In another forum the suitability of these compact flurocent bulbs for supplemental light came up, and I found the following info. Hope this is of help to anyone.
I was kind of interested to see about the light quality of these bulbs. I went to the OSRAM website (manufacturer of an energy saving bulb I had laying about)
They describe the bulb as a "Compact Flurocent Lamp"
I downloaded the product data sheet for the bulb, however it does not give distribution of the light frequency for the bulb. It does give the folowing details :
General Description
Technical - Light Technical Data
Luminous output in lumen 400 lm
Technical - Colors
Colour appearance LUMILUX INTERNA
Colour rendering group 1B
Colour rendering index (Ra) Min. 80 Max. 89
Colour temperature in Kelvin 2700 K
As the bulb is described as a 'Compact Flurocent', I'd imagine that the wavelength is similar to a 'normal flurocent' tube, COMPARED against an incandesant bulb.
Also, I heard that the reason incandesant bulbs are not suitable because they give light off too much light in the far red spectrum (infra red + heat) which disturbes the plant.
I found this info about light temp:
The color temperature of sunlight starts and ends at about 2200K, a red-orange light. Light temperature rises as the sun rises in the sky, getting progressively bluer. At mid-morning and mid-afternoon, say 10 am and 2 pm respectively, color temperature is about 5500K. The average person perceives this as neutral in color, and this is the temperature that most daylight film is balanced to. At noon, on a clear day, color temperature rises to about 6500K. On a hazy day, with no direct sunlight, color temperature can rise to 7500K.
also
fluorescent lights (typically 4000K, but can vary widely)
also
5K - 7K Kelvin: Strong Blue Light
Promotes bushy growth. Ideal for rapid growth phase of plants.
Greatly enhances all-around plant growth when used with super
high output, high pressure sodium or 3K warm metal halide lamps.
4.2K - 4200 Kelvin: Cool white Flourescents
Can be used as supplimental blue lighting when used with a 3K
source.
4K - 4000 Kelvin: Neutral Metal Halide
Best single source for plant growth, producing shorter, bushier
growth than 3700 Kelvin and color rendition. Used in general
plant lighting.
3.7K - 3700 Kelvin: Softer Metal Halide(coated)
This coated lamp is used in general plant lighting and for more
rapid growth than 4000 Kelvin produces.
3K - 3200 Kelvin: Warm Metal Halide
Highest photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) value of all HID
lighting for all phases of plant growth. PAR watts account for the
nutritional value of light and are a direct measure of the light
energy available for photosythesis.
2.7K - 2700 Kelvin: High Pressure Sodium Lamps
Redder color mix, used for propagation, blooming, supplemental
greenhouse lighting.
So I guess it would be ok as a supplemental light source, its 2700k, which is described as "Redder color mix, used for propagation, blooming, supplemental
greenhouse lighting."
Jacko
I was kind of interested to see about the light quality of these bulbs. I went to the OSRAM website (manufacturer of an energy saving bulb I had laying about)
They describe the bulb as a "Compact Flurocent Lamp"
I downloaded the product data sheet for the bulb, however it does not give distribution of the light frequency for the bulb. It does give the folowing details :
General Description
Technical - Light Technical Data
Luminous output in lumen 400 lm
Technical - Colors
Colour appearance LUMILUX INTERNA
Colour rendering group 1B
Colour rendering index (Ra) Min. 80 Max. 89
Colour temperature in Kelvin 2700 K
As the bulb is described as a 'Compact Flurocent', I'd imagine that the wavelength is similar to a 'normal flurocent' tube, COMPARED against an incandesant bulb.
Also, I heard that the reason incandesant bulbs are not suitable because they give light off too much light in the far red spectrum (infra red + heat) which disturbes the plant.
I found this info about light temp:
The color temperature of sunlight starts and ends at about 2200K, a red-orange light. Light temperature rises as the sun rises in the sky, getting progressively bluer. At mid-morning and mid-afternoon, say 10 am and 2 pm respectively, color temperature is about 5500K. The average person perceives this as neutral in color, and this is the temperature that most daylight film is balanced to. At noon, on a clear day, color temperature rises to about 6500K. On a hazy day, with no direct sunlight, color temperature can rise to 7500K.
also
fluorescent lights (typically 4000K, but can vary widely)
also
5K - 7K Kelvin: Strong Blue Light
Promotes bushy growth. Ideal for rapid growth phase of plants.
Greatly enhances all-around plant growth when used with super
high output, high pressure sodium or 3K warm metal halide lamps.
4.2K - 4200 Kelvin: Cool white Flourescents
Can be used as supplimental blue lighting when used with a 3K
source.
4K - 4000 Kelvin: Neutral Metal Halide
Best single source for plant growth, producing shorter, bushier
growth than 3700 Kelvin and color rendition. Used in general
plant lighting.
3.7K - 3700 Kelvin: Softer Metal Halide(coated)
This coated lamp is used in general plant lighting and for more
rapid growth than 4000 Kelvin produces.
3K - 3200 Kelvin: Warm Metal Halide
Highest photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) value of all HID
lighting for all phases of plant growth. PAR watts account for the
nutritional value of light and are a direct measure of the light
energy available for photosythesis.
2.7K - 2700 Kelvin: High Pressure Sodium Lamps
Redder color mix, used for propagation, blooming, supplemental
greenhouse lighting.
So I guess it would be ok as a supplemental light source, its 2700k, which is described as "Redder color mix, used for propagation, blooming, supplemental
greenhouse lighting."
Jacko