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Certain of light!

What can you do to minimise this risk?

Transformers are an important link in the continuity of your lighting installation. Make sure you have a backup.

The use of grow light is fairly standard in the cultivation of flowers and plants. In addition to a short-long day simulation, it increases production and quality. Grow light is also increasingly used in the cultivation of vegetables (especially tomatoes and cucumbers), with the aim of growing all year round and/or bringing the products to the market earlier.

Failure of the lighting installation leads to a loss of quality and production, especially in the dark winter months. Longer downtime can even lead to crop loss. This is why it is important to take measures that limit the risk of long-term failure.

In addition to the grid, so-called cogens are sometimes used to power the lights. The reliability of a cogen is low so that availability from the grid as a backup is necessary. Grid failures of several days are relatively uncommon. This makes the risk seem limited. But appearances can be deceiving: the transformers are usually a sensitive product with long delivery times in the event of a failure.

What can you do to minimise this risk?

In the design of the installation, it is important not to run transformers on full capacity. It is advisable to assume a nominal capacity of around 60-70%. The transformers can also be equipped with smoke detectors that automatically switch off the system when activated. When designing the system, bear in mind that the transformers must be easy to replace. This because of accessibility. Also, agree on the time for delivery of a new transformer. A standard delivery time can easily be 10 to 16 weeks. For this reason, businesses sometimes choose to stock a transformer individually or jointly. There are also parties in the market, such as Aggreko, who can offer a solution within a few days using rental equipment.

It is important to assess various scenarios in case of failure of installations in advance and consider which measures must be taken at that time. Specify this in a contingency plan. Of course, we are happy to support you in this!In the design of the installation, it is important not to run transformers on full capacity. It is advisable to assume a nominal capacity of around 60-70%. The transformers can also be equipped with smoke detectors that automatically switch off the system when activated. When designing the system, bear in mind that the transformers must be easy to replace. This because of accessibility. Also, agree on the time for delivery of a new transformer. A standard delivery time can easily be 10 to 16 weeks. For this reason, businesses sometimes choose to stock a transformer individually or jointly. There are also parties in the market, such as Aggreko, who can offer a solution within a few days using rental equipment.

It is important to assess various scenarios in case of failure of installations in advance and consider which measures must be taken at that time. Specify this in a contingency plan. Of course, we are happy to support you in this!

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