Grow Light

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by mazambo, Sep 16, 2018.

  1. Linz

    Linz Total Gardener

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    Not so much wildlife but thieves.
     
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    • andrews

      andrews Super Gardener

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      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
       
    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

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      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...
       
    • mazambo

      mazambo Forever Learning

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

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    • andrews

      andrews Super Gardener

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      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.
       
      Last edited: Sep 18, 2018
    • mazambo

      mazambo Forever Learning

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

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      • joolz68

        joolz68 Total Gardener

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

          rustyroots Total Gardener

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          • ricky101

            ricky101 Total Gardener

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            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 ?
             
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Don't seem enough for grow lamps. My old T5 fluorescent setup achieves about 12,000 lumens. Maybe that figure is per tube?
             
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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            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.
             
          • JWK

            JWK Gardener Staff Member

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            Good choice @joolz68 that is a respectable brand and that model gets good reviews. Should really help you get off to a good start. I would still wait till march before sowing tomatoes though.

            Maybe use them to get an earlier start for peppers and chillies.
             
          • ricky101

            ricky101 Total Gardener

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            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.
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              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.
               
            • joolz68

              joolz68 Total Gardener

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              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 :yes: so i think il be buying a lot more lights from now on..furnitures over rated who needs it :heehee: x
               
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