Hey all,
My cab is a 3x3 space with just under 800w of CFL arranged over it. I use a design I call "spiders" which are single gang 5 hole round electrical boxes connected to 4 weather resistant lamp holders. The box allows the entire unit to be self contained, and affords the lights a place to screw into. Simply hook the wires up to a plug and a power strip. With this configuration, I can easily (and adjustably) manage up to 92w per square foot (6400 lumens per spider) with cheapie 23w CFLs.
My array has a mix of 5000k / 3500k / 2700k bulbs, with several additional 23w red CFLs mixed in as well. The red doesn't put out much light, but I feel it better pumps up the red spectrum.
I've found that 50w per sqft will be very effective for veg, 75watts+ per sqft (100w preferred) for flower.
Cooling is provided by a box fan, on low. In veg, I use an 8 inch desk fan on med. The screens are tomato cages, cut in half. The lower half I use for training in veg, upper half with a screen for flower.
My old 3 light setup:
Downsides to the 3 light - middle light is mounted in the center, meaning it hangs lower than the outside two - works well for lower wattage colored bulbs, but not much else. Also, the maximum brightness per unit is 69w (23x3).
Lots of people ask why CFL over HPS. My answer is simple, no heat and cheap to work with. As far as I'm concerned, there is no real difference between HPS / CFL, though I'm told CFL puts out more UV (especially that close to the bulb), so theoretically the potential is there for higher THC levels - but worrying about the 1-2% increase in possible potency is an absolute waste of time. I will say that when compared to offerings at collectives (I'm a CA medical patient) I am routinely disappointed at commercially grown potency.
The obvious downside to CFL is the lack of penetration and the fact that when scaled up, its nuts. For flower, your working with a ball of light the size of a volleyball in terms of effective penetration. And I mean...REALLY?? 35..40 bulbs for a 3x3? Anyhow, that said, I'll be logging my micro setup here.
I look forward to everyone jumping in!
Some CFL grown flowers:
Napalm
******'s Fire Og x Destroyer
Tom Hill Haze
Piesel 91
Princess Diesel x P-91
Harlequin
My cab is a 3x3 space with just under 800w of CFL arranged over it. I use a design I call "spiders" which are single gang 5 hole round electrical boxes connected to 4 weather resistant lamp holders. The box allows the entire unit to be self contained, and affords the lights a place to screw into. Simply hook the wires up to a plug and a power strip. With this configuration, I can easily (and adjustably) manage up to 92w per square foot (6400 lumens per spider) with cheapie 23w CFLs.
My array has a mix of 5000k / 3500k / 2700k bulbs, with several additional 23w red CFLs mixed in as well. The red doesn't put out much light, but I feel it better pumps up the red spectrum.
I've found that 50w per sqft will be very effective for veg, 75watts+ per sqft (100w preferred) for flower.
Cooling is provided by a box fan, on low. In veg, I use an 8 inch desk fan on med. The screens are tomato cages, cut in half. The lower half I use for training in veg, upper half with a screen for flower.
My old 3 light setup:
Downsides to the 3 light - middle light is mounted in the center, meaning it hangs lower than the outside two - works well for lower wattage colored bulbs, but not much else. Also, the maximum brightness per unit is 69w (23x3).
Lots of people ask why CFL over HPS. My answer is simple, no heat and cheap to work with. As far as I'm concerned, there is no real difference between HPS / CFL, though I'm told CFL puts out more UV (especially that close to the bulb), so theoretically the potential is there for higher THC levels - but worrying about the 1-2% increase in possible potency is an absolute waste of time. I will say that when compared to offerings at collectives (I'm a CA medical patient) I am routinely disappointed at commercially grown potency.
The obvious downside to CFL is the lack of penetration and the fact that when scaled up, its nuts. For flower, your working with a ball of light the size of a volleyball in terms of effective penetration. And I mean...REALLY?? 35..40 bulbs for a 3x3? Anyhow, that said, I'll be logging my micro setup here.
I look forward to everyone jumping in!
Some CFL grown flowers:
Napalm
******'s Fire Og x Destroyer
Tom Hill Haze
Piesel 91
Princess Diesel x P-91
Harlequin
