The Ultimate Guide To LED Grow Lights
By Chloe
Hello and welcome to your guide to understanding LED grow lights. Glad to have you along today and I hope you learn everything you want to on our tour. I also hope to get a laugh or two out of you along the way.
I guess I should introduce myself. I’m Nate, plant enthusiast and proud owner of LEDGrowLightsReview.org. Chloe (who runs this site) was gracious enough to let me share some of my expertise here on her site. By the end of this guide I hope you can understand why more and more indoor plant growers are starting to make the switch from high-intensity discharge (HID) lights to light-emitting diode (LED) grow lights.
Let’s take a look at what’s on the agenda today.
Table of Contents
- How LED Grow Lights Work as a Substitute for the Sun
- Six Criteria for a Good LED Growing Light
- Heated Debate: LED vs HID
LED Grow Lights Work as a Substitute for the Sun
Plants really don’t need much to grow; they simply need carbon dioxide, water, and light. One interesting fact is that plants don’t actually need dirt or soil to grow. There is a whole field of growing called hydroponics that is based around the idea of growing plants without soil.
Anyways, in a semi-miraculous process called photosynthesis plants take water and carbon dioxide and turn them into food (sugars). This food helps the plant grow strong and tall; unfortunately it helps us grow in a different direction (the whole process is summarized in the graphic below).
Lighting
In today’s guide, we aren’t really going to worry as much about carbon dioxide and water. We’re going to be talking about lighting. As mentioned above plants absorb light and they use the energy from the light to turn water and carbon dioxide into sugar (food).
For the most part people use the sun to grow any plants they might have. Unfortunately, the sun isn’t always available. In some parts of the world (depending on the time of year) the sun is only available for a few hours each day. In addition, some people like growing plants indoors where the sun’s rays don’t penetrate. Not having sunlight makes it difficult to grow. Fortunately, scientists have developed growing lights that plants can use for photosynthesis without ever needing a single ray from the sun.
Quick History of Growing Lights
Not too long ago growing experts found that metallic-halide lights and high-pressure sodium lights worked extremely well for growing plants. These lights are collectively called high-intensity discharge lights. Even more recently, NASA scientists discovered that LED lights could be used to grow plants. LED grow lights are quickly gaining popularity because they are much more energy efficient than HID lights.
What do LED Grow Lights Look Like?
Above is the picture of one of the more popular LED growing lights out there. Each grow light is made up of tens or hundreds of individual LED bulbs (depending on the size of the grow light). For example, a 90 watt grow light might be made up of 90 different one watt bulbs. Below is a picture from Encyclopedia Britannica of what these individual LEDs look like.
We won’t go into all the details here about the science behind how these lights work (frankly, it gets pretty complex and would probably bore you to tears). This picture is worth taking a look at though so you can see what these individual LED “bulbs” look like.
Six Criteria for Purchasing a Quality LED Grow Light
Not all LED grow lights are built equally. There are six characteristics that I recommend you look at before purchasing one of these grow lights.
1. Warranty – Most of the quality LED lights come with at least a one year warranty. Some of the most expensive lights come with a five year warranty. Look for a light that at least has a one year warranty (if at all possible find one with a three year warranty).
2. Trial Period – Since this is a semi-new technology there are a few people out there trying to take advantage of first-time buyers. Make sure you buy a light that has at least a thirty day trial period. This way, if you notice that the light is having no effect on your plant, you can send it back.
3. Actual Watts Drawn – The nature of light emitting diodes is such that a 1 watt diode doesn’t actually draw 1 watt. There is some complex science behind it, but the truth of the matter is that a 1 watt diode might only draw .7 watts. What this means is that a company will list their light at 100 watts when it really only draws 70 watts. The actual watts drawn are what you want to pay attention to. Most companies will list this if you look at the fine print; however, there might be some cases when you need to ask. Don’t be fooled into purchasing a 500 watt light that actually only draws 40 watts.
4. Heat Sink – When someone complains to me that their LED grow light didn’t last very long, the first thing I want to see on the light is the heat sink. Overheating of the LED chips will often cause them to break. This means that a good heat sink needs to be put in place. First of all make sure that the light you are thinking about purchasing has a heat sink. Second make sure that the heat sink is made of copper or aluminum. Third, make sure the heat sink has quite a few fins on it. Heat sinks are confusing so I’ve included an illustration of one below.
As you can see in the picture above, the heat sink absorbs the heat from the LED chip. If the heat sink weren’t in place, then the light wouldn’t last very long. Note that there is usually a fan built within the light that blows air at the heat sink. The fins are important because they catch the wind from the fan and dissipate the heat quickly.
