Choosing The Right Lighting

Having trouble deciding whether to go with HPS or LED lighting for your grow room or vertical farm? When choosing between the two, it is important to consider not only their performance but cost and energy usage as well. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each and what effect they may have on the rest of your designs. 

HPS lighting typically bears a lower initial investment cost which might be appealing during start-up; however, many will find long-term operational costs much higher than LEDs. This is partly due to the increased energy demand required to operate the fixtures, paired with the increase in HVAC tonnage needed to compensate for the excess heat added by the HPS bulbs. To break this down a little further, in addition to PAR, HPS bulbs emit considerable amounts of infrared radiation, which causes excess heat to be generated. The grow shop online always have the best quality grow light and oscillating fan. 

 Having trouble deciding whether to go with HPS or LED lighting for your grow room or vertical farm? When choosing between the two, it is important to consider not only their performance but cost and energy usage as well. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each and what effect they may have on the rest of your designs. Looking for a wide range of OG strain seeds online like alien og seeds, og kush seeds and white fire og seeds.

HPS lighting typically bears a lower initial investment cost which might be appealing during start-up; however, many will find long-term operational costs much higher than LEDs. This is partly due to the increased energy demand required to operate the fixtures, paired with the increase in HVAC tonnage needed to compensate for the excess heat added by the HPS bulbs. To break this down a little further, in addition to PAR, HPS bulbs emit considerable amounts of infrared radiation, which causes excess heat to be generated. 

In nature, when experiencing high infrared conditions under the sun, the blue light spectrum helps keep the plant cool by signaling stomatal openings in the leaves. Since HPS bulbs do not emit much blue light, leaf surface temperatures will often rise above the ambient room air temperature. To combat this, ambient room air temperatures should be maintained in the mid-70s, which would require the tonnage of the HVAC compressor to be sized larger. In addition, HPS fixtures operate by emitting all of their light from a single point rather than being evenly spaced across the canopy, as found with most LEDs. This concentration of radiation tends to lead to greater light penetration capabilities, allowing for denser canopies, greater lower canopy and bud development, and stable leaf surface temperatures throughout. On the downside, this also means sufficient space must be maintained between the light and the top of the canopy, which is not ideal for vertical farming.

LED lighting, on the other hand, typically bears a higher initial investment cost compared to HPS; however, the long-term operational cost savings usually more than makeup for this. This is due to a lower overall energy demand required to operate LED fixtures, paired with the minimal to nonexistent infrared radiation being emitted. LEDs also output significantly more blue light spectrum, which helps the plants transpire and stay cool. This often results in plants’ leaf surface temperature being lower than the ambient room air temperature allowing for the grow room to be run at higher ambient air temperatures, often in the mid-80s. Because of this, HVAC systems do not need to work quite as hard, so overall tonnage necessary can be reduced, thus saving on power consumption which can lead to lower energy costs. Since some LED fixtures are designed in a way that spaces out the diodes evenly over a wide surface area, plant canopies can get within inches of the light without causing adverse effects. This is especially useful in vertical farming setups where overhead space is limited. 

It is important to note that when designing a setup like this using close canopy lighting, adequate convective air flow must be planned for as light penetration will not be as strong, and lower canopy leaf surface temperatures can become lower than desired. Some LED fixtures, however, mimic HPS lights in that they concentrate all their light from a single point rather than spaced out evenly. These can be useful in situations where ceiling height is not a factor as they provide the same benefits of light penetration as HPS without excessive heat. 

It is clear that your choice of lighting has a much larger effect on your grow design than just personal preference, so it is important to weigh the pros and cons of each when making your decision. When running any high-intensity lighting, CO2 must be supplemented to take full advantage of the increase in PAR without causing unwanted stress to your plants. 

Regardless of whichever type may work best for your specific situation, Growlink has you covered. Our Environmental Control Panels can control power to whatever lighting type you choose and provide on-the-fly 0-12v dimming functionality so you can make the best use of your equipment and tailor it to your plant’s specific needs. 

Powdery Mildew in Cannabis

While the pitfalls of growing commercial cannabis are abundant, powdery mildew is a relatively easy fungal disease to treat and prevent. Let's look at what it is and how to prevent it from hijacking your harvest. 

What is powdery mildew?

Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that affects many plants, including roses, grapes, some types of fruit trees, and cannabis. Powdery mildew diseases are caused by different species of fungi in the order Erysiphales, with Podosphaera xanthii being the most common cause. There are variations of the powdery growth that thrives on leaves, buds, young shoots, fruits, and flowers. It's spread when the fungus releases spores in the spring and can remain dormant until conditions are ideal for it to grow and spread, sometimes years later. 

