to go from what I have seen on here, could be way off, we'll see.

Anyways, thanks again for the advise, always appreciated.

 

[HubbaBubba]

Well, so far 8 toddlers,

I like the reflective mulch under your toddlers! Great idea, I have been using sheets of white Styrofoam, I like your way better.

 

[GrowNorthern]

Hey Guys,

We are aware of the warping issue on the diffuser housing. On the HS1 the material warped due to the strength of the magnets. On the HS1.1 we changed the material and the warping was prevented though the parts had a natural warp from the injection moulding process. We have been trying different moulds and materials to prevent it. We are now thinking of adding a steel plate behind the diffuser to reinforce it or using a more rigid material with a hollowed out and ribbed B side to the mould. At the moment we don't have a solution in stock ready to go also the HS1 isn't sold with any particular IP rating but regardless we are working to provide a solution for the issue for current HS1 users and future.

Just while i'm on the subject of fixes for the HS1 in around 2 weeks we have a stock of lids coming with the extra venting like the HS1.1. Anyone with a HS1 who wants a new lid just contact us at GN and we will post one out for free.

In the meantime regarding the diffusers you can simply bend them the opposite way and that will take most of the warp out. There is an additional blade on the inside of the diffuser so even if it rises slightly it will prevent dust from entering the unit.

Other questions-

Holographic diffuser is the technical term for the type of diffuser not something we invented here at GN unfortunately. Just do a quick google of Holographic diffuser to read the Wikipedia info or product details from edmound optics, thornlabs etc

I have put the other angle diffuser up on the website just waiting to get some pictures done for them, they are £45.00+ VAT but as I said previously if your an AFN member shoot a pm and we will try and help you out the best we can.

 

[MedGrower]

Yeah I just got my new HS1 and apparently it is HS1.1 since it has some extra air vents on the top. My "old" one barely has any warping on the diffuser but this new one had that issue noticably right off the package. It doesn't really bother me if this unit still works as intented.

I guess some regular cleaning with canned air, say every 3 months, is ok just to prevent too bad of a dust build up inside the diffuser? So far I haven't even dared to open it in case if I would just ruin some magic from it. I guess I am too protective of my little LED's.

 

[Corgy]

I like the reflective mulch under your toddlers! Great idea, I have been using sheets of white Styrofoam, I like your way better.

View attachment 470315

It is just some leftover laminate floor underlay that I had laying about, and while I was sipping a weissbier, it struck me to use it as a mulch reflector rather than chucking it out..... So much for drinking weissbier!!!!

@GrowNorthern, thanks for your reply and explanation, confirming there is an issue. When I look through the gaps on both my lights, I can see dust grains settling on the diffuser. While I don't think a few grains is gonna make any difference, over time I think it will degrade performance.
Will you replace warped diffusers when a fix is ready?

Does the warping affect the optical performance, i. e. will the footprint be warped as well?

@MedGrower, funny you should say that, I haven't touched my diffusers as well for the same reason...... No need to risk spoiling any good mojo that's around..... Lol