Agrowtek SXQ Quantum Light Sensor
Light sensor and spectrometer for greenhouses and indoor farms, with lux, color temperature and spectrum.
The Agrowtek SXQ is a quantum light sensor and spectrometer that measures light intensity, color temperature and spectrum above the crop in greenhouses and indoor farms. This Modbus RTU template reads lux, color temperature, flicker frequency and the 13 spectral intensity bins in ModbusCloud.
- Protocol
- Modbus RTU
- Connection
- RS485, 19200 baud
- Registers
- 22, read and write
- Brand
- Agrowtek
- Key readings
- Illuminance · Color temperature · Flicker frequency · Spectral intensity
- Available commands
- Device address
- Compatible models
- Agrowtek SXQ Quantum Light Sensor & Spectrometer
- Last updated
Registers (22)
22 read, 1 write
| Name | Unit | Access | Address (Hidden until you enter your email) | Function (hidden) | Type (hidden) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lux | lux | Read | |||
| Color Temperature | K | Read | |||
| Flicker Frequency | Hz | Read | |||
| Spectral Bin F1 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F2 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F3 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F4 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F5 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F6 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F7 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F8 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F9 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F10 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F11 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F12 | Read | ||||
| Spectral Bin F13 | Read | ||||
| Device Address | Read and write | ||||
| Serial Number | Read | ||||
| Date of Manufacture | Read | ||||
| Hardware Version | Read | ||||
| Firmware Version | Read | ||||
| Device Model | Read |
Loading registers…
Send your device list
If a device is not in the library yet, we build the template for free as soon as we have the register data.
Use cases
- Show light intensity and color temperature from every growing room on one dashboard.
- Send an e-mail when lux stays below a level you choose during the lighting period, for example after a lamp failure.
- Keep a history of light intensity to compare natural light and supplementary lighting over the season.
- Store the 13 spectral bins to check whether a new lighting recipe changes the spectrum at the crop.
Installation
Plug the sensor cable into an HX8 hub or straight into the GrowNET port of an Agrowtek LX2 ModLINK.
Connect TX/RX+ and TX/RX- of the LX2 to the RS485 port of the ModbusCloud Gateway and terminate the bus at both ends.
Use the default 19200 baud, 8N1 of the LX2, or change it with the AgrowLINK utility, and give every device on the bus its own address.
In ModbusCloud, add a Modbus device with the same address and serial settings, import this template and check that lux and color temperature come in.
Things to watch for
The sensor does not answer. What should I check?
The SXQ speaks GrowNET and needs the LX2 ModLINK in between; it cannot be wired to RS485 directly. Check baud rate and format of the LX2 against ModbusCloud and the address of the sensor. Two devices with the same address block each other; hold the reset button for three seconds to reset the address.
Where is the PPFD value?
The sensor does not send PPFD as a separate value. PPFD and the relative spectrum are calculated from the 13 spectral bins with a reconstruction matrix that Agrowtek supplies in its SXQ integration application note. The template reads the bins so you can store them or calculate PPFD elsewhere.
The light values are lower than expected.
Dirt, fingerprints or scratches on the sensor window lower the reading. Clean it with a damp cloth and mild detergent, never with solvents or abrasives. Also check that the sensor sits above the canopy and is not shaded by leaves or structures.
Can I put several Agrowtek devices on one bus?
Yes. Through HX8 hubs many GrowNET devices share one LX2, each with its own address from 1 to 247. Add each device in ModbusCloud as its own Modbus device. You can also write a new address to the device address register; the sensor answers on it at once, so change ModbusCloud right after.
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