The Importance of Hydroponic LED Lights

April Kerr asked:


Growing plants with a hydroponic system is becoming a lot more popular for a variety of reasons however it’s important that you understand that there are a number of different items you will require to carry out this effectively. Because you are growing plants in a wholly unnatural environment, you will want to make sure that all the different elements are given to the plants. One of the most important elements of course is light.

Plants take the light and turn it into energy using a process called photosynthesis. This is not just an option, it a necessity and will ensure that you have plants that thrive and give you the results you are looking for. Luckily there are ways to fool plants into thinking that they have been given all the light they need, and for this you will need LED grow lights.

You might already know what an LED is from physics class but if not then LED stands for light emitting diode. Basically it’s a very simple semiconductor which has diodes that have terminals that allow current to flow in just the one direction.

There are many things that need to happen in order for an LED light to work however you will end up with different colors of lighting depending on the gap that is present between the electron chain. The size of this gap changes the frequency and this is how the color is affected. LED lights are used for many purposes other than in hydroponics and you will see them in electrical items such as TV remote controls.

When you grown any plant indoors then you will need to make sure that you provide an excellent light source for your plants because you are not giving them natural daylight. The light that you provide directly affects the plants health and is the difference between poor quality plants and lush healthy plants. Blue lights are used for plants that are very young and need to mature. However orange and red lights are used for those plants that are already fairly mature or are flowering or producing fruits. So don’t base your buying decision on what your favourite color is. This is not how hydroponic lighting works. The color you choose will depend on what type of plant you want to grow.

The problem often experienced with other types of lighting is that fact that they get hot and this can easily damage the plants you are trying to care for. With LED lighting this isn’t a problem you need to concern yourself with. Another benefit is that they have a longer lifespan compared to other lighting.

LED lighting isn’t the only type of light you can buy. There are other options such as HID, MH and HPS. It’s well worth reading up on all the lighting options available to you so that you can become a really great hydroponics expert.



Where $60 MILLION dollars in LED Research is going…

Blue LED + Yellow + Orange = ?

Blue LED + Yellow + Orange = ?

So where does $60 million in LED research going? It seems a large chunk of grants from the department of Energy is going towards improving the 3 things that we’ve been talking about for a while: Price, light output and color.

  1. Price - Bringing down manufacturing costs and ultimate end costs to the consumer by improving the materials used and finding cheaper alternatives to creating LEDs.
  2. Light Output - Focusing on creating LED dies that are brighter, lenses that don’t cut light output and cover the LED “dots” that people see in bulbs and fixture, as well as creating fixtures that can be used by consumers that are bright enough to replace a 100W incandescent bulb.
  3. Improving the color output - Researching new phosphor materials (which are currently being used in fluorescent lighting as well) that make LED light “warmer”

Looks like CREE, Philips and GE are receiving the bulk of grant money. It will be interesting to see what they can come up with as well as what the future brings for LED lighting… My question is how long until all this great research is APPLICABLE to us? 2,3,4 years? Let’s hope not…

Source: Popular Mechanics

Led Police Lights

Chris Dallman asked:


LED Police Lights have a great significance in alerting people and differentiating the police vehicles from the ordinary cars. You cannot spot a car whether it is a regular one or the police car, until and unless you see the police lights. These lights are being used since 1960s’ and are becoming very popular these days due to their excellent specifications.

Light Emitting Diodes

“Light Emitting Diodes” is the expansion for the abbreviation LED. In the world of electronics, LED’s accomplish numerous jobs. From digital clocks to remote controls, watches and lights, these LED’s are exercised in every field and gadget. As a point of fact, these LEDs’ are the light bulbs that work with the association of electrons and last long.

Most of the departments make use of LED Police Lights as the light that comes from the tiny LED bulbs is purely directional, so the light will fall at the object at which you aim it. It has been proven by the studies that the light of LEDs’ is analogous to the daylight and is much better than fluorescent bulbs. Usually, the light of halogen bulbs get scattered and due to the characteristic of directional light, most of the police lights use LEDs’.

