How Can We Help?

T5 21-inch lights with CRI 90+ Replacement Bulbs for Growing Seeds

I am looking for replacement light bulbs for starting and growing seeds. I currently have under-cabinet lights that measure 21 inches. I was wondering if you sold a T5 bulb at 21 inches that has a CRI rating of 90 or more. Every other bulb on the market has an 80 CRI rating and I’m looking for something higher.

While we do not have any 2-ft T5 bulbs, we do have a 2-ft T5 linear fixture that may work for you. The fixture has a 95 CRI rating and can be installed in a variety of locations. The only issue is that these are not replacement bulbs, so you will most likely need to remove your existing fluorescent fixture and install these light fixtures instead. 

Below is the product link:

LED Strip Lights for Bioreactors for Algae Growth

We are looking to create several bioreactors for algae growth. We were hoping to buy LED strips that were flexible enough to place into a bioreactor (approximately the shape of a cylinder with a front opening). I'm envisioning this as several LED strips running in parallel across the cylinder using your non-soldering connectors. We could require something with a full spectrum with a high output (~300uMol or higher) that could be dimmed. We've found some controllers which may be appropriate here. 

Based on my review, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or ABSOLUTE SERIES™ LED Flexible Strips for your installation. Where the former provides greater lumen output per meter (1500 vs 1250), the latter can provide 99 CRI over 95 CRI, which can be quite helpful for installations where daylight simulation is important. 

Based on my use of our Lumen to PPF Calculator, we have found that each full reel of the 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights would provide 172.5 umol/s, and each full reel of the 6500K would provide 143.75 umol/s. Hopefully, just over two reels should be able to meet the 300 umol/s target referenced in your email. 

As it appears that your installation would utilize multiple reels and power supplies, we would likely recommend the TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply or the CENTRIC SERIES™ Flicker-Free Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip for 24V-specific installations where flicker-are output is beneficial. As can be noted within one of the below LayoutMap, multiple units of either of the aforementioned power supplies can be installed to a simple dimmer. 

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1C

LED Lights for Planted Aquarium

I’m looking to change from T5 tubes to LED and looking for recommendations if you have any product lines.

We are happy to confirm that we have several options that could be a good fit for your installation. 

That being said, please note that the majority of our LED products are not IP rated for protection against the elements, such as moisture or condensation. As such, if the ideal installation area is to be submerged or located close to water, we, unfortunately, would not have a compatible product available in our catalog. 

The primary products which we would recommend would be our LED Strip Lights installed within our aluminum channels for diffusion. These LED Strip Lights can be paired with wall dimmers and power supplies, and can also be controlled using smart home systems. 

You may also be interested in our integrated T5 Linear Light Fixtures, which contain both internal power supplies and light sources. These items can also be daisy-chained together by interlocking or using the included daisy-chain cables. 

Do you know the foot candles of a 2-light fixture would produce using T8 LED bulbs?

I'm looking at the Photon T8 LED Grow Light Tubes for Horticulture. I have a 2 tier grow light for houseplants (live in an apartment with trees to the south and an overhang entry to the north.) I currently have the two 40-watt T8 fluorescent bulbs that came with it, but they have been in there about 1 3/4 years, so now it's definitely time to replace the bulbs. Are the Photon LED 4000K good for flowering? Do you know the footcandles that a 2-light fixture would produce using these bulbs? Are these brighter than a 40-watt T8 fluorescent bulb?

Our CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light provides 1800 lumens of output, which is equivalent to 32W fluorescent lamps.

For a more complete answer regarding the operating temperature of the LED lighting about the spacing between plants and fixtures, it might be helpful to know that we measure an average temperature rise of 54°F (30°C) over ambient temperatures when the LED products are operating. 

​Hopefully, this average temperature rise helps identify the ideal distance between the plants and the light fixture, based on the relative heat sensitivity of the plants being grown. 

Do you have a grow light with high radiance in the UV spectrum?

I bought the Photonblast grow light for a research experiment but realized after experimenting that the light does not go into the UV spectrum. I need a similar light (in terms of being a grow light of the same size) that has high radiance in the UV spectrum (340-400 nm). Do you have any products that would work?

While we do not have any ultraviolet products in the T8 form factor, we might alternatively recommend our line of realUV™ products. 

This product line contains our realUV™ LED Strip Lights, as well as the newly launched realUV™ LED Flex Panel. Each item is available in both 395nm and 365nm versions, ​as well. 

​Beyond this line of products, we, unfortunately, do not have any items which can provide both visible light and significant ultraviolet output. We apologize!

High CRI Bulb for Home Lighting

I am shopping for some high CRI lights for use in my home and had some general questions. 

Is there any way to get the bulbs in 3000K that don't have the issue? 

While I can confirm that the recent batch of the 3000K bulbs has a slight green tint, the color output remains within our color quality specifications. These filament bulbs typically require ~15 minutes or so for the color tint to stabilize, after which the color tint adjusts to being neutral. 

Unfortunately, for our most discerning customers, this greener tint may be bothersome and may not meet expectations. If you receive any products from our website that do not meet your expectations, please feel free to take advantage of our 30-day return policy. 

Will your company be making a higher-wattage version of this bulb in the future? 

As far as I am aware, there are no plans to release a higher-wattage version of the filament bulb products. That said, I would be happy to share your interest in such a product with my development team for future consideration. 

Does your company have any resources or recommendations for lighting design ideas or projects? I am wanting to use strip lights and other types around the house, but I'm looking for some inspiration and ideas. 

For installation inspiration, you might find value in the product reviews posted on our LED Strip Light product pages, where our customers have shared photos and descriptions of their installations. For example, several installation photos can be found on the CENTRIC HOME™ LED Strip Lights for Home & Residential page.

I am interested in doing a horticultural lighting project. I am looking for LEDs that match the sun's natural spectrum but it is hard to find information on this online. 

