Aluminium Foil and CFL's

I constantly see people saying aluminum foil will/can burn your plant from hot spots. Is it REALLY an issue with CFL's? This makes more sense if your talking about HPS lights and the like, but I have a hard time believing that CFL's and Aluminum Foil will burn your plant.

Has this actually happened to any of you? Pics of damage would be helpful too.

People who say using aluminum foil with CFLs will cause hot spots are full of it. I've only grown a few times but in my experiance aluminum foil works just fine with CFLs i've never experianced hot spots.

Does anyone really need more of a reason to not use aluminum foil other than aluminum foil is a poor choice for a reflective material? Do people think that if it will not cause hotspots when used with CFLs that magically and mystically it will be transformed into a good choice for a reflective material?

lol...

It's probably better than no reflective material.. Just remember, it's conductive and could help contribute to a fire.

If you use enough lights you don't need anything lol.

Tin Foil is also electrically conductive so if your not using the proper capping on all of your wires than you can hurt yourself like i did at first. 2 open wires + 1 bare foot on the tinfoil = Quite a jolt.

tgo said:

Tin Foil is also electrically conductive so if your not using the proper capping on all of your wires than you can hurt yourself like i did at first. 2 open wires + 1 bare foot on the tinfoil = Quite a jolt.

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thats a good reason not to use it

why not just buy mylar its not that expencive an is 95%+ reflective its the shit

stumpjumper said:

lol...

It's probably better than no reflective material.. Just remember, it's conductive and could help contribute to a fire.

If you use enough lights you don't need anything lol.

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yes better then nothing tell you get something better. b4 i wasted my $ on aluminum foil i would go to a sporting goods store and buy a few emergecy blanket- space blankets. a lot better then foil..

whynot said:

I constantly see people saying aluminum foil will/can burn your plant from hot spots. Is it REALLY an issue with CFL's? This makes more sense if your talking about HPS lights and the like, but I have a hard time believing that CFL's and Aluminum Foil will burn your plant.

Has this actually happened to any of you? Pics of damage would be helpful too.

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cfl's are not intense enough to cause hot spot burns due to reflective lensing.
it only really happens with HID lamps, or some high powered LED's

tgo said:

Tin Foil is also electrically conductive so if your not using the proper capping on all of your wires than you can hurt yourself like i did at first. 2 open wires + 1 bare foot on the tinfoil = Quite a jolt.

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awesome.




sorry, im an electrician. i can get away with saying it.

Use flat white paint..... much more reflective then tin foil. + its there till you decide to stop growing"which may be never". its cheaper, easier to put up and will never have to be replaced.

^ thats what i do. i actually use semi gloss or satin tho, cheap flat paint will come off if you wipe it down on the reg.
mylar is a pain in the ass, and if you dont put it up right, its a bitch to wipe down.

could you use a car window reflector thing? those are made to reflect light so could i just use that?

lolz... sorry no thats just a mirror and will burn your plant(depending on your lighting situation)... mirror are not recommended



edit.... wait what are u talking about... like a bike reflector????

do u mean the housing of a light, on head lights, bet that would be Really good stuff to make a hood out of

Yes you can use most car window reflectors (to keep the sun from heating up your car) as most are made of mylar. However Flat white paint is the most durable.

@RyanTheRhino - I would love to try one of those as a reflector for sure.

tgo said:

Yes you can use most car window reflectors (to keep the sun from heating up your car) as most are made of mylar. However Flat white paint is the most durable.

@RyanTheRhino - I would love to try one of those as a reflector for sure.

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check it after i posted that i searched the web for casings and guess what i found.... Automotive HID spectrum 3000k-thru-120,000k<------BIg number aint.. they 55watts and only 3000k HID lights for cars for 50 buck. each is 55w so that 110 watts for 50 buck, and they come with wiring and indestructible ballast. i watched a video where they hit the ballets with a hammer, ran over it with a f250 truck, and submerged it into water all awhile the light was on.

Wal mart camping section 1.99$ twin size mylar camping blanket. Its extramly thin so I suggest folding it in half. Foil problem solved.

mylar isnt that expensive. use it.

i couldnt find any mylar blankets in the camping section. maybe another sporting goods store will have it though.

whynot said:

I constantly see people saying aluminum foil will/can burn your plant from hot spots. Is it REALLY an issue with CFL's? This makes more sense if your talking about HPS lights and the like, but I have a hard time believing that CFL's and Aluminum Foil will burn your plant.

Has this actually happened to any of you? Pics of damage would be helpful too.

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I've been using foil to tent my plants for at least 5yrs now,to date I can honestly say I've never had an issue with any burns on my plants or leaves,it reflects evenly if placed carefully being cognizant in placing sheets smooth and evenly placed

Blaze Master said:

People who say using aluminum foil with CFLs will cause hot spots are full of it. I've only grown a few times but in my experiance aluminum foil works just fine with CFLs i've never experianced hot spots.

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Blaze master is right. I use af with cfl to start my seedlings never burnt one