Lights...again.

[alyau]

The vendor is called 'A H Supply' and sell things on-line.

[Tindomul]

I've never understood that vendor. The website is confuising to me, and worst yet, Im not quite sure what I can buy. And if I do, will I end up constructing things. Do you have a direct link to what you bought specifically?

[Linnie]

Ross and others,

Thanks, I was positive I replied to your help with the light meters and CF, but I don't see the reply here. SO here goes again, Thanks for the info and help. I need more LIGHTS and a new light meter.!!

[alyau]

Tindomul1of9

What I ordered was 2x '96 watt Bright Kit'. I am not able to key in the links here but you can just click '96 watt kit' on the left of the main page of A H Supply for details. You can see details of the CF bulb by just clicking 'bulbs' on the left. To order click 'easy ordering'. The bulb you need is 96 watt 5000K.

The kit contains everything necessary except the bulb, you need to order separately. The package came with instructions on installation. You can simply fix it to a piece of 2x4 (wood) and hang above the plants or to the bottom of a shelf above the plants. The kit is about $60 and a CF bulb is $33. The best part is the reflector which reflects most of the light to one direction which increases efficiency. I have no instruments to measure but looks like it is 5 time brighter than normal fluorscent tube.

Search for '96 watt bright kit' in the internet and you will see the comments from other users. I remember I have seen actual measurements of the output (lumen) from a web site.

If you are not comfortable to install your self. Local Fish Store carries some strip lights using similar technology. A double bulb (2 x 96 watt) strip light costs about $380. However the reflector will not be as good.

Albert

[alyau]

Attached are pictures of a fish tank illuminated by 2x 96watt Bright Kit

[Lin]

Just came to this thread a little late.

I have also used A & H Supply. When I had my aquarium and needed to increase the light, I bought the 55watt kit to retrofit my existing lights. Everything is included, instructions are easy to understand and the reflector is incredible.

[armagedon48]

T5s are becoming very popular in reef-keeping. some people preferr them over the metal halides because of the lower energy used.
i didnt see anyone mention the individual reflectors used for T5s. they are made by icecap and aparently double the output of the T5s. i know that 6 T5s with individual reflectors running on an icecap 660 is enough to grow ANYTHING in the reefkeeping hobby, and i suspect its more than enough for the orchids.

[Tindomul]

Do you know of any online links with pictures? I'de like to see this. Thanks!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by armagedon48

T5s are becoming very popular in reef-keeping. some people preferr them over the metal halides because of the lower energy used.
i didnt see anyone mention the individual reflectors used for T5s. they are made by icecap and aparently double the output of the T5s. i know that 6 T5s with individual reflectors running on an icecap 660 is enough to grow ANYTHING in the reefkeeping hobby, and i suspect its more than enough for the orchids.

How would this be possible? Think about it, to double the output you'd havr to modify the tube itself. 5000 lumens is what a 48" tube puts out - that's it. I think you mean that the reflector makes it possible to project most of the lumens down. What's new about that? My 4 tube fixture has 4 individual reflectors - 1 for each tube. Hydroponics folks use 8 tube fixtures.

[jmmehler]

I started out with a 4' 4 lamp t8 (32 watt) fixture from Home Depot but found that while it would bloom phals, it just wasn't enough light. I have since purchased 4 High Output (54 watt) fixtures from 2 different vendors. These put out twice the lumens as the 32 watt fixture. Still not sure they will make my cattleyas bloom but time will tell. Also found a method of using one single, and one double 1" pulley (from Loews), and para-cord to create a method of hoisting the fixture up and down.