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Turning B buds into A buds with under canopy lighting

Green Vibe is one of the largest cannabis cultivators in California, with their facility spanning over 1 million square feet. Now an industry, the grower has installed LED top lights over all its cultivation, with over 12,000 fixtures from California Lightworks. However, current research has shown that top lighting doesn't allow cannabis plants to properly develop buds deeper in the canopy. To address this issue, California Lightworks has developed the MegaDrive UnderCanopy LED series, a new under canopy lighting system that aims to increase yield and turn those 'B' buds into high quality 'A' buds. To test this new system, the company has installed the MegaDrive UnderCanopy at Green Vibe, and has shared info on both the installation, and the results of their first harvest.

"Designed specifically for large-scale applications, this lighting approach aims to provide light to the bottom of the plants, delivering deeper penetration into the canopy compared to traditional top lighting alone," Craig Adams from California Lightworks explains. "This is the first test of the MegaDrive UnderCanopy here. We're expecting to see gains in yield somewhere between 15 and 25 percent. The harvest will tell us how effective it is."

Going under canopy
Developing an under-canopy lighting system is no easy feat, as there are quite a few issues and challenges to address, above all the fact that the electronics are quite close to water where there's the risk of moisture getting in the fixture. "With MegaDrive, there are no drivers or electronics in the fixtures themselves," Craig points out. "All we have are LED boards and waterproof connectors," Adam says. By placing the power supplies, or drivers, remotely, the system mitigates common problems like moisture exposure to sensitive electronics. "This eliminates the need for GFCI safety plugs, simplifies installation, and reduces issues caused by installing power drops under the canopy."

Each under-canopy fixture consists of two LED boards arranged in a V-shape, providing an even light distribution that reaches further into the plant. "A lot of fixtures use a single light panel pointing straight up. This system is different. It works for 4x4, 5x5, and even 6x6-wide benches with double rows of lights," Adam explains. The fixtures are mounted on adjustable metal stands that can be positioned directly above pots, rock wool cubes, or any growing medium a grower is using, to ensure optimal placement for varying cultivation setups.

Installing under canopy
Installation of lighting systems is also something that can be not only expensive, but quite the pain in the neck. California Lightworks has designed MegaDrive in such a way that it's plug and play, with no need of a fancy degree in electronics to install it. "These lights come with all the cords custom-cut. It's a true plug-and-play system, so even unskilled labor can install it. All the connections click together, and return cords lead back to the remote-mounted power supply. You can run up to 80 fixtures on a single power supply, and electricians only need to work on connecting the power supply to the electrical panel, not on the fixtures in the grow space itself."

The MegaDrive power supplies can be mounted in a wide variety of locations, up to 1000 feet from the fixtures. All the cables and connecters are included with the fixtures, eliminating the need for plugs, conduit, or power drops in cultivation areas. Adams says: "These power supplies can also integrate with most greenhouse controllers, offering options to integrate with photo sensors and automatically adjust light intensity. It's a highly integrated approach."

A-grade buds
The benefits extend beyond improved yield. "This system makes it easier to grow larger buds deeper into the plants and reduces the need for deleafing," Adam points out. "Since there's more light from the bottom, growers can save on labor while still increasing yields and producing more high-quality buds."

Just eight weeks after installing the lights, the first harvest results are in. "We're seeing a 25 to 30 percent increase in yield," Aldo Juarez, Director of Farm Operations at Green Vibe reports. "The percentage of A-grade buds also went up significantly."

For more information:
California Lightworks
californialightworks.com