GE Lighting

Lighting for growth

Lamps and lighting for horticulture

Extending daylight
l GE lamps enable lighting regimes that assist the natural cycles of plants GE horticultural lamps are colour balanced for growth and shape

Growth and development of plants and vegetables is strongly influenced by the quality and amount of light they receive, and the cycle of day and night. Artificial lighting therefore plays a significant role in the horticultural industry, where it enables producers to extend and control the periods of plant growth. GE horticultural lamps allow growers to be less reliant on daylight and improve their productivity.

PAR
Photosynthesis Active Radiation (PAR, measured in micromole/sec) is essential for plant growth. GE Lucalox PSL (PhotoSynthesis Light) high pressure sodium lamps are designed to produce the best possible PAR performance and this performance is covered by warranty. PAR in relation to wavelength.

Spectral range
Plants respond to light of varying colour. In general, red light causes plants to become tall and leggy while blue light, when used alone, can cause low, stocky growth. A proper balance of red and blue energy produces plants that have normal growth and shape.
Relative sensitivity

0.5

0 Wavelength nm

Plants have different sensitivity to different wavelengths.

GE lighting for fruit and vegetables

Growers of food plants find artificial light just as important as it is for flowering plants. Artificial light can improve the yield of a crop, and its quality. As with flowering plants, it enables growth to be timed to meet market demands. When an artificial lighting regime is applied to food crops, these are some of the benefits: l Plants can be used over a longer period l In winter, fruit can be produced with taste to match summer fruit l Production can start earlier l Year-round cultivation is possible It is therefore possible for growers to enhance product quality and take advantage of marketing opportunities throughout the year.

Effect on plants
UV-B
280-320 nm Deleterious for growth. 320-400 nm Might have additive effect to blue radiation.

Research examples
Cucumber
Blue only or green only irradiation did not cause development. Optimal growth was found when the irradiation of the plants contained 15-20% blue irradiation, rest of the spectrum was balanced with green and red irradiation.

UV-A

BLUE

400-500 nm Necessary for elongation control. 500-600 nm Less important in photosynthesis than red spectral range for certain plants.

GREEN

Tomato
High productivity requires the dominance of the 600nm-700nm red part in irradiation spectrum. Saturation of the crop yield was achieved with 60-65% red irradiation, the rest of the spectrum was balanced by blue and green irradiation. Reference: Prikupets & Tikhomirov, proceedings of Int. Lighting in controlled environments workshop, Univ of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, 1994, p31

RED

600-700 nm Optimisation is necessary because unoptimised red portion will cause abnormal development.

IR (Far-red)

700-750 nm Enhancement of flowering & stem elongation.

Natures rhythms
Day length
Short day length
The Perennial Chrysanthemum is a short day length plant that will not flower when the day is long (short-night). To postpone flowering Chrysanthemum growers, instead of lengthening the day, interrupt the night for about four hours. This makes the night appear short to plants, which then continue to grow vegetatively instead of starting to flower. The relative length of day and night and the seasons is important to plants. The number of hours of darkness in a 24-hour cycle is an important factor in determining blossoming and growing time. A more economical method of postponing flowering of chrysanthemums is to apply cycles of light, switching light on for 10 minutes and off for 50 minutes, for four hours during the night, instead of applying light continuously. This is cyclic lighting. It is an effective way of growing flowers. If lighting levels are higher then the grower will see better stem and flower quality and less opportunity for disease.

Photoperiodism
Night length triggers seed germination, tuber and bulb formation, and other growth characteristics such as colour, enlargement of leaves and stem size and shape. This rhythmic characteristic is called photoperiodism and is of great value to growers. Plants can be classified according to photoperiodicity. l l l Short day (long night) Long day (short night) Indeterminate or day neutral

Long day length

The China Aster is a typical long-day (short-night) plant. Long-day plants can be brought to flower ahead of the normal time by lengthening the day. Relatively low intensities of light are enough to induce flowering, when applied early in the morning or at the end of the day. A dark-period interruption - from a few minutes to a few hours - as with other long-day plants, effectively induces flowering just as it inhibits flowering of short-day plants. Poinsettias must have complete and continuous darkness for about 12 hours a day in order to flower. Even 1 minute of light in the middle of the dark period will prevent their flowering. Tuberous Begonias flower only when daily dark periods are short - less than 12 hours but they require long dark periods for best production of tubers. Flowering of tomatoes, however, is not influenced by photoperiod.

