Using CFL's for supplemental flower lighting?

[thegrower]

Hey all! So im pretty far into flower (about 5 weeks) and im trying to maximize my space. I only have a 250w and even tho the walls are covered in mylar, there is still less light in the corners of my area.

So I was thinking of supplementing the 4 corners of my box with 4 100w cfl's.... would this help at all? The issue is cause the space is so jammed up i would be able to get the lights above the canopy...

So the real question is:

Would there be any benefit to adding cfl's UNDER the canopy?

 

[BonsaiGrower]

I think so. You'll find a few others do too. Maybe not so much in a 400w cab or larger but for a 150 and 250 I think so.

Check out this link if you haven't seen it and it should steer ya towards alot of cool peeps.

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=24013

Here's my 150 Tent




Peace and Good Luck
BG

 

[thegrower]

thanks bonsai,

i see you have them above the canopy, would they be pretty useless under the canopy?

I ask because my cab is literally packed to the walls and the hood for my hps is pretty big, im not sure if i can squeeze any cfl's between the canopy and the hood but i could fit plenty on the floor [under the canopy]...

Would there be any use having them under the canopy? I would think yes becuase budsites underneath would be getting light but at the same time maybe not because the light would mostly be hitting the bottom of the leaves?

 

[BonsaiGrower]

Oh I dunno man. if this is your cab here then you have lots of room to hang 4 CFL's in the corners. Tie them up by their chords and hang them down right in the corners. no problem. unless you have a better pic maybe?

http://www.icmag.com/gallery/data/500/19910P10009021.JPG

Peace.

 

[thegrower]

yeah that me I guess i could fit them in the corners i just need to get a low-profile fixture for them, im about to go to walmart to see what i can find; i know home depot has the standard fixtures but i would rather not mess with all the wiring if i can avoid it...

How close should i put the cfls to the plants? i alwasy thought u wanted cfl's like 2-4" but in your pics it looks more like 8-12"?

 

[BonsaiGrower]

have a look through my diary and you'll see how I did it. just buy the $10 or less socket and plu combo...sometimes they have a switch and a bell reflector. You'll find something. they sell them at dollar stores believe it or not too....but for safety...try to get what looks to be a good one.

Good Luck

 

[thegrower]

ok i found some nice "bottle lamp" kits that were like $5 and power the cfl's well. I hung 2 100w's in the 2 darest corners... im gonna let it go like this for a week and then see if the cfl-lit corners show more growth than the non-lit

thanks!

 

[DankSwayzee]

A friend and I bought a couple bright white and daylight cfls and reflectors. We took the reflectors off and clamped the lights on the pots so they're close to the plants. We are hoping this will help us out in addition to our dinky 150hps too!

 

[BonsaiGrower]

don't underestimate the power of the 150w HPS

150w club

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=20729

this is one of the most viewed threads on ICMag if you haven't seen it. I strongly urge reading the whole thing.

Peace
BG

good score TheGrower.
good luck Dank Swayzee