Induction Lighting for grows?

[magiccannabus]

Has anyone here had any experience working with induction lighting? The technology looks interesting, and it is rated at 5000K, so maybe that means it might have some usable light.

If you don't know what an induction light is, look here:

http://www.uslightingtech.com/linearhighbay.html

They seem to have a very high light to heat ratio, better than metal halide and at least comparable to HPS. I have no idea how it compares to CMH though.

 

[Orestes]

Longer life, lighter weight, lower depreciation time, higher CRI, cooler operation temperature and higher scotopic lumens per watt.

85+ Lumens per Watt

http://www.uslightingtech.com/induction.html

They have a nice comparison chart there, too. Now I'm really curious, nice find...

 

[magiccannabus]

I hope these can grow alright. I mean, they have a 100,000 hour service life! Wow, imagine almost never replacing your HID lamps!

 

[kaljukajakas]

They're nice lamps for sure. Basically a fluorescent light that, thanks to having no metal electrodes, last a lot longer. The spectrum looks ok too (page 22): http://www.lighting.philips.com/us_en/browseliterature/download/ql_oem_guide.pdf

They've been around since the early nineties but they're still pretty expensive. The long life makes up for that of course. A 55W system might go for about 300-400$...

 

[magiccannabus]

yikes, I missed the price tag! Why is it so expensive? Looking at the tech data on it this light is so retardedly simple I can't imagine it'd be hard to manufacture.

 

[kaljukajakas]

I don't know how expensive the lights were when they came out but it is rather fancy technology. Similar to those (also very cool) sulfur bulbs. I'd guess this wireless technology has very low tolerances and requires very high quality and expensive components that have to last for decades for the system to perform well. They're manufactured in low volumes too, perhaps when the Chinese start making them the prices will drop.

They're still promising us wireless cell phone chargers etc. It's not easy to transmit 55W of power though thin air, especially without loosing efficiency.