Cypress EVO - EVO Strips + Green!

Meet the Cypress EVO, your ultimate grow light technology!  From 330 watts up to 800 Watts, 3-8 bars, we have a light for you! These are all full-spectrum and designed for full-cycle/flowering. Featuring IP66 rated electrical connections for waterproof use and backed by a 5 Year Warranty, this light is built to last.

• 🔧 High Quality Build: Utilizing Samsung LM301H EVO 300K and 5000K, EVO Mint and Emerald Green along with Deep Red, Far Red, and UV LEDs.
• 📦 Easy Setup: Simple design that folds in half for safe shipping and quick setup.
• 🛠️ Serviceable Design: High-quality components with socket head cap screws and thick aluminum heat sinks for long-lasting durability.
• 🌍 Designed in San Diego: Hand built with over 18 years of experience in specialty lighting.
• 🔎 Transparent Performance: We use top-quality products with a traditional light design ideology and transparency in performance and bill of materials.

This light is designed to be hung at 12-48" above the canopy. With a low profile height of less than 3", it maximizes vertical clearance in your grow space.

Features 🌟

• 🔋 Power: 330-800 watts at the wall, compatible with 120, 240, and 277 VAC.
• 💧 Waterproof: IP66-rated electrical connections for safe wet/damp operation.
• 🌈 Spectrum: Samsung 3000K + 5000K LM301H EVO white + EVO Mint + Emerald Green + 660nM deep red and 730nM far red + 395 nM UV produce high PPFD with a significant increase in overall red spectral output percentage while maintaining a full spectrum output.
  
• 🎛️ Control: Powered by an onboard dimmer control and optional RJ11 controller jack.
• 🛡️ Warranty: 5 Year Warranty for peace of mind.

Technical Specifications 📊

• 💡 Total Wattage: 800W (~6.7 A @ 120V; ~3.4 A @ 240V)
• 🔍 PPE: 2.9 µmol/J
• 🔅 PPF: 2315 μmol/s
• 🔆 PPFD: 1540 μmol/m²s (4x4 area)
• 📐 Fixture Dimensions: 38.5"×35"×2.75" (Cypress 8)
• ⚖️ Fixture Weight: 40 lbs (Cypress 8)
• 🔧 Mounting hardware: Ratchet Straps (adjustable) Included
• 💡 Dimmable: 0-100% (So awesome to be able to turn off with dimmer)

With the Cypress EVO, you're getting a grow light that's built to perform and last. Order yours today and experience the difference! 🌿✨

The Power of Green Spectrum Lighting 💚

Green light has often been misunderstood and underestimated in its role in plant growth. Recent research highlights the significant benefits of incorporating green light into your lighting spectrum:

• 🌿 Enhanced Photosynthesis: Contrary to popular belief, green light contributes to photosynthesis and is essential for plant growth. According to a study by Michigan State University, green light regulates plant architecture and plays a crucial role in photosynthesis. Read more.
• 🌱 Better Light Penetration: Green light penetrates deeper into the plant canopy compared to other wavelengths. This ensures that lower leaves receive sufficient light, promoting overall plant health and growth. Read more.
• 🔬 Research-Backed Benefits: Numerous studies have dispelled the myth that plants don't utilize green light. Research published in the American Journal of Botany confirms that green light is vital for plant development and enhances the effectiveness of full-spectrum lighting. Read more.

The Cypress EVO 8 leverages these findings by incorporating EVO Mint and Emerald Green LEDs, making it a game-changer in the world of grow lights. Experience the difference that green spectrum lighting can make in your grow setup!

Comparing Highgrove Cypress Evo to Other Grow Lights 🌟

This email is designed to give some information and background on some of the things that we highlight as we are designing a new light.

