LED grow lights are composed of light-emitting diodes, usually in a casing with a heat sink or built-in fans.
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a two-lead semiconductor light source. It is a p–n junction diode, which emits light when activated. A LED is often small in area (less than 1 mm2). Integrated optical components may be used to shape its radiation pattern. When a suitable voltage is applied to the leads, electrons are able to recombine with electron holes within the device, releasing energy in the form of photons. This effect is called electroluminescence, and the color of the light (corresponding to the energy of the photon) is determined by the energy band gap of the semiconductor.
Developments in LEDs nowadays allows be applied in environmental and in many ways for industrial lighting. Compared with incandescent light sources, LEDs have advantages, including: lower energy consumption, longer lifetime, improved physical robustness, smaller size and faster switching. Light-emitting diodes are now used in applications as diverse as aviation lighting, automotive headlamps, advertising, general lighting, traffic signals, camera flashes, lighted wallpaper, agricultural lighting, and so on. LEDs are also powerful enough for room lighting. LED lights remain somewhat more expensive. They also need more precise current and heat management, than compact fluorescent lamp sources of comparable output.
Grow lights provide artificial light needed for the growth of plants. The process for plant growth is called photosynthesis. Grow lights are used for horticulture, indoor gardening, plant propagation and food production, including indoor hydroponics and aquatic plants (aquarium lights). Although most grow lights are used on an industrial level, they can also be used in households; for indoor gardens and grow tents. Beginning this century, LED technology has been introduced into the grow light market. The spectrum of growth lights is tuned to each plant growing phase - from starting as seedling up to the final flowering period. By designing an indoor grow light using diodes, the exact wavelengths necessary for photosynthesis are used to create LED grow lights that are used for both the first (or vegetative) phase and the second (or reproductive) phase of growth. LEDs allow production of bright and long-lasting grow lights that emit only the wavelengths of light corresponding to the absorption peaks of a plant’s typical photochemical processes.
NASA has tested LED grow lights for their high efficiency in growing food in space for extraterrestrial colonization. In this experiment LED panel light source was used on vegetable plant growth.
4).Why choose LED Grow Light instead of HID/HPS Grow Light?
When compared with HPS/MH lights, LED grow lights have their own advantages: LED grow lights are more economical alternative from long-term perspective, they will help to save about 50% on the electrical consumption, cooling costs (especially more expensive in the summer) and bulb replacement. When installed in the recommended coverage area, LEDs will impress you with high yields. Reduced heat output of LEDs protects plants from overheat damage, sustains long lifespan; this also reduces the risk of a fire hazard, especially in an enclosed space.
