Modular Design Can Save Your Grow

I recently had an interesting experience with one of my LED grow lights that I thought may benefit my readers and others interested in the technology.

Right in the middle of my grow some of my diodes stopped working (see picture below).

Hydro Grow LED Modular Design

The two modules on the right side stopped working.

No matter what type of light you use, you are occasionally going to run into problems like this. If a company is making 10,000 lights a month a few of them are not going to work perfectly (it’s just how manufacturing works).

Why Modular Design is Amazing

Normally with an LED grow light if a few of the diodes goes out, then you either have to live with the reduced lighting or send your entire light to the manufacturer to get fixed. Fortunately the Penetrator X-Pro from Hydro Grow LED (HGL) is set up to avoid this problem. Each module is on a different circuit board meaning only that module will need to be fixed (instead of your whole light).

Normally when this happens to your light you have to send the light to China and back (literally) to get it fixed. This takes at least two weeks and it’s a major pain. Basically, if you don’t have another light on hand then your grow gets completely wasted!

My experience was much different. I simply phoned HGL and let them know about my issue. Together we diagnosed the problem (turns out one of my power supplies was bad). They keep all supplies on hand in the United States and they had another power supply to my house within two days.

Power Supply Replacement

During those two days my beautiful plant was still receiving light. I’m definitely in love with modular design.

Conclusion

Obviously it would have been better if the light had never broken in the first place. Most people won’t have this problem as lighting malfunctions aren’t very common in LED grow lights. However for those of you planning on purchasing multiple lights over your lifetime you might want to consider investing in a modular design. Right now HGL is pioneering the modular design movement. You can go here to read my full Penetrator LED Grow Light Review.

 

Comments (2)
  1. Chewy April 17, 2012
    • Nate April 24, 2012