How to treat and prevent powdery mildew.

If you're dealing with a current outbreak, UV CleanLight has been proven effective against many powdery mildews but requires a particular bulb. Several other organic treatments, including copper-based fungicides, baking soda solutions, neem oil, garlic, compost tea, apple cider vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and milk, can be effective. It's essential to irradicate the mildew completely. Remove infected plants quickly to prevent losing an entire crop.

To prevent the spread of powdery mildew, creating a multi-faceted approach is crucial. Here are some tips on preventing the spread of mildew.

• Air Purification/circulation - Using an air purification system will help keep spores from spreading. Increasing circulation is also an effective way to prevent the mildew from growing. Poor circulation contributes to many problems, so increasing circulation will be beneficial. The grow shop online always have the best quality grow light and oscillating fan.
• Light - Powdery mildew prefers shade, so making sure your plants are getting the maximum amount of light should aid in keeping any spores from growing. Just make sure they're not getting too much light. For more information on how to know when plants get too much light, check out this blog. 
• Limit fertilizers - Because fertilizers encourage natural growth, it's essential to ensure you're not providing the means for the powdery mildew to grow. Slow-release fertilizers or liquid nutrients in hydroponics systems that keep it away from leaves and shoots are preferred.
• Overcrowding - Give your plants plenty of space to grow. If plants are overcrowded, it allows spores to spread faster. An entire infestation can be costly, so make sure you give your plants plenty of room without wasting valuable space. 

Final thoughts

Most approaches to pests and disease prevention require research and customization. Check out new autoflower seeds online lemon autoflower, gelato autoflower and new sweet tooth seeds. Every grow is different, and the approach to prevent or treat infestations should deal with your specific circumstances. Happy growing!

Indoor Vs. Outdoor Weed

With legalization of cannabis and the changing attitudes towards marijuana, you might be wondering what’s best for your indoor or outdoor weed. 

Outdoor weed is typically cannabis that is grown outdoors in the sun or under artificial light. Indoor weed, on the other hand, is cannabis that is grown indoors in controlled environments.

There are pros and cons to each approach, but ultimately it comes down to personal preference. Some people find outdoor weed more potent and flavorful than indoor weed, while others prefer the consistent quality and control that indoor cultivation provides. Ultimately, the best way to find out if one type of weed is better than the other for you is to try both and see which you prefer. The grow shop online always have the best quality grow light and oscillating fan.

Which one should you choose?

When it comes to choosing between indoor and outdoor cheap weed online, there is no one answer that is right for everyone. Some people prefer the convenience of being able to smoke indoors, while others find the outdoors more relaxing and enjoyable. Ultimately, the best decision for you may depend on your individual preferences. Here are some things to consider when making your decision:

• How often do you want to smoke? If you only want to smoke occasionally, an indoor environment may be more convenient for you. However, if you want to smoke multiple times a day, an outdoor environment may be more comfortable.
• How much privacy do you need? If you would like to be able to smoke without being disturbed, an indoor environment may be better for you. On the other hand, if you would like to have peace and quiet while smoking, an outdoor environment may be better for you.
• How much money are you willing to spend? An indoor environment will generally cost less than an outdoor environment.

Size of Plants

Indoor marijuana plants can be smaller than their outdoor counterparts, but this doesn’t mean they’re not as potent. A quick search on the internet will show you that there are a variety of different growing methods that can be used indoors, so you can find a setup that works best for you and your plants.

On the other hand, outdoor marijuana plants are typically larger because they’re capable of taking in more light. This means they produce more flowers and have a higher THC content. If you’re looking to get high, an outdoor garden is probably the way to go. However, if you’re looking for a more relaxing experience, an indoor garden may be better for you.

Lighting and Grow Lights

One of the most important factors when growing marijuana is to choose the right light. Different strains of cannabis respond differently to different light conditions, and it’s important to find a light that will give your plants the best results. Here’s a look at how indoor and outdoor weedlight can differ.

Indoor Marijuana Grow Lights:

When choosing indoor marijuana grow lights, you want to make sure that you get one with a good spectrum of light. This means that the light will have a mix of colors, including blue and red, which are good for flowering plants. You don’t need as much blue or red light as you do yellow or green light, but you should still have some in each spectrum.

To create the right spectrum for your plants, some growers use special fixtures or bulbs that allow them to dial in the amount of each color they need. Others simply use fluorescent bulbs with a wide range of colors, or LED lights with several different spectrums included.