Short day (long night)

The perennial Chrysanthemum and the Poinsettia, which flower in the autumn, are examples of short-day (longnight) plants. They fail to flower when the day length, or period of light, is extended beyond a critical value.

Long day
Long-day plants, such as the China Aster and Tuberous Rooted Begonia, flower only with a day length longer than a critical value.

Day neutral
Day-neutral plants, such as the Rose and Carnation are not limited by photoperiod.

Understanding these principles enables commercial growers to use artificial light profitably, so that flowering and vegetable harvesting can be timed for markets.
4

Plant colour and leaf formation

Photoperiod also influences plant responses such as colour and formation of the leaves. Coleus, for example, under continuous lighting, produces dark red leaves with bright green edges. Less than 10 hours of light per day results in less sturdy plants and paler colours. The tulip bulb is the main source of food reserve, and the light is needed mainly to develop the plants green colour. Stems attain their greatest length if grown under lighting.

Setting the clock

Artificial light can be used in a variety of lighting regimes.

As an additional daytime source of light, boosting existing light levels and aiding photosynthesis.

EXTEND SUBSTITUTE EXTEND

ADD

As an extension to the growing season through usage during the winter months.

As a means of extending the growth time per day. Lights can be switched on at dusk or other non daylight hours.

As a complete natural light substitute for total environmental control in growing rooms and biological research establishments.
5

Quality from start to finish

GE horticulture lamps have a long history of manufacture in the Budapest light source factory in Hungary. Quality is a fundamental part of all lamp manufacture but in particular the manufacture of horticulture lamps, where users rely on the lamp as a critical production tool.

Automated testing process

High quality components are used in all aspects of manufacture to ensure consistent lamp to lamp performance. Arc tube production takes place in an argon box which ensures a clean environment so there is no contamination and seal protection ensures the lamps do not fail early. At the end of the manufacturing process every lamp is tested and samples from every production run are placed on long term testing racks. Light output is measured in spheres to ensure lamps meet specification.

Testing spheres

Long t erm t esting r acks

PSL data
Typical lamp survival
100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50

Reliable performance
PSL data
Typical lamp survival
100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 100 95 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 Relative PAR maintenance (%)

Reliability (%)

Packed for convenience

2 4 6 8 10 12
Life (thousand hours)

Typical PAR maintenance

Production quality is important, but GE also ensures that lamps reach users in the condition in which they left the factory, and packaged for users convenience.

Reliability (%)

Bulk Pack
Lamps are available in a time-saving bulk pack for easy installation on site and transporting used lamps to recycling centres. The sturdy recycled cardboard pack has carrying handles, and is provided at no extra cost. Lamps are also still available in 12 packs for smaller installations or replacements.

10

12

10

12

Life (thousand hours)

Life (thousand hours)

Typical PAR maintenance

100 95 While 90 light quality is paramount, 85 reliability and performance have 80 also75 been key factors in the 70 development of the Lucalox PSL 65 60 range. lamp 55 50 Relative PAR maintenance (%)

10

12

Robust construction, reliable starting technology and improved lumen maintenance ensure peace of mind against early lamp failures and provide the consistency demanded for perfect growing conditions.