Does your company have any diodes that are still good but not matching the quality that you can sell? Basically second-tier absolute series. Also if I was to find a source for chips that have the broadest spectrum, does your company have the ability to manufacture strips from the led chips for a reasonable price? 

While we do not sell individual LED components and are unable to accommodate custom product fabrication, you might alternatively be interested in our 6500K FilmGrade™ WHITE LED Strip Lights or 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail, which are both able to offer a high CRI of 95+, which is just slightly lower than the 99 CRI offered by the Absolute Series. 

Full Spectrum LED Strip Lights for Grow Plants Indoors

I've been trying to find a full spectrum of LED strip lights that can help us to grow plants indoors, I aim to lower the cost and increase the efficiency for plants. Our current light system is also from the USA, brand, and model specified as Spider Farmer Upgraded SE7000 730W Commercial LED Grow Light which can provide warm white light(2800-3000k), Rich Red Light(660-665nm), Blue Light(4800-5000k) The problem is that those lights come with standard dimensions and we can only hang them on the ceilings, with the strip light advantages we can also hang them on the walls and provide lights on the sides as well. 

Based on the details provided, we would likely recommend our FilmGrade™ FiveSpect 5-in-1 LED Strip Lights, which offer Tungsten and Daylight color temperatures (2700K, 6500K) alongside adjustable RGB output. 

These lights are typically paired with a product for controlling the output of each channel, such as our FilmGrade™ DMX LED Dimmer & Decoder with 5 Channel Output product. 

LED Lamps for Horticulture Algae Growth

I'm wanting to illuminate 6 research incubator cabinets for microalgae culture growth. Cabinets are 800mm x 670mm area x 670 high. Your PhotonPanels look almost ideal, but dimensions will lead to some dead space and we are trying to maximize uniformity of illumination across the cabinet. Do you have any capacity to custom-size panels? e.g 750 x 650? I am using this setup for laboratory research inside temperature-controlled incubators. I searched through more than a hundred different setups before selecting these parts from Waveform, so I hope that this review might benefit other scientists looking for LED equipment that actually belongs in a lab." 

Unfortunately, we cannot do custom LED panels at this time.

On the other hand, we do believe that our existing PhotonPanel with dimensions of 560 x 280 mm could be purposed to fit in your cabinets.

​While the configuration may be a bit awkward with the dead space you mention if the distance between the panels and the illumination target is 670 mm, the light distribution should actually be quite dispersed and there should not be any significant issues with uneven illumination.

​This is because the LEDs emit light at a 120-degree beam angle, which ensures that the light spreads out quite a bit as you increase the distance from the panel.

Are the Photon Panel Grow Light used different LEDs or different ways of controlling the same LEDs?

You have two different units – are these using different LEDs or different ways of controlling the same LEDs

​We offer two versions of the PhotonPanel product - the 4000K white and RedBoost. Each of these versions uses only one type of LED that is unique to the color variant. In other words, the 4000K white PhotonPanel uses just 4000K white LEDs, while the RedBoost PhotonPanel uses just RedBoost LEDs (there is no mixing of red+blue LED types).

If different LEDs I’m assuming two different spectra, in which case what is the ratio between those over the 560 population

​As described above, since only one type of LED is used, there are no applicable ratios for our product. The spectral output is pre-defined at the LED emitter level. Please reference the spectral output diagram shown on the specification sheet for additional detail on the spectral content.

There are some pictures on your website which I think might be of the ‘red boost’ (no titles) – can’t see any blue LEDs. Am I looking at the right pictures?

​Yes, that is correct. We only utilize a single LED type, so you will not be able to see the individual color components. The violet-magenta color is the light output color for the RedBoost.

Are these panels constant current or constant voltage supply 

​The panels are driven via constant voltage at 24 volts.

How do you achieve dimming on the panels? 

​The most popular way of dimming this product is via PWM. For example, see below for a popular inline dimmer:

​Meanwell HLG can also be used to dim ​- please see below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/how-do-meanwell-hlg-led-power-supplies-work

The Input B method & daisy chain - are these one-shot connectors? 

Input Method B utilizes WAGO terminal blocks, which can be used multiple times. 

What is the effective spread angle? 

​The beam angle is 120 degrees.

Both units are spaced at 108W but the primary unit produces 12,500 lumens whereas the RedBoost is only 2,805 lumens. How do you explain the discrepancy?

​The 4000K white version provides more brightness since it includes a far larger amount of green wavelength energy. Green wavelength energy is very efficient at producing the perception of brightness for humans, which is why it has a high lumen output value.

​Green wavelength energy is not necessarily efficient for plant photosynthesis, however, which is why products like the RedBoost contain less green wavelength energy and focus the output on the blue and red wavelengths. The result is the lumen output value is lower for the RedBoost, but in terms of productivity, the RedBoost is likely on par with or better than a standard white light spectrum.

I had a look at both items and at first glance, it would appear that the Meanwell P/S would be the most advantageous to our application. However, I could not find this item on your website. Can you please send me your website link for these products – specifically the higher power units (600W and slightly below)?

We, unfortunately, do not offer any Meanwell power supply products. We recommend reaching out directly to a Meanwell distributor for further assistance and information on purchasing.

I am aware of the advantages of using light produced only in the blue & red ends of the spectrum – it's why we were interested in your product in the first place. I understand a lumen to be the amount of light per unit second per 1 radian (solid angle) – how does this fit with a “perception” of brightness for an SI unit?

The reason that "lumens" is not an optimal measure of photosynthetic effectiveness is that lumens are calibrated based on the luminous efficiency function (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luminous_efficiency_function). The function defines green wavelength light as producing the perception of brightness most effectively; as such, one can think of lumens as being overly biased towards green wavelength energy.

I had another look at the Photometric graphs on the PhotonPanel page - I noticed that the Y-axis is ‘relative’ intensity (relative to what?) and that you didn’t say the two panels use differing amounts of power. Can I, therefore, infer that I should treat the two graphs as “area under the curve” and that the same amount of power is being distributed accordingly over the two-panel types?

