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Information
Increased Lamp
LifeThe
system gives longer life because of cool running from the spinning. The
Digital E-Ballasts delivering light at higher frequencies so the lamp gasses
burn more and the constant power output from the ballast gives the lamps
less output loss. The system will run bulbs right to the end of their life,
so no more guessing when to change the lamp. The systems can double the life
of some lamps.
Use Less Nutrient
Plants get energy to grow
from 2 sources, light and nutrients. Plants convert electrical energy from
the light source to chemical energy for growth. Plants get more chemical
energy from nutrient sources. In the past we compensated for not maximizing
light by using elements from the earth. With the system we are now able to
maximize light so you use less supplemental nutrients.
More Coverage per Watt
We mount the lamps at the
outer edges of the hood. Using the "array effect" the system
delivers the same amount of light to the outer edges of the garden as it does
in the middle.
Conserving energy
The system uses a digital
E-Ballast. Dealing with less heat means less money spent on cooling devices
and the electricity to run them. The system has the capacity to dim down the
lights. Dimming can also be used for energy savings.
For example if you want to just save more energy the ballast can be set to
run in dimming mode. Dimming is available by Thermostat, photo eye, or
computer control. The system can dim down the lights to varying percentages
as the room temperature increases beyond a set point. The system will also
return the lights to full output when temperatures return to acceptable
levels.
Full Spectrum Light
Plants have evolved with
full spectrum light. Generally speaking, full spectrum light will help
to provide an environment more suitable for maximum productivity. The system
uses 2 methods to improve spectrum.
1) Full spectrum lamps
(with spectral curves closer to the sun)
2) Mechanically mixing
Halide and sodium lamps.
Life Light's light
delivery systems use multiple smaller wattage full spectrum lamps, or
the system can mix standard sodium (HPS) and pulse start metal halides
(PSMH) or HPS halide conversion bulbs for full spectrum. Spinning the lamps quickly
over the garden allows for the light energy from different spectrum bulbs to
be delivered in phase. Much like how light is delivered from the sun.
Better Quality of
Light
The system delivers light
in spectrum closer to the sun by using full spectrum lamps or mechanically
mixing the lamps. The system also delivers light in frequencies closer to the
sun. Magnetic ballasts deliver light with the same frequency as the wall
voltage. The system using solid state technology is able to increase the
frequency that artificial light is delivered to frequencies closer to natural
sunlight. So now we have light frequency and in spectrum similar to the sun.
More Light
Why does one buy a 1000
watt light instead of a 600 watt? More light. When we use larger lamps we
also use higher voltages. Higher voltages mean more heat per watt. So in a
non moving system a larger lamp must be positioned at a greater distance from
the plants than a smaller lamp. For EACH foot that you draw a lamp away from
the surface you are trying to light you lose 75% of the energy incident on
that surface.
The only true way to
measure how much light we are getting incident on our garden is with a light
meter. It matters little how much energy the lamp is able to produce, what
matters is how much energy you are able to deliver to our garden. Get a light
meter and check every square foot of your light grid at the upper surface
area of foliage. Then check down at the bottom of your foliage. Keep in mind
that the maximum amount of light that most C3 and C4 (equatorial and
sub-equatorial) plants can absorb passively is 5500 foot-candles. Anything
above 5500 foot-candles, the stomata close and any excess energy is converted
to heat. The system is able to provide maximum light intensity evenly
distributed over the complete footprint of the light. Using a light meter we
can determine the correct height for light placement to achieve our target of
5500 FT-candles in every grid of the garden.
With the system producing
less heat from the bulb the limiting factor in how close you can hang the
light to your gardens. With the ability to achieve the maximum light that
plants can passively absorb at the upper surface of foliage we find even the
lower levels of foliage are delivered higher levels of light as well. Now all
the light energy you are paying for can be delivered to your plants and not
going out the vent fan. The system also reduces shadows. Because the light is
being delivered to the garden from all directions all the time the leaves are
now scrubbed with light all the time. = More light!
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