Fiber Optics?

A friend of mine and I were discussing the LED technology and he brought up the potential use of Fiber Optics... From there we got onto the idea of having a central light chamber that's efficiently cooled and transferring the light to multiple 100% environmentally controlled grow cubes via fiber optics, and whether or not this would potentially allow you to use, for instance, 1x 1000w light to power multiple chambers without sacrificing light. It'd mean no more heat issues for plants from high powered lights. I did a brief search on the subject of growing plants via fiber optic light and came up with no useful articles yet, but I will continue to search.

Have any of you come across any in depth discussions on this subject? If so, please let me know.

Initially, it sounds like a really good idea. But the more I thought about it the more it seems like it might be a hassle and not worth how much it would cost. To start with, fiber optic cables are expensive. It takes time and specific machinery to make it, and then they have to test it to make sure it conducts light properly. Second of all, to truly harness the power and usefulness of the fiber, you need to directly shine the light down the tube. Traditionally high powered LED's are used, although they also have other high power light diodes but even then they won't be cheap. On top of this, you'd honestly probably need a f*ck ton of fibers running to a plant or grow space. I mean, even if you were using high powered led's like those used on grow lights, you would need just as many, if not more. The tubes would restrict the light, so that you'd be seeing more of a focused light. You could do things like sanding down the ends of the LEDS and fiber ends to disperse the light more, but even then I'm just not sure theres much justifying the cost of it all.

Although, I guess since there isn't much out there detailing this topic, you could pioneer the way

One of the things that did cross my mind (even after kinda dismantling the idea lol) was that although it might be pretty inefficient as far as using only fibers to power a grow, it'd definitely be interesting to see if you could use fibers to get more light penetration in the center/lower part of the plant. Idk though man, it just seems like it would be such a sonovabitch to set up

BTW, found *this interesting article* on google real quick that gives a brief description of fiber optics

Thanks for posting, Skulls. Yes I understand the setup cost would seem outrageous. It may not seem efficient, because you're thinking on a small scale. I'm thinking about commercial use far beyond my own affordability. Looking beyond the setup cost, I'm wondering if by running fiber optics from one source to multiple outlets, would the light distribute at full power to each site or would it be diminished. How much is diminished to begin with?

I came across a company called Sunlight Direct that apparently does EXACTLY what I was thinking of last night. Fiber optic systems designed to harness the sun. The drawback I was stuck on, was "what about when it's not sunny" so I was working with the idea of a central light chamber. But this company has mixed and matched. Light sensors determine when the suns power is diminishing due to setting, clouds, etc and uses artificial lighting to supplement it in such cases. This is all very nice in theory, but we shall see. Perhaps I'll propose some studies be done by the local college botany programs, or attempt it on a very small scale should I run into excess funds one day.

hello , i have worked with fiber optics and networking most of my life. i could see how it would work and radiate natural sun light to the room .. the reflector on top of your house would have to be some type of magnifying glass to intensify the light coming in into the incoming reflector . you would have to use a lot of fibers in the inner reflector to out do a hps . oh and the cost probably would be a huge . but it is feasible i would say. and i am no expert, but i think that the suntube things that connect a tube from the roof to the room would be a cheaper rout. (a little ugly on the roof but cheap growing) .. on another note back to the fiber. you can buy a light system that uses a very large bulb in a box that emits the light threw the fibers strands to special reflectors that must defuse the light better . i think fiber in the grow room might be along ways away, but hell its a million dollar idea !! good luck

other than using the sun, a majority of the optics i see are LED powered. Good idea tho if the sun can be used

I use fiber optics for actual lighting of objects for display as opposed to transmission of data. The illuminators I use are 100W halogen bulbs. Each illuminator distributes into 15 fibers which have lensed terminals. I have to say that the light distributed through the fibers would not be enough to sustain a seedling. While the system generates a beautiful spectrum of light, the intensity is easily overwhelmed by ambient room lighting. Also, UV does not transmit at all through fiber optics. That might affect plant health too.

shnkrmn said:

The illuminators I use are 100W halogen bulbs.

Click to expand...

Aren´t they totally wrong for growing??

shnkrmn said:

I use fiber optics for actual lighting of objects for display as opposed to transmission of data. The illuminators I use are 100W halogen bulbs. Each illuminator distributes into 15 fibers which have lensed terminals. I have to say that the light distributed through the fibers would not be enough to sustain a seedling. While the system generates a beautiful spectrum of light, the intensity is easily overwhelmed by ambient room lighting. Also, UV does not transmit at all through fiber optics. That might affect plant health too.

Click to expand...

I believe I've seen some of those systems, and most companies that make them have high powered LED versions as well that I've come across. I'm thinking hundreds to thousands of tubes.

But if what you say about UV not transmitting is true, I suppose that could be helped along by supplemental lighting in the grow area itself. Perhaps a combination is the only feasible way. But LED's as supplemental lighting shouldn't raise the heat much. What about Side Lit Fiber optics where the whole length of the tube lights up? What if you were to completely outfit your walls and ceiling of your grow area? Perhaps fiber optics are going to end up being the supplemental lighting to LED's in the end.. Hmm.. A lot to think about. Thank you every one for posting!

The most powerful fiber optic light source that I know of is 575W metal halide. It has a capacity of 3000 .75mm fibers. I suppose this would work for growing. It would be interesting to see. Unfortunately, it would cost you about 4000 bucks. I would create a cabinet that had 3000 evenly spaced fibers mounted on the sides and top. You would flush mount some fibers and pull some fibers into the interior of your plants. Zero heat if your illuminator is located in another room.

My understanding is that fiber optics lose too much intensity, and also kill some spectrum (though I don't know what spectrum). The losing intensity is the main issue I understand, as shnkrmn mentioned. In networks they basically use lasers to transmit, and they still have to put repeaters every (I think) 2 miles. not sure how comparable the two are though.

A kinda similar idea I have seen is to use solar tubes, but they are kinda pricey, and I think you'd need a lot to get enough sunlight reflected to reach the intensities we want (I have seen these successfully used for coral propagation, but they had quite a few, and it looked like major construction to put in).