LED Police Lights

The LED Police Lights use these semiconductor devices and produce light from the moving electrons. LED Police Lights are comparably much better than the halogen and fluorescent bulbs and don’t even shine unsteadily. These non flickering characteristics of the LED Police Lights make it extremely easy for the police officers to look for the evidences and other entities, even in the extreme gloomy conditions. The best part is that LED Police Lights are heat sensitive and last for longer durations with less consumption of energy.

Benefits of LED Police Lights

LED Police Lights have proved to be very beneficial. They are not only cost effective, but are also perfect energy savers. Some of its benefits are mentioned below.

§ LED Police Lights being directional facilitate the officers to look in for substantiations even in the darker areas.

§ LED Police Lights work well even after a rough handling.

§ Being perfect energy savers, these LED Police Lights can work for hours continually.

§ LED Police Lights work ten times better and longer than the fluorescent lights.

§ Some of the LED Police Lights have focus option with which you can simply focus on a particular area. This is just the right thing when the police wants to rescue someone.

Types of LED Police Lights

§ LED Emergent Lights

§ LED and Xenon Light Bar

§ LED Lighting

§ LED Light Bars

§ LED Flashlight

§ LED Dash Lights

§ LED Module Lights

§ LED Emergent Lamps

Availability of LED Police Lights

LED Police Lights are easily obtainable from the various traders that are present online. Various Departments of Police can even opt for purchasing these LED Police Lights from the outlets available. These lights can be purchased easily by selecting the variant.

So, decide on for LED Police Lights and save energy and money.

 



The High Performance of the UFO LED Grow Light

Susan Slobac asked:


People who enjoy indoor gardening are looking for good, bright light for their plants. In addition, they want light fixtures that are light in weight, yet offer excellent light coverage. All of these great features are available in the UFO LED. Although it looks small and round, rather like an unidentified flying object, this grow light provides amazing light at a cost-effective price.

Roughly the same size as a bread plate, the UFO LED light runs on only eighty watts of electricity yet puts out more bright light than a four-hundred watt high pressure sodium or metal halide lamp. HID, or high intensity discharge, lights, on the other hand, require seventy to eighty percent more electricity to run them at the same light capacity as the UFO LED.

Not only does it use a fraction of the energy that other grow lamps use, but it also runs very cool. This is because the UFO LED comes with three fans built in, so you will not need to purchase air-cooled ducting or reflectors and will dramatically reduce your air conditioning costs as well. A cooler running UFO LED light also ensures that you will not burn your tender plant foliage, a common problem with other types of grow lights.

Your plants will flourish under these small but very powerful lights. A UFO LED provides your indoor garden with eight times the light output that you would normally receive with an HPS or MH grow light. It does this through the use of several one-watt LEDs focused toward your plants, the light spectrums of the UFO LED grow light are in color temperatures and tones that your plants can actually use for photosynthesis. The light specrtrums output by the UFO LED is suitable for all phases of plant growth

With all of this remarkable lighting capacity, it is also encouraging to learn that the UFO LED light will last for eighty thousand and more hours, or the equivalent of seven to ten years of exceptional performance. The coverage area of this light is three feet by three feet, allowing you to grow a wide array of plants in that large growing space.

The UFO LED light is lightweight and very easy to use. It does not require any extra wiring or complicated setup, but can be used in the normal light sockets found in your home or greenhouse. So for high performance for low cost, the UFO LED grow light is a perfect choice. The UFO LED light is the indoor gardener’s best friend!



Audi Cars, First to Wear LED Lights

Evander Klum asked:


The Audi R8 will be the first car to wear LED headlights as an option, edmunds.com reports. The German automaker will be featuring the very first LED headlights on its new car, made in its assembly plant that also makes other quality auto parts like Audi Catalytic Converter. An LED is a semiconductor light source that emits cold light at low voltages.

Audi said, “A special permit from the EU has paved the way for incorporating front-lighting LED technology into series production ahead of schedule. This is because the corresponding EU regulation is not expected to come into force before 2008.”

The low-beam headlamps which are implemented by semiconductors consist of two LED arrays of four active elements embossed on a free-from reflector. The optical lenses are also given additional two LED chips as well as three LED arrays. LED lights are also known because of its powerful lighting effect that controls both brightness and darkness when the car needs it most.