The Y-axis of the spectral power distribution diagrams is in arbitrary units. This means that the irradiance values across the wavelength range are all relative to each other. The only way to perform an "apples-to-apples" comparison here would be to back-calculate the total irradiance of the spectral output (which would be, effectively, the area under the curve) and plot the two curves on the same chart calibrated to the same Y-axis values.

Do both panels consume the same number of watts (108W) – yes/no 

Yes. Both panels have the same input electrical power parameters.

Assuming the answer to above is yes, can I infer that the if I were to SOLEY monitor the output at ~450nm (blue peak), ignoring all the other frequencies for the time being, I would see a lower response on the 4000K unit and a relatively higher response on the Red Boost unit (all other variables being equal – position, distance from source, monitoring method, etc.) – yes/no 

This cannot be determined unless we have a spectral power distribution with the y-axis defined in absolute units, rather than relative units. Both curves are normalized such that their relative peaks reach the top of their respective graphs for readability and comparison purposes. As such, the two graphs with relative y-axis units cannot be compared to each other in any meaningful way.

​

UV-C LED Strip Light for Horticultural Applications

We are looking for ways to deliver timed UV-C to plants in the early stages of development. The test we are looking to move forward with provides large coverage areas that would utilize existing irrigation booms equipped preferably with 12/24 VDC solutions. Distance from the bottom of the boom to crops is normally 500-700mm. 

Though does appear that our UV-C LED Strip Light products could be a great match, please note that these products are not IP-rated for protection against moisture or the elements. As such, any contact that these products have with water could cause an electrical hazard and will void the product warranty. 

If they prove to be helpful for your installation planning, we have also provided the cleanUV™ UV-C LED Strip Light irradiance pattern and exposure dosage documents below. 

Irradiance Pattern

Exposure Dosage (Fluence) Pattern

Additionally, we can confirm that we offer volume discounts, which are determined by quantity per order, per product. If you have a specific quantity of the UV-C product in mind, please let us know we will check to see if your order qualifies. 

Full Spectrum LED Panel for House Plants

I have a basement with ground-level windows, and I have various Full panel LED ceiling boards installed for lights. My gardener recommends I change a few of them to full spectrum (unsure you make these) to keep my more tropical plants healthy as we go through winter (I live in CT). Do you have these I can send a picture of what my current 21” w X 45” panels look like.

We are happy to confirm that we offer several horticulture-focused products in our catalog, which are designed to provide the ideal wavelengths of light output for plant growth and horticulture installation. 

Based on the details provided, we would recommend the PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel product. With the dimensions of 11”x 22”, you may be able to place two units of the product within the same footprint as your pre-existing panels. 

Additionally, as the Grow Light Panels offer an output of 12,500 lumens, we would also recommend comparing the output to the lights which are currently being used against the Grow Light Panel to ensure that preferable light output is being provided for the space. 

How many flood lights needed to properly cover a 4x4 area for plant growth?

How many flood lights would I need to properly cover a 4x4 area to help with plant growth?

Generally speaking, each realUV™ LED Flood Lights are able to illuminate an area that is roughly 10x10 feet. In order to calculate the appropriate ultraviolet output for your plants, you may find value in the below irradiance pattern resource document. 

Depending on the μW/cm2 light requirements of the plants being grown, one floodlight might be sufficient for your 4x4 area. That said, you may find that adjusting the distance between light and the target, or potentially utilizing multiple floodlights in order to reach a preferred μW/cm2 output, to be beneficial for the growth of the plants. 

realUV™ LED Flood Light Irradiance Pattern

365nm realUV™ LED Flood Light Spectrum Test Report

Can the 365nm UV LED Strips be used in a growing tent?

Can the 365nm UV strips be used in a growing tent or do your T8 LED bulbs have UV in the full spectrum? 

We can confirm that our UV strips are usable in horticulture installations, though please be advised that the LED strip lights are not IP rated.

As such, any installation utilizing them would necessitate a waterproof channel to protect the product against moisture or electricity, as any contact could cause an electrical hazard and void the warranty. That being said, you may alternatively be interested in the realUV™ LED Flood Light, as it is IP65 rated and available with 365nm output.

Unfortunately, our T8 LED tube light products currently do not offer UV output. We apologize!

How far should the LED light be and the newly sprouted growing seedlings?

Can you tell me how much distance should be between the LED light and my newly sprouted tomato seedlings? The batch I put up close to the LED light suffered light damage and is not looking healthy at all. I realize they need to be further away but I'm not sure how far. 

The ideal distance for growing seedlings would be as close as possible without the potential for burns from excess heat generated from the lamps.

T8 LED Tubes for Seed Starting & Ballast Compatibility

Is the PhotonTube part number 4024.65.4P compatible with a Phillips Advance REB-2P32-N ballast? I found a ballast compatibility document that lists that ballast as being compatible with your part number 4020 LED tubes. Is that document now obsolete? What is the recommended T8 LED tube height range above plant seedlings? I'm considering a 4 FT 4-lamp T8 LED fixture for my plant shelves. Currently, I'm using a 2-lamp 32-watt T8 fluorescent fixture, and its underperforming.

We're happy to confirm that as our current T8 LED tube light products are of the same family line, the ballast compatibility listed within the document referenced is still current and able to be referenced. 

​As our T8 LED tube lights will emit a far lower amount of heat than traditional horticulture lamps, heat damage to the seedlings is less of a concern. As such, we recommend placing the lamps as close to the seedlings as possible without touching them. That said, different plants might require more precise distances from the light to receive the maximum benefit.

How far should the LED Grow Light Fixtures be from the plants?

I'm using two PhotonBlast™ LED Grow Light Fixtures to start seedlings. Some I just started, some are perennials I started last fall so they are a few inches high. How far should the light fixtures be from the plants? 

As our LED lights emit a far lower heat output than traditional horticultural grow lights while oeprating, heat damage is generally less of a concern. As such, we recommend placing the lights as close to the plants as possible without them physically touching.