Comparing the Highgrove Cypress 8 Evo to other popular grow lights on the market? We'll dive into critical aspects such as coverage, power, diodes, and more to help you make an informed decision. Let's get started! 💡

Shape and Size 📏

The shape and size of your grow light in relation to the intended coverage area and height above the canopy are critical for proper light distribution. The Highgrove Cypress 8 Evo is designed to provide even light spread without using optics, which can cause heat buildup and reduce efficiency. Proper spread and even light distribution across the entire coverage area are essential to ensure optimal plant growth.

Power and Wiring ⚡

• Uses 18AWG wire for safe and efficient operation.
• Features watertight (IP65 minimum) electrical connections to prevent fire hazards.
• Equipped with Meanwell and Inventronics drivers, known for their reliability and waterproof design.

We used 18AWG wire which is more than sufficient for the operating conditions of the light. Lower gauge wire has more copper conductor wiring and is generally considered safer. We always use watertight (IP65 minimum) electrical connections to ensure safe operation and to eliminate potential fire hazards. The drivers we use are solely Meanwell and Inventronics, considered the leaders in IP67 outdoor lighting power and transmission. These carry 5–7-year manufacturer warranties and are waterproof and spray safe. A good driver uses an extruded aluminum housing which further helps dissipate heat output and also provides protection from environmentals.

Printed Circuit Boards 🖥️

Our MCPCBs use 4oz copper foil thickness, ensuring superior heat spreading and LED longevity. They are conformally coated, making them waterproof without any light transmission loss or discoloration over time. The printed circuit boards (commonly referred to as MCPCB or metal core printed circuit boards) are what the LEDs are mounted to. These are an often-overlooked component and should not be overlooked. Our MCPCBs used in the Magnolia and Cypress EVO lights use 4oz copper foil thickness - amongst the highest in the industry. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR HEAT SPREADING AND IS CRITICAL FOR LED LONGEVITY. Furthermore, our LED boards are conformally coated which is a coating placed over the LEDs rendering them waterproof. This is important as water can get under components and cause rust and electrical shorts/early failure. Conformal coating differs from a glass or PMMA cover in that it has no light transmission loss and will not denature/discolor over time, especially in the presence of UV.

LEDs and Spectrum 🌈

Using Samsung LM301H EVO LEDs, our lights deliver exceptional efficiency (3.14µmol/J) and photosynthetic power. We also incorporate 3000K, 5000K, and MINT LEDs for a full-cycle spectrum, augmented by discrete spectra for enhanced flowering production. Careful consideration should be taken when choosing both the number of diodes, as well as the type and brand. Samsung diodes are one of the most widely used in the world, and certainly in the horticulture industry specifically. Samsung has many different styles of diodes, but the most common is the 3030 style, named due to its size (3mm by 3mm square). Samsung has a few different models of 3030 diodes, namely the LM301B and LM301H EVO series. The LM301B came out >5 years ago and represented a leap forward in efficiency (~ 3.0µmo/J) compared to the previous models. Since then, they have introduced a newer, plant-centric series called the LM301H EVO. These LEDs are different from most all on the market in that they use a 437nm photon pump instead of the traditional 450nm. This is a higher energy wavelength thus has more photosynthetic power and is far more efficient (3.14µmol/J). These LEDs are available in 3000, 4000 and 5000K as well as a new spectrum called MINT. We use a combination of 3000, 5000 and MINT LM301H EVO LEDs to produce the most efficient, and proper spectrum for full cycle usage. Additionally, it is customary to augment with discrete spectrum which emit in a specific wavelength +/- 10nm. A lot of manufacturers will add 660nm and 730nm to help boost flowering production. The amount of diodes is important as these tend to be more expensive than traditional white light diodes. More = better. The addition of UV is a simple way to get UV introduced into the grow area for plant use as opposed to a separate light requiring separate controls. We are one of the few companies to also add emerald green LEDs. The 500-530nm wavelengths of green light have been shown to aid photosynthetic power and increase biomass in the presence of high PPFD. Green has also been shown superior for canopy penetration and delivering power to lower leaf structures.