5. Spectral Wave Length – Spectral wave length is a big deal with LED lights. Remember from your high-school science classes that wave-lengths are classified by color. Red wave lengths are long and blue wave lengths are short.
One of the most exciting features about LED grow lights is that scientists can control the exact spectrum or colors of light emitted from them (the sun and HID lights emit all of the colors, humans can’t control them). This is a big deal because scientists have found that plants don’t use all the different colors of light when they are growing. This is readily apparent in the fact that plants are green (they are reflecting green light).
So why is spectral wave length a big deal when purchasing an LED grow light? Well, growing experts have found that red light induces flowering on a plant and blue light induces vegetation or growth. If you want one of these lights to help your plants flower, then make sure you buy one that emits light in the red wave-length spectrum. If you want a light that will help during the early stages of plant development (germination and vegetation) then make sure you get a light with a lot of the blue wave-length in it. If you want a light that will do it all, make sure you find one that has both red and blue light. This information should be readily available from any company you purchase these lights from.
6 – Beam Angle -The last important thing you’ll want to look at when buying one of these lights is the beam angle. There are three standard beam angles out there: 60 degree, 90 degree, and 120 degree angles. The 60 degree angle is much better when you are dealing with a taller plant. The light beam is more focused and intense meaning that it can get down to the lower levels of your plant. The 120 degree angle is better for covering a wider area. For instance you may want a light with a 120 degree light when you have several short plants that you want to grow under one light.
LED VS HID: The Great Debate
Many people want to know whether they should buy an LED grow light or an HID grow light. Well, I can’t answer that for you but I can give you some of the pros and cons of each light.
LED Advantages
- Efficiency – LED lights are much more efficient than HIDs. In other words they use a lot less energy.
- Heating – LEDs don’t put out near as much heat as HIDs. This means that you don’t have to spend as much money on cooling.
- Lifetime – Most LED grow lights last around 50,000 hours. HIDs last around 10,000 hours.
HID Advantages
- HIDs cost less initially. LED grow lights are expensive up front. It’s worth noting that many people think that LED lights save money in the long run due to electricity and heating savings.
- HIDs have a proven track record. They’ve been around a lot longer and more people know how to use them.
Conclusion
Well that wraps up our tour of LED grow lights. I hope you’ve learned more about these lights and why so many people are starting to use them. A special thanks to Chloe for letting me get the word out on her site. If you have time, stop on by my site to read my LED grow light reviews.
Use Outdoor Patio Lights To Extend Your Living Space
By Chloe
Well chosen and situated patio lights can make all the difference to your enjoyment of your outdoor space. You can increase the function of your home by illuminating your patio area and using it as an elegant outdoor living room, for dining, entertaining or just relaxing in the evening.
Having a patio that you can use at night time expands your living space when the weather permits. Patio lighting will make this area safer to use at night as well as transforming it into a beautiful, functional and inviting space. Just think by spending a small amount on a few patio lanterns, you effectively add another large living space to your home. This is way cheaper than building an extension or even a conservatory and will increase the value of your house should you ever choose to sell it.
Decorative outdoor patio lighting can transform your property at night time and there are many different shapes and sizes of lights that can help you light your property to its best advantage. You can find lanterns and lamps, tiki torches, patio string lights, or deck, security and solar lighting to put to good use in your garden or patio. If you choose eye catching lights you can accent your patio for maximum appeal.
Each type of patio light will have a different use – perhaps you want paper lanterns, patio string lights or garden torches for an evening party, perhaps you want to create an ambience with patio lamps or lanterns for relaxing meals or drinks outdoors in the evening or perhaps you want security lighting to discourage unwanted visitors. Whatever your purpose when choosing your patio lights you want to ensure they generate a warm glow that neither overpowers nor disappoints.
Points to consider when choosing patio lights
To create a great atmosphere on your patio with the use of lights is not just as simple as choosing a lantern design that you like. You need to plan out where you need lighting and what sort of light would be most appropriate for each place. This will give you some idea of the quantity of patio lights you require but you also need to consider your favourite lanterns for how strong the light is that they give out as well as the color. Too weak a light and you won’t be able to see what you are doing. Too strong a light and the ambience you were trying to create will be ruined. Also make sure that your patio and surrounding areas are safe. Stairs, paths and dark corners should be well illuminated.
To guide you through the wide variety of patio lighting available here are some of the main options available.
