Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Do LED Lights Work for Growing Plants?



LED Lights, over the past decade, have been perfected as an alternative to standard grow lights that are used to cultivate plants indoors. However, the question is still commonly asked, Do LED lights work for growing plants?” Not only do LED lights work well when used for growing plants, but there are many advantages to using them.

Energy Efficiency in the LED Grow Light

LED lights in general, as many people know, use far less electrical current to function. LED grow lights are no different in the sense that they will not draw nearly as much energy, and will still provide all the essential lighting needs that are required when growing plant life in an indoor setting. Many seasoned indoor plant cultivators are raving about LED lights and have switched to their use, exclusively. Ask any one of them,
Do LED lights work for growing plants?” and the answer will always be a resounding yes.

Infrequent Watering

With HID grow lights, which are the standard light bulbs that are found in many indoor plant nurseries, have a tendency to become extremely hot. Because of this, more water must be used to keep the plants from drying out. If the use of LED lights is employed for the same purpose, the elimination of excess heat that is generated by the lighting source will result in a less frequent need for watering. This, of course, will contribute to water conservation as well as allowing more time for other tasks to be completed.

LED Grow Lights and Life Span

Do LED lights work for growing plants without needing frequent replacement bulbs? Most light bulbs which are used for growing plants in an indoor setting do not have a very long life span. This can be especially true if frequent cycling is needed. With LED light bulbs used in grow lights, the life span is noted to be at about 15 times longer than other grow lights. They actually last approximately 100,000 hours which will mean about a decade of continued use, that is 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days of the year. Of course, plants are not subjected to light for those periods of time, so the reality is that LED grow lights may even last two decades!

Ballasts and Safety

Not only do LED lights remain cool but they do not require a ballast to operate. Other lights such as HID grow lights must have a ballast that is attached to them to control the amount of voltage that is used. If the ballast is not in place with these lights, the result will be overheated light bulbs and possibly even the risk of fire. This is another way in which indoor plant cultivators will save money by using LED grow lights. Actually, LED grow lights have a regulator attached to the lamp that controls current quite nicely. This is how the need for a ballast is avoided.

Ask any indoor cultivator,
Do LED grow lights work for growing plants?” and the answer will most likely be that LED grow lights are a great alternative for indoor growing environments. These grow lights are widely available and can be simply obtained by ordering them online. The less equipment that is needed in an indoor growing project, the less money a grower will spend. 

How Do LED Lights Save Energy?


Find the answer to the frequently asked LED Lights related question: How Do LED Lights Save Energy?
Consumers are told that LED Lights save an incredible amount of energy in a number of different ways. But of course they will still question, How do LED lights save energy? when shopping for the right bulbs. When people are considering lighting sources and the energy they consume, they normally only think about this in terms of the amount of savings they can incur on their monthly cost of electricity. However, there are a number of other ways that the use of LED lights can save energy. Following are just a few different ways in which LED lighting can save energy and contribute to the overall well being of the planets environment.

LED Lights in Traffic Lights

According to several online sources, there are roughly 50,000,000 traffic lights in the continental United States, and that is an extremely conservative figure. If current lighting systems cost taxpayers $100 per year to power each of those lights, that would add up to over five billion dollars per year just to operate traffic control lights. Unfortunately, those figures are most likely twice as high, which means that an energy efficient source of light, such as LED technology, could save taxpayers a considerable amount of money that could be better spent elsewhere.

LED Lights in the Home

If the average home has 15 light fixtures, and all of them are lit with high energy consuming incandescent bulbs, that home will be drawing quite a bit of energy every month in order to illuminate each room. If LED lights are used, the bill for lighting could be lowered by about 80%, cutting the total bill to about half of what it normally would be. LED light bulbs consume so much less energy than incandescent bulbs, and also do not have the added hazard of toxic mercury that is contained in CFL lamps. LED lights, for this reason alone, are a much better alternative in terms of lighting a home.

Less Energy Consumption is Better for the Environment

People may wonder how saving money on their electric bill can contribute to the over all welfare of the environment, but here
s how it will. The population of the world has reached alarming numbers. There are literally billions of people. Because of that, there are billions of dwellings, and each one uses a portion of the earths precious resources. Many scientists have determined that this excessive usage of energy could result in catastrophic climatological events if new and innovative measures are not taken to reduce the amount of energy the population consumes.

