light is perhaps one of the most authoritative vista of growing a crop , and just as you would spend money and clip to upkeep a car to ensure it break away properly , a lighting organization needs maintenance also . Grow lights need to be cleaned , re - lamped , and tested to insure they are still working well : if not , you may run into problems such as slacken crop growth , increase harvest cycles , and an overall passing in crop productivity which can direct to lost profits . In this clause , P.L. Light Systems discusses 10 ways to keep your luminaires keep so you remain to have optimal PAR output while check high crop yields and peak efficiency .
Keep a re - lamping schedule . lamp used in horticultural lighting do not “ bite out ” like home lamps and necessitate to be replace after so many hours of use . As you’re able to see from the chart below , idle output diminishes after every 1000 60 minutes of use with HPS lamps . " We recommend re - lamping after 10,000 hours of use , which may be anywhere from 2 - 5 years depending on how often you apply your lights . It is crucial to notice that every 1 % loss in twinkle equals a 1 % loss in product – and after around 10,000 hours of usance , your light output has belittle by 7 - 8 % , " the squad with P.L. Light Systems says . For CMH or MH lamps , that interval is even earlier , and they need to be replaced at around 8000 hours .
Decreased lamp yield is even more pronounced in only source indoor applications , where there is no natural sunlight to offset the associate disparagement in light . These growers may see a greater going in craw productivity as they go over 10,000 burn off hours . Additionally , when you are re - lamping , make trusted that your lamps are installed correctly . If they are not installed properly , you could experience lamp failure .
Check your clear production using a light meterto see how much light you are really getting , which can be done after 2 - 3 twelvemonth of luminaire use . it’s advised to use a quantum - sensor ( PAR - sensor ) for the measurement . To get a measurement , stick out in the middle between 4 luminaires as you would see on your lite architectural plan , and take measuring at the crop level . Be careful that there are no shadows , objects , or anything else that might interpose with the reading . Something to also be aware of is to check that your light meter is graduate . Just like other equipment ( a pH beat , for deterrent example ) , a weak meter also needs to be calibrate to assure precise reading .
Look for consistency in your firing . Do all the lamps look to be the same in light output when you look up at them or do some look dimmer than others ? If so , this may think of that you need to re - lamp . Having uneven light output will affect growth and yields .
Clean your reflectors every yr . Reflectors can become dirty with rubble and grime , which can reduce light output signal by up to 10 % . A style to increase your light output signal is to clean them with a unsubdivided vinegar and water solution , which can best be done in summer when you are not using your luminaires .
Remember to dust off and clean your outdoor K - LUX , or other outdoor light sensors . These detector are designed to tell you when natural sundown and sunrise are , so your climate computer software fuck when to turn on or off your lights . If they are dusty or dirty , they may be getting wrong readings and your luminaires may be turn on unnecessarily early .
retrieve to scavenge shade compounds . If you are using whitewashing or other shade chemical compound on your greenhouse , be sure to have it cleaned when you bulge out to use your brightness . Whitewash actually blocks a portion of blue wavelengths , which can lead in plants load more as the red / far - red wavelengths will be more prominent in the greenhouse , which can activate a stretching and shade shunning response .
Are your capacitors lick ? If you are still using Old magnetic ballast resistor technology , ensure your electrical condenser are working . If you have spoilt capacitors , you might feel ignition failure when re - lamping . It can be a good idea to replace your capacitors or think upgrading your lighting system to electronic ballasts or LED luminaires .
It is important to sleep with that dissimilar manufacturer ’ luminaires distribute luminosity differently , and a tripping plan from one manufacturer will take issue from the next : you could not just swap out one luminaire with another and ask the same results . consult with a professional light company is always a well musical theme , as well as get a light-headed plan before any novel luminaire installment , and always follow the light architectural plan given .
try on changing the reflecting telescope . Do you want to get more luminance down deeper in the crop or want a wide field of illumination ? An well-off style to change the distribution of your HID luminaire is to change the reflector . P.Ll Light Systems offer two form of reflectors , the Beta reflector which diffuse light more deeply down into the canopy , and the Alpha reflector , which distributes light in a wide-cut illumination field .
Order early . If you need new lamps or other replacement parts , do so as early as possible . This ensure you get the parts when you want them , and you are not rushing last arcminute to try and get what you want .
