Best Gavita LED [1930e vs 1700e] Which Light Grows Top Yield?

Are you a serious cannabis grower looking for the best Gavita LED grow light?
Look no further. I’ve compared two of Gavita’s top LEDs side by side to help you determine which one will get your garden growing at its fullest potential.
From heat load to light intensity and canopy penetration to yield differences—I have all the research right here so you can make an informed decision.
This article will compare the Gavita CT 1930e, and the Gavita Pro 1700e LED grow light. We’ll look at the pros and cons of each light and discuss the yields you can expect from each one.
What is the Gavita CT 1930e?
Gavita’s CT 1930e is an innovative LED technology designed to significantly enhance plant growth while achieving a remarkable 20% electricity cost savings compared to a traditional High-pressure Sodium (HPS) light.
The CT 1930e LED directly replaces HPS, and its footprint seamlessly fits into existing HPS layouts.
This LED light produces more crop-loving light in a broader full spectrum. Gavita has equipped it with sophisticated controller technology that effectively allows control of up to 2,000 lights with a single controller.
The CT 1930e is compatible with most building automation systems and it integrates with a Gavita Master Controller.
This groundbreaking LED technology gives us a door to an energy-efficient, green future by providing an environmentally friendly and high output alternative to traditional HPS lighting that still yields the same high outputs we’re accustomed to from a high-pressure sodium light.

Pros of Gavita CT 1930e LED Grow Light
High light intensity: The Gavita CT 1930e delivers an intensity of up to 1930 µmol/s, making it ideal for use in large grow rooms.
Wide coverage area: With a maximum coverage of 4’x6′, the 1930e provides ample light for 5′-6′ wide tables or benches.
Energy-efficient: The 1930e is highly energy-efficient, using only 780 watts of power to produce the same amount of light as a 1000-watt HPS grow light.
Low heat output: Compared to the traditional HPS light, the 1930e produces less heat, reducing the need for additional cooling systems.
10% to 100% dimmable range: This enables you to recreate all types of natural light settings – from sunrise, sunset, and varying day lengths – allowing your plants to receive the perfect lighting level for every period of their growth cycle.
Cons of Gavita CT 1930e LED Grow Light
High cost: The Gavita CT 1930e is a premium LED grow light, and its high price may only be feasible for some growers.
Heavy: The 1930e weighs 33 pounds, which may make it difficult to mount in some grow rooms.
What is the Gavita Pro 1700e LED?
The Gavita Pro 1700e LED light fixture is an advanced technology designed to produce more energy-efficient and consistent results in horticultural lighting.
This dimmable LED distributes broad, full-spectrum light and conserves energy by maintaining optimal lighting levels from 50% to 100%.
Using the Gavita E-Series LED Adapter and Gavita EL Master Controller, the LED can be adjusted to create a customized lighting environment as crops grow, varying from veg to bloom.
The Pro 1700e controller technology allows connecting up to 500-1,000 LED fixtures, depending on the controller, offering an advanced and efficient solution for commercial cannabis setups.