Heatsinks and Frames 🌬️

With 80-90% of the light BOM cost associated with the aspects listed above, it is customary for manufacturers to try and skimp on heatsinks and frames. THIS IS A BIG NO-NO. Heatsinks are responsible for removing heat from the LED/PC board junction, rendering them more efficient and also helping the LED longevity. A proper heatsink is designed to wick heat away and also release it into the air via passive cooling. Extruded aluminum is considered the de-facto standard, although some companies use cheaper quality aluminum extrusions and even in some cases, just a flat piece of aluminum plate. Heatsinks have been shown to lower operating temps by 30-50°F compared to flat aluminum plates. A well designed light should be warm to the touch, not hot, and you should be able to comfortably place your hand on the back of the heatsink during operation. Plastic is commonly used in grow light frames and this is sub-standard compared to solid aluminum for obvious reasons. Aluminum withstands the test of time and also acts as a secondary heatsink further drawing heat away from the heatsinks themselves and thusly the LEDs in general.

User Replaceable Parts 🔧

Our lights are designed with user-replaceable parts, allowing for continuous operation even in case of partial light outages. We stock replacement parts in San Diego and offer expedited shipping to minimize downtime. A properly engineered light will also feature user replaceable parts. This enables the grower to still operate the light even in the case of a partial light outage. For instance, if a string of LEDs, or an entire bar is rendered inoperable, the remaining LEDs will take over and increase power output, keeping PPFD levels consistent and is extra important, especially during flowering. User replaceable parts also make it so the grower does not need to take down the light, package it safely (including finding the proper size box and packaging), send it in, wait for it to be fixed and shipped back. Most lights are manufactured in China making this effort much harder and expensive. We stock replacement parts in San Diego, and expedited shipping is always free. Keeping a light as close to 24/7 uptime as possible is vital, again especially during flowering.

Comparison with HLG Tomahawk 720 🌟

• Power: 720 watts vs 800 watts for Cypress EVO 8.
• Diodes: HLG uses only white and red diodes, while Cypress EVO 8 offers a broader spectrum.
• Build Quality: Cypress EVO 8 features superior heatsinks and all-aluminum construction.

HLG bar light (Tomahawk 720) and the Cypress EVO 8. The prices are the same, the Cypress EVO 8 has many more features such as the following rendering it a better value for sure:

• 720 watts vs 800 watts
• HLG uses only white diodes and red diodes
  
• HLG is renowned for having great customer support, the owners are good people, and they enjoy a very good name in the industry, rightfully so. That said, their equipment does command top dollar.
• One of my main critiques of the HLG lights in general is their lack of heatsinks and thus overall operating temps have been described as "hot to the touch".
• HLG is made "mainly" in the US, so kudos to them as being one of the few companies to do so.

Comparison with Spider Farmer SE7000 🕷️

• Diodes: Uses older, less efficient LM301B diodes.
• Missing Spectra: Lacks UV, far red, and emerald green diodes.
• Warranty: Cypress EVO 8 offers a more comprehensive warranty.
• Build Quality: Features more plastic parts compared to Cypress EVO 8's all-aluminum design.

So, the Spiderfarmer I would classify as on par with the Mars lights. In some cases, it appears that both may be coming from similar facilities/ODM facilities. The diodes contained on the Ionframe 8 and the Cypress 8 are far superior as is the driver used. The Spiderfarmer is also distributed directly from China with dropship warehouses in the US. I am unsure of customer support, but have not heard awesome feedback from other customers. Their choice of diodes and drivers are definitely on the side of keeping these inexpensive.

