Things to Know About Lighting

Contributed by: removed user 08/18/04
submitted: July 6, 2003

This is a compilation of basic information on fluorescent lighting that I have gathered over a period of several months.



artwork provided by: ReSoNiC420

What is a fluorescent light?
A fluorescent light is made up of a glass tube coated with phosphor, which is filled with a mixture of gases. When electrical current is applied, it "excites" the gases, causing the tube to glow brightly. ie: to "fluores".

Why do fluorescent lights have different colors?
The tubing is coated with phosphor, which will determine the color of the bulb.



What diameters of fluorescent tubes are available?These are the most widely used diameter fluorescent tube size is T-5, T-8 T-10, T-12. Bulb sizes (meaning diameters) vary from .25 up to 1.5 inch, the larger in diameter the larger the fluorescent.

What length is most used?
There is a wide variety of lengths from 6 to 96 inch, the most widely used is a 48 inch fixture.

What wattage is there to use?
Fluorescents come in a wide range of watts any where from 4 to 214 watts that I have found.




Why does my bulb flicker?
Fluorescent tubes are rated by hours, these hours vary by the manufacture, the most common rated hours are from 6000-22000 hrs. The bulb flickering can also be caused by a poorly seated tube (poor receptacle contacts), a ballast or starter going bad or a tube wearing out such as shown in the photograph.

How do I dispose of these lights when they are broke?
Although commercially generated fluorescent lights are required by law, to be handled separately from general trash. Residents are allowed to dispose of them with the rest of their household garbage.

Where can I purchase fluorescent tubes, and how much do they cost?
Fluorescents can be purchased at all home improvement centers, hardware stores, and most pet supply stores or you can go to internet sites such as http://www.1000bulbs.com/. The cost may vary depending were you reside, but the typical cost is a few dollar's for a pack of two bulbs.



Who manufactures these lights?
These are the most reliable companies on the market today: Sylvania, Westinghouse, General Electric.

What are lumens?
Lumens are the unit of measure that state the amount of light output produced by a light source. The higher the lumens, the greater the light output. The standard fluorescent tube should produce at least (3000-3300) lumens.

How can I optimize the light output?
You can help reflect the light out of each tube, by using metal foil tape as a reflector, attached directly to the tube as shown in this faq. click here Using clear plastic safety sleeves over the fluorescent tubes allows you to recycle the metal foil reflective tape.





What is a Kelvin scale?
One way light is measured is on a Kelvin scale. A Kelvin scale expresses the exact color the bulb emits. Bulbs in the range of 2700 to 6500 on a Kelvin scale is ideal for growing marijuana. Plants respond not only to the quantity of light, but also the quality.
* artwork provided by: ReSoNiC420 (click chart to enlarge)







What color spectrums are available in fluorescent bulbs?
Fluorescent bulbs have the most range of spectrums than any other bulb. The spectrum comes in various spectrums, determined by the type of phosphor with which the bulb is coated. The following fluorescent types are as listed, along with what they may accomplish for you.

Full spectrum fluorescent bulbs have all the colors of the Kelvin scale. This bulb is good for vegetation stage. Note: This spectrum fluorescent is used in hospitals nationwide in helping people with "depression".

Wide spectrum fluorescent bulbs will restrict development of side branching, helps plants mature faster. This fluorescent is high in the red, orange and yellow color range. In fact, this fluorescent is the highest than all other fluorescent bulbs. As a matter of fact, this fluorescent is much like an HPS color range, which makes it the best all around choice for flowering stage.

Daylight spectrum fluorescent bulbs are very high (if not the highest) in the blue range on the Kelvin scale. This fluorescent promotes an arctic blue look. I suggest this fluorescent during vegetation stage.

Cool spectrum fluorescent bulbs will promote multiple side growth, nice green foliage. This fluorescent is high in the blue range, giving off a bright white appearance. I suggest this fluorescent for vegetation stage.

Warm spectrum fluorescent, will promote extra thick stems and branches, and will give you about 5% denser buds than other spectrums. This fluorescent is high in the red range on the Kelvin scale.

In the old school of fluorescent growing, an even mix of warm white and cool white tubes has been proven to be the best combination of light spectrums to use for flowering stage. If wide spectrum bulbs are unavailable in your area, then this is the combo to use.





Do fluorescent tubes need air circulation? Fluorescent tubes do get warm, but not if they have adequate air circulation. A simple fan blowing over the fixtures as shown, will help a great deal to cool the tubes.
If its done properly, any stray foliage that comes in contact with the tubes will not be harmed.

here then is this true............What is Lumen output of these lamps ?
Though given, it is irrelevent ! Lumens are for Humans not plants ! Lumens measure how we see light. Our eyes prefer green light. Green light has the most Lumens, Red and Blue the least. Most fluorescent lamps are made to look bright for humans by adding huge spikes of greeny yellow light.
Lumens only measure how BRIGHT the light appears to us.
Lumens cannot measure light useful to plants - PUR

*What is the Kelvin colour temperature of these lamps ?
The Red and Blue lamps DO have a Kelvin colour specification, but the PURple™ does not.
The Kelvin color simply describes to which temperature a block of Carbon must be heated in order to match the apparent colour of the lamp.
It does not measure the Quantity OR Quality of the light for growing plants.
PURple™ does not appear in the Kelvin scale as it is a mix of TWO colours.

What is the CRI ?
CRI allows comparison between different lamps ability to render color, It measures how much the Red and Green and Blue reflected light, looks RIGHT to our eyes.
It does not measure the Quantity or Quality of light useful to plants - PUR

want to know theses any gud...........

Control the shape and growth of your plants with light - Photoponics.

Introducing Nlite™ - a range of Quality Fluorescent lamps designed for PLANTS (also perfect for aquaria and reptiles).

