The YIN MIND

________________________________________________________________________

Chronochrome Lighting

There are two light fixture models to use.
In both light fixture models,
we use high frequency, solid state, remote ballasts
in order to eliminate the unwelcomed heat gain
from the 60% to 70% electrical energy not able to be converted into light.
The value of using solid state ballasts can be tested
by simply touching the ends of the lamps.
This is convincing of the difference.

Solid state ballasts, 25,000 Hz, are used,
in order to gain an efficiency of more than 30%
of the electrical energy generating illumination.

The chronochrome light system uses fluorescent tubes
rather than halogen sources because of the enormous distances required
to provide diffuse and relatively uniform illumination levels.
In general, it is better to provide a large number of low-intensity sources
than a small number of high intensity sources.
Halogen lamps also provide certain colours of light
which cause excess photorespiration and some denaturing.

The colours of light are selected to support all photo-chemical responses
e.g. chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B, phototropism, phytochrome.
The blue end of the spectrum has approximately ten times (10x) the energy level
of the red end of the spectrum.
(A more detailed explanation of Chlorophyll restoration periods
related to light intensity is available through DOMAIN).

Timers are set to take advantage of the dark-period sensitivity
of slightly more than 3.6 hours.
An illumination intensity of about 30-foot candles
for a period of approximately 40 minutes (24 – 35 minutes just before sunset
in short days of winter), will trigger a second dark-period metabolism,
which has a particularly powerful effect upon root growth.

[ Fig. 1 unavailable for this posting ]

Fig. 1 Twenty-four hour light / darkness cycle

During the dark metabolism triggering light periods,
no colours longer in wavelength than 725 millimicrons (7,250 Å) are allowed.
A wavelength of approximately 660 millimicrons (6,660 Å) must be provided.

The other illumination periods allow both red wavelengths (6,600 Å and 7,350 Å)
to appear.

The distance from the plants to the source of illumination varies
with the plant species and varieties.
There are approximately 4 different light intensity ranges
common to the variety of species.
The highest intensities are characteristic of very tall trees.
The lowest intensities are characteristic of such plants as ferns and moss.
(Moss only grows low on trees with low light intensities and high humidity levels.)

Model 1: monolayer growing and / or top level growing
which combines with natural light harvesting
– combines with sunlight control and night shading system.
Because the rule of thumb, 1% light : 1% growth
(although the intensity of the light, the colour of the light
and the duration of illumination must be taken into account).

Although T12 (1 1/2″ dia.) fluorescent tubes are used,
it is desirable to use the smallest diameter fluorescent tube possible
e.g. T8 (T8 =1″ or 1/8 x 8) with the best surface reflection properties
and profile shape.

Model 2: multilevel growing
which has minimal vertical dimensions to allow
tight tracking in multilevel growing and sprouting chambers.

mid-level illumination for low trees, vines:
alpine, savannah, tropics, desert, plains
reflected light, transmitted, emitted light

copyright 2011, 2014, ECOhealth / Eve Revere