That said, we can easily imagine that different plant species could require a more precise distance from the light in order to receive the maximum lux benefit. We might recommend reaching out to a perennial or horticultural expert for a set measurement and advice.

Do you have LED Strip Light with white color for growing plants?

Do you have LED strip light with white color for growing plants? If not can they be Custom made? If so, what is your acceptable minimum quantity?

We can confirm that our horticulture-focused products have a high-CRI white light output, and are designed to assist with plant growth. I have attached a link below for an article that describes the benefits that our full spectrum lighting has on plant growth, if it proves to be useful.

LED Grow Lights for Horticulture: https://www.waveformlighting.com/horticulture

Unfortunately, we are unable to assist with custom product fabrication at this time, and we do apologize for any impact that might have on your installation plans.

Does your T5HO Grow Light Tube Compatible with SunBlaster T5HO Fixtures?

I have 4' Sunblaster T5HO self-ballasted fixtures. Are your tubes compatible with these? They were not on the list of compatible brands, but the FAQ for tubes indicates they are compatible in ANY T8HO fixture, which is not T5HOs. 

Do your tubes retain CRI value throughout their life? Is that the 3 years you posted for other tubes? 

Based on the details provided, it does appear that the PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture would be compatible with the SunBlaster fixture that was mentioned. However, if you find the products to be incompatible for any reason, please let us know and we would be happy to assist with returning your order.

Though the T5H0 fixture will exhibit a slightly reduced output throughout the lifetime, the CRI will not reduce during the lifetime use of the product. 

LED Horticultural Lights

I'm interested in purchasing 200 units of your "PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture" LEDs. It is for a Caribbean-based trial strawberry plant factory (1/20 the final order size) and from the photos I can see that these lights have been tested with this crop. What discounts are available for orders at this volume? What can you tell me about its performance with strawberries? What technical support can you offer in selecting the correct drivers and connections for my system?

We can confirm that we are able to offer volume discounts, which are determined by quantity per order, per product. As such, an order containing 200 units of the PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture product would qualify for a 6% discount.

Unfortunately, we are unable to provide any data on how the use of these lights might impact strawberry farming, as we generally do not perform diverse horticulture product testing in-house. However, we can confirm that the high CRI output of these products will closely resemble that of natural daylight.

Regarding technical support and compatible drivers and fixtures, we would be more than happy to review any provided fixtures in order to check for compatibility. Generally speaking, T8 tube light fixtures that do not contain a ballast, or are advertised as ‘LED Ready’, will be the most compatible with these products.

Compatible Lighting Fixture with T8 LED bulbs for Growing Plants

I want to know what kind of portable fixtures I can use for T8 bulbs for growing plants. I do not want to direct wire them.

We're happy to confirm that our T8 LED tube lights are compatible with many fixtures which do not utilize direct wire installation. However, it might be helpful to know that some fixtures utilize ballasts that may not be compatible with LED lighting.

To select a compatible lighting fixture, we might recommend searching for the term ‘LED Ready’, as that generally denotes compatibility with retrofit T8 style LED lights. Based on my review of third-party storefronts, it appears that there are several available through markets such as Amazon and Home Depot. However, we, unfortunately, do not have any specific models that we can recommend at this time.

The specification sheets for our T8 LED tube lights also include instructions for alternative installation methods, which might prove to be helpful: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

For a list of the ballasts that are compatible with our T8 LED tube lights, please reference this link: 

https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/CD4020.txt

What should the Lux be for the 6000K T8 Grow Light?

What should the Lux be for the 6k T8 grow light? I'm curious if the light fixture I bought for the bulbs is sufficient. And if it's not sufficient what fixture do you recommend?

We can confirm that the PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture product has an output of 1800 lumens per unit.

Household Bulbs for House Plants

I'm trying to find a regular household-type bulb that would be great for daily use and house plants. I'd like to use adjustable arm table lamps, or pendants to light single plants or a small display and match temp to all other bulbs in the home. I'll change all if necessary. 

Based on the details provided, there are a few different products that we might recommend depending on the preferred color temperature output.

For starters, we might recommend the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb product. Though these are not dimmable, they offer flicker-free performance and a high CRI. Further, the Ultra High 95 CRI A19 5W LED Filament Bulb for Home & Residential products could look quite nice on a shelf display among plants.

We have attached a blog post link below from our website regarding color temperature selection, which might be helpful for your planning purposes.

Which LED Light Color Temperature Should I Choose?: https://www.waveformlighting.com/home-residential/which-led-light-color-temperature-should-i-choose

As our A19 bulbs will offer a very similar quality of light output, the right option might be better defined by the purpose of the space. For example, while we might recommend a 4000K option for a home office space, we would alternatively suggest a 3200K for a reading area.

I read the blog but didn't see anything about plants. Maybe I should rephrase my question. Which of your A19 bulbs has the correct spectrum and other properties to grow healthy houseplants? These plants are typical tropical varieties composed of mostly foliage, not flowering. Most prefer bright to medium indirect light. Some small 6" ish pots on a tabletop and some large floor plants. I just want to use a variety of attractive lamps that accept regular bulbs.

Though our High CRI A19 bulbs have not been specifically designed for horticulture as some of our other products have been (such as the PhotonTube™ T5HO LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture product), I am happy to confirm that they offer an extremely similar full spectrum light output to those of our horticulture-focused products.

Regarding the right color temperature for your installation, you might find benefit in either the 4000K or 6500K options of the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free A19 10W LED Bulb.

While the 4000K provides an output that simulates late-season light, the 6500K option will offer light that is very similar to natural daylight and simulates the light which occurs in early-season growth periods. For an in-depth analysis of the technical benefits that our full spectrum lighting has on plant growth, we have attached a terrific blog post from our website below.

