PhytoMAX-4 SP and SC
This guide to PhytoMAX-4 LED grow lights is a brief overview, filled with links to a lot more in-depth information.
Differences Between SP and SC Models:
The only differences are in the power cords and what voltage the lights can handle:
- SP Models utilize a standard IEC power cord and are rated for 100-250VAC input.
- SC Models utilize a locking, water-tight power cord and are rated for 100-277VAC input.
Safety
- Inspect the light for shipping damage. Do not plug in a light that has suffered shipping damage without consulting us first here or call us at 720-420-1209
- Remove the protective film covering from the glass before turning the light on.
- NEVER look directly at the LEDs while they are on; eye damage may result. They're very bright!
- We recommend wearing any UV-blocking eye wear such as sunglasses when viewing or working with plants under our lights. PhytoMAX-4 contains UV LEDs, which just like natural sunlight can irritate and damage your eyes.
- Don't over-load your electrical circuits- a PhytoMAX-4 24S light won't run on a standard 15-amp, 110V household circuit!
- For more information and advice, consult your electrician and see our LED grow lights per circuit calculator here.
Issues and Questions
Black Dog LED wants you to be satisfied with your PhytoMAX-4 light!
- Please note that our LED growing lights contain infrared and ultraviolet diodes that are outside of humans' visual range, so it is normal for some of the LEDs to appear dim or unlit.
- Our lights have a soft-start feature that takes up to 1 minute to achieve full brightness. This is a safety feature to protect your eyes in case you're looking at the LEDs when they first turn on.
- If you have any questions or issues with your lights' function, please contact Black Dog LED, not the store it was purchased from. You can:
- Call us at 720-420-1209
- Contact us online here
Hanging your Light
- We recommend tying a stopper knot at the lose end of the rope to prevent over-extension of each of the ratcheting rope hangers.
- Ensure that the structure you'll be hanging the light from can support its weight plus some extra for cords, etc.
Imperial Metric
Light Weight PhytoMAX-4 2S 9 lb4.1 kg PhytoMAX-4 4S 24 lb10.9 kg PhytoMAX-4 8S 26 lb11.8 kg PhytoMAX-4 12S 28 lb12.7 kg PhytoMAX-4 16S 43 lb19.5 kg PhytoMAX-4 20S 45 lb20.4 kg PhytoMAX-4 24S 47 lb21.3 kg - Insert a metal hanger clip into the hanging bracket either side of the back of the light. Ensure that both ends of each clip are secure.
- Clip one end of each of the ratcheting rope hangers to the hanging/anchor point on the ceiling, and the other end to the metal hanger clips attached to the light. The ropes should be hanging straight, not pulling the hanging brackets toward or away from the center of the light.
- Adjust the ratchet to hang the light at the recommended height.
- Ensure there is always a minimum of 6 inches / 15 cm15 cm / 6 inches of clearance on both sides of the light that have vents. Failure to provide adequate clearance can cause the light to overheat. The sides without vents and the top of the light do not require any clearance.
Coverage Area & Hanging Height
PBFD / DLI Calculator
Please enter the size area you want to grow in, or the size footprint you're looking for each light to cover:
| Length: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Width: | ||
| Running hours per day | ||
| Footprint area: | ||
|---|---|---|
| Light Model | Hanging Height (inches) | Average PBFD (μmol/m2/s) |
| PhytoMAX-4 2S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 4S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 8S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 12S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 16S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 20S | - | - |
| PhytoMAX-4 24S | - | - |
Hanging height is the height the light needs to be hung above the average top of the canopy to allow the light to spread out and cover the footprint you specified, and does not vary with the light model. For larger areas, using muliple smaller lights (each with a smaller footprint) reduces the required hanging height. PhytoMAX-4 lights can be flush-mounted to the ceiling and are only 4.5" / 11cm thick.
The PBFD levels given are the average for every square inch of the footprint you specify. All light intensity calculations assume reasonably-reflective walls around the footprint and/or adjacent lights on identical footprints. This calculator is intended to guide you to the right size light for your situation, but we're always here to help- you can always contact us for advice.
We have custom, proprietary light modeling software that can show you guaranteed light intensity levels for every square inch of your growing area, or even every cubic inch from top to bottom. Contact us through email or phone or schedule a large-project consultation.
Recommended PBFD Ranges
The ranges given below are guidelines based on our years of experience. You can go lower or higher in some circumstances; you can always contact us if you want to talk about unusual set-ups.
The "Min" light level is the minimum we would think you would be happy with for decent results; "Typical" is what we would generally recommend and "Max" is on the higher end of what we would recommend. PhytoMAX-4 lights can be dimmed, so you can always get a bit more power than you need and experiment.
| Recommended μmol/m2/s PBFD | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Growth Stage | Min | Typical | Max |
| Cloning | 50 | 75 - 100 | 150 |
| Seedlings | 200 | 300 - 600 | 700 |
| Vegetative | 200 | 300 - 600 | 800 |
| Flower- 12 hrs/day No CO2 |
350 | 600 - 750 | 950 |
| Flower- 12 hrs/day With CO2 |
800 | 900 - 1300 | 1800 |
| Flower- 12 hrs/day With CO2 Extreme |
1200 | 1500 - 1800 | 2500 ** |
| Flower- 20 hrs/day (autoflower) No CO2 |
200 | 350 - 450 | 600 |
| Flower- 20 hrs/day (autoflower) With CO2 |
450 | 600 - 775 | 1000 |
** This light level is only recommended for experimentation or research purposes- it is not recommended for a production facility. Driving plants with that much light requires a lot of attention to fertilization, CO2 and environmental conditions- it is much more likely that something will go wrong and cause complete crop loss. We've tested light levels like this ourselves- which is why we don't recommend it in general, though we did get 137 grams/ft2 for a 6' X 6' area at 2200 μmol/m2/s PBFD. PhytoMAX-4's unique design can deliver even higher light levels if you desire to really push limits, but we haven't seen any practical benefit yet.
