The Icarus question

[snugglekitten]

Hi,

My led light is only a few inches away from my seedlings and they seem very happy about this.

I was wondering if anyone has any info regarding light-distance optimization.


Thanks!

[Stvrob]

Intensity is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance.

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

Intensity is proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance.

Until it runs into diminishing returns?

[kurt]

The ideal setup I have seen and used are a correct light source i.e grow/led spectrums.Whatever you find and use(expense?) I rigged a pully system for fixtures to accomadate the growth of my cherrys(which seem to grow faster and taller than the determinates in my regimen).Since I live in Florida we have at a minimum 8hours sun and a max up to 12-16 hours dependent on month.I like to start in early Sept for first growth and at that time it is too warm and humid to go outside.A pulley system might be the way to "optimize"your condition.Below is from a paragraph from Wikipedia.


"According to the inverse-square law, the intensity of light radiating from a point source (in this case a bulb) that reaches a surface is inversely proportional to the square of the surface's distance from the source (if an object is twice as far away, it receives only a quarter the light) which is a serious hurdle for indoor growers, and many techniques are employed to use light as efficiently as possible. Reflectors are thus often used in the lights to maximize light efficiency. Plants or lights are moved as close together as possible so that they receive equal lighting and that all light coming from the lights falls on the plants rather than on the surrounding area."

[Worth1]

Go ahead and stick it right on the light and melt the wax off it's feathers.

And no I didnt have to look Icarus up.

Worth

[Stvrob]

Originally Posted by snugglekitten

Until it runs into diminishing returns?

no. The statement implied nothing about returns.

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by Stvrob

no. The statement implied nothing about returns.

Indeed.

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by kurt

The ideal setup I have seen and used are a correct light source i.e grow/led spectrums.Whatever you find and use(expense?) I rigged a pully system for fixtures to accomadate the growth of my cherrys(which seem to grow faster and taller than the determinates in my regimen).Since I live in Florida we have at a minimum 8hours sun and a max up to 12-16 hours dependent on month.I like to start in early Sept for first growth and at that time it is too warm and humid to go outside.A pulley system might be the way to "optimize"your condition.Below is from a paragraph from Wikipedia.


"According to the inverse-square law, the intensity of light radiating from a point source (in this case a bulb) that reaches a surface is inversely proportional to the square of the surface's distance from the source (if an object is twice as far away, it receives only a quarter the light) which is a serious hurdle for indoor growers, and many techniques are employed to use light as efficiently as possible. Reflectors are thus often used in the lights to maximize light efficiency. Plants or lights are moved as close together as possible so that they receive equal lighting and that all light coming from the lights falls on the plants rather than on the surrounding area."

Thanks Kurt,

I have a pulley, I think in the future its something I'd like to automate with an arduino, especially if I ever scale to multiple greenhouses....hmmmm yes, this is doable.

I also use reflection, "ghetto style" with tinfoil right now.

Going through my "season 1" Walter White stage before I become an empire......

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Go ahead and stick it right on the light and melt the wax off it's feathers.

And no I didnt have to look Icarus up.

Worth

I had to....in order to appear edumacated.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by snugglekitten

I had to....in order to appear edumacated.

I just remember that story because I always wanted to fly.

Worth

[PaulF]

I wanted to fly as well but the part about crashing in flames changed my mind. But then how about Mercury. A little unstable but fast.

[snugglekitten]

Flying people don't grow tomatoes last time I checked. You guys need to check your existential crisis and get back to work.

[kurt]

"I also use reflection, "ghetto style" with tinfoil right now."

If you are creative and can procure,I went to Mylar which is long lasting,durable and easy to work with.


http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Ref.../dp/B00725XBGG

[snugglekitten]

Originally Posted by kurt

"I also use reflection, "ghetto style" with tinfoil right now."

If you are creative and can procure,I went to Mylar which is long lasting,durable and easy to work with.


http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Ref.../dp/B00725XBGG

Nice! Thanks, Kurt.


I'm hoping that 3d printing is going to take care of more specialized parts for greenhouse growers but for now its time to go MacGyver.