The high beam headlights were also given four LED arrays. The LED lights can also be used during daytime and the lower edge of the new car received 24 LED array to be used during the day. The PCBs are also handling the LED chips as well as the heat sink. To keep the normal temperature of these LED lights, the car also received blower to cool them down just in case it heats up. All in all, the R8 is set to feature 54 LED lights.

The German auto maker also revealed that in the future, they are planning to combine both LED technology and the innovative semiconductor-driven headlamp technologies to improve the lighting of their cars. They will also add the swiveling headlights to the cars they are making.

The R8 is set to hit showrooms this coming 2008.

LED lights are the latest and most innovative form of headlights these days. They are also known to produce the right amount of lighting using only a few voltages. This only means that you can save more energy if your car has it.



The 2 Main Types of Deck Lighting

Richard Vande Sompel asked:


Once a deck has been constructed it is like an empty stage waiting to be furnished with such items as a table and chairs, a chaise lounger, a barbecue, portable bar and bar chairs. Electrical power can run a barbecue spit, a music sound system but best of all it can power a deck light system that will dramatically tranform an ordinary deck into a sparkling gem under the nighttime sky.

Deck illumination is divided into 2 categories: functional and decorative. Both types can be installed permanently or set up temporarily for the purposes of special occasions.

Functional deck lighting has 3 different purposes:

1. General illumination – When deciding upon a functional deck lighting system it is important to keep in mind 2 factors. Outdoor lighting does not require as much illumination as indoor lighting and any light fixtures should never be placed in such a way is to shine directly into people’s eyes. There are a variety of ways to keep lights from shining into eyes. Conceal light fixtures behind wall valances, the eaves of the roof or rafters overhead. It is also possible to mount floodlights in trees or off roof eaves so that light is directed onto the deck area at an angle of 45 degrees. Finally, it is also possible to bounce light from low level sources off the walls of the house, privacy screens or other large vertical surfaces bordering on the deck. In general make a practice of using the fewest bulbs of the highest possible wattage in this system.

2. Concentrated illumination – Any deck areas that are used for activities at night should have brighter lighting. Versatile activity lighting might be portable telescoping stands for use with floodlights that can provide simple adjustable lighting. These can be stored away when they are not in use. This type of lighting would require electrical outlets in the various areas.

3. Safety illumination – Only low levels of illumination are needed for safety lighting along stairs or walkways. It is important to ensure that the lighting itself does not throw deceptive shadows, does not create glare and is not an obstacle of any sort to trip over. Recessed light fixtures, backlighting from beneath deck edges or steps and low mushroom style fixtures are the ideal types to use in these cases.

Decorative deck lighting also has 3 different purposes:

1. Landscape illumination – The whole nighttime image of a deck can be dramatically improved by the illumination of nearby tree branches, a water feature, shrubs or a nearby garden. It is wise to experiment with the placement of floodlights to create effects such as uplighting, downlighting, silhouetting, diffusing and fill lighting. Take the time to view the effects from various parts of the yard as well as on the deck. Make sure that when you make your final choice that you position the lights so that they are not visible in daytime hours if possible.

2. Color illumination – Colorful illumination can create wonderful visual effects in and around a deck. Green light is ideal for accenting shrubs and bushes. Yellow lighting gives warmth to brown house siding. Haphazard use of color lighting however has the power to create bizarre effects sometimes. Talk to a professional if possible about this area of illumination.

3. Festive lighting – Celebrations, parties and holiday decorating can often create a need for festive lighting in or around a deck. Strings of miniature lights can be used to link deck items such as railings, pergolas, arbors, patio umbrellas, privacy screens, etc. Larger bulb light strings can be used to create party lanterns. Torches, candles and any other open flame types of illumination should be held in place securely in carefully selected locations that prevent any kind of fire related accident from occurring.

Outdoor lighting fixtures come in many shapes, sizes and of course price tags. It is a wise decision to visit local home imporvement retail outlets to see what is available. Take the time to consult with knowledgeable staff there to assist you in the planning and implementation of your deck lighting system. If possible make use of both functional lighting and decorative lighting in and around your deck so that it becomes the most attractive deck in the neighborhood.



Led Light Bulbs – Use Them To Save Energy And Money!

