FAQ & Glossary

DAILY LIGHT INTEGRAL (DLI)

The number of PAR photons delivered per square meter over one day, it is expressed as mol/m2/day, and is calculated using PPFD and photoperiod. Since indoor growers rely solely on artificial light, they can calculate their exact DLI input. Glasshouse growers will calculate the average DLI they receive from the sun and then supplement that with their grow lights to meet the needs of their crop.

DLI = PPFD * Photoperiod (hrs) * 0.0036

 

EFFICIENCY

How good the luminaire is at converting electrical power into radiant power.

Efficiency = Power Output / Power Input

 

FULL SPECTRUM

In relation to grow lighting, the luminaire emits white light including green and yellow wavelengths similar to that found in sunlight. Sunlight is considered full spectrum, even though the solar spectral distribution reaching Earth changes with time of day, latitude, and atmospheric conditions.

It is important to note that there is no standard definition of a ‘full-spectrum’ so you should consult your supplier before committing.

 

IMPACT RESISTANCE (IK) RATING

A 1 to 10 system where a higher number indicates a more robust product able to withstand a greater impact.

 

INGRESS PROTECTION (IP) RATING

This standard defines the degree to which the internal electronics are protected from intrusion by foreign bodies such as tools, dirt and liquid water. The first digit relates to solids, with 6 being total protection against dust. The second digit refers to liquids with 8 being the maximum.

 

MICROMOLE

A way to measure the amount of a substance. In our case, one micromole (1 μmol) of light equals just over 602 quadrillion photons.

 

PASSIVE COOLING

Passive cooling is a fanless approach to cooling where clever design disipates heat instead. The lack of moving parts leads to an enhanced lifespan and eliminates the need for regular maintenance.

 

PHOTOBIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE RADIATION (PBAR)

There are wavelengths outside of the PAR range that affect plants in other ways. This extended range sits between 300 and 800nm, which includes UV and Far-red.

 

PHOTOMORPHOGENESIS

Plant development that is triggered by light, such as seed germination, plant architecture and flowering in photoperiod crops. This development is triggered by photoreceptors in the plant that absorb of certain wavelengths of light. Typically, plants contain phytochromes, which are photoreceptors that respond to red and far-red light, and cryptochromes that respond to blue light. The extent of photomorphogenic responses vary according to plant species and variety.

 

PHOTON

A quanta, or particle, of light.

 

PHOTON EFFICACY

An indicatation of how effective a luminaire is at converting electrical energy into light that is useful for your plants’ photosynthetic processes. It is calculated by dividing the PPF (μmol/s) by the power (W) of the luminaire. Since watts are measured in joules per second, the units for photon efficacy are micromoles per joule (μmol/J).

PPF (μmol/s) / Power (W or Js-1) = Photon Efficacy (μmol/J)

 

PHOTOPERIOD

The period of time within a 24-hour time frame that light is available. It’s worth noting that some plant species require a certain length of darkness over a day to trigger developmental stages such as flowering.

 

PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHOTON FLUX (PPF)

The total amount of PAR produced by a grow light per second, expressed in micromoles per second (μmol/s). PPF does not tell you how much light will actually land on your plants, but it does tell you how much of a luminaires light output is potentially available for photosynthesis.

 

PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHOTON FLUX DENSITY (PPFD)

This refers to the number of PAR photons incident per square meter. PPFD is measured in micromoles per square metre per second (µmol/m2/s). This indicates how effective the luminaire is at directing those precious PAR photons towards the grow area and is often refered to in the industry as just ‘micromoles’.

 

PHOTOSYNTHETICALLY ACTIVE RADITION (PAR)

This designates the spectral range (wavelength = 400 – 700nm) of light radiation that photosynthetic organisms are able to use in the process of photosynthesis. This spectral region corresponds more or less with the range of light visible to the human eye.

 

RESIN ENCAPSULATION

Food safe, chemically inert polyurethane resin is applied directly over the electronics to ensure a fully ingress protected system. This means that, once installed, our luminaires are maintenance free and offer superior performance under even the most extreme indoor farming conditions.

 

SECONDARY METABOLITE

Compounds produced by plants that are vital for processes, often with beneficial health effects for humans. Examples include antioxidants, vitamins, pigments, and molecules which gives plants flavour and aroma.

 

TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION (TIR) OPTICS

An advanced reflectorless lens technology that gives a stable, homogeneous photon distribution. This ensures the maximum amount of PAR photons reach the grow area with greatest uniformity.

 

UNIFORMITY

The ratio of the minimum lighting level to the average lighting level in a specified area. In other words, a high uniformity means that each plant on a grow surface recieves a similar number of photons.

Uniformity = Minimum Lighting Level / Average Lighting Level