Gavita Grow Lights -- LED Bar Arrays & HPS Fixtures
Gavita is a Dutch horticultural lighting company with deep roots in commercial greenhouse production -- their fixtures are found in commercial tomato, cucumber, and pepper greenhouses across North America and Europe, as well as in a growing share of indoor CEA operations. Gavita's focus is consistently on high-output, high-efficiency commercial production: their fixtures are designed to maximize canopy photon delivery per installation dollar, per kilowatt-hour, and per square foot of growing space. If you are building or upgrading a commercial indoor production facility and want lighting that is trusted in the most demanding production environments in the world, Gavita is the benchmark.
Gavita Pro 1700e LED -- The Commercial LED Standard
The Gavita Pro 1700e LED is one of the most widely deployed commercial LED grow light fixtures in North American indoor production. At 645W maximum output, the 1700e delivers approximately 1,700 umol/s of photosynthetically active photons -- equivalent to or exceeding a 1000W double-ended HPS in canopy coverage and photon output, at roughly 35% less electricity. The 1700e's bar array design (six LED bars in a single fixture frame) distributes light evenly across a 4x4 to 5x5 ft canopy footprint with significantly better uniformity than single-source panel LEDs. The fixture is dimmable (50-100%) via the Gavita EL2 Master Controller, enabling coordinated light schedule management across entire growing facilities from a single controller. PPF efficiency is approximately 2.6 umol/joule -- among the highest available in its class. The 1700e is compatible with the Gavita EL2 Master Controller for multi-fixture dimming and scheduling.
Gavita HPS -- Double-Ended Professional Fixtures
Gavita's double-ended HPS line (the Pro 1000 DE and Pro 1000e DE) remains in widespread use in commercial operations where LED transition has not yet occurred and in cold climates where HPS radiant heat provides meaningful canopy temperature support during winter production. Gavita DE HPS fixtures use a proprietary E-Series driver that adjusts output between 600W and 1150W to respond to ambient light conditions -- useful in greenhouse supplement lighting where natural daylight varies. Gavita's commercial DE HPS fixtures are available as complete systems including the 1000W or 600W bulb and E-Series driver, or as replacement components for existing Gavita infrastructure. The Pro 1000 DE and Pro 1000e DE are among the highest-efficiency DE HPS fixtures available, producing 2,100+ umol/s at 1000W -- the benchmark against which commercial LED alternatives are typically compared.
Gavita EL2 Master Controller
The Gavita EL2 Master Controller is a multi-fixture dimming and scheduling controller compatible with all Gavita LED and HPS fixtures with EL connector outputs. A single EL2 can manage up to 80 Gavita fixtures simultaneously, adjusting output from 50-100% based on sunrise/sunset schedules, temperature feedback, or manual override. For commercial facilities running 20+ Gavita fixtures, the EL2 provides centralized light management that would otherwise require individual ballast or driver adjustment at each fixture. The EL2 also provides high-temperature protection -- when canopy temperature rises above a set threshold, the controller automatically dims all fixtures to reduce radiant heat load, protecting the crop from heat stress during HVAC events. Browse our grow light controllers collection for the full EL2 product line and compatible accessories.
Gavita for Commercial CEA Operations
Gavita's commercial pedigree makes them particularly well-suited for serious indoor production operations -- facilities where lighting downtime, inconsistent output, or premature fixture failure has real production cost implications. Gavita's commercial warranty, established service network, and compatibility with centralized control systems are factors that matter at commercial scale in ways that are less important for hobby applications. For facility-scale orders, commercial account pricing, and design assistance integrating Gavita fixtures into a complete lighting plan for your specific canopy and growing environment, contact our commercial team at 888-815-9763 or through our commercial accounts page. Pair with the Gavita EL2 Master Controller for multi-fixture dimming and scheduling. Expert support available.
Gavita Grow Lights FAQ
What is the Gavita Pro 1700e LED and is it worth it?
The Gavita Pro 1700e LED is a 645W commercial LED bar array delivering approximately 1,700 umol/s of photosynthetically active photons -- making it one of the highest-output LED fixtures in the 600-650W class. It covers a 4x4 to 5x5 ft flowering canopy with 900-1,200+ umol/m2/s PPFD, comparable to a 1000W DE HPS while consuming roughly 35% less electricity. At its price point, the 1700e is competitive with other premium commercial LEDs (Growers Choice, Faven) on a cost-per-umol basis. For commercial operations, the compatibility with the Gavita EL2 Master Controller (which manages up to 80 fixtures from a single control point) provides real operational value beyond the fixture itself. For hobby growers running a single tent, the commercial-tier price may not be justified versus alternatives; for facilities running 10+ fixtures, Gavita's centralized control and commercial warranty are meaningful advantages.
What canopy size does a Gavita Pro 1700e LED cover?
The Gavita Pro 1700e LED is designed for a 4x4 to 5x5 ft flowering footprint, delivering 900-1,200+ umol/m2/s PPFD at 18-24 inch hanging height across that coverage area. At full power (645W) hung at 24 inches, the 1700e typically achieves 1,000-1,100 umol/m2/s at the center of a 5x5 canopy. Dimming the fixture to 80% and reducing hanging height can optimize coverage for a 4x4 canopy at 800-900 umol/m2/s. Gavita publishes detailed PPFD maps for the 1700e at multiple hanging heights and output levels on their website -- use these maps rather than wattage estimates to verify coverage for your specific canopy dimensions.
What is the difference between Gavita LED and Gavita HPS?
Gavita LED fixtures (Pro 1700e and newer models) use full-spectrum white LED diodes and produce equivalent or greater photon output compared to Gavita HPS at significantly lower wattage and heat output. LED is the right choice for new builds and LED retrofits where electricity cost reduction and lower heat load are priorities. Gavita HPS double-ended fixtures (Pro 1000 DE, Pro 1000e DE) are designed for existing HPS infrastructure and cold-climate operations where HPS radiant heat provides meaningful canopy temperature support. Gavita HPS remains the established benchmark in large greenhouse operations transitioning to or evaluating LED -- their DE HPS fixtures are among the highest-output and most efficient HPS fixtures available, providing the most rigorous baseline comparison for commercial LED performance evaluation.
Does Gavita work with the EL2 Master Controller?
Yes -- the Gavita EL2 Master Controller is compatible with all Gavita LED and E-Series HPS fixtures that include an EL output connector. This includes the Pro 1700e LED and Gavita E-Series DE HPS models. The EL2 controls up to 80 fixtures simultaneously from a single unit, managing output (50-100% dimming), light schedules (sunrise/sunset), and high-temperature protection (automatic dimming when a temperature threshold is exceeded). For facilities running multiple Gavita fixtures, the EL2 is a high-value addition -- it eliminates individual fixture adjustment and provides centralized schedule management. The EL2 is not compatible with non-Gavita fixtures or with Gavita fixtures that do not include the EL connector output.
Where are Gavita grow lights made?
Gavita is a Dutch company (Gavita International) headquartered in the Netherlands, with a long history in commercial greenhouse horticulture lighting in Europe. Their fixtures are designed in the Netherlands with engineering inputs from commercial greenhouse production experience and are manufactured for global distribution. Gavita was acquired by Scotts Miracle-Gro's Hawthorne Gardening division in 2014 but continues to operate as a distinct brand with its commercial greenhouse focus and Dutch horticultural lighting heritage. Their fixtures are distributed in North America through Hawthorne and authorized distributors including Hydrobuilder.