Guaranteed

Life (thousand hours)

GE is constantly engaged in a global quality process. A statistical quality system, designated SIX SIGMA, is applied in all areas of the company from manufacturing through to sales. GE offers warranties to distributors of its GE brand 230V 250W, 400W, 600W, and 750W and 400V 600W and 750W Lucalox PSL (PhotoSynthesis Light) High Pressure Sodium lamps. The lamps comply with the IEC/EN 62035 standards, and are in accordance with the specifications set out in the GE Consumer & Industrial - Lighting Spectrum Lamp catalogue, and in the Lucalox PSL, PhotoSynthesis Light Lamp brochure. The warranty comprises two parts: l Warranty on Lamp Reliability (Lamp Survival) Warranty on PAR (Photosynthesis Active Radiation) Maintenance

63 lamps/box

12 boxes/pallet

The Lucalox PhotoSynthesis Lamp

l l Specially developed for horticulture Provide an average 5% additional PAR (Photosynthesis Active Radiation) over standard HPS lamps Stable PAR maintenance 250W, 400W, 600W and 750W
Specially developed for greenhouses, Lucalox PSL high pressure sodium lamps offer the benefits of stable lumen and micromole maintenance and a full spectrum content that promotes photosynthesis. Photosynthesis Active Radiation (PAR, measured in micromole/ sec) is essential for plant growth. Lucalox is available in four wattages, 250W, 400W, 600W and 750W. Simple light or lumen maintenance is not enough to create plant growth. Plants require a certain radiation level to help with photosynthesis. The Lucalox PSL lamp has been specially developed to provide stable lumen maintenance and increased PAR output.

l l

PSL technology
Superb performance and high reliability: - GEs advanced sodium resistant ceramic helps eliminate early failures to give a rated service life of 10,000 to 12,000 hours for Lucalox PSL products. - In order to achieve maximum performance, GE recommends lamp replacement when the Rated Service Life is reached. - The lamps use extra rugged monolithic arc tubes equipped with GE Reliable Starting Technology which provides continuous high performance. High xenon-fill gas delivers: - Extra light and PAR (Photosynthesis Active Radiation) output. - More resistance to mains voltage fluctuations. Zirconium gettering system improves PAR maintenance that drives constant and uniform plant growth. - The diameter of the frame wire in the lamp has been minimised to reduce shading in the installation without affecting the robustness of the lamp. - Monolithic arc tube construction for durability and lumen maintenance.

Code LU250W/PSL LU400W/PSL LU600W/PSL LU750W/PSL LU400V/600W/PSL LU400V/750W/PSL

8

Volts V 115 110 115 115 200 205

Current A 2.7 4.3 6.0 7.4 3.6 4.4

Power W 250 420 615 755 620 765

100 hour Lumens 33,000 56,500 90,000 112,000 85,000 104,000

100 hour PAR mole/sec 430 710 1080 1320 1120 1390

(PSL) range
What is PAR ?
The effect of optical radiation on plants has been studied extensively; generally, photons emitted in the spectral region of 400nm-700nm are particularly effective. Therefore the simple measurement of quantity of light - Lux - is not sufficient for the horticultural market. Photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR) and Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF), are more useful measurements. PPF is defined as flux of the photons emitted in the 400 nm-700 nm wavelength range by the light source. It is expressed in micromoles/ second (mol/s), where 1 micromole means 6x1017 photons.
2.0

HPS
1.6

1.2

PPF/W

LFL

SOX
0.8

CMH

High Pressure Mercury

0.4

HPS - the natural choice

Different lamp types have different spectral output characteristics as well as different PPF/W efficiencies. The most commonly used lamp type in the horticultural market is High Pressure Sodium (HPS) due to its favourable PPF/W value, low early and mid life failure rate, and its close to flat PAR maintenance over it useful life. The HPS PSL range from GE has specially optimised spectra for greenhouse use, by enhancing the red portion of its light output. This means that HPS lamps designed for the horticulture market can have lower light level (lumen) in the visible spectral range compared to HPS lamps designed for street lighting. Despite a lower initial lumen level, HPS PSL lamps, are perfectly suited to horticulture.

Halogen Incandescent
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800

Nominal Watts

The PSL spectrum

The spectral distribution of a typical Lucalox lamp shows that light is LU400/PSL emitted in the wavelengths best suited to plant growth.
7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0

Spectral power [W/nm]

380

430

480

530

580

630

680

730

Wavelength [nm]

The Lucalox PhotoSynthesis Lamp

230V
The new 250W addition to the range is ideal for use in between crops or for crops that require lower light levels.

LU250PSL
140% 120%

Lamp power
Depending on system conditions, lamp power can vary by 2.5%.

