Plasma Grow Lights are one of the most efficient lights on the market and have been used by ACMPR growers. They have been reported to have a 40% – 50% lower energy usage than other high-intensity discharge lights. They can be used in a new or existing grow and require no new infrastructure to retrofit the light into an already current system.
- Features & Benefits of Plasma Grow Lights
- The most efficient HID (high-intensity discharge) lamp.
- Long lifetime of 20,000 to 50,000 hours.
- Lower energy bills in the grow room or greenhouse where they are being used.
- Light distribution over the entire canopy for more efficient plant growth and higher yields increases photosynthesis rates at a lower electrical cost.
- It can be used in a new or existing setup and requires no new infrastructure for retrofitting the light into an already current system.
What is plasma?
Plasma is a gas that has been electrically charged on purpose by the addition of energy. In this case, there are radiation charges already in these gases, and they’re being brought out even more by exposing them to electrical currents.
What are plasma lights?
Plasma lighting systems are an alternative to traditional HID or LED lighting for indoor farming. They produce more light than LEDs but less than HIDs, and they don’t require a ballast as HIDs do. The plasma tubes emit ultraviolet (UV) light, which strikes the phosphor coating on the inside of the tube and emits visible white light in response. This is called “cold cathode” technology because the process generates no heat.
What are light-emitting Plasma (LEP) bulbs?
Light-emitting Plasma (LEP) bulbs are light bulbs that do not contain any mercury, unlike incandescent and fluorescent bulbs. They have an extremely long lifespan and produce less heat than other types of lighting. The only issue with LEPs is the cost since they tend to be more expensive than traditional options.
How long have plasma lights been used?
The first time that plasma lights were mentioned in an article was in Science magazine back in 1989. However, this is not to say that they have been around since then. Plasma lights are a relatively new technology, with the most up-to-date models being developed only about ten years ago.
Plasma grow lights have been reported to be beneficial for both new and already existing grow operations. It is suggested that you do some more research on them yourself to determine whether or not plasma grow lights would benefit your growing process.
Why are grow lights important to cannabis cultivators?
Now that LEP lamps have become widely available, high-efficiency LEP fixtures are becoming more readily available. Most growers agree that LEP (light-emitting plasma) bulbs are the most efficient high-intensity discharge lamps for growing marijuana. The main advantages of LEPs over conventional HIDs, such as High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) or Metal Halide (MH), are higher efficiency and better control due to their ability to be controlled by a computer or LEP controller. LEPs are also more efficient, using 40% to 50% less energy.
What should you do to keep plasma grow lights working correctly?
- Keep the grow light fixture clean.
- Check to make sure that your grow light is not too close to any reflective surface.
- Please make sure there are no other sources of heat in the room, such as a heating vent or a window with sunlight coming through it.
- Please turn off the lights when you’re not using them so that they don’t get hot and damage your bulbs or fixtures.
- Replace burnt-out bulbs immediately to avoid damaging your plants
- Use water-based sprays on dusty surfaces rather than oil-based sprays, which can cause corrosion and shorten the bulb life span.
How plasma lighting works for growing cannabis
- Plasma grow lights are a type of artificial light that is used to help plants grow.
- Plasma lights can produce more lumens than traditional LED or HPS fixtures, which can be essential for plant growth.
- The main difference between plasma and other types of lighting is that plasma produces light in the ultraviolet spectrum, which plants need for photosynthesis. -This means that plants will receive all the wavelengths required for healthy growth with one fixture.
Why choose plasma lights rather than other types of grow lights
Plasma lights are a more efficient and cost-effective solution to grow lighting. Compared to other grow lights, they produce less heat, making them safer for the environment and better suited for indoor grow ops and greenhouses where humidity is an issue. Plasma lights provide a deep spectrum of light that stimulates growth in plants while also giving off powerful ultraviolet wavelengths that help protect against insects and disease.
Is it worth the price to upgrade your plasma light system for growing cannabis?
Cannabis is a booming industry, but it’s still plagued with some of the same problems that have always been there. One major issue is that cannabis requires intense light to grow properly. This can be solved by upgrading your plasma light system, which will significantly improve your crop’s quality and quantity.
Plasma vs. LED
The plasma lamp is a type of fluorescent light. The plasma lamps emit ultraviolet radiation, ionizing the mercury vapor in the bulb and creating an electric arc discharge that produces visible light. This process releases heat, so it requires a fan to cool it down. Plasma lights are cheaper than LED lights, but they require more power, produce less quality light, and can be dangerous because of UV radiation.
Plasma vs. Fluorescent T5
Fluorescent T5 grow lights are the most common type of grow lamp available. T5 lights are so popular because they are inexpensive, easy to use, and produce good light for seedlings and young plants. Fluorescent T-5 bulbs come in two different styles: single tube and double tube (or twin). The double tube (or twin) contains two bulbs spaced several inches apart. Fluorescent tubes may need to be replaced every six months depending on how often the lamp is switched on. Fluorescents do not work well with cannabis; fluorescent should be switched to HID or LED lights when flowering starts. It is vital that fluorescent lighting never be used during the flowering stage as it will promote hermaphroditism.
A plasma lamp is an electrical arc light that uses gases and metal elements to create light. These lamps are the most efficient grow lights, but they also produce a fair amount of heat which can dry out your plants if not ventilated properly. A 600-watt plasma bulb typically produces as much usable light as a 1000 watt incandescent light bulb, making it great for growing cannabis. Plasma lamps are expensive at around $200-$300 per bulb but last approximately ten years. The best plasma lights for growing cannabis are PRO MAX Grow Fluorescent fixtures with 250 or 400-watt plasma bulbs.
Plasma vs. Ceramic Metal Halide
Ceramic Metal Halide grow lights are the archetypal garden-variety high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps that emit a full spectrum of light perfect for plant growth. As with plasma, plasma ceramics emit a full spectrum but tend to be smaller in size than CMH lamps, and plasma lamps also produce less heat than CMH.
The plasma grow lights project a light spectrum that is beneficial to plants, and they use less energy than other high-intensity discharge lights.