VEGETAL GROW DEVELOPMENT
LED HPS
Why are replace sodium lamps with LEDs ?
Since its introduction to the market in 1930, lighting with low- or high-pressure sodium vapor lamps has been an old technology that revolutionized its time . Most lighting protocols applied to plants were developed using these sodium vapor lamps. It's easy to understand that the advent of LED technology initially addressed the spectral (color) deficiencies of sodium lighting . Research has been able to, and continues to, investigate the use of LED light on the photosynthetic process in plants (and there's still a lot of work to be done...). When professional horticultural LED lighting appeared on the market in 2010, the high energy consumption of sodium lamps was the primary concern for growers looking to save money. Today, more and more growers, as well as research centers, are replacing their old HPS bulbs with VGD horticultural LED lighting. The price of electricity is a primary factor in the decision; thanks to the savings generated, the return on investment can be less than two years. A second determining factor is the quality of VGD spectra, which increases yields and improves crop quality. Still undecided? Contact us for a free audit of your system.
The advantages of LEDs compared to sodium lamps
Our studies and comparisons demonstrate that, at the same intensity absorbed by the plant (measured in µmol/m²/s), sodium vapor lamps consume more energy . They are therefore less efficient than an LED lamp with a spectrum unsuitable for photosynthesis. The VGD range of horticultural LED lighting, called HPL, offers a choice of several spectra depending on the type of crop . This ensures that the energy consumed is absorbed to the maximum extent by the plant, unlike with sodium lamps. VGD LED lights switch on and off instantly and are variable in intensity, reducing the stress caused by a sudden, abrupt start-up. It's a bit like having your bedroom shutters opened in the morning while you're sleeping—it'll put you in a bad mood… but what about the plant? The lifespan of over 50,000 hours, its low energy consumption, and the benefits to cultivation of a VGD LED lamp are undeniable compared to a sodium lamp . The only psychological barrier, and we would even specify "psycho-non-ecological", is the price of sodium lighting because the return on investment for all our LED projects falls below 24 months.
Longer lifespan of LEDs
The lifespan of VGD LED lights is 5 to 7 times longer than that of sodium vapor lamps . The quality of the LED components integrated by VGD allows its lights to exceed 50,000 hours of operation. VGD can therefore guarantee the light and lifespan of its HPL LED lamps for up to 7 years. Lifespan is one thing, but maintaining the light output is another. Depending on the LEDs used in a light fixture, you could end up with a photon output that is only valid for 12 months of use. Then, very quickly, in the following 24 months, the loss of output can reach 40%. So beware of false promises.
The reduced energy consumption of LEDs
Let's take the example of a 300W HPL LED light, which will provide 20 to 40% more light than a 600W HPS sodium lamp. It's important to consider that the ballast of a sodium lamp consumes 5 to 10% of the lamp's power, so for a 600W HPS lamp, this equates to a total consumption of 650W . Therefore, for the same light output on a crop, you consume 60% less with our LED lamps. Thanks to the efficiency of VGD LED lights, you generate savings from the very first hours of operation. For example, with a cucumber plant equipped with sodium lighting, you have the choice of either reducing the initial power consumption by up to two-thirds or benefiting from up to three times more horticultural LED light. You also gain in temperature regulation, making the agro-climatic management of your crop simpler and more precise.
