[RFI] cops zero in on noisy grow light ballasts

[Gary Smith]

I really need to proof better... I could still touch it 10 minutes 
later.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> 
> There may be a remedy sooner than later that will resolve the grow 
> light issue; High efficiency, Circuit On Board COB LEDs. A Vegan 
> friend was showing me his winter-time greenhouse and it was 
> impressive. 
> 
> Instead of using the high powered mercury and sodium lights to grow 
> his veggies, he is using the COB LEDs attached to 10" x 36" 
> heatsinks. The efficiency of these are far greater than conventional 
> grow lights and use a fraction of the energy to run them for the same 
> 
> lumen output. 
> 
> He said one of the COBs (Made by Cree) at 50W equals 150W in lumens 
> of the conventional lights and the COBs last for 50,000 hours while 
> the conventional grow lights age quickly and last for two growing 
> cycles, then have to be replaced. More, the conventional bulbs create 
> 
> high heat issues and the COBs do not. FWIW, each COB is about the 
> diameter of a 50 cent piece.
> 
> My YL is a Vegetarian and I have been thinking of setting up a space 
> in one of the rooms for her to grow her veggies in during the winter 
> and to get a head start on spring planting. I've never wanted to have 
> 
> that here because of the RFI from grow lights & also from the  
> electric bill. 
> 
> I asked him to bring one of his lights over so I could see what if 
> anything it does to my K3. He did and it was an incredibly bright 
> light, the heatsink did not get so hot I couldn't keep my hand on it 
> after 120 minutes of being on and best of all, zero RFI to the K3 
> regardless of which antenna and frequency I tried.
> 
> Considering the efficiency and longevity of these new LEDs, I have a 
> feeling the conventional grow lights are going the way of the 
> incandescent light. This will be a good thing.
> 
> 73,
> 
> Gary
> KA1J