Pros of Gavita Pro 1700e LED Grow Light
High light intensity: The Gavita Pro 1700e delivers an intensity of up to 1700 µmol/s.
Energy-efficient: The 1700e is highly energy-efficient, using only 645 watts of power, delivering an impressive efficacy of 2.6 µmol s-1 per watt.
8-Bar Configuration: Perfect for use in low rooms, vertical racks, or grow tents.
Cons of Gavita Pro 1700e LED Grow Light
Expensive: Like the 1930e, the Gavita Pro 1700e is a premium LED grow light and may only be feasible for some growers.
Heavy: The 1700e weighs 28 pounds, which may make it difficult to mount in some grow tents.
Limited coverage area: Gavita claims a maximum coverage of 5’x5′, but due to the PPFD dropoff around the edges of the fixture I find that 4’x4′ is more suited to my purposes. The 1700e provides excellent coverage for vertical rack systems but not wide benches.
50%-100% dimmable range: The 1700e features a dimming function, but only down to 50%. This feature can present a challenge with young plants and hanging height.
COMPARISON CHART
SPECS | CT 1930e | Pro 1700e |
Wattage | 780W | 645W |
Efficiency | 2.5 µmol/J | 2.6 µmol/J |
Coverage Area | 4 x 6 sqft | 4 x 4 sqft |
Output | 1930 µmol/s | 1700 µmol/s |
Dimmable | Yes, down to 10% | Yes, down to 50% |
Weight | 33 lbs | 28 lbs |
Price | $1340 | $900 |
Gavita LED Grow Lights: Yields Compared
There are numerous aspects to consider when evaluating the yield differences between these lights.
These two LED lights differ in intensity and coverage foootprint but have virtually the same energy efficiency.
Depending on your crop needs, you should decide which Gavita LED suits your operation.
Additionally, the dimmable feature allows growers to adjust the intensity according to their plants’ needs, resulting in better yields.
The Gavita CT 1930e LED produces a higher intensity than the Pro 1700e. Its larger coverage zone also results in more yield potential.
With my background in using primarily HPS lights to cultivate cannabis, I was thrilled that LED lights had finally reached the same level of intensity while also providing incredible energy savings.
To evaluate potential airflow problems, I used a two-level vertical rack with 5′ between levels and 4 Pro 1700e LED lights for this particular test.
I also used four lights in my 1900e grow room to achieve the most accurate comparison results.
The cannabis strain I chose is Cheetah Piss(BTW, I don’t like that name… it’s disgusting).
I used General Hydroponics liquid nutrients and injected CO2 in both rooms.
Dimming
For the 1700e you will need a Gavita E-Series LED Adapter for each fixture. These cost around $117 each.

Initially, I encountered a difficulty; the 1700e could only dim to 50%, which wasn’t adequate for my small cannabis clones as I installed it on a five-foot high rack.
This resulted in a PPFD(photosynthetic photon flux density) of around 350.
I prefer starting my clones at around 150 PPFD for the first week, so I strategically stretched some shade cloth between the grow light and canopy to avoid scorching the clones.
The 1900e dims to 10%, which is fantastic. Still, since it’s suspended high like an HPS, only a 65% dimming level needs to be achieved in the vegetative stage.
I used the Gavita Master EL2 Controller in both test rooms.

Heat Load
One thing I don’t have to worry about with these LED grow lights is too much heat due to the strong heat dissipation they have built in.
I was astonished by how the 1700e could remain cool even after increasing its intensity.
On cold mornings I did have to add heating to the room to reach an optimal temperature for the plants. I was aiming for 78-80 degrees.
No additional heat was required for the 1900e grow space since the heat produced held it at a slightly elevated temperature.
The aluminum heat sink in this design is a stroke of genius—they direct the thermal energy upwards instead of directly onto the delicate plants.
As professional growers know, precise leaf temperature is crucial for optimal plant growth and development.

Coverage Area
With the help of my PAR meter, I quickly noticed a dramatic drop in PPFD readings once I strayed outside the 4×4 area of the 1700e.
So, to ensure that all plants stayed within this boundary, I used training wire for containment.
Compared to the 1700e, the 1900e offers a more expansive coverage of approximately 4×6.
I observed that its PPFD drop-off was much less pronounced when straying outside those lines.
PAR Grid Chart: Gavita Pro 1700e 24″ Above a 5’x5′ Footprint Coverage Area

Intensity and Canopy Penetration
Honestly, the lack of intensity of LEDs deterred me from trying them out for so long.
Canopy penetration is crucial for successful cannabis yields, and I had yet to encounter an LED grow light that could rival HPS, particularly double-ended technologies such as Gavita’s Pro 1000 DE.
To ensure the desired penetration I sought in the flowering phase, I had to adjust my 1700e light to position it within twelve inches of the canopy to avoid larfy growth in the under-canopy.
That required me to dim the light to avoid burning my plants.