The quality of light emitted by LEDs
VGD LED lights have spectra adapted to various crops, whether grown in greenhouses or indoors . Our team will advise you on light usage to optimize root development, germination, flowering, and other growth stages, leading to improved performance. With HPL LED lighting, we can also customize the spectrum to your specific needs. A VGD HPL LED lamp will have a different spectrum for illuminating strawberry plants versus tomato plants. Unlike sodium lamps, which have a color temperature around 2000K, these lamps compensate for their spectral limitations with high energy consumption, resulting in strong infrared emission. Indeed, let's take the example of a 300W HPL lamp that emits approximately 90% red light at 660nm, or 1080µmol/s, and a 600W HPS lamp that emits only 38% red light between 600nm and 700nm, or 456µmol/s. It's easy to see that the 650W consumed by the sodium lamp (HSP) corresponds to 42% of the red light emitted by a 300W HPL lamp that consumes only 300W. VGD LED lights have a much better spectral efficiency, which is reflected in electricity consumption and generates savings. The blue light emitted by VGD LED lights can represent up to 25%, depending on the spectrum and the needs of a crop, unlike sodium vapor lamps which emit less than 3%. This generally results in a problem of etiolation (straightening) in the crop. You just need to know the right LED horticultural light that your plants need; the VGD team is here to help you choose.
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VEGETAL GROW DEVELOPMENT
HOW SODIUM LAMPS WORK
The disadvantages of sodium lamps
Sodium vapor lamps have a color temperature around 2000 Kelvin, emitting primarily in the 550nm to 630nm range (corresponding to the yellow-orange part of the visible spectrum) with very little emission in the blue (400-500nm). Blue light is involved in the photosynthesis process and also in the activation of photoreceptors, mainly cryptochromes and phototropins. Unlike VGD LED lamps, the red (630-730nm) emitted by sodium vapor lamps (HPS) is too weak. Therefore, only partial activation of phytochromes (red and far-red photoreceptors) is achieved, as is partial activation of the photosynthesis process. Sodium vapor lamps lose an average of 30% of their intensity after 3000 hours of operation. HPS and HID (metal halide) lighting generate twice as much heat as LED lamps, thus requiring that the lights be kept away from plants to avoid stress and burning. With the aim of improving energy efficiency and saving money, sodium lamps will likely be the next type of lighting to be banned from manufacture in Europe, like fluorescent tubes since September 2023. Currently, sodium bulb ballasts are expensive and increasingly rare.
VEGETAL GROW DEVELOPMENT
Replace sodium lamps with LEDs
VGD integrates tool-free, waterproof quick-connect fittings into all its lamps . Therefore, depending on the condition of your existing electrical installation, you simply need to disconnect the wiring from your high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp and replace it with a VGD LED HPL light. No intervention by qualified personnel is required. If the free VGD audit reveals an optimization of the installation—that is, using fewer LED lamps compared to the existing HPS lamp—the electrical installation will need to be adapted according to the plans for the new layout . The advantage of reducing the number of light points is that it further lowers energy consumption and investment. VGD guarantees the results of its free 3D study of the optimal LED light distribution and can assist you through installation and commissioning. As part of an eco-responsible waste management approach, VGD offers a subsidy of up to 20% of the total invoice . Finally, VGD will train you on setting up automated lighting protocols if you purchase a VGD Box and its patented Luz Sensor.
Our answers
There are bulbs on the market, particularly on marketplaces, that promise performance equivalent to that of sodium vapor. We confirm that this is not possible at this time at an affordable price with a correct guarantee. So the LED bulb which consumes 40W but which is equivalent to 400W yes but halogen and not sodium vapor iodide (HPS) or metallic (HID). So be careful of marketing promises of a miracle LED bulb. The Luciole VGD bulb range can nevertheless satisfy crops requiring photoperiodic and photosynthetic light stimulation. Do not hesitate to ask us questions, a VGD expert is available every day on our site to answer you.
The LED watt to halogen watt conversion is different from that of a sodium bulb in Watts. In fact we observe a ratio of 10 to light your garden or your garage but a ratio of 15 to light your crop. That is to say that a VGD Luciole which consumes 40 Watts LED will replace a 500 Watt halogen bulb. We still find halogen bulbs for the photoperiod in strawberry cultivation. So if you do the math you will consume 15 times less with a Luciole for a more efficient agronomic result. In fact, our strawberry growers have seen the number of flowers increased thanks to a spectrum specially developed for strawberries. We have other special spectrums for flowers or cannabis for example.
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