Plasma-i AS1300 Light Engine

The Plasma-i Light Engine generates a solar like light flux. The lamp power can be set by software to a desired level between 500W and 1300W and the light spectrum remains almost
unchanged between 600W and 1300W power setting.

This unique spectral property is achieved with our electrodeless bulb design, where the bulb converts the externally generated HF energy into light at high efficiency.

The HF energy (microwaves) are generated with a magnetron that is powered from an adjustable stabilized power source.

Both the light engine & power supply are air cooled with fans.

Characteristical variances in bulb mix range: The CRI is between 98 (60 lm/W) & 80 (140 lm/W) and hot re-strike is between 20 & 180 seconds depending on which bulb mix is used.

Operating Conditions: Ambient temperature +5°C to +35°C Humidity <60%, non-condensing. As no filter is provided on the air cooling system the standard system has to operate in a clean environment with no dust emitting processes nearby.

Under sulphur plasma light melatonin production is suppressed in all mammals (humans), making them 100% alert, free from any Seasonal Affected Disorder and happier, Retail Sales can increase by 40%. The light is almost 100% PUR and thus perfect for photosynthesis. Light can be efficiently distributed over large spaces, superior to all arc-based lamp technology in every sense, and costing no more than lamps which are used extensively in the Film and Theatre industry. Unlike all other artificial light sources, the light output and colour (light output quality) does not degrade over time and it is fully dimmable down to 30%. The lamp is very simple; a hollow quartz sphere with sulphur and argon gas so, unlike all other forms of lighting, it is environmentally benign. The lamp could be crushed to dust and would make a good fertilizer for your garden. It contains no lead, unlike most other lamps, no mercury, unlike all fluorescent lighting and no arsenic unlike most LEDs (Gallium Arsenide).

The sulphur plasma consists mainly of dimer molecules (S2), which generate the light through molecular emission. Because this, instead of atomic emission, is the mechanism of light generation, the emission spectrum is continuous throughout the visible spectrum.

The lamp’s output is low in infrared energy, and less than 1% is ultraviolet light. As much as 75% of the emitted radiation is in the visible spectrum, far more than other types of lamps.

The visible light output mimics sunlight better than any other artificial light source, and the lack of harmful ultraviolet radiation can be especially benefi cial to more vunerable fixtures, equipment, young plants and humans.

The spectral output peaks at 520 nanometers and the correlated colour temperature (CCT) is approximately 6000 kelvin’s with a colour rendering index (CRI) of 86. The lamp can be dimmed to 40% without affecting the light quality, and light output remains near constant over the life of the bulb.

UV / IR vs. Visible Light

With almost no ultraviolet and very little infrared light the lamp is easier to use with plastic fixtures or fibres and the best light to display foods, clothes and all forms of art and museum articles without degradation from UV or Infrared Heat.

Popular light sources currently used for solar simulation include the Hydrargyrum Quartz Iodide (HQI) lamp which is a type of high-intensity discharge (HID) light, produces its light by an electrical arc in a gas envelope using electrodes. Note that Hydrargyrum is the Latin name for the element mercury.  Also Xenon lamps that use tungsten metal electrodes in a glass tube filled with xenon gas. For xenon flash tubes, a third "trigger" electrode usually surrounds the exterior of the arc tube. Xenon lamps often have a relatively short lifetime of 200 to 2000 hours. As with all electrode based light sources the colour quality and luminous efficiency of the light changes dramatically as the electrodes burn away during use. And the tungsten lamp, which is similar to the classic incandescent domestic version, but with an extra high-temperature filament so that it gives high illumination and high colour temperature for the price of a short lifetime. In nearly all cases solar simulators using a combination of these old technologies can only represent part of the solar spectrum at the same time and many have extremely elaborate and vulnerable reflector and filter systems to simulate the Sun’s radiation at all wavelengths.

With Plasma International Lighting Systems there are none of these risks or problems, the spectral output is truly full and continuous, not just for hours, but for years, with no qualitative or quantitative degradation. 

There are currently 2 variations of the plasma lamp available, the Standard Sulphur lamp (SS0) and the Triple A class Solar Simulator lamp (AAA).

A solar simulator is now measured as class A, B, or C for Spectral Match, Non-Uniformity of Irradiance, and Temporal Instability of Irradiance. Solar simulators utilizing plasma-i lamps are easily designed to meet Class A performance for all 3 of the test requirements.
The three standards that define solar simulator performance, in order of most demanding parameters first:

The SS0 lamp has hardly any UV light and less red light than the AAA lamp that the Dutch researchers have named the Artificial Sun.

Spectral Match – How close it is to the power of visible and invisible colours that are in sunlight.
Non-Uniformity of irradiance  - How evenly spread out (distributed) it is.
Temporal Instability – How constant the output is.

A New way of Measuring is Needed

We can not claim higher luminous efficiency than a sodium lamp or higher PAR (Photo synthetically Active Radiation) than a metal halide or sodium lamp because when we measure our plasma lamp in lumens or micro moles it nearly always measures at least 30% less than other HID lamps of the same wattage. We will claim a higher PUR (Photo synthetically Useful Radiation) value because we believe the plasma lamps that we manufacture are the only lamps that are truly a full and continuous spectrum and thus, completely unlike LED's, deliver all of the light that is useful for photosynthesis.

Conventional methods of measuring light for humans use lumens, deemed useless for horticulture, horticulturists measure light in micro moles (µmoles). Working with British, German and Dutch horticulturists and researchers I have learnt that micro mole measurements are the best indicator we have at this time. The results from real world tests indicate that a plasma lamp, that measures 30% micro moles 'less' than a High Power Sodium Lamp of same wattage, produces at least 30% more biomass, and can fully grow cucumbers to European standards 10 days sooner. After eating them myself I can confidently write that in my opinion cucumbers grown in continuous full spectrum light with a low PAR value, compared to HPS, have better aroma, flavour and colour. My hunch is that the nutritional value will be far higher also, especially as thinking it will be the same is disregarding the principles of logic!