August 2011 - Add Temperature Sensors In Your Gable Area
When designing or constructing your greenhouse, add a temperature sensor in your gable area. Monitoring the temperatures in your gable area will help identify any issues with equipment located in that area. Expensive equipment such as gear motors or lights may be damaged with excessive temperature, so Identifying these temperatures will allow you to remedy any potential problems.
Posted: 08-02-2011
Posted: 08-02-2011
.July 2011 - Installing Lamps
When installing or removing lamps from a fixture, it is best to use gloves. This will help keep the glass of the lamp clean from dirt and oils which will provide the best output and longevity and protect against any cuts from damaged glass.
Posted: 07-01-2011
Posted: 07-01-2011
.June 2011 - Prolonging Lamp Life
When installing a new lamp (bulb), it is highly recommended that you run the lamp continuously for a minimum of 12 hours. This will increase lamp life, lumen maintenance, and stability of the lamp by allowing the gases in the arc tube to become completely combined.
Posted: 06-07-2011
Posted: 06-07-2011
May 2011 - Calculating Light Energy Costs
Here is a simple formula for calculating the energy costs of your lights.
0.6 x $0.12 x 16 x 30 = $34.56 / Day
Multiply by the number of days in a month to get the monthly rate
Posted: 05/02/2011
Information to gather:
| STEP | EXAMPLE |
| 1. Get your energy costs in kW/hr from your utility bill. (KW) | $0.12 |
| 2. Fixture Qty (FQ) | 30 |
| 3. Bulb Wattage (BW) Use 1 for 1000W, 0.6 for 600w and 0.4 for 400w | 0.6 |
| 4. Hour lights run per day (HR) | 16 |
FORMULA
BW x KW x HR x FQ = Cost to run fixtures per day0.6 x $0.12 x 16 x 30 = $34.56 / Day
Multiply by the number of days in a month to get the monthly rate
Posted: 05/02/2011
April 2011 - Consider Remote Ballasts over Attached Fixtures
Remote ballasts offer many benefits over traditional attached fixtures.
- Less fixture obstruction of incoming light
- Ballast can be centrally located reducing electrical installation costs
- Ballasts remain cooler – prolonging the life of the ballast
- Easier to raise, lower, install and maintain lighter reflectors
- Reflector placement can be easily changed with no additional cost
Posted: 04/01/2011
March 2011 - When should you replace your bulb?
To get the best performance from your bulb, replace the bulb at its “economic” life and not when the bulb burns out. The economic life is generally defined as 60% of the “Rated life” of the bulb. This is stated in hours of operation.
Posted: 03/07/2011
