California LightWorks SolarSystem 550 Output and Build
The SS550 is California LightWorks' compact fixture, and it has been a tent-room staple for years. It draws up to 400W and delivers 888 µmol/s, about 2.23 µmol/J. That is not the efficiency of a current white-diode bar, and it is fair to say so. What it offers instead is control: three channels for red and deep red, natural white, and blue and deep blue. Each channel adjusts from 0 to 99%, so the spectrum can lean blue in veg and red in flower. Input is 90–277V, with a maximum of 3.3A at 120V or 1.65A at 240V. The fixture is compact at 18 x 8.5 x 4 in and 13 lb, with active cooling from internal fans. It is IP65 rated for damp and wet locations and carries a UL mark. Coverage is 4 x 4 ft in flower and 6 x 6 ft in veg. It is made in the USA and backed by a 5-year manufacturer warranty.
Running It as a Programmable LED Grow Light
As a programmable led grow light, the SS550 works in two modes, and the controller is optional. Plugged in alone, it runs at its default spectrum and can sit on an ordinary timer like any other light. Adding the SolarSystem Controller opens a 24-hour clock with minute-by-minute programming for each channel. That is where the fixture earns its price, with slow sunrise ramps, a blue-leaning veg recipe and a red-heavy finish. One controller can run any number of these lights across several rooms through the communications cable. Because the fixture is small, it casts less shade in a greenhouse than a wide panel would. In a tent, the compact housing concentrates light in the center, so the corners of a 4x4 run softer. Plants trained into a flat, even canopy make better use of it than a few tall colas. The fans add a quiet hum. They are also a part that can wear, unlike a passive board. The videos below walk through the fixture and the controller programming step by step.
Key Features
- Three tunable channels: Red, white and blue adjust separately to shape the spectrum for each stage.
- Optional SolarSystem Controller: Adds minute-by-minute schedules and sunrise ramps, but the light runs without it.
- Compact 13 lb housing: Casts little shade in greenhouses and hangs from light-duty hardware.
- IP65 damp and wet rating: Suits humid rooms and greenhouse installations.
- Wide 90–277V input: Runs on household 120V or on 240V and 277V commercial circuits.
- Made in USA, 5-year warranty: Built in California and backed by a long manufacturer warranty.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Model | SolarSystem 550 (CLW550) |
| Power Draw | Up to 400W |
| PPF | 888 µmol/s |
| Efficacy | 2.23 µmol/J |
| Input | 90–277V, 50–60 Hz |
| Max Current | 3.3A @ 120V, 1.65A @ 240V |
| Spectrum Channels | Red & deep red; natural white; blue & deep blue (0–99% each) |
| Growth Phase | Full-cycle, programmable veg to bloom |
| Coverage | 4 x 4 ft flower, 6 x 6 ft veg |
| Dimensions | 18 x 8.5 x 4 in |
| Weight | 13 lb |
| Cooling | Active, internal fans |
| IP Rating | IP65 (damp and wet locations) |
| Operating Temp | 0–107°F |
| Controller | SolarSystem Controller, sold separately |
| Included | Fixture, power cord, communications cable |
| Warranty | 5 years |