Blog post link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/horticulture

Full Spectrum LED Lighting for Big Aviary and Horticulture

I would like to confirm that your CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Light can be used for lighting in my indoor aviary (dimensions: 80" H, 86" L, and 62" D). I cannot use the Full Spectrum BR30 LED Bulbs 4000K / 5000K / 6500K as I would need several of them and my ceiling is glass (the aviary is inside the sunroom). If my assumption is correct, can the tubes be plugged in or are they only hard-wired? I can only plug them in based on my setup. If there is no plug-in version of the tubes, are there alternative LED strips I can use that are full-spectrum? Finally, are the horticulture tubes hardwired or can they be plugged?

We can confirm that the CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ Full Spectrum Flicker-Free T8 LED Tube Lights are compatible with 4 ft fluorescent tube light fixtures which utilize the G13 base.

However, it might be helpful to know that these lights are not compatible with all ballasts present within fluorescent fixtures. Generally speaking, product incompatibility with ballast models may cause flickering, or a lack of functionality. For a full list of ballasts that have been tested as compatible, please review this link: https://www.waveformlighting.com/files/CD4020.txt

For further instructions regarding the installation methods available for these lights, we have provided a link to the product specification sheet below.

Product specification sheet: https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/CS_4020-4000.pdf

If you would like to let us know which light fixture models you intend to use for the indoor aviary, we would also be more than happy to check to see if they are compatible with these lights.

LED Lighting for Indoor Plants

I am looking for light bulbs to place in my house lamps for indoor plants. Would you be able to make a few suggestions on which bulbs to purchase? I did see that you have a horticulture section- but I am not looking to install any tube lighting, and wasn’t sure what other options there are. 

Generally, we do not recommend the use of house lamps for indoor plants, as the illumination levels provided by such lamps are insufficient for plants. Typically, plants require brightness levels that are similar to natural daylight, and this will require the use of higher power fixtures such as the ones shown in our horticultural daylight product showcase.

​If you do want to proceed with the use of standard house lamps, we do have several A19 products which would be a great fit; however do keep in mind that the light levels would merely be "supplemental" rather than a substitute for natural daylight.

Please see below for our A19 lamps which would be a compatible from a spectral perspective:

Does a high CRI LED that produces more PPFD better for growing light than 6500K and more than low CRI?

Am I correct in understanding that High CRI LED at 3000K is a better choice for grow light in that it produces more PPFD than 6500K and more than Low CRI? I'm a little confused as the spectrum picture for 6500K looks more like what I see other grow lights showing, compared to the spectrum for 3000K. 

While you are correct that certain warm-white spectra will produce more PAR per unit energy, the additional PAR energy may or may not be better suited for growing.

​At a basic level, PAR tells us about the number of photons that fall within the range of wavelengths capable of inducing photosynthesis. It does not, however, tell us how capable those particular photons are of inducing photosynthesis.

​As such, it can be a bit misleading to compare just PAR values (PPF / PPFD) to determine "how good" a grow light is, as much will depend on the specific distribution of energy across the spectrum.

The 6500K you commonly see is a close approximation of natural daylight, so this is typically seen as a solid reference point for horticultural lighting applications.

Recommendation for Starting Seeds Indoors

My wife starts vegetable seeds indoors in a north-facing kitchen garden window before planting outdoors. We are now looking to upgrade to LED grow lights. The lights can hang about 16" maximum above the seedlings. Would 1 PhotonBlast fixture be sufficient per shelf and also would 4000k or 6500k be best for starting seeds?

In my experience, the PhotonBlast should be a great fit for your needs!​In my setup, I had two PhotonBlast fixtures for a 48" x 18" wire shelf. Since your shelf is smaller at 50" x 10", you may be able to get away with just one fixture, but two fixtures would provide you with a bit more high-intensity light which can be helpful to prevent "leggy" seedlings, especially if you are growing high-density microgreens or similar crops.​The PhotonBlast fixture is approximately 48 inches long so this should provide sufficient coverage across the 50-inch shelf. Additionally, the 6500K should be a good option for seedlings, as this approximates noon daylight and should help promote vigorous leafy growth.

Ballast compatibility for PhotonTube T8 LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture

The list identified in the pdf document is rather limited, so I am wondering if it will work with others. Specifically, whether it will work with these two ballasts: E2324IX-120 ballast and GE432-120RES-DIY ballast? I have some fixtures with each of these currently. I understand they will work in ballast bypass but I am interested in knowing if they will work plug and play without re-wiring the ballasts. 

Based on my review of our supported ballast list, it appears that the GE432-120RES ballast is likely compatible with our products. Though the product ID stem ‘-DIY’ is not listed, this may not be enough of a product difference for the ballast to be incompatible.

Unfortunately, the E2324IX-120 ballast does not appear to be listed among the compatible units. However, there is a chance that it is functional, but not internally tested as officially compatible.

UV-A LED Strip for Cannabis Grow Light

I have a question about the realUV LED strip. Is this spectrum going to need a pair of glasses with a UV block? Are they going to affect my eyes if not protected? It's for a cannabis grow, and so I'm curious as to photons as well. Basically, can I build a UV board with these that's equivalent to say the high buck 380-nanometer diodes like spider farmer, mars hydro even gave? 

Our UV LED strip lights can certainly be used for a DIY grow light build and sounds like a great option for you!

​Unfortunately, we do not have PPFD values available, but below is our UV irradiance pattern chart:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/photometrics/BP_7021.pdf

​We would recommend using eye protection whenever possible with any kind of UV or high intensity lighting systems.

Should I secure them to a aluminum plate to dissipate heat? It said no but where's the hear loss in the power box or the LED? 

​You may find our layout maps helpful for providing you with some conceptual guidance and ideas for your installation:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/7021_4C?px=-2219&py=-2490&pw=1438&ph=1980&s=0.1

The UV LED strips do not require any aluminum plates for heatsinking as the heat is designed to dissipate through the heavy-duty (4 oz) copper circuit board.

Does the T8 LED Grow Lights compatible with T12 fixtures?

