Fluorescents on Chains?

I'm planning on installing 3 12" fluorescents but I want them on chains. This will allow me to have them horizontal for 2 or more plants and vertical for one but I'm having trouble finding info on the subject. Can you hang fluorescents from chains? Do they need anything other then the light which will make it difficult to hang (ballast etc.)? Can they plug straight into the wall?

Also, are Fluorescents the same as CFLs regarding wattage?

Thanks,
S.

i got myself a 4' 40w floro from home depot and it comes with 2 tiny chains an 4 S hooks to connect them. then i bought 2 hooks that you can screw into the ceiliing. after that i bought 2 5 foot long pieces of chain and hooked them up to the hooks and the tiny chains that came with the floro.

also all floro's plug directly into the outlet so ballast is needed, such as with a HPS. and if you want to hang a floro vertical i'm sure you can do it. i've never done it but i've seen others on this site who have. instead of 3 12" floro's you should invest in the light i did. its holds 2 4' T8 bulbs, and only cost about $26.

also just so you know, T8 bulbs are better than T12. if your going floro's the lower the number the better. T5 is better than T8 etc etc you get the point.

and to answer your other question, floro wattage is different than CFLs. i use CFLs for flowering. CFL bulbs range from 13 to 45w, or you can even get long 125w CFL. there is all kinds of wattages just search google. hope this helped you some.

I use a shop light fixture that those long tube bulbs go into. I have tube grow/aquarium ones in it. The shop light comes with the chains, you may have to purchase extra for more length and the hooks can screw right into the ceiling. It does just plug in the wall socket. The bulbs are sold separately in a box of. Got mine at Walmart. I use these for seedling, clones and early vegging.

I'm now thinking that I may have to use CFLs after looking at my grow space again which is only 9.5" wide. Its pretty disappointing. Can I even grow plants in a 9.5" wide space?