100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

Supply voltage
Suitable for supplies in the range 220V to 250V 50/60Hz for appropriately rated series choke (reactor) ballasts.

Ballasts
It is essential to use a ballast appropriate to the supply voltage at the luminaire.

LU250PSL

LU400PSL

250W
Code V A W 100 h Lumens LU250W/PSL 115 2.7 250 33,000 100 h PAR mole/ sec 430

400W
140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

600W
140% 120% 100%

Code

Power Lamp voltage Lumens Current mole/ PAR sec

100 h

100 h PAR

Code
60% 40% 20%

80%

Power PAR Lamp voltage Lumens Current mole/ PAR sec

100 h

100 h

LU400W/PSL
0 200

110 4.3 420

400 600 Time [s]

56,500
800

710
1000

LU600W/PSL
0% 0 200

115 6.0 615

400 600 Time [s]

90,000
800

1080
1000

Runup times
LU250PSL
140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Power Lamp voltage Current PAR 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200

LU400PSL
160% 140% 120% 100% Power Lamp voltage Current PAR 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 0 200

LU600PSL

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

400

600 Time [s]

800

1000

Spectra
140% 120% 4.5 100% 4.0

LU400PSL
LU250/PSL

LU600PSL
160% 140% 7.0 120% 100%
Spectral power [W/nm]
6.0

LU750PSL
140%
10.0 120%

LU400/PSL

100%

9.0 8.0 7.0 6.0 5.0

Spectral power [W/nm]

60% 3.0 40% 2.5 20% 2.0 0% 1.5 0

1.0 0.5 0.0 380 430 480 530 580 630 LU600PSL Wavelength [nm]

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

80% 5.0 60% 40% 20% 3.0 0%

2.0 1.0 0.0 4.0

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

Spectral power [W/nm]

80% 3.5

80% 60% 40% 20% 4.0 0% 3.0

2.0 1.0 0.0

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

200

400

600 Time [s]

800

1000

200

400

600 Time [s]

800

1000

200

400

600 Time [s]

800

1000

680

730

380

430

480

530

LU750PSL [nm] Wavelength

580

630

680

730

380

430

480

LU600/400PSL

530

580

630

680

730

Wavelength [nm]

160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 10 60% Power Lamp voltage

140% 120% 100% 80% 60% Power Lamp voltage

160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% Power Lamp voltage Current

140% 120%

140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 800 1000 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

(PSL) range
80% 60% 40% 20% 0%

100%

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

LU400PSL
140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

400V
160% 140%

LU600PSL
140% 120% 100% Lamp power

LU750PSL

Supply voltage
120% 100%

Suitable for supplies in the range 390V to 80% 420V 50Hz for appropriately rated series Power 60% Lamp voltage choke (reactor) ballasts. 40%
20% 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Current PAR

80% Depending on system conditions, lamp Power 60% power can vary by 2.5%. 40% Ballasts

It 20% is essential to use a ballast appropriate to 0% the supply voltage at the luminaire.
0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800

Lamp voltage Current PAR

1000

LU600PSL

750W
140% 120% 100%

160%

600W
140% 120% 100%

LU750PSL

LU600/400PSL

750W
160% 140% 120% 100%

Code
60% 40% 20%

80%

100 h

100 h Power PAR Lamp voltage

80% Code 60% 40%

100 h

Current mole/ Lumens PAR sec

LU750W/PSL 0%
0 200

115 7.4 755

400

112,000
800

1320
1000

20% LU400V/600W/PSL 200 3.6 620 0% 0 200 400

Power Lumens mole/ Lamp voltage Current sec PAR

100 h PAR

80% Code 60% 40% 20%

PAR Lamp voltage Current mole/ Lumens PAR sec 104,000

600 800

100 h Power

100 h

85,000

1120

LU400V/750W/PSL 205 4.4 765 0%

0 200 400 Time [s]

1390
1000

600 Time [s]

600 Time [s]

800

1000

LU750PSL
140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200 400 600 Time [s] 800 1000 Power Lamp voltage Current PAR 160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% 0 200

