PHOTOBIO Advanced Quantum PAR Meter for Daily PPFD Checks
PHOTOBIO's Advanced Quantum PAR Meter is the in-tent PPFD tool. It targets growers who want a real 400-700 nm reading without stepping up to an Apogee MQ-500. Hawthorne builds it around a remote quantum sensor. The 12 ft straight cable plus a short coiled lead lets the handheld display sit on a workbench. The sensor stays at canopy height. Useful when dialing light height across a 4x4 or 5x5 footprint single-handed.
Why a Dedicated Quantum Sensor Beats a Lux Meter for LED Rooms
Lux meters weight visible light to the human eye. They undercount the deep red and blue that drive photosynthesis. The Advanced Quantum PAR Meter outputs PPFD directly in micromol/m2/s. It gives a peak/min/max log and stores up to 99 readings for canopy mapping. Growers typically place the remote sensor at canopy height while the display sits on the bench. Not the lab-spec MQ-500. Calibration and warranty are tighter on the Apogee. For daily PPFD checks, this is the tool growers pull out at lights-on.
Key Features
- Spectral range: 400-700 nm PAR, the band that actually drives photosynthesis
- Output unit: micromol/m2/s PPFD with peak/min/max stat memory across a session
- Sensor cable: 12 ft straight cable plus short coiled lead, so the display stays off the wet bench
- Reading memory: Up to 99 stored readings — enough to grid a tent canopy at one-foot intervals
- Positioning: Mid-tier price between a lux meter and a lab-grade Apogee, sized for daily room QA
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Spectral Range | 400-700 nm PAR |
| Measurement Unit | micromol/m2/s PPFD |
| Sensor Type | Remote quantum sensor with 12 ft straight cable and short coiled lead |
| Display | Handheld digital with peak/min/max logging |
| Reading Memory | Up to 99 stored readings |