Adding UVA

[Drop That Sound]

I been wanting to do an epoxy countertop resin poor, for a full set of kitchen counters, with 5-6 different UV paints and dyes mixed in. Then setup a multi spotlight fixture in the center of the kitchen, with the good 365nm bulbs pointed towards each section of the tops. Or run strips under the upper cabinets, but spot lighting would probably have better coverage\spread.

Or use dyes that are mostly invisible until you light them up, so it looks like regular marble or stone until you switch on the UVs.

Like the stone coat countertop guys do.. but I haven't seen them do anything with fluorescence yet.

 

[Grow Lights Australia]

if you just look at the photo it shows 0.2 for UV spectrum and they do say they have 360-400 leds inside sooo.....

You are right and I will post some spectrographs to try to provide a fair assessment of why that 0.2% doesn't really count.

The Mars light does have a number of 410nm diodes, but they are very weak which is why you do not see a spike at 410nm on the spectograph as you would expect. 410nm is not strictly UVA but it is close enough to provide the advantage of UVA light which is to mildly stress the plant into producing more secondary metabolites to protect itself from DNA damage. Even blue light is strong enough to elicit this response but violet and UVA are better because they carry more energy. 410nm is also photosynthetically active which is a good thing. The 0.2% on the spectograph is residual UVA from the weak 410nm diodes but mainly from the 450nm blue pump diodes as well as light scatter recorded during every goniometer reading. There is actually very little light in the violet range under 430nm.



This is interesting because this is a Cree 660nm diode that has 0.5% UVA which is even more than the Mars light! Again this is light scatter. You would not say this diode has UV in it but you can clearly see some squiggly bumps <400nm. This is a quirk of the goniometer that picks up almost every photon of light unlike a hand-held spectrometer.



This is our first high Light 420 design that included a number of PC Blue diodes (30 on each board). The PC Blue diode has three dies one at 405nm and two at 420nm as well as a blue phosphor coating to spread the wavelengths. There are clear peaks at 405nm and 420nm and you can see where the 0.4% UVA bleeds under <400nm.



This is our current design that uses a Nichia 405nm diode that is over 70% efficient. 405nm is also not strictly UVA but there is a large spike on the spectrograph and the 405nm pump bleeds under <400nm and shows 0.8% on the spectograph. But that 0.8% is also bit misleading because there is a lot of light right on the edge of the UVA range which has the desired effect of mildly stressing the plant but also being photosynthetically active.


To clear up any doubts what I am referring to is the overall effect of the diodes on the board and how that affects the plant response.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

You are right and I will post some spectrographs to try to provide a fair assessment of why that 0.2% doesn't really count.

The Mars light does have a number of 410nm diodes, but they are very weak which is why you do not see a spike at 410nm on the spectograph as you would expect. 410nm is not strictly UVA but it is close enough to provide the advantage of UVA light which is to mildly stress the plant into producing more secondary metabolites to protect itself from DNA damage. Even blue light is strong enough to elicit this response but violet and UVA are better because they carry more energy. 410nm is also photosynthetically active which is a good thing. The 0.2% on the spectograph is residual UVA from the weak 410nm diodes but mainly from the 450nm blue pump diodes as well as light scatter recorded during every goniometer reading. There is actually very little light in the violet range under 430nm.
View attachment 5221136


This is interesting because this is a Cree 660nm diode that has 0.5% UVA which is even more than the Mars light! Again this is light scatter. You would not say this diode has UV in it but you can clearly see some squiggly bumps <400nm. This is a quirk of the goniometer that picks up almost every photon of light unlike a hand-held spectrometer.
View attachment 5221147


This is our first high Light 420 design that included a number of PC Blue diodes (30 on each board). The PC Blue diode has three dies one at 405nm and two at 420nm as well as a blue phosphor coating to spread the wavelengths. There are clear peaks at 405nm and 420nm and you can see where the 0.4% UVA bleeds under <400nm.
View attachment 5221134


This is our current design that uses a Nichia 405nm diode that is over 70% efficient. 405nm is also not strictly UVA but there is a large spike on the spectrograph and the 405nm pump bleeds under <400nm and shows 0.8% on the spectograph. But that 0.8% is also bit misleading because there is a lot of light right on the edge of the UVA range which has the desired effect of mildly stressing the plant but also being photosynthetically active.
View attachment 5221144

To clear up any doubts what I am referring to is the overall effect of the diodes on the board and how that affects the plant response.

That was extremely informative. Thank you.

