[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]
[APD] Re: Luxed out
Message: 2
Date: Mon, 13 Oct 2003 14:27:42 +0100
From: "Beek, Graham" <Graham_Beek at ds-s.com>
Subject: [APD] Luxed out
To: "APD (E-mail)" <aquatic-plants at actwin_com>
Hi group,
I've become a little confused over lux and it's meaning.
Join the crowd. Even our usually-accurate Scott got this one messed up.
:-) Lux is a standard photometric unit that isn't just a "European
thing." As I recall it's the metric equivalent of the foot-Lambert, and
describes how well a surface is illuminated. It is a lousy choice for
lamp rating, BTW. Lumens is better, IMHO.
Looking for a new T8 tube, I was reading the blurb on Hagens range which
include LifeGlo, Sunglo, Powerglo, Floraglo etc and found that with
increasing tube length the lux increased. I thought lux was a measurement of
light (lumens) per metre, so surely the length of the tube would be
irrelevant? Am I missing something?
It is, but that's per *square* meter. Doesn't mean much for plants, and
often is very misleading. Converting from lumens of apparent brightness
to a surface measurement requires definition of the measurement
apparatus. Yes, longer tubes will generally be able to deposit higher lux.
Also, Hagen describe their PowerGlo tubes as 'High Intensity' and Sunglo as
a 'standard tube that replicates natural sunlight', however the Sunglo tube
has a higher lux measurement than the PowerGlo (150 or so compared with
110). This confused me even more.....
In case it matters the PowerGlo is 18000K, the Sunglo is 5000ish (can't
remember the exact number).
Those are color descriptions that have nothing whatsoever to do with
power or brightness.
Any clarification would be greatly appreciated!
Graham
Let's start basic. Products intended for the human eye, like lamps, are
measured with photometric units that are based on a "standard observer"
as defined by the CIE, years ago. How the meat looks in the butcher
case, and how the dept. store window looks provided the impetus for such
definitions.
Since the human eye sees green with about 10X the sensitivity of blue or
red, and plants see and use red and blue at several times what they
usually collect in the green (they reflect much of that away).
Radiometric units, like Watts/cm2 and Einsteins are better for plant
discussions, but for how the tank *looks* to you, the photometric units
are better. Conversion between them is difficult and rarely accurate, as
all photometric units are based on emperical curves obtained by sampling
a lot of observers. Simple, accurate algebraic conversions are out of
the question.
Bottom line is to take photometric values as just how the light will
look to you, but use better tools for getting the plants fed enough
photons. I often guess a wider spectrum by picking the *lowest*
lumens/Watt lamp in a given family. :-) Most always, it is true. Lower
color temps often have richer red, while higher are sometimes red
deficient while providing much more blue. The two chlorophyls (A & B)
require both.
Wright
--
Wright Huntley -- 760 872-3995 -- Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514
Mencken's maxim—every election is a sort
of advanced auction of stolen goods.
_______________________________________________
Aquatic-Plants mailing list
Aquatic-Plants at actwin_com
http://www.actwin.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/aquatic-plants