Equipment & technology: Lighting innovations

The science of lighting

P.L. Light Care, a division of PL Light Systems, is taking a scientific approach to optimizing the amount of par light produced by supplemental lighting systems within greenhouses. Lamps and reflectors wear with age and output can diminish. Steps must be taken to ensure maximum productivity and minimize energy consumption. Timely maintenance is the only way to ensure maximum system performance. Lamps and reflectors should be measured annually, at the very least.

With that in mind, the company’s experts will execute lamp and reflector measurements, and even field measurements upon request. Based on these findings, customers will be advised on where power is being wasted and what to do about it. In cases where the loss of light output is attributed to dirty reflectors, the company has available its mobile reflector cleaning unit; a new service that helps to increase the effectiveness and longevity of your installations.

Finally, lamps should be changed after approximately 10,000 hours of usage. On average, for every 1,000 hours, the useful light output decreases by 1 percent. This fluctuates and, therefore, needs to be monitored. Furthermore, the electrical consumption does not decrease with lower light output, but could even increase, thus increasing costs and decreasing efficiency. More importantly this lower output is costing growers money, since a 1 percent decrease in light output means 1 percent less growth and ultimately 1 percent less revenue.

For more: www.pllight.com

Grow light

New to the family of Illumitex horticultural lights, the NeoSol DS grow light is suitable for a wide range of horticulture lighting applications, including propagation of vegetative or flowering plants in greenhouses, grow tents, and compact growing areas or large-scale commercial grow operations. On-board dimming controls light output from 100 percent down to 10 percent and eliminates the need to raise and lower the fixture.

In many operations, this will allow for double-stacking of fixtures and plants, therefore doubling yields. The fixture design maximizes volumetric area for plant growth and minimizes fixture weight and energy consumption. Patented Illumitex LED technology produces superior light utilization and beam uniformity within the photosynthetically active radiation range (400-700nm).

NeoSol DS is superior to HPS in a number of ways. This light provides more light and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) to the plant canopy while consuming less than half the energy of the incumbent and antiquated technology. Illumitex grow lights have the highest PPFD of any grow light by a substantial margin. NeoSol DS offers perfectly uniform light on the canopy, as opposed to the dramatic drop off from the center of HPS lights.

Also, unlike HPS lights, Illumitex LED grow lights produce no crop-damaging forward heat. Using NeoSol DS reduces heat-load BTUs by more than half and reduces tonnage requirement for AC chillers by half, without using active cooling or fans.

NeoSol DS offers a wet location-, IP66-rated design that’s waterproof and dust-proof, and there’s no need to clean lens or optics as with HPS lights.

For more: http://bit.ly/PYte1S

LED lighting

J&D Manufacturing has a new line of LED lighting for horticultural applications. The company works with greenhouse customers to determine and provide the options they need for new construction and retrofit applications

The lighting line includes high bay, T8 lighting, spot lights, flood lights, standard bulbs, recessed/downlights, street lights, and parking lot/yard lights. Each type of LED lighting in the J&D line offers:

• Bright, pleasing daylight color options
• High lumen output
• Instant start up - no humming or flickering
• Minimum 25,000-60,000 hours of operation life (depending on type)
• Low heat output reduces fire hazard and contact burns, and helps keep cooling costs lower during warm months
• Environmentally friendly – no mercury or other hazardous substances
• Quality housings/fixtures

LED lighting is used in a huge array of applications, partially because they are compact in size, have a smaller environmental impact than incandescent, metal halide, or fluorescent lights, and they are able to be focused in one direction, with less ambient light loss.

LED lighting sometimes also qualifies for energy rebates from local and regional energy utilities and cooperatives, making it an even more attractive investment. Growers should check with local utility companies to see if installing new or retrofit LED lighting can bring even more cost savings by qualifying for these rebates.

For more: www.jdmfg.com