PhytoMAX-4 Growing Tips
There are two important differences when growing with PhytoMAX-4 LEDs:
- We recommend keeping your growing area 9-10 °F5 °C warmer than you would with other lights (85 °F29 °C for Cannabis) to maximize yield.
- This is because our lights are designed for plants, not humans.
- For more information, see our complete study on leaf surface temperature and grow lights.
- If not growing hydroponically, we recommend using fabric pots with our lights; they allow soil to dry out more quickly since our lights aren't heating it as much. This allows faster nutrient cycling and encourages a better root system.
- If you are going to burn sulfur in your growing area, remove the lights from the area, or turn lights off and seal in plastic during the sulfur treatment. Failure to do so will void your warranty!
For a complete guide, see our article on maximizing yield with LED grow lights and our expert growing tips for Cannabis.
Cleaning and Maintenance
If your light requires cleaning:
- Turn off the light and disconnect the power cord.
- Spray an ammonia-free glass cleaner onto a soft lint-free towel and gently clean the glass. PhytoMAX-4 uses specially-coated glass to maximize light transmission; treat it kindly!
- To clean the rest of the light, gently wipe with a lint-free cloth, optionally sprayed with a mild cleaning solution.
- NEVER spray any liquids directly onto or around the Light!
- Allow to air-dry, then plug your light back in and turn it on.
Ultrasonic or "fine mist" humidifiers can create mineral deposits on the light that decrease performance. Use evaporative humidifiers instead- they are safer for your own health, your crop's quality, and your light.
NEVER expose the light to caustic or corrosive chemicals, including sulfur sprays or fumes from burning sulfur; this will invalidate the warranty!
Specifications
Imperial Metric
Common to All PhytoMAX-4 SP and SC Lights:
| AC Voltage Range | 100 - 250V (SP models) 100 - 277V (SC models) 347V (SX models- special order) |
|---|---|
| AC Frequency | 50 / 60 Hz |
| Operational temperature range | -4 to 104 °F-20 to 40 °C |
| Dimming | 0 - 10V, 15% - 100%, dim-to-off |
| Spectrum | Phyto-Genesis Spectrum® covering 350-750nm, including UV and IR |
| Warranty | 5 Years |
| Certifications | UL1598, UL8800, ETL, CE, FCC, RoHS |
| Power Factor | > 0.99 |
| Fans | 70,000 hour minimum expected life |
The Phyto-Genesis Spectrum®:
Model Specifics:
Imperial Metric
| Light | Wattage (average) | Total Fixture Photon Flux (μmol/s) | # LEDs | BTUs | Size (LxWxH) (inches)(cm) |
Weight (pounds)(kg) |
Amps (average) at | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PBAR (280-800nm) | UV (<400nm) | PAR (400-700nm) | IR (>700nm) | |||||||
| PM4-2S | 125 | 266 | 8 | 238 | 20 | 56 | 426 | 8.5 x 8.5 x 4.522 x 22 x 11 | 83.6 | 1.251.141.040.600.570.540.520.45 |
| PM4-4S | 250 | 531 | 16 | 476 | 40 | 112 | 853 | 15 x 15 x 4.537 x 37 x 11 | 177.7 | 2.502.272.081.201.141.091.040.90 |
| PM4-8S | 500 | 1062 | 31 | 952 | 79 | 224 | 1705 | 15 x 15 x 4.537 x 37 x 11 | 209.1 | 5.004.554.172.402.272.172.081.80 |
| PM4-12S | 750 | 1594 | 47 | 1428 | 119 | 336 | 2558 | 15 x 15 x 4.537 x 37 x 11 | 2310.4 | 7.506.826.253.613.413.263.132.71 |
| PM4-16S | 1000 | 2125 | 63 | 1904 | 158 | 448 | 3410 | 19 x 19 x 4.548 x 48 x 11 | 3917.7 | 10.09.098.334.814.554.354.173.61 |
| PM4-20S | 1250 | 2656 | 78 | 2380 | 198 | 560 | 4263 | 19 x 19 x 4.548 x 48 x 11 | 4219.1 | 12.511.410.46.015.685.435.214.51 |
| PM4-24S | 1500 | 3187 | 94 | 2856 | 237 | 672 | 5115 | 19 x 19 x 4.548 x 48 x 11 | 4520.4 | 15.013.612.57.216.826.526.255.42 |
Total flux numbers from integration sphere tests of the entire fixture. Note that total photon flux is the entire photon output of the light (PF / PPF, in μmol/s), and not the measurement at a particular point under the light (PFD / PPFD, in μmol/m2/s). When measured at a particular point, the PFD / PPFD can be much higher or lower than the total photon flux.
Transitioning Plants From Other Lights
When switching plants grown under other lights to PhytoMAX-4's Phyto-Genesis Spectrum®, some shock and/or stalling can occur, as with moving plants between any other different lighting situations. Our LED grow lights are very intense and contain UV light (unlike many grow lights), either of which can shock plants not used to such lighting.
To adapt plants to our lights with as little shock as possible, hang the light at twice the recommended hanging height to start. Each day for about a week you can lower the light by 3-4 inches15-20 cm until it is at the recommended hanging height and your plants have adapted.
When starting seeds under our lights it is fine to use the normal footprint and hanging height; when seeds germinate they adjust to the lighting conditions they first experience. Raising the hanging height of the light higher than normal during germination can lead to leggy, weak seedlings.