Whatever setup you decide on, it’s important to make sure your plants have enough light to grow properly. Indoor marijuana grow lights typically provide around 600-1000 nits of lighting (a measure of how bright

It can be hard to decide whether or not to grow your weed indoors or outdoors, especially if you’re looking for the best yields. The truth is that both options have their pros and cons, and it really depends on the specific cannabis strain and grow setup you’re using. Here are some factors to consider when making your decision:

Temperature Control and Fans

One of the biggest benefits to buy hash online is that you can control the temperature very precisely. This is great if you want to produce high-quality buds with minimal damage, since you can avoid hot spots that can lead to excess greening and leaf scorching. If you’re using a hydro system, you also have the option of adding fans to help circulate air and keep things cool. Try and grow indoor and outdoor big bud seeds, zkittles seeds and your favorite acapulco gold seeds.

On the other hand, outdoor grows tend to be more forgiving in terms of temperature fluctuations. This is because they’re typically located in warmer climates where the weather doesn’t tend to get too cold during the night or early morning hours. This means that your plants will be less likely to suffer from bud rot or other problems due to low temperatures. However, outdoor gardens also tend to require more attention in terms of watering

Fertilizers and the importance of pH

When it comes to growing weed indoors, it is important to keep the pH level in the range of 6.0 to 7.5. This is because outdoor cannabis plants typically grow in soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5.

Marijuana plants grown indoors need a slightly more acidic soil than those grown outdoors because they do not get the natural sunlight and nutrients that help their roots break down organic matter and extract minerals from the earth. By keeping the pH level in a comfortable range, you are giving your plants all the nutrients they need to thrive and produce quality buds.

What are the Effects of Smoking Moonrock Weed?

Due to the high potency of moon rocks, the effects are invariably going to be intense. They are rich in flavor, and they are severe. The higher that you receive from consuming moon rocks is unlike anything else before. The effect of the THC that you get will be significantly more pronounced than regular weed.

The intensity of your experience will depend on a few factors, such as the strain of moon rocks you consume, the quality of the product, and the dosage you take. Your experience will also depend on your tolerance towards THC. Naturally, the higher dosage you take, the more the intensity of the high.

The intended benefits of moonrock weed do come with a few potential side effects. You may feel dizzy, anxious, paranoid, extremely hungry, and you may have respiratory issues after taking it. These effects are somewhat common, so you need to be prepared in advance. Best seeds online? Check out tropicana cookie seeds, kush mints seeds and white russian seeds.

You may also experience mild headaches after consumption. Moonrocks take around 30 minutes to kick in. The highs that you get from it last longer than regular cannabis. Your body requires additional time to process the THC content that is present in moonrocks.

The effects of consuming it can linger for hours, and in some cases, even for a day. Therefore, you mustn’t take too much. You should wait and observe for at least two hours after taking your first dose to take more if you do not feel any effects. The last thing you unexpectedly want to do is consume more than you can handle.

Is Moonrock Weed Safe to Consume?

Moonrock weed is generally safe to consume. However, there are some physical and mental risks that you should know. Taking a high dose of THC in a single sitting may lead to an adverse reaction. This reaction could be severe for newer users of marijuana. Therefore, if you do not have a high tolerance for THC, it would not be ideal for you to consume moon rocks or ensure you take additional precautions before trying it.

There are also some general risks that you may face because of consuming cannabis. You can do research online to understand the full implications of it.

If you have a medical history and know that you are vulnerable to specific issues, it would be ideal to consult your doctor. If you consult your doctor before taking moon rocks, you will better understand how your body will react to consuming them. A doctor may also be able to guide you regarding your dosage. If any risks potentially lead to a severe medical condition, it would be ideal not to take moonrock weed.

You can take a few precautions, such as keeping yourself hydrated and well-fed before ingesting it. Taking moonrock weed on an empty stomach may be highly detrimental. It is advisable to use it in a safe environment where you can reach out for assistance if you need to. You should also ensure that you follow these precautions at all times to maximize your benefits and minimize your risks.

Fire Resistance of Steel Structures

Today we present a summary of the most important aspects of fire resistance of structures and a simple example.

A fire is an accident, it is a conversion of the energy of a combustible matter into heat within an enclosure whose structure is what we try to defend.

There is a need for combustible matter, ignition, and further development. It really is a complex phenomenon, but for our purpose, we only need a fire curve (temperature-time) that applies to the whole enclosure at the same time and a minimum time requirement that the structure must resist without collapsing.