LU600/400PSL
160% 140% 120% 100% 80% Power Lamp voltage Current PAR 60% 40% 20% 0% 400 Time [s] 600 800 1000 0 200

LU750/400PSL

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

400

600 Time [s]

800

1000

LU600/400PSL
160% 140% 120% 100% 10.0
Spectral power [W/nm]
12.0

LU750/PSL

LU750/400PSL LU600/400PSL
160%
7.0 140%

LU750/400PSL
10.0 9.0 8.0

120% 6.0
Spectral power [W/nm]

60% 8.0 40%

6.0 20%

Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

Spectral power [W/nm]

80%

100%
5.0

80% Power Lamp voltage Current PAR

7.0 6.0 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0

60% 4.0 40%

3.0

0%
4.0

20% 0 200 400 600 Time [s]

200

400 Time [s]

600

800

1000

0% 2.0
1.0 0.0

800

1000

2.0

0.0 380 430 480 530 580 LU750/400PSL 630 680 730

380

430

480

530

580

630

680

730

Wavelength [nm]

380

430

480

530

580

630

680

730

Wavelength [nm]

Wavelength [nm]

160% 140% 120% 100% 80% 60% Power Lamp voltage

11

Specifying Lucalox
The Lucalox range
Volts Current Power V LU250W/PSL LU400W/PSL LU600W/PSL LU750W/PSL LU400V/600W/PSL LU400V/750W/PSL 115 110 115 115 200 205 A 2.7 4.3 6.0 7.4 3.6 4.4 100 100 hour hour PAR W Lumens mole/sec 250 33,000 430 420 56,500 710 1080 1320 1120 1390 615 90,000 755 112,000 620 85,000 765 104,000

Lamp operation
Watts Maximum bulb temperature Maximum cap temperature 250 400C 250C 400 400C 250C 600 410C 250C 750 410C 250C

Voltage rise To achieve rated lamp life and optimal PAR maintenance it is essential that luminaires are designed so that when lamps are enclosed, lamp voltage rise does not exceed 12V

Depending on system conditions, lamp power can vary by 2.5%

Technical data
Lamp / Watts Max. length A mm LU250W/PSL LU400W/PSL LU600W/PSL LU750W/PSL LU400V600W/PSL LU400V750W/PSL 260 292 292 293 293 Arc gap B mm 64 87 125 130 143 LCL C mm 158 175 169 178 169 175 Diameter D mm 48 48 48 51 48 51 E40/45 E40/45 E40/45 E40/45 E40/45 E40/45 Hard Hard Hard Hard Hard Hard Universal Universal Universal Universal Universal Universal 88665 17106 17107 17108 43440 43438 N/A 44304 44305 44306 43439 43437
C B A

Cap

Bulb Glass

Operating Standard position product code (12)

Bulk product code (63)

292 124.5

Cross reference
GE LU250W/PSL LU400W/PSL LU600W/PSL LU750W/PSL LU400V/600W/PSL LU400V/750W/PSL MASTER GreenPower TD 1000W EL 400V MASTER GreenPower 600W EM 400V MASTER GreenPower 600W EL 400V SHP-TS GroLux 600W-400V MASTER GreenPower 400W EM 230V MASTER GreenPower 600W EM 230V Philips Osram Plantastar Inter 250 Plantastar 400 Plantastar 600 SHP-TS GroLux 400W SHP-TS GroLux 600W Sylvania

Full details of the GE lamp range can be found in the 2010 - 2011 Spectrum catalogue, or the GE website.

Picture credits: Nico Romers

www.gelighting.com/eu
and General Electric are registered trademarks of the General Electric Company. 2010

GE Lighting is constantly developing and improving its products. For this reason, all product descriptions in this brochure are intended as a general guide, and we may change specifications from time to time in the interest of product development, without prior notification or public announcement. All descriptions in this publication present only general particulars of the goods to which they refer and shall not form part of any contract. Data in this guide has been obtained in controlled experimental conditions. However, GE Lighting cannot accept any liability arising from the reliance on such data to the extent permitted by law. Horticulture leaflet English 2010

12