Hey everyone. I hope you have a wonderful day. Let me start with the positives first!
nice work.
Stay safe
Bill
Thanks Bill! You stay safe as well amigo. I cannot take credit. So far, I really think my bagged soil and the nutrients are doing all the work. Don't tell all the microbes I didn't mention them. Don't want them to feel belittled...
helps me be a little more confident getting used to my LED use in the seedling stage
BINGO!!! Key word...
helps
Plus, I learned a new way to help monitor my girls. So for me, this was a win win.
BAM! Key words...
learn, monitor, win
And now, for the discussion about Photone, light sensors, and light meters.
Didn't realise there have been updates.
Probably should start there next time.
Heads up of what again? Of research I have continually been keeping track of because it is important to the general understanding of a key component of our indoor grow environment?
The software isn't magic it's based on the light sensor on the phone. If you are using this on Android your wasting your time.
You waste electricity ($$$) by not getting your lights dialed in. I guess I'll have to accept that you think I'm wasting my time. I'm not actually but I'm sure you'd disagree anyway. But no worries. You are more than welcome to keep your skepticism man.
At the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if you think I'm wasting my time or if you choose not to use it. It is a tool. It is something that has and continues to help me. Because of that information, I share it with this community. If it helped only one person, Krissi in this instance, then it helped! But I believe it can help everyone in one way or another, which is why I share the info.
Where I'm wasting my time, honestly, is trying to convince you to not waste energy. I digress.
As has already been mentioned, he tested it last year. So unfortunately, you are bringing in old data into this.
Prior to that May '21 post, (which I read when it was published), I had already been testing the Photone app on Android as a beta tester using different devices, including an iPhone. Multiple lights, multiple calibrations, with diffusers, without diffusers, and I could go on. I value Shane's insight very much! I have learned so much from his videos. What I particularly like about his approach is that he fully understands where most of his viewer's demographic is. Home growers that aren't likely to go out and spend a bunch of $ on a PAR meter. Hence the comparison post about multiple apps and an excellent write up,
at that time. Times have changed...quickly!
Gotta love apple haha. Even with the sensor saving 500 it still isn't a good investment. Costs around 1500. For 600 you can get the top of the range Xiaomi phone and the best sensor and still have 400 dollar in your pocket with a better phone and a better light sensor
It has been an incredible
ZERO investment on my part! Other than time, which I value above most other things. Like I mentioned, I have been a beta tester for them for over a year now. I spent 6-7 months testing it before it hit the market. I have sent them feedback and issues and at every turn, they respond and work through issues the community has been sending them. I am a guppy in the pond compared to some of the growers they have on their team that have helped develop this.
I have also used some of the less expensive hand held Lux meters. They ultimately convert the same data . It required more calculations and time on my part to get the answers I needed/wanted. Or, I could use the app and swipe through multiple options on the fly and get a whole bunch of readings already calculated. No brainer!
I'm gonna keep trial and error ATM. Seems to work out. But if I had an issue I would give the app a try
To me, a trial and error perspective would mean being a little more open to ideas and methods not familiar to me and then formulate a strong opinion of said trial(s) & error(s).
I hope this helps give you a better understanding as to why I have a strong opinion about this light sensor tool. It is meant to be used as a reference. I would like to note, for the sake of transparency and information, I have my app calibrated specifically to my Pro4000. Anything I measure below the 1000s is not as accurate. Roughly 5-10%, the last time I factored it. Under the 4000, I'm within a few % of the factory PPFD charts. At the time of calibration, I had it dead on. I still factored an error of 5% just for my brain's neurotic nature behind data.
So when I posted last night that my canopy is getting an
average of 300 PPFD, that means they are getting within 275-325 PPFD. Not much more and not much less. For young vegging plants...perfect! I could actually, if I wasted a little more time in there today, dial in the distance and power some more and save more energy!
Peace and Blessings to you all.
It is a good thing that every light comes out of the factory without any issues or bad diodes.