Each lamp has choice of 3 colours :- Blue and Red and PURple™.


PURple™ ? YES. Introducing the Nlite™ PURple™

PUR stands for Photosynthetically Useful Radiation.

Humans are most sensitive to green light (green curve below). Wide spectrum light with lots of green appears to us as white.
Plants use a part of the sun's spectral range to grow. This is known as the PLANT ACTION SPECTRUM. (yellow curve)

Light energy in this range is measured as PAR - Photosynthetically Active Radiation.
Plants look green because they reflect most green light, and absorb most red and blue.
Plants therefore respond more to light from the RED and BLUE ends of the plant action spectrum.
PURple lamps have this ideal spectrum shaped the way plants "see" the light. (white curve) ( a little spike of green is left to allow US to see plants lit by PURple)

PUR is the amount of the PAR that the plants use efficiently.

Nlite™ lamps are made in 3 PUR colours. Plants change their growth response to different levels of these PUR colours :-

• PURple - The Ultimate 100% PUR. Purple is perfect for all stages of plant growth, germination, root development, tuber and bulb formation and gives lots of internodal growth, and budsites. Great for orchids, cacti, ethnobotanicals, coral, sea plants etc. A small amount of NEAR UV ensures good production of essential oils - Great for Basil and other aromatic herbs.
• BLUE. stimulates chlorophyll production more than any other colour, encouraging thick leaves, strong stems and compact vegatitive and leafy growth, keeps internodes close. Great for seedlings and cuttings. Perfect for plants cropped before flowering stage, such as lettuce and cress. With only blue light your plants stay short, and maturity takes much longer
• RED encouages maturation of fruit and flowers towards the end of growth cycle. Use exclusively for the finishing period to maximise your fruit or flower yields. Perfect for flowers, peppers, and tomatoes. Too much red and no blue early on will S...t......r....e.......t.....c....h... your plants and increase internode distance.

(Blue and Red Nlites™ are available here)
(By contrast HPS lamps give out 100% PAR, but only 33% PUR ! mostly they give out green and yellow and harmful infra red)

We recommend greater than 50 watts of Nlite™per 30cm x 30cm (square foot) of horizontal canopy. Light distance can be as little as 3cm, the closer the better.



All Nlites™ are T5HO ! Thats 48% more light than standard T5.
Nlite™ Fluorescents have these Features and Benefits:-

1. Low Power Operation , thus saving costs and earth resources
2. Low working temperature allowing more light closer to your plants because of massive heat reduction.
3. • 200W professional versions use separate ballasts to massively increase control over infra-red radiation (damages all plants), heat build-up, safety and humidity problems.
   • Seperate ballasts reduce future Economical and Environmental costs, only replacement lamps are needed. This significanly reduces replacement costs in subsequent grow cycles.
   • Separate ballasts increase light output, reduce electricity use. and run silently
4. Plastic shell is made of recycled material.
5. Reliable.
6. 6 MONTH GUARANTEE against manufacturing defects.
7. Best Quality well engineered PLANT fluorescent lamps.
8. Compatible with ordinary E40 screw lighting fixture.

FAQS
What is Lumen output of these lamps ?
Though given, it is irrelevent ! Lumens are for Humans not plants ! Lumens measure how we see light. Our eyes prefer green light. Green light has the most Lumens, Red and Blue the least. Most fluorescent lamps are made to look bright for humans by adding huge spikes of greeny yellow light.
Lumens only measure how BRIGHT the light appears to us.
Lumens cannot measure light useful to plants - PUR

*What is the Kelvin colour temperature of these lamps ?
The Red and Blue lamps DO have a Kelvin colour specification, but the PURple™ does not.
The Kelvin color simply describes to which temperature a block of Carbon must be heated in order to match the apparent colour of the lamp.
It does not measure the Quantity OR Quality of the light for growing plants.
PURple™ does not appear in the Kelvin scale as it is a mix of TWO colours.

What is the CRI ?
CRI allows comparison between different lamps ability to render color, It measures how much the Red and Green and Blue reflected light, looks RIGHT to our eyes.
It does not measure the Quantity or Quality of light useful to plants - PUR

anyone has experience with these NLITEs...and PURple...

these are hands down, the most informative posts I have ever run across on lighting, CFL in particular. thanx.

you need a good light? go to any large construction site and steal a 400w mh wobble light. they are all over large site.

Does anyone know where you can buy these in the US?

Originally Posted by 1stymer

you need a good light? go to any large construction site and steal a 400w mh wobble light. they are all over large site.

Yup yup...I'm a general contractor...they are in fact all over large construction sites.

HOWEVER I HIGHLY DISCOURAGE STEALING FROM CONSTRUCTION SITES...IT'S DARK, THERE'S NO ONE AROUND...THEIVES THAT ARE CAUGHT ARE GENERALLY DEALT WITH SEVERLY WHEN CAUGHT IN DARK PLACES WITH NO WITNESSES.

BESIDES IT'S JUST FAWKING WRONG TO STEAL AND ALMOST AS WRONG TO CONDONE OR SUGGEST IT. BAD FORM MY FRIEND, BAD FORM!!!!!!

and on a more personal note...thanks, it's people like you that cost me hundreds of thousands of dollars a year replacing crap I find stolen, you know we can't work when you steal our stuff?!!?!?! Oh and those lights, that's called EGRESS LIGHTING, it's sole purpose is so we don't trip and kill ourselves at 5am when the fawking sun isn't even up yet. And when it's not in place OSHA comes and shuts down our job site because we are then in violation of federally mandated construction safety laws!!! Makes me sick when I have to be woken up by my Foreman because someone stole from our job site!!!!

YOU WANNA GROW POT FINE...DON'T STEAL FROM HARDWORKING PEOPLE TO DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!