FLEXSTAR FR Bar 18W

What It Is

The Flexstar FR Bar 18W is a standalone far-red supplemental bar operating at a peak wavelength of 730nm — the range associated with phytochrome photoconversion, the Emerson Effect, and photoperiod signaling in cannabis and hemp. Each unit draws 18 watts and ships as a 2-strip pack, making it straightforward to spec per light zone rather than per room.

Unlike full-spectrum fixtures that carry far-red as a minor secondary channel, this bar is purpose-built for one job: delivering a targeted far-red dose at the intensity and timing your protocol requires. That specificity matters when you're trying to dial in end-of-day treatments or run FR independently of your main dimming curve.

Who It's For

Licensed cannabis and hemp operators running photoperiod-sensitive crops who want independent control over their far-red dose without modifying or replacing their primary fixtures. If your main array doesn't carry a dedicated FR channel — or if it does but you want that channel decoupled from the primary dimming schedule — the FR Bar gives you that separation at low added wattage per zone.

It's also a practical entry point for operators still on double-ended HPS or broad-spectrum LEDs who want to add end-of-day far-red without a full fixture overhaul. The bar mounts above the canopy, connects into your existing circuit layout, and runs on its own control line.

Key Features

IP66 ingress protection means the bar is rated against high-pressure water jets and dust intrusion — the standard you want in a humid flower or veg environment where misting, dehumidifier runoff, and wash-down are routine. Flexstar's rated lifespan for this bar is L90 >50,000 hours, meaning it holds 90% of initial output past the 50,000-hour mark.

The daisy-chain architecture is the real installation advantage in a commercial build. Up to 92 strips can run off a single home-run connection, which keeps conduit runs clean and reduces the number of switched circuits you need to control an entire room's far-red layer. Compatibility is not limited to Flexstar's own primary fixtures — the bar is designed to work alongside any multi-bar light fixture platform, so it integrates into mixed-brand rooms without special adapters.

The 730nm wavelength targets the phytochrome equilibrium shift associated with end-of-day signaling and the Emerson Effect boost in photosynthetic efficiency. Used for 10–15 minutes after the primary lights extinguish, it mimics the red-to-far-red shift that occurs at natural sunset — a cue cannabis responds to measurably in flowering speed and canopy behavior.

How It Fits a Commercial Build

In a multi-tier vertical or a standard flower room, the FR Bar is typically mounted at canopy level or slightly above — one bar per fixture bay or per defined light zone depending on your canopy footprint. Because wattage is low at 18W per bar, adding a full room's worth of FR supplementation has a minimal impact on your facility's total connected load.

Control is run separately from the primary fixture circuit, which lets you trigger end-of-day treatments on a dedicated schedule without touching your main light recipe. For operations using environmental controllers, the bars can be wired into a relay or timer output on your existing system. Hydro Supply Co. can quote FR Bars individually or as part of a full room lighting package — request a quote to get unit counts and lead time for your build.