Specific differences between the two are as follows:

• Spiderfarmer uses LM301B diodes. These are older, less efficient and far less expensive compared to the LM301H EVO series. The LM301B also feature a 450nm photon pump compared to the 437nm photon pump with the EVO series. The resulting difference is the EVO have more overall photosynthetic power and also a higher output of both blue and green spectral output.
• Spiderfamer lacks 395nm UV, 730nm far red and emerald green individual diodes. This leaves distinct troughs in the spectral output in these critical areas compared to the Cypress EVO 8.
• These are the specifics of the Spider Farmer warranty:
• Free return or replacement within 30 days of delivery, in case of non-artificial damage 5 years limited warranty for LED grow lights.
• Within 30 days: The light can be returned or replaced after delivery, in the precondition of non-artificial damage.
• 30 days - 3 months: Accessories, repairs, and services are provided free of charge. No return or replacement without quality problems.
• 3 months – 1 year: Accessories, repairs, and services are provided free of charge.
• 1 year – 5 years: Free Accessories. The buyer needs to bear the maintenance fee and two shipping costs.
• *Lights shipped from China: Free Accessories. The buyer needs to bear the shipping costs of the accessories.
• Cypress EVO 8 warranty is 5 years full coverage all parts and 7 years for the driver (manufacturer warranty direct from Inventronics). We also offer a lifetime warranty on the dimmer assembly. All lights are shipped from San Diego and all warranty user replaceable parts are maintained in stock in California and shipped expedited shipping to limit any down time.
• Spider Farmer does not specifically mention driver brand although they do call out the brand Moso in some of their literature (an inexpensive Chinese brand).
• Spider Farmer SE7000 efficiency is 2.80µmol/J compared with 2.90µmol/J for the Cypress EVO 8.
• Spiderfarmer also feature a lot of plastic usage for their frame design compared with 100% aluminum design on the Cypress EVO 8. This not only increases longevity of the frame/fixture but also aids in passive cooling.

Comparison with AC Infinity Ionframe 8 🌐

• Missing Key Spectra: Does not include emerald green or EVO mint diodes.
• Driver: Uses a less reliable Chinese brand driver compared to our Inventronics driver.
• Build Quality: Lacks proper heatsinks and uses more plastic.
• Efficiency: Lower efficiency compared to Cypress EVO 8 (2.75µmol/J vs 2.90µmol/J).

So, starting with the Ionframe 8 from ACInfinity, I'll highlight some of the differences here:

• Ionframe 8 is missing key spectrum compared to the Cypress EVO 8. Both use EVO 3000K and 5000K as well as 395 nM UV and 660 nM deep red. The Ionframe 8 does not have Emerald green nor EVO mint diodes, which are contained in the Cypress EVO 8. Emerald green boosts both the effectivity of the 730 nM far red spectrum as well as increasing overall photosynthetic power below the canopy with increased interleaf penetration. This is discussed a little more in depth in the advantages of green spectrum emails I sent a few days ago. The EVO Mint spectrum diodes are strong in blue spectral and green spectral output.
• I believe the Ionframe 8 uses a Sosen driver, which is an inexpensive Chinese brand driver. I am unsure of the warranty offered by ACInfinity, however ours is an industry leading five years on all components, 7 years on the driver and a lifetime warranty on the dimmer. Additionally, we use an Inventronics driver which is IP67 rated for direct spray waterproofedness as well as the aforementioned 7 year manufacturer warranty.
• Unsure if the Ionframe features replaceable components, however the Cypress EVO 8 replacement parts are maintained in stock here in San Diego and ship expedited shipping at no charge.
• Ionframe 8 does not use actual heatsinks, and also uses a lot of plastic which is prone to wear and doesn't have the lifetime of the Cypress all aluminum rustproof design.
• While the Ionframe 8 does include a rudimentary controller, we highly recommend selecting a light without built in features such as a digital controller, which can malfunction rendering the entire light unusable, unlike a separate controller which has no impact on the usability of the actual light.
• Ionframe 8 is 730W and the Cypress EVO 8 is 800 watts (measured at the wall) - so 10% additional power.
• Cypress EVO 8 shows markedly higher blue and red spectral output compared to the Ionframe 8.
• With respect to diodes count, the Ionframe has more white diodes and much less 660nm, 730nm and 395nm diodes. Ionframe diodes counts are as follows:
• Chip Count (EVO 3000K): 1720
• Chip Count (EVO 5000K): 864
• Chip Count (Seoul 395 nm): 8
• Chip Count (OSRAM 660 nm): 88
• Chip Count (OSRAM 730 nm): 8
• Cypress EVO 8 diodes count is 2560 broken down as follows:
• 1824 3000K and 5000K EVO Diodes
• 64 EVO Mint White Diodes
• 480 660nm diodes
• 32 730nm diodes
• 32 395nm UV diodes
• 128 Emerald Green diodes
• Lastly, efficiency. The Ionframe 8 is 2.75µmol/J based on an overall PPF output of 2013µmol/s and wattage draw of 730W. Cypress EVO 8 efficiency is 2.90µmol/J based on an overall PPF output of 2315µmol/s and wattage draw of 800W.