 

[Scuzzman]

Still rock the GLA Gen 1 boards, great info , shame more dont do more research before they buy, most buy according to there mates or what discount they get or bullshit from a rep that knows nothing ..
I believe buy the best you can afford and look after them, most lights will grow weed fine - just the quality/quantity is the issue some don't know bad weed from good weed thats a FACT

 

[amneziaHaze]

Hmm interesting.it does look like it has more.my question is does it need active cooling and whats the price comparison?

 

[MarsHydrofactory]

Most growers are convinced that UV and IR are helpful for indoor growing - because sunlight has a lot of IR and UV - so over the past few years, many LED grow light brands have added a mix of UV and IR bands to the full spectrum of PAR (400-700nm) - and this has been a selling point for the Mars Hydro LED grow lights.

However, we are not comfortable stopping at a controversial selling point.
For years Mars Hydro has been studying whether "adding a small amount of UV and IR to the full spectrum" is a truly practical design, and we finally found the answer.

Installing a few UV or IR beads on the panel is not functional at all and can even cause damage to the beads very easily.
Only by using sufficient UV and IR radiation at the right stage of plant growth can you really take advantage of these two specific wavelengths to win the bonus - something that many growers have confirmed through experienced and skilled experts at grower forums and summits.

Over time, Mars Hydro will also be implementing this point by phasing out UV and IR from all Mars Hydro LED grow lights and instead offering a supplemental lighting series (UR45 light bars) to provide rich, quantitative, and actually effective UV and IR to assist growers in obtaining the highest quality cultivation results, taking full advantage of the precise control in indoor cultivation over environmental variables.

If you would like more detailed information of UV and IR and how to use them, please read:

Does Ultraviolet and Infrared Light Matter When Growing Cannabis?

How can UV and IR be used to bring benefits to my plants' growth? What is the role of UV and IR in cannabis growth? What are the principles? Let's learn together in this blog.

mars-hydro.biz

Or get summarized information from the following image:

 

[MarsHydrofactory]

Most growers are convinced that UV and IR are helpful for indoor growing - because sunlight has a lot of IR and UV - so over the past few years, many LED grow light brands have added a mix of UV and IR bands to the full spectrum of PAR (400-700nm) - and this has been a selling point for the Mars Hydro LED grow lights.

However, we are not comfortable stopping at a controversial selling point.
For years Mars Hydro has been studying whether "adding a small amount of UV and IR to the full spectrum" is a truly practical design, and we finally found the answer.

Installing a few UV or IR beads on the panel is not functional at all and can even cause damage to the beads very easily.
Only by using sufficient UV and IR radiation at the right stage of plant growth can you really take advantage of these two specific wavelengths to win the bonus - something that many growers have confirmed through experienced and skilled experts at grower forums and summits.

Over time, Mars Hydro will also be implementing this point by phasing out UV and IR from all Mars Hydro LED grow lights and instead offering a supplemental lighting series (UR45 light bars) to provide rich, quantitative, and actually effective UV and IR to assist growers in obtaining the highest quality cultivation results, taking full advantage of the precise control in indoor cultivation over environmental variables.

If you would like more detailed information of UV and IR and how to use them, please read:

Does Ultraviolet and Infrared Light Matter When Growing Cannabis?

How can UV and IR be used to bring benefits to my plants' growth? What is the role of UV and IR in cannabis growth? What are the principles? Let's learn together in this blog.

mars-hydro.biz

Or get summarized information from the following image:
View attachment 5221265

@Severed Tongue

 

[amneziaHaze]

Too bad they dont have a smaller model too big to fit in a 100x100 tent

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Most growers are convinced that UV and IR are helpful for indoor growing - because sunlight has a lot of IR and UV - so over the past few years, many LED grow light brands have added a mix of UV and IR bands to the full spectrum of PAR (400-700nm) - and this has been a selling point for the Mars Hydro LED grow lights.

However, we are not comfortable stopping at a controversial selling point.
For years Mars Hydro has been studying whether "adding a small amount of UV and IR to the full spectrum" is a truly practical design, and we finally found the answer.

Installing a few UV or IR beads on the panel is not functional at all and can even cause damage to the beads very easily.
Only by using sufficient UV and IR radiation at the right stage of plant growth can you really take advantage of these two specific wavelengths to win the bonus - something that many growers have confirmed through experienced and skilled experts at grower forums and summits.