Lanterns and lamps
Lanterns are a popular choice of outdoor lighting for patios and decks. They differ in terms of how they are mounted, what they are powered by, what they are made of as well as how they look. Designs include historical looking lamps, modern sleek styles and everything in between. Some can be hung from walls or overhead, some are placed on tables, some are stand alone floor lamps, whilst others are combined as planter lamps. They can be powered by oil, kerosene, electric, rechargeable batteries or candles. Electric versions are reliable and cheap to run, but the light source itself is not as attractive as a natural flame. Oil and kerosene are easy to get hold of but you have to remember to stock up before you plan to use it. Candles are a very cheap option and give out warmth in addition to light. They can be used to highlight water features such as bird baths or ponds by floating them if there is no wind or they can be placed in mason jars with a sand base for more windy conditions. Lanterns can be made from painted steel, chrome plated steel, aluminium and brass – the latter being the best for staying rust free. Make sure you choose lanterns that are designed for the outdoors, being made of high quality weather resistant and waterproof materials. Floor lamps should have a heavy weighted base for stability and electric lanterns should come with a grounded cord and plug long enough for your needs. Those that provide for two levels of light are the best options so you can change the lighting from being functional to ambient and back again.
Tiki Torches
There is something that much more tropical about a tiki torch when compared to other patio lights. They help to create a more relaxed atmosphere for you to while away an evening on your patio. They are simple to install around a deck or patio by just driving the stake into the ground. If the ground is not easily accessible, they can also be held in a bucket of sand or cement or attached to a railing. They are easy to fill with oil – you just unscrew the lid where the wick is held, pour in your oil and re-fix the lid. They have a long burn time of 6-16 hours depending on size and if you burn oils such as citronella you will have the added bonus of keeping away those pesky bugs from your patio. Paraffin oil is normally used if bugs are not your main concern and this burns smoke and odour free. The cheapest tiki torches are the bamboo styles that you can find everywhere from about $6 each but if you want to invest in a more stylish set, you can find those made from copper, stainless steel, aluminium or brass. They can be quite plain or very decorative complete with snuffer cap. You can find tabletop versions if you prefer and they even come as patio umbrella lights these days. Quality tiki torches can withstand light wind and rain, typically cost under $50 and are ideal for subtle lighting when entertaining.
Patio String Lights
Patio string lights are a series of decorative bulbs or LED lights spaced evenly on a string like cord. They give an attractive and clean, consistent look and can be linked to other strings to fit any size of patio. If you need to dress up your patio temporarily for a party or evening of entertainment, patio string lights are a must have. They can come with brightly colored bulbs or if you are less adventurous, different shaped but bright white bulbs. You can add height to your lighting efforts by using them to highlight garden structures such as trees or trellises. If you do not have an electrical supply to your patio, you can find battery operated LED string lights, which have long lasting bulbs that do not attract insects. Inexpensive and easy to find patio string lights will help make your patio look elegant and inviting or you can buy a more fun set to take away with you when camping.
If you have a wooden deck rather than a stone patio, you can install deck lights into the deck itself. These are normally used to illuminate the edge of the deck for safety reasons and can be walked on without damaging them.
Solar lights are very easy to install as they do not need an electric power source and all of the wiring that this entails. The older style of solar lights that were a bit dim, have now been replaced with bright LED bulbs. These are more efficient and can provide many hours of light. The light is not sufficient to read by, but provides ambient light or illumination ideal to highlight any steps or paths you may have on or around your patio. They come in many new shapes and colors so you are not stuck with the lollipop style – you can branch out with square lamps to fit atop fence posts, different colored lights in the shape of tulips or even red ladybug design lights.
With so many lights, lamps and torches on offer, you will have no trouble finding the right kind of lighting for your patio needs at the right price. You can then move onto smartening up this extra useable space you have created with garden clocks, outdoor rugs, furniture and other exciting things!
The Ultimate Guide To Deck Lighting
By Chloe
If you have invested in a beautiful deck, then there’s no point in only using it in the day time. Even if the weather is too cold for you to sit outside, at least with some deck lighting you will be able to look at it through the window.
Choosing garden decking lights is not just about finding patio lights that appeal to you from the wide range available, you must find purpose made lights that will finish off your deck to make it look as if they have been part of the design from the start.
Deck lighting should be functional and attractive. To use your deck after dark, some form of lighting is essential for your safety but it also enhances the look of your backyard whether or not it is being used.
Please click for prices on the full range of deck lighting ideas
There are two power supplies for deck lights – solar power and low voltage systems. Solar power will provide accent lighting whereas low voltage systems due to their wiring into an electrical supply will provide stronger light that is guaranteed to be functioning whenever you turn it on.
Low voltage deck lighting systems are ideal for do-it-yourselfers as a transformer is used to reduce the electrical current, although you should always check any local code requirements. The transformer is plugged into a grounded outdoor power supply and converts the standard current into a safe 12 volts supply. Low voltage cable is then run between the transformer and the low voltage lights. These types of lights are energy efficient and more economical to run.
As well as differing power supplies, there are also two main styles to choose between – deck post lights, which can be mounted on the side or top of the posts, and recessed lights, which are sunk into the deck itself.
