Description
Control the grow room by leaf temperature, not just air temperature
The Dimlux Plant Temperature Camera is an infrared camera that reads the temperature of the leaves at canopy level and feeds it straight into the Dimlux Maxi Controller. With the camera connected, the controller can steer the lights by plant temperature: if the canopy runs too hot it dims the lamps to keep the stomata open, and if the leaves heat up because a pump has failed and the plants are short of water, it dims or switches the lights off to protect the crop. Paired with the Dimlux ambient temperature and humidity sensors, it lets the Maxi Controller calculate and display VPD (vapour pressure deficit). This is the camera for the Maxi Controller with a 10m cable; the Xtreme LED uses a different, digital camera.
Key Benefits
- Real leaf temperature - an infrared reading of the canopy rather than the air around it.
- Automatic light dimming - the Maxi Controller dims the lamps when plant temperature runs too high.
- Crop protection - a sudden rise in leaf temperature, for example from a failed pump, dims or switches off the lights.
- VPD on screen - with the Dimlux temperature and humidity sensors, the controller works out and displays VPD.
- Plug-in install - connects straight into the Maxi Controller on its 10m cable.
Why Does Leaf Temperature Matter More Than Air Temperature?
A healthy plant moving water through its leaves stays cooler than the air around it. When leaf temperature climbs to meet the air temperature, transpiration has slowed: the stomata are closing, nutrient uptake drops and the plant starts to stress, whether the cause is lights that are too intense, poor extraction or a blocked feed line. An air thermometer cannot see that happening. The plant camera can, and the Maxi Controller reacts by dimming the lights until the plant is back below room temperature, then holds it there until the fault is fixed. Growing to the right VPD keeps the plants transpiring and feeding steadily, so the light they receive turns into growth.
How to Use
- Mount: fix the camera above the crop and aim it down at the canopy, not at the floor, walls or a light.
- Connect: plug the cable into the plant temperature input on the Dimlux Maxi Controller.
- Read: the controller shows PT (plant temperature) and the difference between plant and room temperature - keep that difference as small as possible.
- Add sensors for VPD: connect the Dimlux temperature sensor and humidity sensor as well so the controller can calculate VPD.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Dimlux
- Type: infrared plant (leaf) temperature camera
- For use with: Dimlux Maxi Controller (not the Xtreme LED, which uses the digital camera)
- Cable length: 10m
- Controller display: PT (plant temperature) and plant-to-room temperature difference; VPD with the Dimlux temperature and humidity sensors
- Function: lets the Maxi Controller dim or switch off the lights by plant temperature
Frequently Asked Questions
Will it work with the Dimlux Xtreme LED?
No. This camera plugs into the Dimlux Maxi Controller. The Xtreme LED takes the Dimlux Digital Plant Temperature Camera, a separate product.
What else do I need to see VPD?
The Dimlux Maxi Controller, plus the Dimlux ambient temperature sensor and humidity sensor. With all three connected the controller calculates and displays VPD.
What does the controller do if the plants get too hot?
It dims the lights to keep the stomata open and holds them dimmed until the plants are back below room temperature. If the leaves heat up because the plants are short of water, for example from a failed pump, it dims or switches the lights off to protect the crop.
Works Well With