I am looking to purchase the T8 LED Grow Lights for my kitchen. I just wanted to ensure these would be compatible with the current fixture. Currently, my kitchen is lit by 4 Philips f40t12/CW supreme 40-watt bulbs. I believe this to be a T12 bulb. I've heard T8 and T12 are supposed to be interchangeable. However, I was unsure if the ballast capable of powering the current T12s might be too much voltage for these T8 grow lights I'm looking to replace them with. Would the T8 LED grow lights work as a replacement for the Philips f40t12/cw supreme? Ad if not, do you have a suitable grow light replacement for a T12? 

The T8 LED lamps will fit mechanically in your current T12 fixture, but the T12 fluorescent ballasts will need to be removed and/or bypassed.

​Instructions for how to perform the fixture rewiring can be found in the instructional manual below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

​If you were interested in purchasing a new fixture all together, you may also be interested in our PhotonBlast fixture, which I have provided a link to below:

​

LED Grow Lighting for Garden Seed Starting

I've been looking at a number of LED lights for garden seed starting. I have a shelving unit 60"w 24"D and would like to purchase the appropriate number of light fixtures for each shelf and the correct 4000K or 6500K. What do you suggest? 

Our PhotonBlast fixtures are a great option for seedling growth in a vertical shelf unit. Each fixture is approximately 48" long, so even though your shelf width is a bit wider, the angular light distribution should provide sufficient coverage at the ends as well.

We would recommend perhaps 2-4 fixtures per shelf to provide sufficient coverage across the entire 60 x 24 inch surface. In my experience, it is always important to provide sufficient brightness during the seedling stage to prevent seedlings from getting "leggy" so that might be good to keep in mind.

We offer the product in both 4000K and 6500K (link below) and generally, 6500K works best for seedling growth, although I have also seen successful seedling growth with 4000K.

T8 LED Tube Lights for Grow Shelf Installation

Can you please let me know your answers to the 3 questions below? We need to order 8 of these tubes today to make sure we can use them in time for our project. 1) How many lumens? 2) Are there instructions for ballast removal & wiring that come with this item? 3) For a 22" x 48" growing platform, will four tubes provide enough light? 

Our T8 LED tube lights sound like a great option for your grow shelf installation. Below are answers to your questions:

1) How many lumens?

Each lamp puts out 1800 lumens.

2) Are there instructions for ballast removal & wiring that come with this item?

Yes, an instruction sheet will be included in the product, and can also be located at the link below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/datasheets/UM_4024.pdf

3) For a 22" x 48" growing platform, will four tubes provide enough light?

​For most plant types and early-stage growth, the four lamps would be the minimum we would recommend. Ideally, we generally recommend installing 100 watts or more for sufficient coverage. At 18 watts per lamp, this would work out to six lamps or more per shelf.

​As an alternative, we may also recommend our PhotonBlast fixture. Two of these lamps can provide nice coverage of a 22 x 48 shelf. Please see below for the product link:

Photon Series Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights for Horticulture

I am trying to order (2)- Photon 2000 Series Full Spectrum LED Grow Lights. I can't seem to find them on your website.

We regret to inform you that the Photon 2000 Series product is currently discontinued.

We, unfortunately, don't have anything similar, but the closest options for horticulture would be our PhotonBlast, PhotonTube and our PhotonPanel products. Please see the product links below:

Is your PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel and Dimmer UL listed?

We are planning a growth area and would like to daisy chain 3 panels to be on three separate shelf levels but to have them be dimmable -- and were looking at your PhotonPanel™ 100W Grow Light Panel and the FilmGrade DC Power Supply and FilmGradeTM Flicker-Free LED Dimmer. 

We must have UL-listed components. I have purchased some LED panels to test out with plants, but sometimes it is too bright and so I believe dimmable would be useful. Is there a way to do this with your products? 

Unfortunately, apart from our power supplies, the grow light panel and dimmers are NOT UL listed at this time.

Which bulbs are needed for starting seedlings?

I have a 6 foot table on which my plants will be started as seedlings. I want to order the 6500 K (LED setup) bulbs and I will need a fixture as well. The online photographs look like the fixture will hold two LED bulbs at a time. Do I need to order the fixture and two bulbs? Or do I need two fixtures and four bulbs total for my growing space?

Our PhotonBlast fixture in 6500K (link below) sounds like a great option for seedlings. Each fixture includes integrated LED emitters, so there is no need to purchase any separate lamps.

​You'll be able to simply plug the light fixture in with the included cord, without the need to install any separate lamps.

For seedling growth, each fixture is generally sufficient to cover 4-6 sq ft of surface area. Depending on the width of your 6-ft table, you may want to purchase several of these fixtures to ensure sufficient coverage.

LED Grow Lights for under-cabinet and herbs and sprout seeds

I remodeled my kitchen and want perfect under-cabinet LED low profile strips but I want to grow herbs and sprout seeds on my kitchen counter, so am looking for full spectrum as close to daylight bright lighting. Which accessories do I choose of yours to build the perfect lighting in (4) 24” lengths and one 18” length? I have a dedicated switch on the wall to control them.

Based on the details provided, we can recommend our 5000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail products. The 5000K light which is emitted by this product will be very similar to that of natural, bright daylight. 

To connect the individual LED strip light segments, we recommend the Solderless Connector for Single Color LED Strip products.

When this product is paired with the 12V TRIAC Dimmable Power Supply for LED Strip, it can be adjusted and controlled using a wall dimmer product.

Here is a LayoutMap which illustrates this configuration, which might prove to be useful.

LayoutMaps™ - LED Strip Light Layout 3001-1B: https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3001_1B?px=-2321&py=-2245.5&pw=1642&ph=1491&s=0.1

We also offer the Aluminum Channel for LED Flex Strip products which can be used for easily mounting the LED strip lights. However, the lengths currently available may be too long for the LED strip light lengths that were described. As far as we can tell, one 16.4 ft reel of the LED strip lights, as well as one unit of the dimmable power supply, should be sufficient for your installation.

