Check this out

[danieljames]

Right here in tennessee

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/solar/

 

[crumbletop]

That would be cool. I'd like to use it for my mid day.

 

[danieljames]

This kinda thing is very exciting for me personally. Have you read the articles regarding improved mood and productivity in the workplace when full spectrum, natural lighting is used? It just makes sense. Expensive now, but will definately go down. I don't see it being to much longer until we have reasonably priced, "natural" full spectrum lighting available with no residual heat whatsoever for our reefs... once this technology catches on in the business sector and prices go down. Very cool stuff.

 

[gflat65]

Sounds like a fun project to work on...

 

[NeveSSL]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10071409#post10071409 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by danieljames
This kinda thing is very exciting for me personally. Have you read the articles regarding improved mood and productivity in the workplace when full spectrum, natural lighting is used? It just makes sense. Expensive now, but will definately go down. I don't see it being to much longer until we have reasonably priced, "natural" full spectrum lighting available with no residual heat whatsoever for our reefs... once this technology catches on in the business sector and prices go down. Very cool stuff.

I can say that I can "feel" a difference under fluorescent lighting and I hate trying to do anything creative under it, specifically songwriting...

This is quite exciting! Next time I go home (east tn), I may have to stop by Braden's Furniture.

Brandon

 

[crumbletop]

One thing I'd like to see them figure out is making it something that doesn't have any moving parts. The parabolic reflector tracks the sun, and I'd rather have something that maybe wasn't as "efficient" but didn't have any moving parts. I also wonder about he plastic fiber optic. UV screws plastic up over time, and my guess is this could have the same issues.

 

[danieljames]

Not sure how uv would effect the fiber optic cable. I would assume they have something figured out there. The solatube is a non moving one for you. Pretty cool idea..just bounces the light instead of delivering through the cable. I believe i read Dr. Mac uses these for some of his setups. There was a thread here somewhere awhile back in regard to par for these, and if memory serves even on an overcast day, it was more than halides. You would have to be somewhere tropical for year long lighting though. http://www.solatube.com/

 

[crumbletop]

The solatube looks like it has the "LightTrackerâ"žÂ¢" Reflector. Not sure if it moves with the sun or not.

 

[crumbletop]

Ahh, I see. it is a skylight. What I need is a fiber optic deal that bends the light all the way down stairs into my office where the tank is.

 

[gflat65]

I'd bet you could get a scaled down model without motors. You might want to come up with an additional reflector to try to pick up more light while the sun is up since the unit wouldn't be tracking, but its doable. I've been fascinated with solar power for a long time. It's getting better, but still so freakin inefficient. Those fiberoptics are nice, though. I'd like to see some of those over water to see it through the column...

 

[NeveSSL]

To me this, like LED lighting, is something to watch for in the future as it comes down in price.

Brandon