would my plants benefit from removing glass from the front of the panel?

Im using ufo's with 3w bridgelux leds they have 120 degree lenses but it seems to me that the glass lens on the case catches light. Is it required that it be there? You figure it would be hurting light output. Anyone know anything about this ?

+1 on removing your glass. I've done it on every panel I own and even my CREE bulbs. Usually it's not too bad of a project. How much of a plus it is is debatable, but once dust gets in on the inside, the glass becomes a detriment IMO. Good Luck!

ty for the response
it has a slight green tint to it i did remove it a few hours ago and saw immediate response my seedlings turned away from my 68w true wattage cfl's to the led panel now just gotta get the other one out

Yes it is a large gain removing a covering. Photons that pass straight through will be more likely to make it but many enter at an angle are likely to be deflected or converted into heat.

it has a slight green tint

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Ooooh I hate that green glass.

Yes it is a large gain in output. Photons that pass straight through will be more likely to make it but those that pass through at an angle are likely to be deflected or converted into heat.

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Hey Supra. Is there a way to measure that at home? Like with a lux meter? I mean your distances would have to be perfectly even when you measure it that way, it's just that I always wondered, that with clear glass really, is it over a 10% gain in "output" and how much yield that results in. I removed the glass on my VIPAR and it was much thinner than all the other glass I had removed from my other panels, so I wondered if the protection it afforded with it on was better than any gains I was getting with it off.

the first one was hot glue'd easy
the second had some kind of adhesive was a pain in the butt
nothing a little naptha and a razor blade couldnt take care of

the bloom panel/ufo
i have had the clear glass but im positive that its putting out more light it's in the sunglasses class now

So I have the clear glass 300w cheap-o light. Could I benefit from removing glass? My small tent is hot so I was considering putting it in a cool tube if at all possible. Still need to think that one over.

LEDnoob said:

So I have the clear glass 300w cheap-o light. Could I benefit from removing glass? My small tent is hot so I was considering putting it in a cool tube if at all possible. Still need to think that one over.

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yes immediate results from what i saw
also a little research informed me that there is some legal issues with selling a light with ir/uv with out glass tinted to absorb these wave lengths just the way it sounded anyway that there is some standard set to save peoples eyeballs

that green tinge is iron oxide. not sure it's for the LED, but really more a cost / quality thing.. I know the manufacture has to make sure the light is safe ( shock hazard ) , as that's what I believe the glass is for, or was understood by using using LED since they came out.


you need to be careful, as that light can shock you now, with all the bare exposed leads on it..

would be happy to see the info you got on the glass being there for IR /UV.

FJ, I think you are right a basic luxmeter should be able to help measure the losses. I have one on order and will review it soon.

ya i actually went through my search history to try and find that article
havent found it yet it was about the use of high bays and certain glass to cut down the harmful uv radiation
but made it sound mandated
and how your plants use this spectrum just a few paragraphs on led vs hps