How does Frolight work?

Frolight protects crops from spring frost by directing infrared (IR) radiation onto (parts of) the plant through IR tubes installed close to the vines/plants. The radiation warms primarily the plant itself (not the air), reducing the risk of frost damage.

The IR tubes are controlled by Control Units (a Master and optional Slaves). The Master Control Unit is the “brain” of the installation and is used for configuration and monitoring (including the MyFrolight platform). The Master can communicate wirelessly with Slave Control Units to cover larger areas.

Why is infrared better than convective heating (warming the air)?

With convection-based heating, you mainly try to heat the air, and in practice a lot of that heat is lost due to wind and air movement.

Frolight works differently: infrared heats objects (the plant) rather than the surrounding air. This makes the effect less sensitive to wind than solutions that depend heavily on warming the air (e.g., candles and other heat sources).

How much power does 1 meter of Frolight (IR tube) consume?

A reference value is approximately 15 watts per linear meter.

Converted:

• Power: 15 W per meter (= 0.015 kW/m)
• Energy per hour: 15 Wh per meter (= 0.015 kWh per meter per hour)

What is the minimum required for one installation?

A minimum Frolight setup consists of:

• 1× Master Control Unit (FLGCU-A) (required for every installation)
• IR tubes (FLH-MXXX) (the active heating elements; available in different lengths)

For larger protected areas:

• You can add Slave Control Units (FLGCU-B). A rule of thumb is 1 slave per additional 1200 m of IR tube.

Additional practical context:

• One unit can manage up to 1200 m of tubes via multiple connections (expandable with splitters).

How do we wind & unwind Frolight?

You can wind/unwind Frolight IR tubes from their reels either:

• Manually, using the Tube Reel Trolley (recommended for smaller plots)
• Mechanized, using the FIX Winder (a hydraulic system designed to “easily wind & unwind” Frolight tubes; can be used with standard metal spools or larger plastic spools up to 600 m)
• • Important handling rule (safety + product protection):
    Always fully unwind IR tubes from the drum before connecting them; leaving them coiled can cause serious damage and injury.

How much time does it take to install & take away Frolight?

Install time: about 3 hours for 1 FTE for one module (1200 meters)

Remove (take-away) time: about 1 hour for 2 FTE, depending on the type of winder