Hey Kite, It's 2013 so there are thousands of technologies that by your definition would be antique. But they evolve. We're not still driving around in model A's but we're still driving cars. Our battery technology stores energy more efficiently for longer periods and at lighter weights. Our gasoline engines provide higher MPG and are cleaner burning than even 20 years ago. I could go on and on but you get the idea. But to your point, the electrodeless induction lamp was discovered in 1891 by Nikolas Tesla so to that point I would certainly agree that it would qualify the technology as antique. But in looking at all of the Tesla patents on the link below you will see that the vast majority of them are still in use today albeit in evolved forms. The very computer we type on derives power from Tesla's patented AC distribution systems.
A reading of the original Tesla induction lamp patent application s well worth the time to see how he defined exactly what it was he had discovered and in it's elemental form what we continue to use today;
Be it known that I, NIKOLA TESLA, a subject of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, from Smiljan, Lika, border country of Austria-Hungary, and a resident of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of and Apparatus for Electric Lighting, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.
http://www.teslauniverse.com/nikola-tesla-patents-454,622-system-of-electric-lighting
So as side by side comparisons with induction lamps go, even going back to the early 20th century when Tesla's induction lamps were compared to Edison's incandescent lamps the Tesla lamp would burn for 5,000 hours compared to Edison's that at best ran for 1,200 hours. Kinda makes you wonder why so few people have even heard of induction lighting systems or why they didn't gain more commercial acceptance doesn't it?
If anything the fact that the aforementioned technologies have evolved to still exist in today's society is a testament to their enduring qualities. Which BTW the incandescent lamp has not passed that test, at least in the USA, as it is being made unavailable for purchase pursuant to our Energy Act and congruent with our participation in the United Nations Kyoto Protocol (climate change initiative) which makes it illegal to sell any incandescent lamp within the US after 2013.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phase-out_of_incandescent_light_bulbs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocol
It is safe to say that today's version of Tesla's induction lamp has evolved from it's original form in a number of important ways;
-Properly designed they are capable of operating at a power factor of 1 (unity) with a total harmonic distortion of less than 10%.
-Automatically accept and operate at supply voltages between 110-277v 50/60Hz electrical systems.
-They use 1/10 the Mercury (Hg) of an HID or T5/T8 lamp when factored as initial and over a 20K hour operating span.
-The Hg that is used in an EFDL is in a solid amalgam form so it may be easily recycled.
-They will run for 100,000 hours with only a 30% lumen depreciation. That's 22.8 years at 365 days with 12 hour on cycles.
-At 70,000 hours the EFDL will have only depreciated by 10% of it's initial lumen output.
-Unlike halides an EFDL phosphor base is spectrally stable which creates an environment for high quality, repeatable crop production.
-Since there are no electrodes, lamps and driver warranties usually start at 5 years with some manufacturers offering warranties as long as 10 years.
-Thermal contribution (1,400 BTU/hr) is 1/3 when compared to a 1000 watt HID lamp/digital ballast combination (6,000BTU/hr).
-Most electrode type lamps have 20,000 hour ratings but will be replaced at 8-10K hours. Good for the merchant bad for the gardener and the environment.
-Phosphors are adaptable in that by blending them to certain specifications they may be used as a vegetative thru flowering single lamp solution.
-Not having to relamp during a photoperiod change means less stress to the plants. Broad spectrum lamps will usually harvest sooner with pistils showing within a few days of photoperiod change.
-Not having to relamp is less expensive and less likely to have damage/broken lamps that can occur while working over the garden causing crop losses.
-Instant on/off and dimming allows for incorporating EFDL in SCADA based greenhouse controls that monitor available sunlight levels and instantly adjust the EFDL output to meet crop specific DLI. HID lamps have a 20 minute restrike. Not gonna happen.
-By virtue of their size and light weight they cover a large area as a point source. Couple this with optimized phosphor blends and use of light rails, SOG and SCROG applications it is an extremely effective alternative to high energy/heat consumption HID systems.
-May be used in a hybridization approach with SSL-LED to energy efficiently advance and improve upon plant specific, net action absorption spectra. This approach has already been adopted by plasma lamp manufacturers to enhance flowering.
-Dependent on phosphor blends: comparable yields to a 1000watt MH/750watt HPS combo
-Dependent on phosphor blends: greater trichome production with sharp crystalline trichomes compared to globular ill defined HPS trichome production.
-Dependent on phosphor blends and strains: equal or increased levels of THC as determined by GCMS lab testing.
-Dependent upon the traditional AG crop the ROI for these systems is usually within 2-3 crop cycles. On cannabis the ROI is typically a 1/2 crop cycle.
I do understand your notion that the 'chinks' are trying to find a market for the most gullible customers and there is some truth to that, but true innovation for this technology continues to come from countries other than China. However your broad definition of the 'biggest set of gullible customers' as being a grower I would take exception to. The fact that there are forums like RIU where people do want to reach out and get information from around that of the spoon fed hydro shop gruel speaks to a type of grower that wants to do their own research and form their own opinions. Alas I'm afraid that those growers are in the minority. Also I would not be so quick to either lump nor dismiss LED or EFDL as an emerging alternative to what may very well be the future status quo. You may be too young to remember this but the Kerosene Lamp lobby of 1904 was on record as stating Tesla's AC distribution system and the Edison incandescent lamps would never gain wide acceptance either. I'll tell you one thing; it's gotten damn near impossible to find a decent Kerosene Lamp lobbyist anywhere in the world today.
Both LED and EFDL have their own strengths and weakness's but then again so do HID. With the rising price of power, the ever increasing desire to go unnoticed, wholesale prices being what they are, etc etc I can tell you that this is a technology that has been, and will continue to be, adopted by rational growers of all sizes and experience levels. And to that end we continue to have Mr. Tesla to thank.
Peace
8 inch inline and a presh filter and a duct muffler (silencer). Life is great, I take care of the ladies hand water them and always spend time with them we listen to lots of Francisco Tarrega and Mozart and Bach and fill up digital volcano bags and observe the short internodal growth and the dank spectrum light so the plants can take the spectrums of light THEY need when they need it. Its not my job to control them to that extent, I just share my co2 with them and love them a lot and provide the water (elixir of life) for their roots to soak up. Keep it simple. the 1260 watts 3 pro 420's covers a 4 x 8 comfortably and a 5 x 5 no prob. Anyways give thanks and stay lifted and remember, the Inda-Gro pro420 is def worth it and the more people who support Induction the sooner the industry can take off all over the states
