There are a number of
different types of greenhouse lights available to gardeners. The first two
greenhouse gens have been in use for many years. Metal halide and High Pressure
Sodium (HPS) are the two most popular greenhouse lights available. Both of these
types of light provide a nice level of natural lighting and are low energy
producing, but both can be expensive to run. The difference between the two
types of lights is in the type of electron transfer function that each
produces. HPS lamps put transverse light into the greenhouse where it is used
for photosynthesis while HPS does not.
Metal halide and High
Pressure Sodium (HPS) both use electrons from the plants in the greenhouse as
power for photosynthesis. Because both types of light provide the necessary
electron transfer, they both run efficiently but can be expensive to operate.
HPS is more efficient because it runs at a lower amperage than HPS lamps but it
has a higher pulse width which means less energy is wasted. Metal halide also
runs a bit cooler than HPS making it more energy efficient but again it runs at
a higher pulse width which means less energy is wasted. It has been suggested
that if you use both types of lighting, the pulse width will have to be varied
in order to get the best amount of color for your photosynthesis. This is
because blue and red wavelengths need different amounts of blue and red light
to activate photosynthesis respectively.
Greenhouse lights can
be further divided into two groups: those that use diodes or LEDs, and those
that use glazing. If you use LEDs, the most popular form of green house
lighting is the glass greenhouse with LED lights fitted inside. However, as
they are becoming more popular, and especially because of the growing
popularity of solar energy, many gardeners are now opting for metal halide
lamps which run at a lower amperage but still give off a good amount of light
for the greenhouse. Because they use a semiconductor to convert the light
instead of a fluorescent lamp, LEDs can produce light at a higher luminosity
but their operation is slower and their power consumption higher.
Glass Greenhouse
Lights: Glass greenhouse lights consist of a glass casing that contains a thin
sheet of metal, often tungsten carbide (Tungsten Carbide, TM) that reflects the
light back into the greenhouse. This reduces the energy needed to keep the
plants alive. Glazing consists of several layers made of materials that are
deposited on the inside of the glass to form a tight seal, thereby creating an
insulating barrier that allows heat to be trapped between the layers.
Greenhouse gasses are then exchanged through vents that are positioned at the
bottom of the glazing, thus eliminating any evaporation of moisture from the
plant roots.
HPS Grow Lights: Also
known as High Pressure Sodium, or HDPS, these lamps are generally made of
plastic and use one long tube to emit positive ions (Ca++), which in turn light
up the plant. A metal negative ion provider, such as sodium hypochlorite, is
also used to convert light to negatively charged ions for faster
photosynthesis. Compared to other forms of lighting available in the market,
HDPS have a higher heat output, thereby making them more efficient and cheaper
compared to fluorescent bulbs. They also have longer wavelengths, thus allowing
a wider range of wavelengths of blue light, which is ideal for plants growing
in alkaline soils. However, since HDPS emit a large amount of heat, they are
unsuitable for plants growing in extremely hot or cold weather conditions.
Compact Fluorescent
Lights: Compared to LED, Halogen and HPS, Compact Fluorescent Lights is very
efficient and is used for a wide variety of growing plants. These are also
inexpensive compared to other popular types of lights available in the market
today. In fact, due to their very high efficiency and low cost, Compact
Fluorescent Lights is currently the cheapest source of energy available for
indoor gardening. Due to their efficacy, they are used for indoor growing
plants in areas where fluorescent lights are not allowed due to safety issues.
In areas where fluorescent lights are allowed, Compact Fluorescent Lights
account for a major part of the energy supply. This makes them good choices for
people who wish to save money while growing their crops.
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