AC Infinity Third Party Integrations!

With AC infinity being more and more popular amongst growers in the UK we get asked more frequently online and instore about controller capabilities and connecting it to other branded equipment like lights, heaters, humidifiers etc.. truth is this can be quite a confusing thing to work out and get up and running, we’ve tried to outline a lot of questions we’ve recently been asked, so sit back, grab a drink and take a read!

Connecting other devices to AC infinity is possible, but it sometimes take a little working out!

Starting off with Grow Lights - When it comes to connecting other brand lights to AC Infinity controllers one of the main thing you need to find out is what type of Compatible Adapter you will need for your lights, with there being a few different options such as UIS Lighting Adapters, Type-A (PWM and 0-10V Protocol), Type-B (Resistor Protocol), Type-D (Dimming Wire) or UIS Control Plug.

As more and more people are using AC infinity controllers and wanting to integrate it into their current setup, more information is being found out for what works and what doesn’t and AC infinity are constantly updating there list of third-party light integration lists – That being said a lot of these lights that are already added to this are American brands OR lights that are used in the US so unless your using one of them chances are it may not be on there, here’s a breakdown of what each ‘Type’ means to try and help you find out which you need yourself if it isn’t on their current list!

Type-A (PWM and 0-10V Protocol)
The Type A adapter works with grow lights that use PWM or 0–10V dimming systems.
However, different manufacturers use slightly different versions of these systems, so the available dimming range can vary between lights. This means some models may not dim as smoothly or precisely as others. Some grow lights also require a minimum power level before they switch on. If this happens, don’t worry - simply increase the brightness setting on your controller until the light comes on.

Type-B (Resistor Protocol)
The Type B adapter is designed for grow lights that use resistor-based analogue dimming.
In simple terms, it allows your UIS controller to adjust the amount of power sent to the LEDs, making the light brighter or dimmer. Different manufacturers may use slightly different versions of this dimming system, because of this, some grow lights may offer a smaller or less precise dimming range. This is completely normal and will depend on the particular light being connected.

Type-D (Dimming Wire)
The Type D adapter works with grow lights that have dimming control wires, making it compatible with a wide range of LED grow lights. Some lights have these wires clearly visible and ready to connect. They are usually located near the driver, So if you want to go down this route your going to have to check the grow light and its driver box for exposed dimming wires. On other models, the wires may be hidden inside the driver casing. We don’t really recommend opening the driver yourself unless the manufacturer’s instructions clearly allow it, as this could be dangerous and may affect your warranty and if it doesn’t work after you’ve tampered with it your pretty screwed unfortunately!

Again different manufacturers use slightly different dimming systems, the available dimming range may vary. Some lights may therefore offer fewer or less precise brightness settings than others.

UIS Lighting Adapters
AC Infinity UIS lighting adapters let you connect lights with RJ11 or RJ12 ports to a UIS controller. These ports look similar to standard telephone sockets and are normally used for dimming or linking several lights together. If your light model is not compatible with our current lighting adapters, you may still be able to control it with the UIS control Plug

One final thing to remember, the lighting adapter does not supply power to the controller.

UIS Control Plugs

If your grow light isn’t compatible with one of the lighting adapters, don’t worry — you may still be able to control it using the AC Infinity UIS Control Plug. The plug works with many mains-powered devices, including grow lights, humidifiers, heaters, dehumidifiers and air conditioners. Your UIS controller simply switches the power supply on or off, allowing you to control when the connected device runs.

One important thing to remember: when a grow light is connected through the UIS Control Plug, you can only turn it on or off. You won’t be able to adjust its brightness or dimming level.



UIS 1-to-1 Transmitters & Receivers & AI Pro Controllers

Tired of long control cables running around your grow space? The AC Infinity UIS Wireless Transmitter and Receiver lets your UIS controller communicate with compatible equipment wirelessly, helping you create a cleaner and more organised setup.

Each transmitter connects to your UIS controller, while the matching receiver connects to your fan, grow light, humidifier or another compatible UIS device. The two parts then communicate using their own secure 2.4GHz wireless connection.

There’s no need to connect the system to your home Wi-Fi or the internet. Once paired, your equipment can respond quickly to temperature, humidity, VPD settings, timers and custom schedules from your UIS controller.

This makes it especially useful in larger grow rooms, grow tents or anywhere running long control cables would be difficult or untidy.

• Connects UIS controllers and compatible UIS equipment wirelessly
• Includes two transmitters and two receivers
• Uses a dedicated one-to-one wireless connection
• Works without Wi-Fi or an internet connection
• Fast response for accurate environmental control
• Helps reduce cable clutter in your grow space
• Compatible with selected fans, grow lights, humidifiers and other UIS devices
• Simple plug-and-play installation
• Ideal for larger or more organised grow-room setups
  

When connecting a third-party grow light to your UIS controller, especially when using a UIS lighting adapter, it’s a good idea to check the light with a plug-in wattage meter.

Different manufacturers use different dimming systems, so the percentage shown on your controller may not always match the light’s exact power output. A wattage meter lets you check how much power the light is actually using and helps confirm that it is working as expected at each brightness setting.

It is especially important to check the light during its scheduled dark period. Some grow lights may continue running at around 1% power instead of switching off completely when the controller is set to 0%.

Taking a few minutes to check the wattage at full power, several dimming levels and 0% will give you peace of mind that your light is responding correctly.

Here is a list below of verified connection types for lights! this will be updated as and when AC infinity update theres!

Does the AC Infinity Controller AI+ Need Wi-Fi?

No, the AC Infinity Controller AI+ does not need Wi-Fi for its main controls to work.

If Wi-Fi isn’t available, you can connect to the controller using Bluetooth instead.
Connecting it to Wi-Fi gives you access to extra app features and allows you to monitor and control your equipment remotely when you’re away from your grow space.

Now lets get onto connecting things such as Fans, Heaters, Humidifiers etc!

Connecting these up to the controller can only really be done in one way, using the UIS plugs.

The AC Infinity UIS Control Plug lets you add compatible mains-powered equipment to your UIS system. This includes devices such as humidifiers, dehumidifiers, heaters and air conditioners.

Once connected, you can use your UIS controller to create automatic programmes and control the equipment through the AC Infinity app. Be aware though, the control plug can only switch the connected device on or off. It cannot adjust other settings such as speed, output level or temperature.

So if your using hardware that doesn’t remember your settings and resets back to factory after being turned on and off this unfortunately you won’t have as much control over this as you probably thought, but all hope is not lost! When using the AI controllers, overtime your controller will learn about the device and when is best to turn on and off which will help maintain a healthy environment!

The connected equipment must also start working automatically whenever power is supplied. Devices that require you to press a button or flip a separate switch each time they receive power cannot be controlled properly through the UIS Control Plug! In simple – if you use something that has got a switch your plants will NOT be happy.