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The Most Energy Efficient
HID Grow Lights

Dimlux Half Force Explained

Conventional wisdom says that more light equals more yield. Even though this is an accepted reality, this truth doesn’t paint a complete picture and can sometimes even be misleading and can sometimes lead to the opposite.

With the mindset of maximizing yields most in indoor cultivation set-ups have their grow lights hanging anywhere between 4 and 5 feet apart. From there, cultivators pump as much light as possible on their crops seeking that maximum yield.

Whereas there are ideal Par values for different genetics to succeed, most of the light is wasted (especially in early flower), increases cooling costs and ultimately reducing a cultivator’s ROI.

Now given that not all lights are created equal and depending on the luminaire efficiency, reflector quality, and bulb quality some lights do require the grower to max out the wattage on their fixtures.

Dimlux’s quality changes the paradigm. With the combination of the highest luminaire efficiency, 98% reflectivity, high frequency ballasts, Philips Master Green Power bulbs, (and more) working in concert, there are no other lights on the market that put out as much light as the Dimlux 1000W fixture. We will explain why that is important in the (save 50% claim) below.

High Output Grow Lights

To cover the canopy evenly with light, the 4×4 or 5×5 set-ups are set up in a grid and are on for 12 hours a day during the flower cycle. 

These 12 hours mean 12 hours of cooling and 12 hours of amperage draw on your panel. The more efficient your fixture is, the better quality the light is the less heat it will generate. The opposite is obviously true for fixtures not fortunate enough to be Dimlux.

A 1000 Watt light system typically uses 1050 watts at the 100% setting. Most brands (including Dimlux offer boost mode. Dimlux goes to 1200 Watts). At 20 cents per kilowatt hour, each grow light will cost about $2.52 per day (1.05 kW/h x 12 x $0.20). A flower cycle being roughly 60 days means each light’s operation will cost approximately $150 per bloom cycle.

Here is where it gets interesting.

Dimlux Ultra Optics reflectors put out more light intensity

Energy Efficient Grow Lights

While Dimlux does take the traditional approach to lighting layout (much like the competition) the similarities end there. There are 2 main reasons for this. First our light system more efficiently converts the energy (electrical power drawn) into useable lights and the second is Half Force. Half force is achieved when used with a Maxi Controller. It illuminates the room in a checkerboard pattern alternating the lights turned on/off every 3 hours for the 12 “daylight” hours. In sum, each light is “on” for 6 hours per day instead of 12. Even with half the energy consumed Dimlux still delivers equal or better yields as the competition!

What are the best indoor grow lights? Dimlux.

Again, it comes down to efficiency. The highly efficient Ultra Optics reflector which comes standard with all Dimlux systems is only the beginning. The Ultra Optics Miro Silver reflector is 98% reflective and follows the Single Bounce Clear Sight (SBCS) principal. Compared to the competitions hammered aluminum 95% rated reflectors this plays a HUGE difference. To begin dimpled reflectors, cause the light coming out from the bulb to bounce multiple times before leaving the reflector. Not only does that create more heat, but light is lost to that heat. In addition to this feature is the ventilation slits sitting above the bulb. Not only do these allow the hot air to passively rise away from the canopy, it allows the bulb to burn at its optimal temperature. Again, more efficiency, more light!

These highly efficient designs equate to significantly more light intensity coming from each fixture when on. Dimlux provides more light than all of our competitors and up to 39% more light from competitors such as Gavita. This means more PPFD for your canopy!

Plant Recommended PPFD (μmol/m2/s)

SpeciesSeedCloneVegetativeFlowering
Cannabis100 - 30075 - 150300 - 600600+
Pepper150 - 300n/a300 - 600600+
Tomato150 - 30075 - 150350 - 600600+
Cucumber100 - 300n/a300 - 600600+

Energy Efficient HID Grow Lights Make Sense Over LED Grow Lights

4 words: Law of Diminishing Returns.

There is a direct relationship between PPFD and yields, but it’s not a linear relationship. All plants have a minimum and maximum amount of light they can absorb to grow. Anything below the minimum amount, and the plant can’t develop. Anything beyond the maximum only stunts or worse, burns them. Because each varietal has its own specific optimal PAR values to maximize its full genetic potential it can be concluded that each plant can only take in so much light per day. Within this range, each incremental increase of light gives less and less yield than the previous increase. And so on. This is the diminishing return.

By running Half Force, the grower can strike the optimal point for the plant’s growth while not wasting energy (electrical power) producing light the plant can’t use or convert into a higher yield. Better still the grower doesn’t risk damaging the crop. Because of Dimlux’s superior light output he grower gets the most light possible while they are on, but since they alternate, the plant gets the breather it needs. Cross light ensures a minimum amount of light for the crop directly under the “off fixture”. Beyond this diminished return, the only way to take advantage of additional light past around 500 to 600 μmol is to enrich the environment with CO2. Even then, that methodology only goes so far.

So how does this relate to LEDs? HID grow lights provide a more intense light source when compared to any LED grow light. This means that you get more canopy penetration. Also the peripheral light extending past the 5 ft x 5ft area directly below the light is far more intense than than what any LED system can do. This only works with highly efficient HID grow lights, not with LED grow lights.

So when you run Dimlux HID grow lights with Half Force activated, you’re using far less energy than any LED grow light system will require to cover the same area, and you’re also getting the benefit of reduced cooling costs.

The Best Grow Lights

The Math on Saving 50%

Referring to the math above, each grow light costs about $150 per bloom cycle. But if you’re running Half Force, that’s only $75 per light! What’s more you’ll considerably less energy on air conditioning because of the much cooler room. Less BTU’s baby! Assuming an indoor grow room of 100 lights, that equates to $7500 per bloom cycle when using Dimlux Lighting technology.

For those of you considering LED, don’t. Half Force essentially makes Dimlux more cost effective in both upfront cost and total energy used. Not to mention the higher quality yields.

Comparative results are in! The test entailed one grow room filled with Gavitas running 12 hours per day (all units operational) for the entire bloom cycle, and the other grow room filled with Dimlux running at Half Force. Guess the results? Dimlux yielded the same using than half the power of the Gavita room. Talk about ROI!

Grow Light Energy Efficency: Get on board with Dimlux

We’re happy to say that the combination of a superior built fixture coupled with Half Force technology, built into the Dimlux Maxi Controller, is the game changing technology that offers growers the highest ROI needed to stay competitive in an ever changing market. Our focus is ROI. Yours should be too. The way we look at it, your success is our success! Give us a call to discuss your lighting options and get a light plan today!

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GROW BETTER WITH DIMLUX