reflected footcandles

[VickiC]

Hi,
My question is not a "light bulb" question, so I'm hoping that I'm posting to the correct forum. Whatever the case, though, I feel sure you can help me with an answer.

My husband covered all of the counter tops and a portion of the walls of my orchid room with an aluminum foil type insulation material in hopes this would increase my T5s footcandle readings (sorry....I don't know the correct name of the insulation) . Approx. how many additional footcandles can I expect to have gained from the counter tops and walls reflecting light from my T5s?

Thanks in advance.....I would appreciate your help.
Vicki

[Becca]

Hi Vicki! I hope someone answers your question soon as I would like to know as well. I have been looking at adding some mylar reflective film inbetween my light fixtures and on the side of the orchidariums.

[VickiC]

Hi Becca,
I hope everything works out good for you!
Vicki

Originally Posted by Becca

Hi Vicki! I hope someone answers your question soon as I would like to know as well. I have been looking at adding some mylar reflective film inbetween my light fixtures and on the side of the orchidariums.

[HPS Chris]

I would guess quite a bit. I do not use T5... but Any sort of extra reflection is a help... it is definitly hard to measure the light intensity with T5 or other flourescent bulbs as they're artificial lighting.

[VickiC]

Thanks for your reply, Chris.....I appreciate your help.
Vicki

Originally Posted by HPS Chris

I would guess quite a bit. I do not use T5... but Any sort of extra reflection is a help... it is definitly hard to measure the light intensity with T5 or other flourescent bulbs as they're artificial lighting.

[s1214215]

Hi

I cant see inside your light. Does it have individual reflectors? Individual parabolic reflectors fore each tube like the ones in this link are claimed to increase light being punched downward. I dont have a meter or I would test mine for you. These are the light reflectors I have and they clip to the light tube, so I can remove them. DE Lightings - T5 Accesories

I think good reflectors will do more for you than just lining with film. Marine "Reef Keeping" magazine often does articles on the benifits of good parabolic reflectors, and brand comparisons. So I guess theres something to that. Oh, and while single reflectors help, they are not as good as individual ones on each tube.

While lining may increase some light, it will be less. Anyone else care to chime in?

[VickiC]

Hi,
I took a pic. of the underside of one of my t5s for you I'm wondering if the reflectors that came on it when I bought it are the same as the ones you are talking about or not ??? If not, I should look into what you are speaking of. I'm guessing that I'm misunderstanding about the reflectors you are referring to, but maybe my husband can clear me up if that's the case. I do have a light meter, and it reads that a few footcandles reflect from the wall outwards and then a few also reflect from the bottom of the counter upwards (I don't recall exactly how many....I would need to measure again and make note of the amount). I do remember the amount wasn't much, but I figured every little bit would help (or hurt).....depending on the type of orchid I'm lighting. I don't know enough about lighting to determine how all this works together....the light from the T5s plus the additional footcandles that are reflected.

Thank you for your reply....I appreciate your help.
Vicki

Originally Posted by s1214215

Hi
I cant see inside your light. Does it have individual reflectors? Individual parabolic reflectors fore each tube like the ones in this link are claimed to increase light being punched downward. I dont have a meter or I would test mine for you. These are the light reflectors I have and they clip to the light tube, so I can remove them. DE Lightings - T5 Accesories

I think good reflectors will do more for you than just lining with film. Marine "Reef Keeping" magazine often does articles on the benifits of good parabolic reflectors, and brand comparisons. So I guess theres something to that. Oh, and while single reflectors help, they are not as good as individual ones on each tube.

While lining may increase some light, it will be less. Anyone else care to chime in?

[Magnus A]

VERY hard to say . but it does not lovering the lightlevel so it can only be goog. It seams that you already have some reflector for your T5 so you only gain the stray light. Here in Europe we can by quite cheap light meters (US$ 30). They may not be accurate but atleast they can give an relative value of the before and after value.

[VickiC]

Hi,
Thanks for your reply, Magnus.....I always appreciate your help.

Subject change: I was wondering how your new orchidarium project is coming along....I read some of your posts about it awhile back, and from what you have said, it sounds really nice. I hope it turns out good for you.

Thanks again,
Vicki

Originally Posted by Magnus A

VERY hard to say . but it does not lovering the lightlevel so it can only be goog. It seams that you already have some reflector for your T5 so you only gain the stray light. Here in Europe we can by quite cheap light meters (US$ 30). They may not be accurate but atleast they can give an relative value of the before and after value.

[Ross]

Before and after readings are only way to tell for sure. The human eye is a poor light meter (it is so self-adjusting). My gut feeling is yes it will increase, but that style film is less reflecting than one would think. Hydroponics reflective mylar is the way to go. It won't so much increase the output as it does contain the illuminance - much like a HPS or MH fixture. Still not point source, though.

I have no problems getting accurate readings of my t5 fixtures with my meter. Not difficult at all. But without a solid reference point, it's very unlikely you will get an honest opinion to your question.