Will the PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube be effective for Cannabis to Grow in a Grow Tent?

Will this fixture be effective for cannabis to grow in a grow tent? PhotonTube™ T8 LED Grow Light Tube for Horticulture. What intensity would be best?

Our PhotonTubes are generally best suited for seedling growth, as it provides even and diffused soft light intensity.

​For a grow tent, we would recommend our PhotonPanel instead, for which you can find details below:

Do you have a 2020 P1500 LED Grow Light?

I have a 3x5 foot area to grow in which light will produce the best flower the 2020 P1500 @ $139 or 900w @ $239? I have 2 of the 900w units but I see the new 2020 series and was wondering how they compare.

Unfortunately we do not have any products that would be comparable to the 2020 P1500 LED products. Sorry!

PhotonBlast™ LED Grow Light Fixture for Horticultural Lighting Installation

It's not clear, but is this product sold as two fixtures in one or one grow light fixture? One photograph shows two light fixtures in the gallery of images (second and third from the left). In addition, the other fixture does not appear to have a chain linked to it.

We can confirm that the PhotonBlast™ LED Grow Light Fixture product is indeed sold as one lighting fixture unit, rather than two. Each shipment of this product will also include the hanging hooks.

Can you confirm if two of these fixtures will be necessary for a shelf 48 inches wide? I am wondering if one fixture is enough if I am choosing to grow orchids like Paphiopedilum and Phalaenopsis that do not need high light levels like other more sun loving genera.

The answer may depend on the ideal lumen output required for the orchids which you have mentioned. For reference, one unit of the PhotonBlast™ LED Grow Light Fixture will have a lumen output of 4200.

Generally, one of our PhotonBlast fixtures is equivalent to approximately two 4-ft T5HO lamps (54 watts).​One key difference, however, is that the PhotonBlast product features a 95 CRI, which indicates that it provides a much more complete spectrum than a traditional fluorescent T5HO lamp, and this may provide you with far better growth, even at the same brightness level.

I am still weighing what would work since you sell 4000K and 6500K. The trouble is that I do want to raise vegetable and flower seedlings later next year so I need to weigh my options.

Low-light orchids - 1200-2000 fc (12,900-21,500 lumens)

Medium-light orchids - 2000-3000 fc (21,500-32,300 lumens)

High-light orchids - 3000 fc. (32,300 lumens)

Orchid growers use a mix of two 6,500 Kelvin and 3,000 Kelvin bulbs in a 4-tube fixture and 4,000K bulbs would provide roughly the same type of light. I'm guessing that I need only one 4000 K bulb?

In almost all cases, mixing lamp colors is not an optimal situation, and is only done when a mid-point color option is not otherwise available. As such, I would not foresee any issues whatsoever with selecting a single color temperature for your installation.

The midpoint between 3000K and 6500K is approximately 4750K, so our 4000K would be a closer match for what you are looking for. In my experience, 4000K works well for microgreen seedling growth so I would imagine this would work well for orchid seedlings as well.

It's a bit difficult to comment on the footcandle and lumen values, as the two metrics refer to different things (illuminance and light output, respectively) and will depend on a variety of factors such as fixture orientation and distance from the plants. As mentioned in a prior email, we believe that each of the PhotonBlast fixtures can be thought of as a replacement for two T5HO lamps.

Your instructions for hanging the light fixtures (Photon LED) using the S chain are poorly written and unclear.

I have not been able to determine from the PR photos for the product how they were hung - the S hook is different in one picture from the other picture showing it hung from the shelving.

I've reviewed the product literature and have confirmed that the hanging hook chain used in the grow light shelving photos is indeed the same hook chain, but installed in a modified manner.​Specifically, the hook is inserted into the other end of the hanging chain in order to create a loop. This loop is then used to suspend the fixture from the wire shelf shown in the photo. Below is an annotated photo.

LED Strip that runs from Warm Glow to Midday Sun for Conservatory Building.

I am building a conservatory and looking for an LED strip that runs from the warm glow of sunrise to the midday sun of 5000k and back to the glow of sunset. And with a high CRI during mid-day. The area I want to light is 2m x 3.5m from a height of 3.5m (approx 6ft 6" x 11ft 5"). In which case can you recommend your product to meet the 5000k and high CRI? 

Currently, we don't have a product that will accomplish the color temperature tuning "out of the box," but we do have some suggestions which may help achieve what you are looking for.

​First off, our 5000K LED strip lights should be a great fit for your mid-day sun, high CRI requirement. We have a 95 CRI and 99 CRI option, for which I have linked to below:

Then, to simulate a warmer color tone (while maintaining high CRI), you may want to consider our 3000K or even 2700K color temperature LED strip lights:

Our recommendation would be to use these two products with a pair of dimmers that can adjust the relative amounts of brightness of each, thereby simulating various natural lighting conditions. Please let us know if you have any questions on dimming and we would be more than happy to assist further with parts and accessories needed. In the meantime, you may find our layout maps helpful:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps

Finally, in estimating the total brightness needs, we would recommend using our lumen estimation calculator, which can help in determining the total amount of LED strips needed for the dimensions you've provided:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/lumen-calculator

(For your reference, natural daylight will generally range from 100 - 1000 footcandles during mid-day, depending on the weather).

Lighting Systems Suggestion for Aquaponics Product Development

I am developing a new aquaponics product and I would like to use your lighting systems in it.

Would a diffuser reduce the growth potential of the lights within? And are you able to have these made and finished to custom lengths?

At the moment, we do not offer any customized services, so we would recommend working with the standardized offerings that we have. Our aluminum channels will certainly reduce the amount of light due to the transmissivity loss of the diffuser cover. While I understand these may be preferred for aesthetics purposes, they will likely hinder light output by 10-15%.

We don't have any specific "light recipes" for different species, as this will also depend on the light intensity, distance, temperature, and grow medium/nutrient supply. In general, however, we believe that full spectrum lighting that mimics natural daylight (i.e. 95 CRI or higher) is a great starting point given that plants generally thrive under natural daylight.

