tips & tricks
S
uccessful grow lighting begins with a carefully
considered light plan. A light plan calculates the best
possible coordination of luminaires in terms of their
distance and orientation from one another, as well as the
crop. The trick lies in determining the ideal combination of
these factors to ensure that you will achieve optimum light
yields—with as few fixtures as possible
WHAT COMBINATION IS BEST?
The accuracy of the light plan depends on a thorough
analysis of several factors—including the desired light
level, the light distribution, the most effective mounting
height, environmental conditions, and the construction of
the growing facility.
The target light level (at the crop canopy) should always
be the starting point of any light plan. All the other factors
that will affect the layout and performance of the lumi-
naires should be considered to determine how to achieve the
desired light level with optimal uniformity and efficiency.
These factors include:
• The dimensions of the grow facility , with the most
critical dimensions being the length, width, and ceiling
height of the space—as well as the anticipated finished
crop height. These dimensions will be used to establish
the number, spacing, and orientation of luminaires
required. The anticipated crop height is important in
calculating the available distance between the mounted
luminaires and the surface of the crop canopy. This
distance will determine what luminaire and/or reflector
will deliver the optimal performance in that particular
application. For a facility with a low ceiling height, for
example, a low-profile luminaire—that is, designed for
optimal thermal management—will allow for a greater
distance between the light source and the crop. Similarly,
a reflector that delivers a wide distribution of light can
enable growers to achieve optimum light intensity evenly
across the surface of the crop with fewer luminaires.
TIP
(W)
(M)
(L)
84
grow cycle
WHEN CALCULATING THE
ANTICIPATED CROP HEIGHT,
DON’T FORGET TO FACTOR
IN THE BENCH HEIGHT.
Width of room
Desired mount height
Length of room
(H) Height of ceiling
(C) Anticipated finished
crop size, floor to canopy