Description
Switch, dim and protect a whole room of Gavita lights from one box
The Gavita Master Controller EL1 Gen 2 is Gavita's entry-level central lighting controller for grow rooms running Gavita e-series fixtures. A low-voltage control cable loops from the controller to each fixture, and from then on the EL1 runs the room: it switches up to 40 fixtures on one channel from its built-in 24-hour timer, sets their output anywhere from 50% to 115%, ramps them up and down with a sunrise and sunset period of up to 30 minutes, and watches room temperature through its sensor. The second-generation controller adds non-volatile memory, so settings survive a power cut, and event logging, so you can see what happened while you were away.
Key Benefits
- Replaces timers and contactors – fixtures plug straight into mains sockets and wait on standby for the controller's signal.
- No switch-on inrush – with every ballast already on standby, there is no surge when the lights come on.
- Central dimming and boost – 50–115% output, shown as a percentage or in watts, for 400W, 600W, 750W and 1000W ballasts.
- Auto-dim and emergency shutdown – lights dim to hold your set temperature and switch off completely if the room keeps overheating.
- Clear interface – OLED display with status LEDs, five buttons, five languages, °C or °F and a 24-hour or AM/PM clock.
- Gen 2 memory and event log – settings kept through power cuts; auto-dims, temperatures and shutdowns recorded.
Heat Spikes and Switch-On Surges
When the climate system cannot keep up – a heatwave, a failed extractor, a stuck air-conditioning unit – lights left at full power can push a grow room past a safe temperature in minutes, stressing plants and risking real damage. The EL1's temperature probe dims the lights to hold the limit you set and flags it on the display and warning LED, so you know it happened even if you were out; if the temperature keeps climbing it shuts the lights down altogether. Switching a bank of HID ballasts through a contactor also draws a heavy inrush current at lights-on. Because the EL1 keeps every ballast on standby and wakes them with a signal, that surge disappears along with the timer and contactor box.
How to Use
- Set each fixture to EXT (external control) on its dial and plug the fixtures directly into the mains.
- Loop the control cable from the controller to the first fixture and on from fixture to fixture.
- Place the temperature sensor at canopy height, out of direct light.
- Program the controller – on/off times, ballast wattage, output level, sunrise/sunset period and your auto-dim and shutdown temperatures.
- Check the event log after any warning to see when, and why, the controller stepped in.
Technical Specifications
- Brand: Gavita
- Model: Master Controller EL1, second generation (Gen 2)
- Compatible fixtures: Gavita e-series (DigiStar and Pro-line e-series), set to EXT
- Lighting channels: 1
- Fixtures per controller: 40 on a single bus without a booster; up to 500 on a repeater bus
- Output setting: 50–115%, displayed in % or watts
- Ballast types: 400W, 600W, 750W, 1000W
- Timer: 24-hour on/off
- Sunrise/sunset: 0–30 minutes
- Temperature protection: auto-dim and auto-shutdown at set temperatures; 1 temperature sensor; sensor calibration
- Display and controls: OLED display, status LEDs, 5 buttons, 5 languages
- Memory: non-volatile, with event logging
- Units: °C or °F; 24-hour or AM/PM clock
- Type: low-voltage control device
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the EL1, EL2 and the F versions?
The EL1 has one lighting channel. The EL2 has two, so it can run two rooms on separate or opposite light cycles, and adds outputs for external contactor modules and alarm contacts. Gavita's EL1F and EL2F add EC fan control on top. This listing is the EL1 Gen 2, for lighting control.
Will it work with my lights?
It controls Gavita e-series fixtures – DigiStar and Pro-line e-series, such as the Gavita Pro 6/750e – which have an EXT setting for external control. Check your fixture is an e-series model before buying.
Do I still need a contactor?
No. The fixtures plug straight into mains sockets and stay on standby until the controller signals them, so the controller replaces the timer and contactor. Make sure the circuits feeding the sockets are rated for the total load of the lights.
What happens if the power goes off?
The Gen 2 controller has non-volatile memory, so your times, output and temperature settings are kept and it carries on when the power returns.
Works Well With