Over time, Mars Hydro will also be implementing this point by phasing out UV and IR from all Mars Hydro LED grow lights and instead offering a supplemental lighting series (UR45 light bars) to provide rich, quantitative, and actually effective UV and IR to assist growers in obtaining the highest quality cultivation results, taking full advantage of the precise control in indoor cultivation over environmental variables.

If you would like more detailed information of UV and IR and how to use them, please read:

Does Ultraviolet and Infrared Light Matter When Growing Cannabis?

How can UV and IR be used to bring benefits to my plants' growth? What is the role of UV and IR in cannabis growth? What are the principles? Let's learn together in this blog.

mars-hydro.biz

Or get summarized information from the following image:
View attachment 5221265

This was also very informative, thank you. I wonder how your UV bar does against the hlg, @Grow Lights Australia ,and others.

 

[grotbags]

This was also very informative, thank you. I wonder how your UV bar does against the hlg, @Grow Lights Australia ,and others.

lol if its anything like the uv in their lights then very poorly i would imagine...

 

[grotbags]

notice how mars completely dodged the question, while posting a load of fluff... like come on they cant even get the distinction between far red and infared right...............

 

[amneziaHaze]

notice how mars completely dodged the question, while posting a load of fluff... like come on they cant even get the distinction between far red and infared right...............

If you go to the link it tells you how much they use what bars use it what dont.and he told you they dont put it in anymore because too much is bad but they sell a separate 40w bar uv/ir only

 

[Nope_49595933949]

If you go to the link it tells you how much they use what bars use it what dont.and he told you they dont put it in anymore because too much is bad but they sell a separate 40w bar uv/ir only

So now you agree the UV in your current light doesn't do anything?

 

[amneziaHaze]

No they said that fc3000 has some uv and graph does say its in the low 0.2.can ithave more yes.but itdoesnt have none

I would have to see 2 grows with those leds replaced with same power normal leds white or blue and then we could argue

 

[Nope_49595933949]

No they said that fc3000 has some uv and graph does say its in the low 0.2.can ithave more yes.but itdoesnt have none

I would have to see 2 grows with those leds replaced with same power normal leds white or blue and then we could argue

Kind of funny you don't want to argue after all that simping.

 

[Lou66]

notice how mars completely dodged the question, while posting a load of fluff... like come on they cant even get the distinction between far red and infared right...............

Maybe they put it in due to customer demand, knowing it is not worth it? And then at a level where it can be used for marketing but not impacting light quality.
The same can be said for the additional bar approach. Now they sell you 2 or 3 lights. They could have gone the route of using an integrated solution with multiple drivers.

Not saying anything about their lights. I don't know them. Just that anything can be read as nefarious dodging of questions. I liked the answer, to the extent that a company marketing a product can be liked.

 

[weednerd.anthony.850]

So now you agree the UV in your current light doesn't do anything?

No they said that fc3000 has some uv and graph does say its in the low 0.2.can ithave more yes.but itdoesnt have none

There’s a reason Mars is switching to the detachable bars for UV and IR as the current design doesn’t really have a benefit vs if they left those few UV and IR diodes out completely.

I think Mars would be keeping that design if it was as effective as you think, it’s not the end of the world that your choice of light doesn’t have enough UV or IR to get the benefits of both. It’s just the facts.

I think HLG has been onto something for a while, and they haven’t put UV into their QBs but have the UV detachable bar light.

 

[grotbags]

If you go to the link it tells you how much they use what bars use it what dont.and he told you they dont put it in anymore because too much is bad but they sell a separate 40w bar uv/ir only

i dont need to follow a link all the information is in this thread.
mars sells a light that it claims has uv in it but when tested with some of the most accurate equiment available there is no uv light to be found other than what you would expect to see (0.2%) from more or less any white 450nm pump diode.

 

[grotbags]

can ithave more yes.but itdoesnt have none

technically it couldnt contain any less uv.

 

[grotbags]

Maybe they put it in due to customer demand, knowing it is not worth it? And then at a level where it can be used for marketing but not impacting light quality.
The same can be said for the additional bar approach. Now they sell you 2 or 3 lights. They could have gone the route of using an integrated solution with multiple drivers.

Not saying anything about their lights. I don't know them. Just that anything can be read as nefarious dodging of questions. I liked the answer, to the extent that a company marketing a product can be liked.

so if the customer demand thing is true, mars was sick of everyone getting in touch asking for uv in the lights so they added some uv diodes that dont actually give of any uv light just so they can cash in? and this is ok?.

i thought his answer was shit, he totally dodged the question man then posted a load of irrelevant and wrong info.