How do LED lights save energy to the extent of having an impact on the entire world? It may not seem like one family changing their habits would make much of a difference, but often times changes has a way of becoming contagious. For example, if everyone changed just a few of the light bulbs in their homes to LED light bulbs, there would be a major difference in the overall levels of energy that are consumed every year. It is called the
snowball effect and it has to start somewhere. 

Tuesday, November 8, 2016

One Simple Trick that will Make your Home Cheaper & More Secure



Floodlights are ideal for enhancing the security of your home and making it look more welcoming when you arrive back after dark. The good news is that you can now get LED flood and security lights, keeping your home safe and secure at minimal cost, even when you leave them burning all night.

Keep your Home Safe and Secure

Your home contains all the things that matter to you, and installing outdoor lights in front it can act as an effective deterrent to stop would-be criminals from targeting your place.
If you’re worried about a glare on the road outside, you can now get low profile lights that are also IP66 waterproof. The 50 Watt Slimline LED security light can replace your old 250W outdoor light, and save you a significant amount in energy costs. With an expected lifespan of 45,000 hours, you won’t need to worry about replacing it anytime soon either. If you want to use less power to run it, this light is also available in 30W and 10W varieties.
A 120-degree beam angle ensures maximum illumination, for wider driveways and house fronts. You can also choose between warm and cool white light colours.

Home Entertaining Just Got a Little Easier

A sunset barbeque is the perfect way to end a summer weekend. While you may have needed to get your meat done before the sun went down a few years ago, having outdoor lights means you can now have your barbeque whenever you wish.
A Slimline 10 or 30W LED security light around your barbeque area can keep it well lit no matter how many people you have around, and ensure the festivities go on well after dark.

Lighting While You Work

If you are someone who needs functional light while you work, whether in one place or while on the move, there’s also a solution for you. The 27 Watt IP65 LED Working Light is available in both square and round shapes, providing essential lighting on par with a HID lamp, but with the efficiency levels of a LED.
With an IP67 rating and 1,755 lumen light output, this light provides excellent value and ensures that no dust or water can penetrate the structure. Its average lifespan is 50,000 hours, so once you have installed it, it is going to stay bright for at least the next five years.
With its 60-degree wide beam angle, the 27 Watt - IP65 LED Working Light is perfect for outdoor work areas and trucks.
Moreover, if you’re someone who is always on the move, you can get a 10W Portable, and Rechargeable LED Flood Light that goes with you. You can use it as a replacement for a traditional 60W light. With a light output of 600 lumens and a 120 beam angle, it’s ideal for all your work needs after dark.




Thursday, October 27, 2016

How to make a hanging light bulb vase?



Step 1: Things You Need
For the vase:

 
   old light bulbs
   needle nose pliers
   nail set
   hammer
For the stand/hanger:
   wire / floral wire for hanging vase
   wire cutters
   wooden dowel
   drill
electrical tape – optional
Step 2: Breaking The Black Part of Bulb


use the nail set and hammer to break the black part of the bulb…be careful, it is glass.
Step 3: Removing The Silver Layer of Bulb


Remove the small silver layer with your pliers. Tap out black glass into garbage. Break the next layer of glass inside the bulb carefully, using the nail set and hammer again. Break off any little pieces around the inside edge of the bulb.
Step 4: Removing The ''guts'' of The bulb


Remove the “guts” of the bulb with your needle nose pliers. Shake out any loose glass. You now have a vase.
Step 5: Stand/Hanger For The Bulb


Drill a 1/8 inch hole in the dowel (or big enough for your wire to fit it in). Mike also wrapped a few layers of electrical tape around the dowel because the dowel wasn’t as big as the light bulb base. (You will also be able to adjust the size after removing the wire from the dowel). Cut your wire into 20″ pieces. Mike used the wire that you use to hang drop ceilings with.
Put wire into the hole in the dowel and start wrapping the wire around the dowel clockwise. Wrap it 2-3 times.
Use the wire cutters to remove the wire from the dowel, cutting right at the hole. Check to see if your bulb will fit into coils, adjust if needed by turning the wire with pliers to either tighten or loosen.
Step 6: Hanging The Vase


Thread bulb into wire, it should thread in and tighten up - like putting a bulb in a light socket. Bend wire down to form a base, shaping it how you like.
To make a hanging vase, follow the steps above for preparing the light bulb. Then drill two holes in the bulb base and attach floral wire.
Enjoy your new cute, upcycled vase! Have a happy day!