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09-27-2013, 08:42 AM
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 753
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer
@Ray (but others feel free to chime in)
To adequately light a growing space (shelf) that is 20 x 64 inches, how many of these lamps would you need? How high above the leaves should they be suspended? How should they be arrayed?
To keep it simple, let's assume everything on the shelf needs Phalaenopsis type light.
Thanks!
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Back to Orchid Whisperer's question: if you place your overhead lights about 2 - 2.5 ft above the shelf (60-80 cm), the spread of effective light will cover roughly the same distance squared. The shape will be slightly rectangular because the lights are rectangular. So in length, the light coverage could well extend to 3 ft (90 cm) But is one light sufficient for the plants? That depends on whether or not it's the only source of light. If you're growing in the basement in a 100% artificial light setup, I would get 4 lights. If you're growing on a north-facing windowsill in the winter, you could get away with less.
All smartphones now have free or very low cost light meter apps, so use one to find out how many lumens good quality daylight puts out, and add artificial lights until you get the same value.
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09-27-2013, 11:09 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oak Island NC
Posts: 15,191
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mexorchid
Ray, do you know the wave length of the red LEDs they put? Does the light still look white, or does it now look red-ish?
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Finally heard back - the red chips are 640 nm, according the the manufacturer. As I think I said earlier - they look white, not orange, to the eye.
I am looking at another, larger array - 48 x 3W with lenses - consisting of 650nm red, warm & cool white. Still prefer such a combo for viewing, and they seem to grow well, too.
Anyone have a recommendation as to the preferred lens dispersion angle?
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09-27-2013, 12:33 PM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
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Ray, my current challenge is adequately lighting vertical installations. My new living wall design has been generating a lot of interest from architects, and I need to resolve the lighting issue. So the lens on the lights is very important. The lights will be mounted a bit below the ceiling, a few feet away from the wall, and will aim downward. So the bottom of the wall must receive enough light to grow something, although obviously not high light plants.
What would be most helpful is several housings/lenses to choose from - some people need to have their plants grow on shelves, so in order to maximize space, the shelves need to be some minimum distance apart. Others grow on windowsills with supplemental lights, so they need to be able to mount the lights several feet up and still get the benefit. It would be great to be able to choose.
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09-27-2013, 12:51 PM
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Join Date: Jul 2012
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Location: Athens, Georgia, USA
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Thanks to everyone that has commented on my question!
For those that are wondering, I grow April-October outdoors, weather permitting, so as many as 7 months (to as little as 6 months) outdoors, the lights are for growing during the winter months. It sounds like 3 to 4 lights are needed, more probably better. My existing lights on the shelves I have now are all fluorescent daylight T8s. The lights I am asking about are for an additional shelf I am thinking of adding.
Thanks again
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09-27-2013, 02:44 PM
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Join Date: Apr 2012
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Location: Fairbanks, AK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ray
Finally heard back - the red chips are 640 nm, according the the manufacturer. As I think I said earlier - they look white, not orange, to the eye.
I am looking at another, larger array - 48 x 3W with lenses - consisting of 650nm red, warm & cool white. Still prefer such a combo for viewing, and they seem to grow well, too.
Anyone have a recommendation as to the preferred lens dispersion angle?
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That will be nice, Ray. I personally prefer relatively wide angle (like 120-90), so I can put it closer to plants, and the lower leaves can get illuminated.
I guess you can't go with reflector type design, instead of lens, can you? Something like:
LED growlight
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09-27-2013, 06:09 PM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oak Island NC
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These come stock with 120° lenses. My only design options were the blend of chips - and with the white ones, they suggested that, to avoid heat degradation of the chips, I had to reduce the panel from 60 to 48 LEDS, even with active fan cooling built in.
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10-16-2013, 06:58 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Zone: 5b
Location: Charleston, West Virginia
Age: 50
Posts: 85
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If you are willing to spend all this money on LEDS and getting it just right, for the love of God buy a Light Meter.
F-U-N-D-A-M-E-N-T-A-L.
If you do not have a PH meter, all the formula in the world if bogus unless you can measure - your guessing the salts in the water, guessing the impact of this brand or that brand on your final PH.
and if you do not know the PH you can forget about being a pro grower.
Same with lights - get a light meter and worry about the intensity first and foremost.
Once you've got it bright enough or near enough you can start messing around with light formula.
And remember, light mixes are worthless if your feeding regime, light hours and temperatures are out of whack.
I can grow a Phal under 1000 foot candles or adjust the conditions to grow it under 3,000 foot candles.
Whats your CO2 level? Whats your temp? Day and night? Whats your feeding schedule at the salt readings? your PH?
If your asking what the best mix is for light without being a pro than go with just a regular fluro and some red and blue LEDs.
The mix ratio? watch the plant and it will tell you whats missing - give it a month.
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12-10-2013, 07:59 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
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Location: SF Bay Area
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Ray, can you tell me more about your T8 LED 4-foot Lamp? I was looking into T5 fixtures, but I like the idea of these. I want to set up a grow rack with shelves that measure 48" wide by 18" deep. How many of these would I need per shelf to grow phalaenopsis, and how high above the foliage should the lights be to light the space? What about for plants that need med/high light like mini cattleyas? I hope these questions aren't too specific. Thanks!
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12-11-2013, 09:16 AM
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Join Date: May 2005
Location: Oak Island NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by seaj
Ray, can you tell me more about your T8 LED 4-foot Lamp? I was looking into T5 fixtures, but I like the idea of these. I want to set up a grow rack with shelves that measure 48" wide by 18" deep. How many of these would I need per shelf to grow phalaenopsis, and how high above the foliage should the lights be to light the space? What about for plants that need med/high light like mini cattleyas? I hope these questions aren't too specific. Thanks!
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They are intended to be drop-in replacements (light wise) for T8 fluorecents, but I have no first-hand experience growing under either.
I would probably use two tubes per shelf, and 10"-12", maybe less.
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02-10-2014, 02:31 PM
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Jr. Member
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Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 2
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I know these LEDs fit regular incandescent sockets, but what size does the lamp have to be? Is the LED the same length as a regular incandescent bulb? I'm trying to understand what kind of lamp to get.
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