Lighting Measuring light intensity

[Mr.Prospector]

I grow using COBs... Full-spectrum white light, and have been looking for for a way to measure the intensity of the light so I can set my lights to the right output/distance for the growth stage.

Has anyone tried the Physics Toolbox Suite app?

Its free and uses the sensors in your smartphone to measure the light. My garden seems to be in the best shape ever since I have been using this app to manage the intensity of my light.

The app is made to be used by scientific types to collect a wide range of data elements accurately.

Wondering what experience anyone has with this app?

 

[KonopCh]

Get a cheap lux meter or buy Apogee meter. Both are okay for our amateur purposes.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

I grow using COBs... Full-spectrum white light, and have been looking for for a way to measure the intensity of the light so I can set my lights to the right output/distance for the growth stage.

Has anyone tried the Physics Toolbox Suite app?

Its free and uses the sensors in your smartphone to measure the light. My garden seems to be in the best shape ever since I have been using this app to manage the intensity of my light.

The app is made to be used by scientific types to collect a wide range of data elements accurately.

Wondering what experience anyone has with this app?

What you want is a par meter to get your PPFD right. Lux, lumens, and watts aren't really applicable rather PPFD by stage is more relative. That chart is from Fluence and their chart is pretty accurate. I can't afford the meter to measure it but their metric is considered reliable versus lux/watts/lumens.

CobsCocoDTWMxPScrog Watch Me Mess Up

 

[Mr.Prospector]

Thanks. I can't afford the meter to measure it either, which is why I've been testing this app on my phone.

Since I know the light that I am producing is quality light in the right wavelength, the intensity of that light is the unknown for me.

If the app can allow your phone to measure light intensity accurately, you just need to find out the lux and compare that to a table of recommended lux values...which is readily available from multiple sources on the internet.

I've only been using it for this crop, which is only now on day 25, but it seems pretty accurate and my girls are happy since.

Its a free app made for academics and scientists. I dont know if its available for iPhone, but it is available for android on the Android Play Store. Check it out.

 

[Mr.Prospector]

Get a cheap lux meter or buy Apogee meter. Both are okay for our amateur purposes.

This is free. Its worth a look.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

Thanks. I can't afford the meter to measure it either, which is why I've been testing this app on my phone.

Since I know the light that I am producing is quality light in the right wavelength, the intensity of that light is the unknown for me.

If the app can allow your phone to measure light intensity accurately, you just need to find out the lux and compare that to a table of recommended lux values...which is readily available from multiple sources on the internet.

I've only been using it for this crop, which is only now on day 25, but it seems pretty accurate and my girls are happy since.

Its a free app made for academics and scientists. I dont know if its available for iPhone, but it is available for android on the Android Play Store. Check it out.

I wasn't trying to be dismissive and I just tried the app. I'm reading around 14000ish lux which with this link. My light covers a 44x44 area inside a 48x48 tent

https://www.waveformlighting.com/horticulture/convert-ppfd-to-lux-online-calculator

I reversed the required PPFD to reach under 300 but above 200 and so my PPFD at 12" with my brudgelux EB2 cob strips in 3000k 80cri is around 266ish umols. So thanks for the app. My seedlings seem to be going slow but my leaf surface temps and my light were weak. I was at 5 umols is before and I increased the intensity. I need to find an app for conversions

CobsCocoDTWMxPScrog Watch Me Mess Up

 

[Mr.Prospector]

I wasn't trying to be dismissive and I just tried the app. I'm reading around 14000ish lux which with this link. My light covers a 44x44 area inside a 48x48 tent

https://www.waveformlighting.com/horticulture/convert-ppfd-to-lux-online-calculator

I reversed the required PPFD to reach under 300 but above 200 and so my PPFD at 12" with my brudgelux EB2 cob strips in 3000k 80cri is around 266ish umols. So thanks for the app. My seedlings seem to be going slow but my leaf surface temps and my light were weak. I was at 5 umols is before and I increased the intensity. I need to find an app for conversions

CobsCocoDTWMxPScrog Watch Me Mess Up

Glad you found it useful. Seems to be helping my garden.

As for the conversion, if you can't find an app, you could build something in a spreadsheet like Excel, if you know the math of the conversion you could make a formula to automate things.