Gavita Master EL2, User Manual, Page: 7 / 44

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1. Introduction
1.1. Product description
The Gavita Master controller EL2 is a dual channel controller which can
control up to 80 ballasts/lights in climate rooms.
Unlike a switchboard, which switches the power supply of regular ballasts
on and off, the controller can control appropriate Gavita e-series ballasts by
means of a low voltage control signal.
The controller has two channels; a main channel and an auxiliary channel.
Both channels can control a group of up to 40 e-series ballasts.
The controller can be set to activate and deactivate all ballasts connected
to it simultaneously. In this manual, this mode will be referred to as the
“Follow Mode”.
The controller can also be set to alternate between the main and auxiliary
channel. This means the auxiliary channel and the ballasts connected to it,
are switched off when the main channel and the ballasts connected to it are
switched on and vice versa. An inverted light cycle is intended to be used to
alternate light between two rooms in a 12/12 hour system, to optimize power
utilization. In this manual this mode will be referred to as the “Inverse Mode”.
The ballasts and lights connected to the controller form a significant heat
source within the climate room. If for whatever reason, the climate control
system cannot prevent the temperature from rising in the climate room, the
lights should be dimmed or even shut down to prevent crop damage.
The controller can be connected to either one temperature sensor (in
follow mode) or two temperature sensors (in inverse mode) to sense the
temperature in the climate room(s). The controller offers the possibility to set
the temperature at which it will dim the lights and a temperature at which it
will shut the lights down.
The controller is not meant to replace climate control equipment. Its auto-
dim and shutdown function are primarily meant to prevent crop damage.
Besides controlling up to 80 ballasts, the controller can also control two
Gavita External Contactor Modules (ECMs). These modules can be used to
switch auxiliary equipment during light on or light off periods (CO
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equipment,
heating, cooling, etc). The ECMs may also be used to switch non-dimmable
supplemental lighting, such as the regular (non e-series) plasma lamps.
Auxiliary equipment is also governed by the controller’s temperature safety
features.
The controller is provided with a set of alarm contacts which may be
connected to a standard alarm installation or cell phone module to provide