Independent test results: Comparison between Lumatek ATS 300W and Hortimol 330W
Choosing the right lamps can make a big difference in the quality and quantity of your crop and be the deciding factor in whether it makes or breaks you money.
To help you make the right choice, we analyzed independent test results from Naarden, Czech Republic.
In this test, we compare Lumatek ATS 300W and Hortimol 330W - two lamps that cover an area of 1x1 meter.
How to understand the measured values
Here's what the metrics you'll see in the comparison mean:
- PPFD (Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density): Measures the amount of light (in micromoles per square meter per second) that reaches the plant canopy. Higher PPFD values indicate more light available for photosynthesis.
- CV (Coefficient of Variability): Measures the consistency of light distribution. A lower CV means a more even distribution of light.
- Uniformity min/avg: This ratio compares the minimum and average PPFD values, giving an idea of the uniformity of the light distribution. We are looking for the higher score.
- Usable PPF (Photosynthetic Photon Flux): Measures the total amount of light that plants can use for photosynthesis.
- Usable PPE (Photosynthetic Photon Efficiency): Measures the efficiency of a lamp, showing how much usable light is produced per watt of power used.
Synthesized Results
| Metric | Lumatek ATS 300W | Hortimol MXH4 330W |
|---|---|---|
| Power input | 312 W | 317 W |
| PPFD (min/max/avg) | 153.7 / 1249.6 / 624.1 μmol/m²/s | 324.5 / 665.1 / 547.9 μmol/m²/s |
| Coefficient of Variability (CV) | 0.4945 | 0.1508 |
| Uniformity min/avg | 0.2463 | 0.5922 |
| Usable PPF | 624.11 μmol/s | 1073.97 μmol/s |
| Usable PPE | 2.0004 μmol/J | 3.3879 μmol/J |
Yes, the Lumatek lamp at first glance shows twice the maximum photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) values.
When we look at the details, however, it becomes clear that these values are not constant over the entire plant canopy. This means that parts of your plants will get a lot of light and others not enough light. Some well-lit "spots" will form lush, patchy growth, and other areas of the canopy will lag behind. Besides the plants not being "pretty", the harvest will be smaller and of more uneven quality. Unfortunately, the difference in light uniformity and coefficient of variability with the Lumatek lamp is significant enough to worry us (and surprising given the usual quality we expect from Lumatek).
If you look at the average values for PPFD, it turns out that the Hortimol lamp illuminates the plants a little less, but on the other hand much more evenly . It is also more efficient in terms of electricity usage with a brutal 69%.
In addition to the laboratory tests, we have information from our customers who have used both lamps that they have better results with the Hortimol one.
Which lamp should I choose?
Based on the above results, we would definitely choose the Hortimol MXH4 330W.
That's why we don't keep the competitive Lumatek model in stock - you can buy it in one of the other stores for about BGN 1,200 with a 3-year warranty.
You can buy the Pro version of the MXH4 330W from us for BGN 1,000 with a 5-year full warranty.
*It should be said that it is possible for different organizations to arrive at different figures for the same lamps. In this case, we have used results from Naarden for both lamps to ensure that the results are as comparable as possible.