Gavita

Who Gavita is and what it makes

Gavita is a horticultural lighting brand of Dutch origin that makes LED fixtures, double ended HPS fixtures and the EL series master controllers for commercial growers. Its fixtures carry warranties from Gavita International B.V. and are made for Hawthorne Hydroponics LLC, a subsidiary of The Hawthorne Gardening Company, which took control of Gavita in 2016 and was sold to Vireo Growth Inc. on April 8, 2026.

Gavita says it has more than 40 years in horticultural lighting and was the first to introduce double ended HPS fixtures. Urth & Fyre sources and quotes Gavita lighting on request and does not currently stock it, so this page is a buyer's guide to the lineup and how it affects room design.

The Gavita lineup

The current Gavita site lists these fixtures and controls:

• Gavita Pro RS 2400e LED: eight light bars, 2,400 µmol/s at 3.0 µmol/J, and 3.15 µmol/J when dimmed to 1,700 µmol/s. The 120 to 277 volt version draws 800 watts, weighs 35.3 lb and carries IP66 and DLC listings. A 208 to 480 volt version is also offered.
• Gavita RS 1900e LED and Gavita CT 2000e LED: 208 to 480 volt fixtures with a broad white spectrum, the CT 2000e being the newest Compact Toplight.
• Gavita Under Canopy 150W LED: a dual sided fixture that adds 450 µmol/s below the canopy.
• Gavita Clone Bar LED: a 9000K spectrum for rooting clones and seedlings.
• Gavita Master Controller EL3: zone control, environmental logging and alarm tracking for connected fixtures.

Two earlier models matter for used buyers. The Gavita Pro 1700e LED draws 645 watts for 1,700 µmol/s at 2.6 µmol/J, and the CT 1930e LED draws 780 watts and was sold as a direct replacement for HPS fixtures.

Where Gavita fits by facility stage

Propagation rooms use the Clone Bar on shelving. Veg and flower rooms run toplights such as the RS 2400e or 1700e over the canopy, and the Under Canopy 150W adds light to the lower canopy in dense flower rooms.

Facilities converting from HPS have a specific option in the CT 1930e, which Hawthorne describes as a one to one replacement for HPS fixtures that fits existing wiring in most rooms and saves up to 20 percent in energy against single ended HPS. Larger sites benefit from the EL series controllers, since the CT 1930e's embedded controller lets one EL Series Master Control channel manage up to 2,000 fixtures.

How to size Gavita lighting and its heat load

Start from the target light level over your canopy and work back to fixture count. Gavita publishes output per fixture (PPF) but not a coverage area in the documents we reviewed, so ask for a photometric layout at your mounting height and bench layout.

Then size the electrical side. The RS 2400e sell sheet lists 6.67 amps at 120 volts and 2.89 amps at 277 volts, so higher voltage circuits carry more fixtures per breaker.

Finally, count the heat. Nearly all fixture input power ends up as heat in the room, so cooling is sized on input watts, not light output. A room of 800 watt RS 2400e fixtures carries more heat per fixture than a room of 645 watt 1700e fixtures, and the more efficient fixture still delivers more light per watt. Our Cannabis HVAC Design Guide shows how lighting load drives cooling and dehumidification sizing.

Gavita compared with alternatives

Within Gavita's own range, the move from the Pro 1700e at 2.6 µmol/J to the RS 2400e at 3.0 µmol/J is the main efficiency step. Dimming the RS 2400e to 1,700 µmol/s raises its efficacy to 3.15 µmol/J, so one fixture can cover lower and higher intensity phases.

Against HPS, Hawthorne rates the CT 1930e at up to 20 percent energy savings compared with single ended HPS fixtures. Against other LED brands, compare fixtures on efficacy, input watts, controller compatibility, DLC listing for rebates, and warranty terms rather than wattage alone.

Lighting choice sets the HVAC, electrical and layout plan, so it belongs in facility design rather than a late purchase. Our cannabis facility design service builds the lighting, HVAC and equipment plan together.

Buying Gavita lighting through Urth & Fyre

Send us your canopy area, room count, available voltage and target light level, and we will quote Gavita fixtures and controllers with lead time. If you are replacing Gavita fixtures, list the old ones through Sell Equipment.

To start, request a Gavita quote or book a facility design consult to plan lighting and HVAC together.

• Read the label for model and voltage. The Pro 1700e came in 120 to 277 volt (906056) and 347 to 400 volt (906057) versions, and the RS 2400e comes in 120 to 277 and 208 to 480 volt versions.
• Check warranty status. Gavita covers mechanical and electronic parts for five years from the original purchase date, and the RS 2400e warranty applies when bought from an authorized Hawthorne dealer, so a used fixture may have little or no coverage left.
• Run each fixture at 100 percent and measure current. The RS 2400e sell sheet lists 6.67 amps at 120 volts and 2.89 amps at 277 volts, and low draw can point to a failed driver or bar.
• Inspect diodes and lenses. The 1700e warranty treats a fixture as defective only when more than 15 percent of diodes fail, so count dark diodes before you price a used unit.
• Confirm controls. Gavita LED fixtures dim through the Gavita Master controller protocol over an RJ 8P6C connector, so budget an EL3 controller if the seller is keeping theirs.
• Check the room environment. Gavita rates the 1700e and RS 2400e to a maximum ambient of 40°C, and the RS 2400e carries an IP66 wet rating.
• Plan rigging. The 1700e weighs 28.4 lb, the CT 1930e 33.07 lb and the RS 2400e 35.3 lb.