The curve in most cases is the standard ISO 834. The minimum FR time in minutes that is required is set by the applicable codes or by the authority and serves many reasons (structure class, fire load, size of the sector, accessibility, active measures, etc.) that are out of reach here. For example, if the requirement (“rating”) is FR30, it has to resist 30 minutes to that type of fire without the structure collapsing.

As long as the time until the collapse exceeds this value, we have completed our mission. That requirement (“rating”) is supposed to be adequate to allow the intervention of firefighters, practice rescues, isolate areas, prevent the flame spread and so on.

Simplified Method

The effect of a developed fire (there are other types) is to produce flames and fumes that, among other things, heat the structure by radiation and convection. It is a complex phenomenon because it varies in space and time, modifying its properties and introducing deformations and stresses.

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Sometimes, the best is the enemy of the good. Hereunder the simplified Eurocode Method will be explained. There are other advanced methodologies, with tests and analysis through CFD and FEM, the fire curve is not conventional, it is determined in each case and also the structure is analyzed over time by coupling the thermal and mechanical responses.

The simplified method is conservative, but if well applied, it is very efficient and fast. It is based on the concept of Critical Temperature. With this method, the passive protection can be adjusted and we can overcome the simplistic position, ultramontana, and sometimes even deliberately exaggerated position that a steel structure fails when the temperature reaches 550°C. (However, there were times, when it was stipulated to be 500°C.)
Apart from a few exceptional cases (where it can be conclusively determined), the majority of structures resist higher temperatures. That is to say, the Critical Temperature is superior to 550 °C.

There are three clear facts:

– The variation of steel properties (fy,E) with different temperatures is well established.
– In the case of overground structures with common designs, the effects of thermal expansion can be disregarded. A decoupled mechanical and thermal response is considered. Cardington’s life-size tests prove this point and the Eurocodes sanctify it.
– The loads in the event of an accident are taken realistically: constant actions without factoring and variable actions reduced (simultaneity coefficients φ<1). The current code is applied.

Example

Let’s present a simple case by answering five key questions:
Let’s take a beam IPE 550, of S355JR steel, mounted on two supports with a 10 meter span (L= 10 meters).
In case of a fire, the constant load is 7.5 kN/m and the variable load is of 21 kN/m, with a simultaneity factor φ=0.7.
There’s supposed to be no risk of lateral buckling.

1. What is the critical temperature of the beam?

The load is p = 7.5 + φ 21 = 22.2 kN/m

The bending moment M = p L2/8=77.5mkN

As the elastic modulus of the profile is W= 2441.5 cm3 the maximum stress will be s = M/W = 277.5 106 / 2441.5 103 = 113.7 N/mm2
Therefore the yield stress can be lowered by a proportion of:
μ= σ/fy = 113.7/355 = 0.32

This means that the temperature, as interpolated in the Eurocode table, can rise to 654°C (higher than the “usual”). This is the critical temperature.

2. How long can it withstand an ISO 834 type of fire without protection?

If it is completely surrounded by fire, the profile catalog indicates that its perimeter/area ratio is worth A/V =140 m-1.
Solving the differential thermal equation, or applying the APTA nomogram from the book of industrial units, a time of 18 minutes is obtained for that massivity factor and the critical temperature 654°C (at least it would comply with FR15).

3. What thickness of protection made of sprayed mortar of λ=0.12 W/m°K conductivity must be provided if FR90 is required?

Applying again the nomogram, the point corresponding to 90 minutes and to T= 654°C is where the curve 1200 passes approximately.
If (A/V) λ/d = 1200, the thickness of the protection is d=0.014 metros. 1.5 cm is a good fit.

4. What protection thickness should be used if it is stipulated that the critical temperature is also 550°C in case of FR90?

Applying again the nomogram, the point corresponding to 90 minutes and now T= 550°C is where the curve 800 approximately passes.
If (A/V) λ/d = 800, the protection thickness is d=0.021 meters.
Keep in mind that with this conservative position, to put it politely, you have to have 50% more thickness.

5. What thickness of intumescent paint should be applied rationally, i.e. considering 650°C, or if it is stipulated that the critical temperature is 550°C also in case of FR90?

Using the tables of the product “X1548 Intumescent Coating R60SB” for FR90 and entering with the massivity factor A/V= 140 m-1 you get 0.89 mm for 650°C and out of the table for 550°C (if there was at least a factor of 110 m-1 you should put 1.369 mm).

Keep in mind that unless you act upon common sense, intumescent paint may not be used unfairly.

References:
– Eurocódigo 3, parte 1.2 – Nomograma APTA (Asociación para la promoción técnica del acero) – “Naves Industriales con acero” 2a ed. A.Arnedo Pena. APTA 2009