We would perhaps recommend experimenting with several of our LED strip lights to determine which colors and wavelengths work best for your device. Please see below:

Can you tell me what the process would be to cut long reels down into 30cm lengths that can then be wired into a plug socket? 

How would it be best to cut down the length of the diffusers if we decided to use them?

If the diffuser reduces the light by <15%, would it work to simply use a stronger light to counter this effect or does it not really work like that?

Which of those products do you think may be best as a general grow light?

Also, do you provide products that can be used with a light strip to control cycle lengths and to turn up and down the intensity of the light?

The LED strips can be cut into shorter lengths as needed, generally in 2.5 or 5.0 cm intervals using a pair of scissors. They would then need to be connected to a power supply using a layout similar to the one shown below:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/layoutmaps/3002_2C

The diffusers are not designed to be cut into shorter lengths, but our customers have reported success using a hacksaw. A stronger light would indeed mitigate the effect of the lower light output. For example, a 100-lumen output reduced to 85 lumens could be counteracted with 115 lumens of light output being reduced to 100 lumens.

It does sound like you are in the initial conceptual design phase for your product, for which we unfortunately are not equipped to provide extensive assistance. We would suggest working with a product design specialist or determining the lighting requirements for your system after which we would be more than happy to suggest the best products that would meet your needs. 

Can you point out one specific product that mimics natural light most closely as well as the necessary strength that we have discussed?

Here is our ABSOLUTE SERIES product line which has a 99 CRI rating, indicating that this is as close of a match to natural daylight as possible:

https://www.waveformlighting.com/absolute-series

The strength of the light would depend on a variety of factors such as quantity, placement, and distance away. We would perhaps recommend starting with a target lux or PPFD requirement and we can assist from there.

Full Spectrum Strip Lights for Bathroom Installation

I am in the middle of a master bathroom renovation. Are the 4000k Centric Daylight strips full-spectrum? If not, is there any custom strip that can be made or can you recommend any other product or manufacturer for my application?

We can confirm that the 4000K CENTRIC DAYLIGHT™ LED Strip Lights for Commercial & Retail product feature an ultra high 95 CRI, offering a full spectrum of light output which is extremely similar to that of natural daylight.

In case it proves to be useful for your installation planning, further information regarding CRI and full spectrum can be found at the links below.

Full Spectrum Lighting: https://www.waveformlighting.com/full-spectrum-led-lighting

High CRI LED: https://www.waveformlighting.com/high-cri-led

Do you have an 8ft LED grow tube for growing romaine?

I'm looking for an 8ft, and a 6ft LED grow tube ideal for growing romaine, spring mix, and other quick growing items. We need 48-8ft bulbs, and 12-6ft.

Unfortunately, we do not have any 8-ft or 6-ft bulbs. One recommendation, however, would be our T5 linear fixtures which are modular and can be combined to create various lengths. 

Since they are offered in 2-ft and 4-ft variants, both the 8-ft and 6-ft lengths can be created with the various length combinations.

Below is the link to our "artist" series, for which we will be launching a comparable version for horticulture but in the same dimensions and form factor:

What type of connector can I use to daisy chain the PN 2020 that will be spaced 6" apart?

I'm looking to buy (4) PN:2020 lights for some plant shelves I'm building. I want to daisy chain them, but the lights will be spaced 6" apart. What kind of connector can I use so I can run wire between the daisy chain connectors? Also, I don't see a transformer that will drive all four lights on your site. Do you recommend any specific model?

Our PhotonPanel product sounds like a great option for a vertical plant shelf installation. To answer your questions:

The daisy-chain "ports" utilize WAGO 2060 connectors (see here for the datasheet). For variable-length installations such as yours, we generally recommend using low-voltage wire with the maximum thickness permissible for the WAGO connectors (18 AWG).

We do not have any power supplies with sufficient capacity, but we would recommend a third-party manufacturer that has a product of sufficient capacity (we would recommend at least 500 watts for daisy-chaining 4 panels). We generally recommend Meanwell as a reliable manufacturer of power supplies, but it appears they do not have anything higher than 340 watts.

It looks like you can configure a constant current level. Should the constant current be set to 17A to match your spec sheet for four daisy chained PN:2020 panels?

The constant current feature is definitely nice to have and can work very well here to ensure stable operation. The boards are configured to operate via constant voltage without any issues, as long as the voltage level does not exceed 24 volts at any point. Even when staying at or below 24 volts, however, the actual power draw can fluctuate a bit depending on various environmental factors such as ambient temperature (higher temps = higher current draw).​If you are able to keep the current setting fixed via the constant current adjustment, that would ensure that a consistent power draw is achieved, regardless of environmental factors.

Recommendation for Photon Panel Grow Light Panel heat rise when mounting to a wooden shelving unit.

The installation guide for PN: 2020 mentions the heat rise in the open air and also mentions mounting it to a wooden shelving unit. I'm considering doing it, but I'm worried about the heat if mounted directly to a wood shelf. Is this something that is supported/recommended?

Unfortunately, we do not have any additional data on the temperature rise when mounted to a solid surface, however, we would expect that the thermal rise would be within a similar range.​Depending on the material of the wood shelf, such as the varnish or coating, the heat generated may or may not be a concern. We would recommend performing a test to make sure that the temperature rises in your particular installation stay within reasonable levels.

Do these Horticultural Boards have any UV-A, and compatibility with HLG-H

Do these boards have any UVA and what is the maximum and minimum voltage/amp? Could they be ran from an HLG H constant current driver? I am constructing a line of growing cabinets with high end lighting solution where height is a challenge.

Our PhotonPanel product does not have any UV-A radiation.​

The current draw per panel is approximately 4.5 amps. As long as the capacity of the specific Meanwell HLG model is sufficient, this should work well for your needs. Please see below for additional information on how the HLG power supply can be used:https://www.waveformlighting.com/tech/how-do-meanwell-hlg-led-power-supplies-work

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