has anyone heard of the use of sulfur plasma lights for growing, ive been reading some web pages about it, that say its the best lighting possible for horticulture.

Sulfur-Plasma.com | Technical

I've read some about Sulphur plasma lights and as far as I'm aware, they're simply too expensive at the moment to be a viable option for home growing. Their spectral output is broadly similar to a Metal Halide bulb but with an enhanced spectral output around the red region, basically making a comparison to a Metal Halide bulb similar in some ways to the comparison to an 'enhanced blue output' HPS bulb, only the other way round, this time the reds enhanced.

I don't see people switching wholesale over to Suphur plasma's anytime soon however.

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Mandala Seeds Kalichakra and Satori Grow
Holefillers 0.6gram per watt 64w Micro Grow

There is a key flaw to the design on any microwave-plasma lamps... The bulb must be physically spinning in order for the plasma to be uniform and create the uniform density to create the necessary light. As a result the lamps require not only a magnetron (for the microwaves) but a motor as well. Magnetrons burn out, as do motors while the latter creates a good deal of noise. If the motor breaks, your bulb will melt and/or explode.

Here is a diagram of the basic design principal:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/9/98/Sulfur_lamp_diagram.jpg">

The other issue is the heat created, although it is not infrared heat and thus is not radiated outward it still can heat the air around it so enclosed spaces are not a good idea. Also, most lamps, even with the bulb spinning, require air cooling. Yet another mechanical device that can, and will eventually fail. These issues are what have prevented the microwave sulphur-plasma lamp from becoming popular, it was originally developed in the late 90's by the US Department of Energy and even with 50 million dollars they couldn't find a way around it.

LG has recently created a commercially available line of these lamps for street lighting, horticultural lighting etc. They seem to be taking a gamble but these guys have more money then god for development so who knows, maybe it will one day replace HPS/MH but so far most plasma lamps are 1000w

Here is a good place to start:
Sulfur lamp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Let me slip out of consciousness and into something a little more comfortable...

:wow:



thats pretty damn good..

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