ASGSB 1999 Annual Meeting Abstracts

CHARACTERIZATION OF LIGHT EMITTING DIODES (LEDS) FOR PLANT GROWTH: POWER CONVERSION EFFICIENCIES OF SNAPLITE LED SYSTEMS AND LEDS AT DIFFERENT INTENSITIES AND WAVELENGTHS. C.S. Paty¹, and J.S. Young². ¹Department of Physics, Bryn Mawr College, and ²Dynamac Corp.

The Power conversion efficiency for plant growth in a bioregenerative life support system using Snaplite LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) was determined. Two efficiency ratings were found; one compared the power consumption and PAR (Photosynthetically Active Radiation) emission of the Snaplite system as a whole, and the other focused on the efficiency of just the LEDs. The data were acquired through the use of a spectroradiometer, a power meter, and a multimeter. It was determined that the Snaplite system as a whole contained many power drains other than the LEDs, but the LEDs themselves were substantially power efficient. This information can be used both to compare LEDs to other potential light sources for use in a bioregenerative life support system as well as determine which parts of the Snaplite LED circuitry can be improved upon to make it a more power efficient system for plant growth.

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