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This page is currently under construction.
Lighting Systems: Building Your Own System Bulbs and Ballasts Reflectors The pro's of using an Electronic ballast Building Your Own SystemThe easiest way to build a lighting system is to know how much light you're going to need. Research the
area in which you're going to be putting your system and be sure to have an easily
accessible ceiling in
which to hang a reflector and bulb. This is key as the amount of growing that can be done is all based on
how much light a plant gets in it's day. Bulbs and BallastsBulbs:Of the two primary types of HID lamps, metal halides have a more balanced spectrum, while
sodium emits
more light energy in the yellow/orange/red region of the spectrum. Sodium last longer and are somewhat
more efficient when measured in "lumens per watt." However, controversy has arisen over the use of lumens
as a measure for plant lighting efficiency. This is because the lumen (the flow of light equal to the
amount of flow from a uniform point source of one candle) takes into account the human eye's sensitivity
curve. Because plants respond to both visible and invisible light, other units of measurement such as
micromoles or par value (photosynthetically active radiation) might be more accurate units of
measurement when referring to greenhouse crops. Regardless, crops benefit much more from a setup that
combines metal halide and sodium lamps than from a setup that uses only one or the other. Universal Bulbs Why (Wattages) Compact Flourescent(CFL) bulbs are carried in two distinct types. "Daylight" (6400 K) is slightly bluish-white. "Warm white" (2700 K) provides a light very similar to that of an incandescent bulb, somewhat yellow in appearance. CFLs are typically guaranteed for 8,000 hours. (Incandescent bulbs typically last 500 to 2000 hours, depending on exposure to voltage spikes and mechanical shock.) CFLs use about a quarter of the power of incandescent bulbs. For example, a 15-watt CFL produces the same amount of light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb (approximately 900 lumens or 60 lumens per watt). A comparison of the purchase and operating costs of these two light sources follows. To run a 60w incandescent bulb for 8000 hours at $0.10 hr at 1000W per hour it would cost $48.00. To run a light- equivalent CFL bulb(15w) for 8000 hours at the same price/wattage, it costs $12.00. As it is currently, Rick's carries 125w and 250w in the Compact Fluorescent type. T5 Fluorescent -> T5 Reflector and Set of Four -> 2 foot / 4 foot Ballast information Convertible Ballasts Why (Wattages) You always have to choose a bulb that matches your ballast wattage and type. A halide bulb will give you good growth A sodium bulb will promote blooming Consider upgrading to a full spectrum bulb such as Agrosun or Hortilux brand names to give you the best of both sodium and halide bulbs ReflectorsTwo types:Universal Flanged Differences Electronic BallastsElectronic ballasts are relatively new to the market, and they're amazing. There are tons of good
things to say about these, but the most important will be listed here. First off, there's no humm, no
constant sound coming from the ballast. They're alot like the convertible ballasts as they can handle both
Sodium and Halide, a great thing to have for making the switch from grow to bloom easier. On top of that,
they can last up to thirty years. As if that alone isn't enough, it broadcasts 10% brighter than
other ballasts as well as removes the flickering when you first turn them on. |
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