LED Lights for Hydroponics Grow In Popularity As

Quality Improves

At one time LED was a scientific curiosity but soon moved from labs to production; from

specialist use to general lighting purposes. Continuous research and developments have led to

rise of a new generation of full spectrum LED lights with high lumen output. From being

prohibitively expensive, LEDs today are much more affordable and once can see homes and

commercial spaces lit up by banks of LEDs ranging in power output from 3 watt to 60 watts.

If full spectrum LEDs are perfect for indoor and outdoor illumination, they are also equally

suitable for use in hydroponics and bring several added advantages that are significantly lacking

in other forms of lighting. LED lights for hydroponics grow in popularity due to the inherent

advantages.

The only perceived deterrent for hydroponics growers is that they have to invest more. The

benefits far outweigh the drawback.

A typical module of LED lights for hydroponics growers may be configured with 200 LEDs in a

600 watt module; 300 modules in a 900W module and 400 LEDs in a 1200 W module. A 600

watt module outputs light equivalent to a 1000 watt traditional light source minus the heat

emission, which means it saves 400 watts. One module replaces a whole bank of fluorescent

tubes or CFL. By adjusting spectral quality growers achieve highest yields and that too of a

much better quality, resulting in more profits. Traditional lamps have life expectancy of 10000 to

20000 hours whereas LEDs last for 50000 to 100000 hours. Digital controllers allow growers to

slightly under run LEDs which results in extended lamp life. Growers save on lamp replacement

and this also contributes to profitability. He spends less on ventilation since the module does not

emit heat that will damage plants and require frequent watering. This allows him to position the

module closer to plants without the risk of their wilting. Also equally important is the fact that

LED modules have an even spread of light. A module can be used to light up an area of 1.5 x 1.5

to 3x3 metres with an even spread of light which means uniformity in yields.

These LED lights are just right for hydroponics growers and can be fully adjusted to suit leafy

vegetables, flowering plants or fruiting vegetable plants or even medicinal plants. From a

grower’s perspective, the facility to adjust intensity and spectral quality is the most important

since the module can be adjusted, for example, to suit lettuce in one growing cycle and then

tomatoes or flowering shrubs in the next, with perfect results each time.

Prices are so reasonable it makes no sense to continue with the old, inefficient lighting methods.

This is the new age and new age LEDs are the technology to adopt for all round improved

productivity and maximum returns. They just need to make sure the module uses full spectrum

LEDs capable of light from 410nm wavelength in the UV range all the way to 730nm in the

infra-red region for high yields.

https://www.facebook.com/MVPhydroponicsNewAgeLED

https://twitter.com/mvphydroponicss

http://www.pinterest.com/mvphydroponicss/

https://plus.google.com/101157890801690014627/posts

Email

mvphydroponics@gmx.com