LED Lights Claiming to Kill Pests 🐜

Tunable Spectrum 🌞

While some grow lights offer tunable spectrum, we believe a dedicated full-spectrum light is more efficient. Adding dedicated UV or far red lights can provide specific benefits without compromising the main light's power and spectrum. Tunable spectrum is designed to allow the grower to "customize" spectrum for different parts of the grow cycle. Some growers enjoy it, others purchase but seldom/never use it.

The sun does not have "tunable" spectrum - rather as seasons change the intensity of the blue vs red changes with the seasons (spring has a crisper, bluer light and autumn a warmer, redder light). This is (perceived to be) an adaptation that many grow light companies try to harness for light deprivation installations.

The issue with this is, we do not know for certain exactly what parts of the spectrum are most useful to the plant, and when. There is general information applicable to most plants, and certainly information specific to C3 annuals, such as cannabis, which is very much still (arguably) being synthesized/studied and to not as great a degree as traditional horticulture/floriculture for obvious (federal) legal reasons.

Additionally, unless one is growing with Christmas Lights, or RGBW style inexpensive light strips, the actual LEDs do not change color. Instead, grow light companies create independent "channels" that can be turned on/off/intensified depending on the settings either preprogrammed, or selected by the user. This inexorably alters the PPF output of the light, in many cases lowering the total power output in favor of spectrum tuning.

A far better choice is to have a dedicated light that has as full a spectrum as possible, and if one so chooses to be a "spectrum hunter" instead add separate, non-connected lights that offer dedicated spectrum output. True, this will result in more power than necessary, as it is rare that one would operate in "full blast" mode due to the total power consumption/output and its effects on the plants. This however is the only way to maintain the "correct" amount of power, while not depriving a plant of certain wavelengths (spectrums) that may be required by other biological processes.

Bottom line, if a grower wants to augment with UV, they should add a dedicated UV light. Same holds true for far red, or other spectrums deemed useful for part of the plant grow cycle. This keeps from cannibalizing both the power and total spectrum band of the main grow light. This is a true "spectral addition" ideology, rather than spectral tuning ideology.

A few things to be cognizant of - adding the ability to turn channels on/off and adding controllers directly to a light is not a best practice. I/we believe in core competencies - controllers as a separate unit from a company that makes good controllers, for instance, rather than a cheap/chintzy gimmicky add-on.

Like the analogy of yours with a car that is app dependent and can't drive when the app portion is not working.

This is why we continue to offer analog potentiometer dimmers. We know they won't last forever, but that is why we offer a lifetime warranty on them. If someone wants a digital controller solution, we offer an analog adapter to connect to a controller, limiting the amount of things that can go wrong with the light.

If the light malfunctions for reasons non LED or power related, the light is compromised and so thusly will be the grow.

Conclusion 🎯

Choosing the right grow light is crucial for maximizing your plant growth and yield. The Highgrove Cypress 8 Evo stands out with its superior build quality, advanced LED technology, and thoughtful design. Invest in the best to ensure your plants thrive! 🌿