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CFL Club!
- Thread starter cfl...KING
- Start date
RobMarley420
Member
I'm going to start vegging with CFL's and I picked up some valuble info from this thread.
I learned that i want the 5000k for vegging and that a bunch of 23watters are better than 2 200 watters.
I had actually ordered a couple 200watt CFL's before reading this thread and then I cancelled the order afterwards.
Now I just need to figure out how I'm gong to arrage all these CFL's over my vegging plants. I think I'm going to get 4 "Y" sockets and hang 8 lights over my 8 plants and then add more lights as the plants grow.
Any suggestions or tips on the best way to arrange the CFL's? Best sockets to use? And the best way to wire them up with extension cords?
I learned that i want the 5000k for vegging and that a bunch of 23watters are better than 2 200 watters.
I had actually ordered a couple 200watt CFL's before reading this thread and then I cancelled the order afterwards.
Now I just need to figure out how I'm gong to arrage all these CFL's over my vegging plants. I think I'm going to get 4 "Y" sockets and hang 8 lights over my 8 plants and then add more lights as the plants grow.
Any suggestions or tips on the best way to arrange the CFL's? Best sockets to use? And the best way to wire them up with extension cords?
Laventille
Member
Some of what I'm reading here about heat output just doesn't tally with the set up I'm running.
The main lights, 2No. 125w Enviro's, are running noticeably cooler than the smaller bulbs I am using for red spectrum (2 x 11w and 1 x 30w).
Most of the heat is produced at the bulb's ballast, and those 3 little ballasts are producing more heat than the 2 bigger enviro ballasts.
The plastic ballast cases of the small CFL's have been discoloured by the heat. This has not happened with the Enviros.
I could unscrew an enviro and hold it in a bare hand. I would not want to do this with the smaller bulbs.
Safe growing
The main lights, 2No. 125w Enviro's, are running noticeably cooler than the smaller bulbs I am using for red spectrum (2 x 11w and 1 x 30w).
Most of the heat is produced at the bulb's ballast, and those 3 little ballasts are producing more heat than the 2 bigger enviro ballasts.
The plastic ballast cases of the small CFL's have been discoloured by the heat. This has not happened with the Enviros.
I could unscrew an enviro and hold it in a bare hand. I would not want to do this with the smaller bulbs.
Safe growing
My 2 cents? I would not use the Y-sockets myself. It's five minutes less wiring, but not a very good shape to configure more than one into a small space.
The 23- 32 watters are the way to go, but pay attention to spectrum (red/blue) when buying.
gongalaumare
Member
hi guyz ! this is my grow:
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=214756
seed: holland hope
soil: florasol
lights: 3 x 24 w cfl warm, 1 x 60 w cold, 1 x 85 w cold
ventilatie: 2 case vents
box: 50cm H, 40cm L, 35cm l (very little...but another i don't have )
nutes: an mix of nutes from santa
what do you think guyz?
with respect ! peace!
https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=214756
seed: holland hope
soil: florasol
lights: 3 x 24 w cfl warm, 1 x 60 w cold, 1 x 85 w cold
ventilatie: 2 case vents
box: 50cm H, 40cm L, 35cm l (very little...but another i don't have )
nutes: an mix of nutes from santa
what do you think guyz?
with respect ! peace!
Mr Jay: I don't know if they've got some new tech to keep them cool, but I think anything over 27w bulbs produce more heat than light per watt. So you might be getting more light with 250w of 42w bulbs than you would be with 250w of 55w bulbs.
In my 2 sq. ft. cab with 6x42w bulbs, heat is a bit of an issue.
If heat isn't an issue for you, party on.
In my 2 sq. ft. cab with 6x42w bulbs, heat is a bit of an issue.
If heat isn't an issue for you, party on.
I'm only replacing the cfls on one side of the box to see how they do with a mix. I'm in no hurry to go blow a bunch of cash on new lights. Heat has never been an issue for me, I run ambient year round via red greenery two stage ventilation. I may have to put a smaller power pack on my light's fan just to raise the temps to an acceptable level. I think we're running around the same square footage with the same power.
Party on Anti.
Party on Anti.Some of what I'm reading here about heat output just doesn't tally with the set up I'm running.
The main lights, 2No. 125w Enviro's, are running noticeably cooler than the smaller bulbs I am using for red spectrum (2 x 11w and 1 x 30w).
Most of the heat is produced at the bulb's ballast, and those 3 little ballasts are producing more heat than the 2 bigger enviro ballasts.
The plastic ballast cases of the small CFL's have been discoloured by the heat. This has not happened with the Enviros.
I could unscrew an enviro and hold it in a bare hand. I would not want to do this with the smaller bulbs.
Safe growing
Really depends on the quality of the ballast.... a lot of the little cfl's have poor ballasts and run super hot like that, I've changed out a few myself.
I have 27w lights that don't get that hot... the coil does but the ballast just gets hot... not too hot to touch.
The issue I have with the big enviro lights is they waste a LOT of light. *sigh*
You want big lights with big output and low heat? Pl-l lamps rock!
Glad to see folks using them quite a bit. I'd say try a few brands in your area... see which one has the coolest running ballast.
FYI folks: If you're on a tight budget, just get the 2700K CFL's... believe me, your plants will veg just fine. No need to buy a full round of 'vegging' lamps and then having to switch them out before flower.
Stay Safe!
Gotta quick question, I just added 2- 32w cfl in with my 250w hps because I feel like the reflector is not reflecting light throughout. The 2 cfl is hanging lower than the 250w. On one branch of my plant the top nug is about 2" away from the cfl. When I place my hand under it, it doesn't seem hot to where it'll burn but then again I'm not sure if it would have gotten hotter If I was to place my hand under for a longer period of time. My air flow seem to be good, no heat issue, temp is at a low 70 with the added cfl and humidity is at 40%. Should I be concern? Is 2" to close?
You should be fine.
AlexTrebek
Member
I just made a fixture in all of 15 mins and took pics, I hope to make a DIY tutorial as it is very simple and it has amazing coverage. It only cost 60$'s to build too!
Materials:
- Metal salad bowl - 4$
- UFO surge protector - 25$
- 6 Male to light sockets - 6$
- 6 CFL's (Can be 13w, 23w, 40w, but 23w is the cheapest!) - 20$
Total is right around ~50-60$ for a 140w light with reflector.
All that's missing for this tutorial is a camera!
I hope I succeed in giving back to ICMag, thank you to everyone who posted valuable information in this thread!
Materials:
- Metal salad bowl - 4$
- UFO surge protector - 25$
- 6 Male to light sockets - 6$
- 6 CFL's (Can be 13w, 23w, 40w, but 23w is the cheapest!) - 20$
Total is right around ~50-60$ for a 140w light with reflector.
All that's missing for this tutorial is a camera!
I hope I succeed in giving back to ICMag, thank you to everyone who posted valuable information in this thread!
LesterBallard
Member
Love the thread. I use 200w of cfl's now instead of my 150w hps. Much easier to cool and the pull is about the same.
Art Vandelay
Active member
Do you think 6 23 actual watt floros will do fine for a sog or lst cab 17x17?
