CFLs

[paq]

Hey guys....just some quick questions...concerning CFLs
anyone been in chat lately? great place...
I am interested in knowing/learning about how compact fluorescent bulbs have worked for you.
ok now for the tech stuff..

Brand/Manufacturer:
Wattage:
Color Temp (K):
Lumens:

how well do you think they performed compared to other ones or bulbs you have tried in the past?
What do you think is the best color temp/wattage available for CFLs?

any other input/ideas appreciated

 

[stink.whistler]

You might check out this thread, good info - and several of the people on the thread have grow diaries you can check out.

CFLs do work well if used properly.

 

[strydr]

Well, I'm by no means a fountain of knowledge on them, but I am using them with success. It's my first time using them, so no comparison to other models..

What I'm using:
Brand/Manufacturer: N:Vision
Wattage: 42 (real) 150 (equivalent)
Color Temp (K): soft white (?K)
Lumens: 2600

using 10 of these in a box about 30 inches square. I actually use it only for the last three weeks of veg, then into a bigger room with 800 watts of CMH. Kinda backwards for them, but the ladies don't seem to mind. I have vigorous growth, and heat isn't too bad. plants only get burnt if they physically touch the bulb. I've been told the color temp is more for flower- I'm about to run out of room in my flower room, so I'll see how well it works for that soon.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

strydr, 4200 watts? have you considered HID? 4000 watts of hps would light up the sky. You probably don't need that in your box but 250 watts of hps would get you roughly the same amount of light, more penetration, less energy and heat. I bet 4200 watts of CFLs will grow some killer bud though.

 

[j.guit.err]

Check out the micro grow forum. Many of us grow with cfls with great success.

 

[MrMortakis$moot]

strydr, 4200 watts? have you considered HID? 4000 watts of hps would light up the sky. You probably don't need that in your box but 250 watts of hps would get you roughly the same amount of light, more penetration, less energy and heat. I bet 4200 watts of CFLs will grow some killer bud though.

correction; 420 real watts, 1500 equiv.

 

[strydr]

strydr, 4200 watts? have you considered HID? 4000 watts of hps would light up the sky. You probably don't need that in your box but 250 watts of hps would get you roughly the same amount of light, more penetration, less energy and heat. I bet 4200 watts of CFLs will grow some killer bud though.

no, it's 420 watts..

I use HID's in my flower cab. 800 watts of CMH in there. I have a Digi 250 ballast (with a MH), and it throws more heat than my 420 watts of CFL. I like the CFL because it throws more UV-b (I think..) than the MH, and that preps them for the full blast of CMH they get a few weeks later..

Eventually, I plan on using the CFL's through the entire grow, but in a smaller box used only for breeding. I currently have a C99 papa that I'm excited to cross with my other projects..

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

ok, I figured you had one hell of a fan, lol. I'm in no way knocking CFLs.

 

[GrüneErd]

IMO it generally takes good ventilation, some sort of LST/SCROG/etc., and keeping the lights as close to the plants as possible, which is still difficult because they put out more heat than you'd think.
it takes some work to get them dialed in and get good yields in relation to veg time.
but it's doable.
i run anywhere from 200-350w (depending on how hot it is, i have poor ventilation and am restricted with what i can do to the home unfortunately) in a standard closet. i get about 10-15 grams per plant from seed with LST, haven't finished my first clone run yet so couldn't tell ya how they'll do.
they get you nice buds, just not a ridiculous amount of them IME.
peace

 

[paq]

Thanks for all the info guys, going to have to check out some of these other threads. also what kind of prices do you pay for CFLs I have found some 20w ones for 10 for $10...not sure how they work though. What kind of prices do you pay for these bulbs?

strydr - thanks for your input, i have seen the n:vision in action, i think they are more reliable than the ge ones from walmart. what kind of yields do you see with 420w?

gruneerd- 10-15g per plant not bad with cfls. how many plants do you run in your system?

thanks for the replies!

 

[jamrockjay]

Price depends on numerous things,,,, Brand, wattage etc

I can get 20w cfls for under £2 and go up in price accordingly, i do not know tho how these compare to others here are the specs

A Rated. 8000 hours average rated life.
2700K
Warm White
Non-Dimmable
Model Number: FE20
20W
ES
Diameter: 54mm
Length: 164mm


On my last grow i used 2x 150w 6400k blue envirolights for vegging instead of a 400w hps and i did personally see a differnce using the cfl's.. I am no expert and im sure some1 who is will point u in the right diretion.....

 

[strydr]

Paq,
I have only vegged under the CFL's for now, but plants are happy, and healthy..

 

[OvaHiR]

Just if your going to start the plants with CFLs please don't use more red lights then blue. I had 4 in my closet grow with two smaller blues that stretched my plants up to my clothes hangers in a 5 week period;even being one to two inches from the light. I had to use rubber bands to suspend the plants all the way up!

Ended up being the tallest plants I'd ever grown at 6ft 3 in., but was just way too much trouble in the long run.(stretchy buds, less coverage). Just my two cents.