Growing plants under solid-state lighting (LED grow lighting) will require
a shift in traditional paradigms.
a shift in traditional paradigms.
A New Paradigm
LED grow lighting emits only wavelengths of light that target healthy, robust growth. Missing is the blinding white light and searing IR wavelength heat
typically associated with traditional white light sources. LED grow lights look different and they work differently.
For researchers, this will require a change in the methods used to collect light emission data. LED grow lights emit wavelengths of light which are
typically 100% absorbed by healthy plants. This is in contrast to the traditional white light bulb which emits the majority of it's light wavelengths which
are either harmful to both plants and humans such as IR and UV, or in white light components in the yellow and green wavelengths which are typically of
little value to most plants.
Researchers have long been accustomed to measuring the total light emitted by a bulb, rather than the effective light emitted. This trend will need to
change since the aggregate light emitted by LED light arrays, without the waste of UV, IR, and white light components, is not directly comparable to
traditional white light measurements and resulting expectations. Another major difference in solid-state lighting (LED) relates to the sizing of light
sources based on the power consumption, typically stated as watts. Until modern color rendering methods, a light was a light and the only difference
was how much power it consumed. The greater the power consumption, the greater the amount of white light emitted. LED lights, being solid-state
devices, have a typically narrow power consumption window, usually only a few milliamps of power. The total amount of light is typically a function of the
number of individual LEDs in an array and the beam angle of the individual LED design.
LED grow lighting emits only wavelengths of light that target healthy, robust growth. Missing is the blinding white light and searing IR wavelength heat
typically associated with traditional white light sources. LED grow lights look different and they work differently.
For researchers, this will require a change in the methods used to collect light emission data. LED grow lights emit wavelengths of light which are
typically 100% absorbed by healthy plants. This is in contrast to the traditional white light bulb which emits the majority of it's light wavelengths which
are either harmful to both plants and humans such as IR and UV, or in white light components in the yellow and green wavelengths which are typically of
little value to most plants.
Researchers have long been accustomed to measuring the total light emitted by a bulb, rather than the effective light emitted. This trend will need to
change since the aggregate light emitted by LED light arrays, without the waste of UV, IR, and white light components, is not directly comparable to
traditional white light measurements and resulting expectations. Another major difference in solid-state lighting (LED) relates to the sizing of light
sources based on the power consumption, typically stated as watts. Until modern color rendering methods, a light was a light and the only difference
was how much power it consumed. The greater the power consumption, the greater the amount of white light emitted. LED lights, being solid-state
devices, have a typically narrow power consumption window, usually only a few milliamps of power. The total amount of light is typically a function of the
number of individual LEDs in an array and the beam angle of the individual LED design.
Technology Summary
Today's plant grow lights are merely an adaptation of yesterday's warehouse and factory illumination bulbs. Never originally designed to do more than
help a person find their way in the dark, the physics of these bulbs are severely limited. In reality, plant grow light bulbs are manufactured as imperfect
illumination devices. That is, chemicals and gases are added to the bulb to slightly increase light wavelengths that are beneficial to plant growth which
at the same time render the bulb unacceptable for general lighting.
LED lighting arrays are designed specifically for the application. Light absorption in plants occurs over a wide range of wavelengths, but in greatly
varying degrees. LED arrays can target wavelengths that have high absorption rates for extremely efficient operation.
In summary, today's movement away from traditional white light sources is well justified. The benefits of reduced energy consumption, both from
powering white light sources and heat removal, more than pay for the conversion to solid-state lighting (LED). Add to this the increased concern over
white light pollution in many communities and it's easy to see why the time is right to move to targeted wavelength plant grow lights.
Today's plant grow lights are merely an adaptation of yesterday's warehouse and factory illumination bulbs. Never originally designed to do more than
help a person find their way in the dark, the physics of these bulbs are severely limited. In reality, plant grow light bulbs are manufactured as imperfect
illumination devices. That is, chemicals and gases are added to the bulb to slightly increase light wavelengths that are beneficial to plant growth which
at the same time render the bulb unacceptable for general lighting.
LED lighting arrays are designed specifically for the application. Light absorption in plants occurs over a wide range of wavelengths, but in greatly
varying degrees. LED arrays can target wavelengths that have high absorption rates for extremely efficient operation.
In summary, today's movement away from traditional white light sources is well justified. The benefits of reduced energy consumption, both from
powering white light sources and heat removal, more than pay for the conversion to solid-state lighting (LED). Add to this the increased concern over
white light pollution in many communities and it's easy to see why the time is right to move to targeted wavelength plant grow lights.
Comparison to Legacy General Electric Lucalox 1,000 watt HPS Grow Light System
Direct comparisons between two different types of plant grow lighting systems is sometimes difficult and often not well understood. Based on documents
obtained from General Electric and research, we can provide the following specifications for the 1,000-watt Lucalox grow lamp:
Direct comparisons between two different types of plant grow lighting systems is sometimes difficult and often not well understood. Based on documents
obtained from General Electric and research, we can provide the following specifications for the 1,000-watt Lucalox grow lamp:
Suggestions for Additional Enhancements of Grow Chamber
Vertically Stacked Planting Beds
Using LEDs as a plant growing light source greatly reduces the distance between the planting bed and the lights, allowing more efficient use of the
available growing chamber volume. Using PlantLEDs as the plant light source, it is possible to employ up to three or more vertical layers of planting
beds in the area now being used by each single planting bed. This would effectively at least triple the biomass production of the growth chamber.
Using LEDs as a plant growing light source greatly reduces the distance between the planting bed and the lights, allowing more efficient use of the
available growing chamber volume. Using PlantLEDs as the plant light source, it is possible to employ up to three or more vertical layers of planting
beds in the area now being used by each single planting bed. This would effectively at least triple the biomass production of the growth chamber.
Using Solar Panels to Operate PlantLED
The low power requirement of LED grow lights simplifies the conversion to a solar energy system. A solar "photovoltaic" panel/battery system of 450
watts @24vdc will supply ample power for almost 50 LGM5s allowing the lights to operate continuously, 24 hours per day. A solar system of this size
has an estimated cost of under $3,000 for 100% power grid independence while maximizing grow chamber utilization.
The low power requirement of LED grow lights simplifies the conversion to a solar energy system. A solar "photovoltaic" panel/battery system of 450
watts @24vdc will supply ample power for almost 50 LGM5s allowing the lights to operate continuously, 24 hours per day. A solar system of this size
has an estimated cost of under $3,000 for 100% power grid independence while maximizing grow chamber utilization.
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