Take a look at our top picks for decking lighting and then please read on for a mini buying guide to help ensure you buy the right lights for your deck and some brief thoughts on installation.
Top Picks
Post Top Deck Lights – Set Of 6 Solar Powered ** Functional lighting
For a complete deck lighting set, these 6 super bright solar powered lights are easy to install on any surface and offer you up to 8 hours of spot lighting. They are of course weather resistant and have a photo sensor that automatically turns them on and off at dusk and dawn. Each light has 3 white LED bulbs so they are bright enough to light up your deck and railings but do not attract annoying bugs.
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Post Cap Lamps – Moonrays Solar Powered Black ** Accent lighting
These classy looking post cap deck lights add the perfect finishing touch to your decking. They are easy to install – just place them on the top of your post and fix with two screws – and being black will blend in with most other backyard furnishings. The casing and lens are plastic and the bulbs are white LED. They offer more accent lighting than functional lighting but look very attractive at night. As with all solar powered lights, they need to be placed in a sunny location during the day to ensure they charge sufficiently for night time illumination. These are very affordable post cap lights.
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Post Side Lamp – Moonrays Solar Powered Bronze ** Accent lighting
These Moonrays post side lamps are an attractive bronze color with a raised decorative leaf motif. For ease of installation, these solar deck lights are hard to beat. You don’t need low voltage wires, just a screw installed in your deck post and then you just slide the light into place. These lights can be mounted in minutes. The down light effect is provided by two white LED bulbs. They are made of a durable plastic and the accent leaf is metal. For a decorative light that provides just the right amount of light to the surface of your deck, these are a great and affordable option. You will probably need 6-8 units to gain the desired effect though and do not mount them more than 2-3 feet from the ground if they are to be used for functional rather than accent lighting.
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Recessed Deck Light – Low Voltage 6 Pack
This pack of 6 brushed stainless steel deck lights from Paradise are weatherproof, waterproof and rustproof. They are safe to use on your deck as they use a 12-volt lighting system. They are truly stunning and made to the highest standards. You could recess them into your deck or any stairs you have running around your deck or even in your garden. They come with everything you need for installation and are really affordable. Being wired, the installation is not as easy as with solar powered options, but the light output is brighter and guaranteed.
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Recessed Deck Lighting – Solar Powered
Recessed lighting is classy and elegant and although it can be a pain to have to cut holes in your deck to install it, the results are worth it. The beauty of these stainless steel and glass lights, in addition to their classy look, is that they are solar decking lights, so you have no need for low voltage wiring. The LED bulbs in these lights are blue giving a cool and different look to your deck at night-time. The beam of light is also strong and central, making them a little bit more unusual and interesting.
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Deck Lighting Buying Guide
Here are a few things to consider before purchasing your new deck lights:
Post lights – these are typically bigger so are more likely to give out more light, unless you use solar power. Post lights are easier to access and therefore easier to wire if you go with the low voltage systems.
Recessed lights – these are attractive as they are unobtrusive; you cannot trip over them. They are more complicated to install however and have tricky wiring to contend with unless you use solar powered versions. Being recessed you must cut out holes in your deck to locate them. This can be a time consuming job and you will need some level of competence in DIY tasks to do this neatly. You can also come across problems with the size of the holes you have created when you come to upgrade your system. On the positive side they are robust so they can be walked over and they often come in kits with detailed installation instructions.
Solar power – solar deck lighting is the easiest to install as there are no wires. They are also eco friendly and free to run, although they are more expensive in initial purchase costs. You need to ensure that where you plan on locating them gets adequate sunlight on a daily basis or they will not charge sufficiently to be of any use.
Bulb type – LED deck lights are best as they give out less heat so are safer. They also use less power so there are cost savings to be made. The bulbs last much longer but they do have higher upfront costs. They have a superior light quality but can also be too bright.
Weatherproof – make sure any deck lights that you buy are weatherproof.
Thoughts on DIY Installation
- Do you have the expertise to take on installation yourself? Screwing in a couple of screws for solar deck cap lights is a far cry from cutting holes in your decking and installation of a wired low voltage system.
- Check the weather before you start. For a complicated system you will need 2-3 hours per light to sort all of the cutting, drilling and wiring necessary.
- Think about how you are going to hide the wires on any non-recessed lights.
Get Your Deck Lighting Now …
Outdoor deck lighting can really finish off a beautiful deck. Make sure you plan the style and number of lights that you will need and think carefully about whether or not you are up to installing the system yourself if it is anything other than solar powered. Deck lights will help you mark out important features, such as steps, will illuminate your backyard area even if it is not warm enough to enjoy it and will generally extend your living space to the great oudoors.