Hello Zangtumtum,
I just wanted to take a moment to respond to your above message. Plasma lamps do in fact last 50,000 hours. When a plasma lamp has operated for 50,000 hours it only has 70% of its initial light output compared to when it was new. A 30% loss in light output is noticeable to the human eye and is the replacement point in commercial applications. Plasma technology has a 10% loss at 10,000 operating hours and is the suggested replacement time for horticultural applications in order to maintain illumination consistency between grows. The working parts in a plasma system are the lamp, driver, and power supply. The only consumable part that a user would ever replace would be the actual plasma lamp. The cost of the lamps depends on the manufacturer. Luxim incorporates it's plasma lamp into ceramic with an aluminum heatsink surround, and lamp cost isn't cheap. Topanga has simple bolt with a bulb on the end, and cost is the ten's of dollars. Prices vary depending on distributors.
REPLACEMENT:
Although the lamp cost is straight forward, the cost to replace the lamp in a given application varies drastically and must be taken into consideration. In a commercial application the user can expect to pay between $80 to $540 to replace a lamp. If we were comparing labor costs to LED then any plasma (Luxim or Topanga) would be the way to go since you only need to replace a lamp not the entire fixture. Since most LED fixtures for horticultural applications are not intended to be user replaceable, a plasma lamp could be more cost effective.
COMPARING:
Unfortunately with lighting it is vary hard to make an apples to apples comparison. Many variables need to be accounted for. How you compare two fixtures depends on what information you're seeking. Variables to factor into any comparison would be the optics or reflector angle, distribution area, wattage, specific wavelengths, spectrum intensity, etc. I have seen products that indicate an intensity of 1,000 PPFD @ 18" above the canopy with a 40 degree optic claim to be superior to a product with an intensity of 800 PPFD @ 18" above the canopy with a 120 degree optic. Fact is that if you replace the 120 degree optic with a 40 degree optic then the original 800 PPFD product becomes superior. A light may be bright, but that doesn't mean it will distribute light adequately over the entire grow area. Another consideration is the spectrum that is produced per watt consumed. If the fixture consumes 100 watts but 90% of that is used to produce light within the green spectrum, then it's a waste to the plant. Two fixtures may consumes the same wattage but chances are the spectrum they produce isn't the same. If one is looking at two fixtures with the same wattage and measuring lumens then a comparison could be considered, but lumens are for humans and usable light for plants is measured in micormoles not lumens; and to be more specific the micormole measurement for a given wavelength within the spectrum. The point is to take many factors into consideration to make an educated comparison.
Small and quick consideration.
We are interested in quality and duration of PAR flow , not in lumens.
Any plasma bulb, already degrades after 1000 hours, is the same technology as it is studied,
that is not lasting and degrades quickly.
If you have different data, please post.
Even if it were not so, You confirm that the degradation is 10% per 10,000 hours.
Well, after 50,000 hours we will be at 50%.
A COB LED is much, much more long-lived.....The data say, not me.
Not to mention the operating temperatures, critical node......
The costs of spare components on Plasma is on average higher,
and usually the manufacturer does not provide the prices of spare parts, when you buy.
For example, Gavita, after 30,000 hours for some parts,50.000 for other,
recommended to replace the AC adapter, reflector and many other components....
Have you that price? ... buy a new system is better.....
Work on a LED system to replace parts and components, designed for DIY,
it's simple,and economic.....
A plasma is not done for the DIY, and will not be made for this.
Comparisons between LED and plasma you can do,
we have done.
We,and professionals involved in research,with professional tools,
also compared spectra,μmoli m-2 s-1,final result in biomass and active,
projections of costs in five years, BTU and all that could be done....
Plasma tecnology, brand is not important, it's not effcient as a COB,
Plasma has no spectrum taylorizzabile, all plasma have high costs,
and limited life.
Their PAR flow over consumption in watts, is not interesting....
Not education, is technology.
You can argue as long as you want ....
This is reality, today.
Thank you for your consideration
=========50,000 hrs on that module! yeah,ok
