GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post - Very high-intensity flourescent lights

Nancy G. · 05-09-2006, 05:33 PM posted to rec.gardens.orchids

wrote:
On 5 Sep 2006 06:15:06 -0700 in . com wrote:

Ray wrote:
Pictures, not that I can remember, but I have seen them in person, and at a
casual glance, inside the vinyl tube, it's hard to tell the difference. You
can easily see the difference upon close inspection, and the light quality
gives it away too.

The idea of these things strung all over a plant room brings to mind
the image of a tacky chinese restaurant. Maybe they could be equipped
with blinkers, just for kicks.

Can one of the folks here write up a fake academia article as to the
need of that?

I found a cheap buffet frame that I want to convert to a growing case.
The inside dimensions are 50" x 17". After I measured it, thought that
the inside was a little shallow (14" or thereabouts). for a florescent
light, even though it is long enough for a 4' light. I researched the
LED grow lights. One was 3" diameter and had 64 LED's (yes I counted
them) It had 44 white, 10 red, 10 blue per 3" unit. I think I would
need 3 for the inside of the cabinet. With a socket and wiring, it
would still need about 2" clearance.

Now for the leap. The inside has 850 sq inches. With 1/2 inch
diameter (estimate) for the rope lights, theoretically it would take
1700 linear inches for a solid line of the ropes. There would be a
reduction based on the loss for curving around the inside at corners
and for the spiral. A 20' (240") rope light has a LED every 6"or 40
LED's total. I would use 4 strings of white, 1 each string of red and
blue LED, total 1440 linear inches. I would practice first with 1/2"
rope first for exact length and installation pattern, then order the
light strings during the preparation. (You have to have time for the
paint to dry)

During assembly, I would invert the cabinet, Seal and paint the inside
with white exterior paint, line the top with Mylar. Add (current
estimate) 4 strings of white in clear tube, between that add the
colored LED strings, add a fine wire grid for support (Okay chicken
wire). The total number of LED = 240, the equivalence of 4 of the 3"
units. The rope lights are prewired with plug, insulated, and rated
for outside use. The light would be more diffuse, not concentrated on
points within the grow cabinet, and still only require 1/2" clearance.
The inside sealed and reflective, the doors acrylic, drawer glides for
the trays, a hole drilled into the bottom to collect run off, drill
holes in the back for cords passed through a split rubber grommets.
Power strip attached to the back of the cabinet for timer and fans. It
might be a real kluge, then again it might work and be attractive.

In the meantime, my recently deflasked seedlings are on shelves with
shoplights on timers. Each shoplight has 2 ea 6500K bulb, one light
per shelf about 14" above the plants. Maybe not the best, but seems to
be working for now. I could lower the lights some, they are on the
greatest distance from the plants. 2 racks, 4 shelves, 4 lights.

Nancy