Jeff King asked:


Light Emitting Diodes, more often pronounced as LED light bulbs, are small size, solid light bulbs that are highly energy efficient and are vastly replacing standard Incandescent bulbs. They are very energy efficient and consume, relatively, less energy than traditional bulbs. They are very simple in use and have a long rated life.

As Led light bulbs are expensive they were not in frequent use until recently or were used as a single bulb application in lighting pens, remotes, electronic items etc. But as technology is getting improved day by day, the cost of led light bulbs is also getting lower and resulting in their use in applications where clusters of bulbs are used like battery items, flashlights and headlamps etc. Their applications are getting expanded day by day and the day is not far away when they become an inseparable part of everyday consumer electronics and would be used in a bunch without much thought required.

Traditional bulbs have a housing of glass to avoid oxygen around the flammable tungsten filament but led light bulbs have a housing of plastic that makes them easier to maintain and much more efficient. As Led light bulbs are energy saving bulbs, they consume less electricity and this results in higher cost savings. Also, as they generate less heat, they never get that hot and are far cooler.

Led light bulbs are used in applications indoors or outdoors and are vastly used in Modern Electronic Items, Traffic Lights, and Digital Clocks etc. They are also used in commercial and industrial works where maintenance and replacement cost are more important factors than operative cost. But, although led lights are replacing the other lighting technologies by leaps and bounds and revolutionizing the way the world uses lighting systems, they are still expensive and this factor cannot be avoided.

Led Light Bulb vs. Incandescent and halogen Bulb

Led light bulbs have a longer rated life than fluorescent and Incandescent bulbs. They last around 130 times longer than Incandescent bulbs and 10 times longer than compact fluorescent bulbs. Also as they are made up of plastic, they do not get damaged as easily as Incandescent bulbs. Due to the plastic surface, they sustain grating and bumping.

As they last longer, the maintenance and replacement cost is reduced. Their batteries also have a longer life. They consume far less energy and do not get heated up as traditional bulbs, making them easy to maintain.

The only negative factor they have is their cost. They are still expensive but that can definitely be offset against low electricity bills and longer life of batteries.

12v DC led light bulbs

12v DC led light bulbs are normally not used to light up the house or in any household item or fixture. They are used in porch lights, accent and reading lights, solar or battery powered systems and other 12 voltage setups and equipments.

6 volt Led Light Bulbs for Vintage Cars

6 volt led light Bulbs are much brighter than incandescent bulbs and are used in Automobiles like cars, trucks etc. They have an easier charging system and are polarity sensitive.

Led Tail Light Bulbs

LED Tail Light bulbs are the wonderful after market tribute to any car. The LED tail light bulbs are custom built units. Their prices must be standardized in order to make them more popular as they have custom built prices in the market depending on the type of assemblies.

12 Volt Led Light Bulbs

These led light bulbs are high energy saving, energy efficient and are small in size. They offer a brighter light than any incandescent bulb and have a low replacement and maintenance cost. They can be installed in any household lighting fixture due to their compact size.



76% Return – LED bulbs as an investment vehicle

Is there any other investment that can guarantee this kind of return?

Is there any other investment that can guarantee this kind of return?

Everyone KNOWS that LED bulbs save money. With the appearance of LED bulbs in more and more places ( Philips LED bulbs just popped up in Home Depot), the general public is starting to become more aware of the products that are available, but the consensus is they’re STILL too expensive.

The truth is what few are saying is that it really doesn’t make sense financially to switch out to LEDs if you’re using them less than 8 hours a day.

Compared to a “traditional investment”, if you are only using an LED bulb 6 hours per day, you’re making a measly 5% return on your investment - i.e. if you spend $10 for the LED bulb, you’ll “make” $0.50 per year(in savings).

The numbers get really interesting when you starting getting to 12 hours usage per day and more. In this example, we plugged the numbers in for California ($0.15 /kWh) into our trusty LED energy evaluation calculator at 16 hours usage a day and the average return on investment is an astounding 76%! - i.e. if you spend $10 for the LED bulb, you’ll “make” $7 per year (in savings).

Now imagine in commercial applications where you have HUNDREDS of bulbs…this savings are just immense. Is there ANY investment vehicle out there that can guarantee a return like this?

See the full LED evaluation here.

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