The canopy reach of the 1900e was on par with a Gavita 1000W HPS and produced larger buds that stretched down the entire plant.
I could also keep my light further from the canopy(3-4 feet), allowing more room to maneuver within my small grow.
Airflow
The two-tiered vertical rack posed an airflow problem; however, this was foreseeable.
The shelves disrupt air circulation, leading to oppressive humidity and temperature fluctuations at the canopy level.
I installed multiple cooling fans between the two racks to combat this issue.
It worked perfectly by providing enough airflow and keeping temperatures in check while maintaining a reasonably consistent humidity level throughout the room.
If you are trying to maximize your yield, the only viable option when using a design like the 1700e is to go vertical; that’s how I see it.
If you’re working in a restricted area but have the luxury of high ceilings, this design is perfect for your needs!

There were no air circulation complications in the 1900e grow room. I kept my light fixtures 3-4 feet above the canopy, which allowed a brisk stream of air to move between the LED fixtures and the top of the plants.
Pruning and Plant Size
I have used the lollypop pruning method for years, as it has consistently produced great harvests. This is my preferred technique to use and remains reliable every time.
When using the 1700e, I pruned twice to keep my plants from outgrowing their pot and reaching the light.
This extra pruning was due to the fixtures being placed twelve inches from the canopy.
I also had to de-leaf to allow light penetration into the canopy so there were 3 prunings in total.
The plants averaged 2 1/2 – 3 feet tall.
I only pruned twice in my 1900e grow room, maintaining an average plant height of 3 1/2 and 4 feet.
Plant Count
To create a lush sea of green canopy in the Gavita Pro 1700e LED grow light space, I placed one plant per sqft – totaling 64 plants. I chose this plant count due to their short stature.
For my 1900e grow room, I had the luxury of 80 sqft to play with.
I could have expanded this to 96 sqft due to these powerful led grow lights’ maximum coverage footprint, but I decided to tighten it up.
My plants were towering at least a foot taller than in the 1700e room, so I chose to space them out evenly by allotting one plant per 1.5 square feet – this allowed for 53 plants.
Yield Differences
The flower quality from both rooms was exceptional, yet the bud size had a remarkable variance.
The 1900e yielded a much bigger flower, and the flowers were evenly distributed along the entire length of the plant, whereas the 1700e produced a smaller flower.
Final weight chart
CT 1930e | 3.2 lbs/ light | 1.86g/ watt |
Pro 1700e | 2 lbs/ light | 1.4g/ watt |
Clearly, the 1900e is the winner, right? Well, not necessarily. It all depends on your situation.
If you lack significant floor space but have tall ceilings, the 1900e may not be an effective solution for your needs.
Instead, opt to go vertical and install two of the 1700e grow lights in the same footprint a 1900e would require; this will enable you to cultivate 4 lbs of yield instead of just 3.2 lbs with a single 1900e light fixture.
But remember, you should also consider the additional labor required to set up such a system, the additional prunings required, and reaching the second level can be tedious after a while.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Gavita lights worth the money?
Absolutely. Investing in Gavita is worth every penny; they have an impressive 5-year warranty and exemplary customer service.
Can you veg with Gavita?
Yes. With Gavita’s full-spectrum capabilities, their LEDs allow for both vegetative growth and flowering of plants.

Bottom Line
So, which LED grow light is best? There is still much to consider when making that decision.
Do you have limited space but high ceilings? Then I’d go with the 1700e.
Do you have lots of space but low ceilings? Then I’d choose the 1900e.
Do you prefer to produce huge flowers as opposed to small flowers?
How important is energy efficiency to you?
The Gavita CT 1930e and Pro 1700e LED grow lights offer many features that make them great contenders for growers.
From their dimming capacities, low heat load, superior light coverage area, and intensity, these Gavita LED lights will help you reach top yields.
As every grower’s crop is unique, it’s best to consider aspects such as pruning techniques and plant size when deciding.
If you are serious about achieving a higher yield, add a Gavita LED grow light to your shopping cart today to create a professional cultivation setup worthy of top-tier crops!