Grower's Choice ROI-E720 Review

This review is of the Grower's Choice ROI-E720 LED grow light, released July 2020. Read on for the full review, how this light compares to the Grower’s Choice ROI-E420, and my final thoughts.

Overview

The ROI-E720 is Grower’s Choice third LED light and is the big brother of the ROI-E420, which I also reviewed. The E720 is a passively-cooled, plug-and-play, bar-style, commercial-grade LED grow light which is designed for vertical gardening, but can also be used in tents and open grow rooms at home or commercial settings.

The unit’s dimensions are 46.9” x 46.8” x  3.2” inches and it weighs 44 lbs. The drivers are integrated into the fixture and are not removable.

The total light output of the fixture is an outstanding 1870-1924 umol/s with a reported efficacy of 2.6 umol/J. The light will flower a 4' x 4' area at very high intensity or 5' x 5' area at moderate to high intensity. Expect to use this light at around 6' to 24' inches above your plants depending on the footprint you want to cover and the light intensity you want to deliver to your plants.

The ROI-E720 draws around 780W at 120V and 740W at 240V. When I measured this grow light’s wattage draw at the wall at 114V, I received a reading of 778W at 6.83A. Expect a heat output of 2,659 BTU/Hour from this fixture or around 35% less heat and energy than an 1200W DE HPS. 

The fixture comes hardwired with a NEMA 5-15P 120V style plug. A NEMA 6-15P 240V adapter is included with this fixture. If you are in another country, you will need a plug adapter for your specific country. 

Diodes and Spectrum

The Grower's Choice ‘GC-3K Full Phase’ spectrum is made up white light diodes and Osram 660nm deep reds. It is full-spectrum and will take the plants from seed to harvest. The spectrum is a little heavier in blue than some other full cycle lights on the market, which is actually ideal for increasing quality during flowering. The added 660nm deep red is ideal for speeding up photosynthesis, can assist in increasing yields, and helps boost the efficiency of the light. There is not any UVA in the spectrum, but there is Far Red which is naturally present in the white light diodes. 

This spectrum used in this light is the same as the ROI-E420 and ROI-E680S. It is also similar to other high efficiency quality LED grow lights on the market, such as the Gavita Pro 1700e and the Horticulture Lighting Group HLG 650R.

The spectrum is fixed, but the light intensity can be dimmed to preset levels on the fixture from 100% to 75%, 50%, and 25%. Using the Grower’s Choice controller (or most other controllers), you have more control and options over the set intensities, including timing. 

Expect about 54,000 hours of use until the LEDs reach 90% of their original light output. 

The lights come with a 5-year manufacturer’s warranty and are ETL, UL, DLC, and IP65 waterproof/dustproof.

PAR

I hung the fixture in a 4' x 4' tent to test the PPFD. It is a tight fit but the PAR readings are very good. It would fit better in a 5' x 5' tent, open room, or 4’ wide vertical racking.

Here are the center PAR readings in the 4' x 4' tent (you can view the full PAR readings here):

• 24": 1015 PPFD
• 18": 1100 PPFD
• 12": 1230 PPFD
• 6": 1190 PPFD*

*The lower PPFD at a closer distance is due to the sensor being positioned between the bars.

Summary

The E720 is very efficient and has excellent uniformity. It is one of the most powerful commercial-grade LED grow lights on the market and will take your plants from seed to harvest with a single, full spectrum. It has the potential to pull monster yields! The E720 was named ‘best bar-style light' in our Best LED Grow Lights of 2021 video.

You can dim the light down for seedlings, clones, and veg, and crank the light up during flower for maximum production. The Grower’s Choice controller will allow for more refined dimming and programmed scheduling.

At $949, this fixture gives you a lot of light for a reasonable price. Compare the light output to other fixtures in the $1000 to $1500 price range and you will see what I mean. It is a good bang for your buck. Other competing lights, such as the Gavita Pro 1700e, put out 10% less light and are a few hundred dollars more expensive. 

Though most growers will find this fixture attractive due to the uniformity, efficacy, and light output, those that are trying to keep their electricity costs and heat down, might not be interested in this light since it draws 740W-780W. There is always a trade off between light output on one side, and electricity and heat output on the other side. If you are able to manage your temperatures and electricity draw is not an issue, then this is the light for you.

Now, how does the E720 compare to the E420? The build is very similar. A major obvious difference is that the E720 has 8 bars, while the 420 only has 4 bars. The E720 is 300+ watts more powerful than the E420 and has around 46% more light output.

Image: Grower's Choice ROI-E420

The PAR efficacy is 2.6 umol/J for both lights. The flowering footprint is a 3' x 3' to 3.5' x 3.5' area on the ROI-E420 while the E720 will cover up to a 5' x 5' area. The spectrum is the same on both the E420 and E720. Both lights have a level on the front and back to ensure the fixture is straight and ensure even light intensity over your plants. Lastly, both fixtures fold in half and can be locked into place.

There is a link to the ROI-E720 product page below if you want to learn more or purchase the light. This light ships for free in the lower 48 states with no tax in the USA.   

Erik

Owner/Founder