WHO IS THIS KELVIN GUY ?
If you ’ re a little unclear about the kelvin ( K ) rating on your grow light , you ’ re not alone . The Kelvin scale can be counterintuitive in a couple of ways , but understanding it is an important detail when pursuing the goal of healthy plant development .
Kelvin and Temperature
Let ’ s start with a simple refresher . Kelvin is a temperature measurement often preferred in scientific circles because it can be useful in a number of different contexts . The bottom of the scale denotes absolute zero , a condition where there is no measureable kinetic energy in an object . It ’ s as cold as it can possibly be . The coldest objects in the universe will have a rating of zero on the Kelvin scale . The incremental measurements when using kelvin are the same as when using Celsius ( ˚C ), another type of temperature scale . Where they differ , however , is the definition of zero . On the Celsius scale , zero is the freezing point of water . As mentioned above , zero on the Kelvin scale is absolute zero . For reference , 0 K is equal to -273.15˚C .
The Kelvin Scale and Color Temperature
Kelvin is a fundamental unit of thermodynamic temperature , which means it measures heat . So , it would make sense that color temperature ratings are really heat ratings , right ? Well , yes and no . Although kelvin is a heat measurement , it doesn ’ t quantify the amount of heat a light fixture is pumping into your growroom when applied to color temperature . Instead , it measures how closely a light source approximates full-spectrum sunlight . The Kelvin scale can be used to do this by exploiting the color changes that occur when an object is heated .
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Although kelvin is a heat measurement , it doesn ’ t quantify the amount of heat a light fixture is pumping into your growroom when applied to color temperature .
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72 Maximum Yield USA | December 2016