Grow Light

Not so much wildlife but thieves.

 

That would be my biggest concern. We don't get any issues but bright light doesn't only attract moths and I don't want to encourage potential issues

 

Here's what I would do. And did. Instead of putting out big money, order one of those cheapie Chinese made led strips with colour changing controller from abay ore amazon. String it around and test. Cost about £15 you'll see brightness etc. 18x30 is a huge area to light with the units you were looking at. Tney are bright but their benefits are not much larger than their physical footprint.

Play first, then pay for what works.

Plus a string would not be so easy a target being not very portable.

I've still got some strings in my outdoor greenhouses just for illumination. Run from solar powered batteries and timed to turn off , long before the big dipper shows up.

That would be about 10 our time...

 

I have a set of these on the way they look ideal for me.

 

Apologies. I meant to add that the area that I want to add the lights to is 1m x 2m. Its the heated bed where I am propagating. Established plants will be fine in the tunnel. Some are over-wintered in the garage previously which only has a west facing window.

 

Ok don't laugh, got my light up today, just enough for my needs, a couple of heated propagators.

 

Ive just ordered a Viparspectra P1000 just to start tomatoes & peppers off reallybut knowing me i will get giddy and end up with more

 

I ordered these 4ft LED lights from Amazon.
2200 Lumins with 6500k. They link together so you can configure how you need them (single, Double,Triple). They are so bright. I need to get them set up this week.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Barrina-Integrated-Fixture-Utility-electric/dp/B01HBT3BVM
Rusty

 

Hi @rustyroots

Just looking at that link, though it shows a non UK mains type plug, not sure what mains voltage the are supposed to use.

The lamps specifications just states 100v , no AC or DC, though that could be the internal voltage for the actual led strip ??

Might be worth checking what mains voltage they are designed for, though you would assume its EU/UK 230v nominal ?

 

I've never used grow lamps but I seem to remember something about them being the right wavelength.
So I got the impression just normal domestic lighting was not right for the job.
Can someone explain it for me.

 

Can be a complex subject, but put simply a household bulb is often classed as Warm White meaning its a quiet yellowish ouput, that given a technical value of around 3500k somewhat lower that what we called Daylight.

You can buy Daylight household bulbs, usually with a blueish tint to the glass, that produces a light similar to daylight, often used by keen hobbyists doing close work.
They produce most of their light in the 6500k range

If selecting a LED light they are similary classed in various Whites from 3000k to 10000k.

A 6500k bulb, tube or LED will probably give perfectly good growing results for the greenhouse.

Of course , growers have refined their lamps to give optimum output for the plants, so you often see lights with white, blue and red coloured leds, but that another story and another payday as their cost can be many hundeds of pounds depending on your choice /needs.

 

Ok, so for someone that was brought up on 45 watt, 60watt and 100watt bulbs.
What is the difference between lumens and K.
Does the lumens make any difference when using them as grolights.

 

Thanks @JWK,I did Um & Ar for a while between the Vipar and Mars Hydro but i prefer the look of the Vipar,its only january so im not in rush,need to buy some toms as i got my own place and lost all my seeds save,potting shed & greenhouse etc but gained indoors to grow so i think il be buying a lot more lights from now on..furnitures over rated who needs it x