{"product_id":"maxibright-varidrive-led-hid-controller","title":"Maxibright Varidrive LED\/HID Controller – Grow Light Dimmer","description":"\u003ch2\u003eTime, Dim and Protect a Whole Room of Varidrive Lights From One Panel\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eMaxibright Varidrive LED\/HID Controller\u003c\/strong\u003e – also sold as the Varidrive Digital Lighting Controller – is the master unit for Maxibright's \u003cstrong\u003eVaridrive Control\u003c\/strong\u003e ballasts, the 600W Varidrive with \u003cstrong\u003eRJ11 controller ports\u003c\/strong\u003e. Linked to those ballasts it runs every light from one screen: a \u003cstrong\u003e24-hour timer\u003c\/strong\u003e, dimming from \u003cstrong\u003e20% to 100% in 1% steps\u003c\/strong\u003e, gradual \u003cstrong\u003esunrise and sunset\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003etemperature-led dimming\u003c\/strong\u003e that pulls output back when the room gets too warm and shuts the lights down at a set limit. Because a Varidrive Control ballast drives \u003cstrong\u003eHPS and MH lamps\u003c\/strong\u003e as well as Maxibright's ballast-driven Varidrive LEDs, one controller covers HID and LED rooms alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eKey Benefits\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFine dimming\u003c\/strong\u003e from \u003cstrong\u003e20% to 100%\u003c\/strong\u003e in \u003cstrong\u003e1%\u003c\/strong\u003e increments\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt-in 24-hour timer\u003c\/strong\u003e – no separate light timer needed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunrise and sunset simulation\u003c\/strong\u003e brings the lights up and down gradually instead of switching straight to full power\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThermostatic dimming and shutdown\u003c\/strong\u003e protects plants and equipment when the room overheats – the \u003cstrong\u003etemperature sensor is included\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRoom-scale control\u003c\/strong\u003e – up to \u003cstrong\u003e100 Varidrive Control ballasts\u003c\/strong\u003e on one controller\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eClear LCD with a four-button menu\u003c\/strong\u003e for schedules, output and temperature limits\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWhy Do Grow Lights Need Dimming and Heat Control?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLights that jump from off to full power, run flat out through a heatwave and can only be adjusted one ballast at a time make a steady environment hard to hold. Seedlings and fresh cuttings stretch or scorch under the wrong intensity, and a hot afternoon can push the room past what plants tolerate, slowing growth and nutrient uptake. Central control lets you run gentle output over young plants, raise it through vegetative growth and flowering, and leave the controller to trim power on its own if the temperature climbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eHow to Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCheck what you are controlling:\u003c\/strong\u003e it works with Varidrive Control ballasts that have RJ11 ports – not the standard Varidrive dimmable ballast, and not LED fixtures with built-in 0-10V drivers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLink the ballasts\u003c\/strong\u003e to the controller and to each other with RJ cables, then turn each ballast's dial to \u003cstrong\u003eEXT\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSet the clock and photoperiod\u003c\/strong\u003e from the LCD menu\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChoose the output\u003c\/strong\u003e and the length of the sunrise and sunset ramps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSet the temperature limits\u003c\/strong\u003e for automatic dimming and shutdown\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-specs\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eTechnical Specifications\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maxibright\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e Varidrive LED\/HID Controller (Varidrive Digital Lighting Controller)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eControls:\u003c\/strong\u003e Maxibright Varidrive Control 600W ballasts (RJ11 port), running HPS or MH lamps or ballast-driven Varidrive LEDs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignal:\u003c\/strong\u003e PWM over RJ11\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimming:\u003c\/strong\u003e 20% to 100% in 1% steps\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTimer:\u003c\/strong\u003e 24-hour on\/off scheduling\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSunrise \/ sunset:\u003c\/strong\u003e Gradual ramp up and down\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTemperature functions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Automatic dimming on temperature rise; emergency shutdown at a set temperature\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIncluded:\u003c\/strong\u003e Thermostat and temperature sensor\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCapacity:\u003c\/strong\u003e Up to 100 Varidrive Control ballasts\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterface:\u003c\/strong\u003e LCD display, four-button menu\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNot for:\u003c\/strong\u003e LED fixtures with built-in 0-10V drivers – use the Maxibright Universal Lighting Controller\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-faq\"\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWill it control my standard Varidrive 600W ballast?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eNo. It needs the Controllable (RJ11) Varidrive Control ballast. The standard and Slimline Varidrive dimmable ballasts have no controller port and are set by their own dial.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWill it dim a Varidrive 360W, 720W 3.0 or 500W\/1000W LED?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eNo. Those Varidrive LEDs have integrated drivers with a 0-10V RJ port and pair with the Maxibright Universal Lighting Controller. This controller is for lights powered through a Varidrive Control ballast.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eHow many lights can one controller run?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eUp to 100 Varidrive Control ballasts, linked to the controller and to each other. Each ballast can run an HPS or MH lamp or a ballast-driven Varidrive LED.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003cdetails style=\"border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;padding:12px 16px;margin:0 0 8px;\"\u003e\u003csummary style=\"cursor:pointer;font-weight:600;\"\u003eWhy can't I see the sunrise or sunset happening?\u003c\/summary\u003e\u003cp style=\"margin:10px 0 0;\"\u003eThe ramp is deliberately gradual, so the change is hard to spot by eye – but the ballasts' power draw rises and falls through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/details\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eWorks Well With\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"hcs-related\" style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:10px;margin:12px 0 0;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/maxibright-varidrive-600w-dimmable-ballast\" style=\"flex:1 1 240px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;background:#fff;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/maxibright-varidrive-600w-dimmable-ballast-1.jpg?v=1790169765\u0026amp;width=160\" alt=\"Maxibright Varidrive 600W Dimmable Ballast\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:64px;height:64px;object-fit:contain;flex:none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"display:block;\"\u003eMaxibright Varidrive 600W Dimmable Ballast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:#008d37;\"\u003eChoose the Controllable (RJ11) version\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/maxibright-universal-lighting-controller\" style=\"flex:1 1 240px;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:12px;padding:10px 12px;border:1px solid #e6e6e6;border-radius:8px;text-decoration:none;color:inherit;background:#fff;\"\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/maxibright-universal-lighting-controller-1.jpg?v=1790169747\u0026amp;width=160\" alt=\"Maxibright Universal Lighting Controller\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" loading=\"lazy\" style=\"width:64px;height:64px;object-fit:contain;flex:none;\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size:14px;line-height:1.4;\"\u003e\u003cstrong style=\"display:block;\"\u003eMaxibright Universal Lighting Controller\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color:#008d37;\"\u003eFor LEDs with built-in 0-10V drivers\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Maxibright","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53930852974858,"sku":"LGT-MAX2-046-01","price":71.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0748\/7127\/5786\/files\/maxibright-varidrive-led-hid-controller-default-title-1.jpg?v=1792275658","url":"https:\/\/hydrocropshop.co.uk\/products\/maxibright-varidrive-led-hid-controller","provider":"Hydro Crop Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}