theFLINTSTONERS
Member
CFL or Compact Fluorescent Lamps are the small self contained fluorescent bulbs that are commonly used as replacements for normal incandescent bulbs in homes. We are also aware that a small but significant number of growers also have adapted these kind of bulbs for vegging and micro-grows.
We're not here to be critical of anyone's choice of light source, instead we are simply here to provide information for individuals who wish to make informed choice about their light sources. There are a number of forums where this posting might be appropiate, we chose the organic forum. not only because we moderate this forum and look at it frequently, but also because organic growers commonly care about the total impact of their growing style, and we felt it might be appreciated best at this venue.
here's a little blurb defining CFL from the Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07094/774839-51.stm
"The regular incandescent bulb contains a tungsten filament that glows as electrical current passes through it, but uses only about 5 percent of the energy produced to create that light -- the rest is cast off into heat.
A compact fluorescent light, or CFL, works this way: There's a part of the bulb that creates and stabilizes an electric current, called a ballast, which runs between filaments at both ends of a glass tube filled with gases and a bit of mercury. The electrified gases emit ultraviolet radiation, which hits a phosphorous coating inside the glass, making the phosphors glow."
In that little statement, the entire "paradox" of using CFL bulbs can be seen. CFL's are a farily efficient light source, they are commonly available from a wide variety of sources, and are not specific to indoor gardeners so there's little risk involved with sourcing replacement bulbs. But they do contain mercury.
We're not here to be critical of anyone's choice of light source, instead we are simply here to provide information for individuals who wish to make informed choice about their light sources. There are a number of forums where this posting might be appropiate, we chose the organic forum. not only because we moderate this forum and look at it frequently, but also because organic growers commonly care about the total impact of their growing style, and we felt it might be appreciated best at this venue.
here's a little blurb defining CFL from the Wednesday, April 04, 2007 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07094/774839-51.stm
"The regular incandescent bulb contains a tungsten filament that glows as electrical current passes through it, but uses only about 5 percent of the energy produced to create that light -- the rest is cast off into heat.
A compact fluorescent light, or CFL, works this way: There's a part of the bulb that creates and stabilizes an electric current, called a ballast, which runs between filaments at both ends of a glass tube filled with gases and a bit of mercury. The electrified gases emit ultraviolet radiation, which hits a phosphorous coating inside the glass, making the phosphors glow."
In that little statement, the entire "paradox" of using CFL bulbs can be seen. CFL's are a farily efficient light source, they are commonly available from a wide variety of sources, and are not specific to indoor gardeners so there's little risk involved with sourcing replacement bulbs. But they do contain mercury.
