Dimmable Tube Fluorescent Lighting on Photocell Control in Poultry ...

<strong>Dimmable</strong> <strong>Tube</strong> <strong>Fluorescent</strong>
<strong>Lighting</strong> on Photocell Control
in Poultry Housing
Bill Revington
General Manager – Farm Operations
New-Life Mills, Limited
Hanover, ON
GTM Conference – April 2007

<strong>Lighting</strong> & Bird Physiology
• “Light” is critically important in the physiology of
avian species;
– Sexual development, reproduction
– Behaviour
• Significant differences to humans;
– 4 types of cones (vs. human 3);
– Sensitivity to UV-A (below 400 nm)
• Spectral sensitivities such that poultry perceive
light as brighter than humans;
– Varies with type of lamp (CWF = 1.32 times)
Lewis and Morris, 2006;

<strong>Lighting</strong> & Bird Physiology
• Retinal and pineal gland reception;
– Stimulation of hormone production
– Dopamine, melatonin, others
– Controls gonadotropic hormone secretion
• Turkey tom (mature 12 – 20 weeks of age)
– 6(2L:2D), 4(2L:4D), 4(4L:2D) give higher feed
intake and heavier body weight;
• Therefore, critically important to design
rearing systems with this in mind!

Site Information
• Barn: 402’ x 64’ = 25,728 ft 2
• Dual Ventilated; 4 zones
• Translucent sidewall curtains
• Lots of natural daylight

<strong>Lighting</strong> Alternatives
• Incandescent lamps on dimmer
• <strong>Dimmable</strong> compact fluorescents
• <strong>Dimmable</strong> T8 tube fluorescents
with photocell control

Historical Concerns
• Incandescent lamps
– Cheap to install; expensive to operate
– High maintenance
• <strong>Dimmable</strong> compact fluorescents
– Poor performance when dimming
– Cold operation problems
• <strong>Dimmable</strong> T8 tube fluorescents with photocell control
– Flickering
– Not starting at low light levels
– Expensive
– Cold operation problems

<strong>Lighting</strong> System
• T8 4 ft. tube fluorescent system
• 3 rows of lights
• Separate circuit / row
• Photocells on each row of lights
• Electronic ballasts
• Digital dimming Controller

Night: All Lights On

East Row Off As Sun Rises

Bright Day: Lights Off

<strong>Lighting</strong> Schedule
• Intermittent
• 4.5 hours ON / 1.5 hours OFF = 1 cycle
• 4 cycles / day
• Total light 18 hours (!)
• Simulate dusk and dawn

<strong>Lighting</strong> Intensity
• 60 to 100 lux;
• Varies with bird age and behavioural
manifestations;

System Performance
• 3 years of operation
• No (visible) flickering
• Start at low levels without problem
• Some premature failures – moisture entry
– No expansion joints in conduit
– Non-watertight joints
• Good cold weather operation

Energy Savings
• T8 lights on photocells versus Incandescent
• > 50% savings; vary with natural light levels; eg.,
cloudy flock vs. sunny flock
• Taking advantage of natural light
• Over $1,500 / year saved in electrical and demand
savings over incandescent system if both were on
standard timer
• Payback < 4 years
• Photocells save > $300 / year over standard timer
• Payback < 3 years

Other Advantages
• Bird performance unchanged or better
• Fewer lamp replacements
– T8 Lamp: 24,000 hours operation
– T8 Ballast: 45,000 hours operation
– Long Life Incandescent: 5,000 hours operation, but at
least 25% lumen decrease over standard 1000 hour
lamps
• Withstand pressure washing
– (if installed correctly!)

Lessons Learned
• Watertight fixtures and sealed conduit
• Expansion joints in conduit for thermal
swings
• Clean the photocells at least every crop
• Clean the fixture lenses at least once / year
• Reduced reliance on electricity
• Reduced cost of production

Acknowledgements
• Ron MacDonald, Katie Gibb and Mark
Armstrong – Agviro, Inc.
• Vladimir Grigorik – GVA <strong>Lighting</strong>