how many 42 watt cfl's?

GanjaKing

GanjaKing

Active Member
how many of these should i use for three plants?


i'll probably have only one or two left after they show what sex they are, so how many lights would be good for this many plants during the flowering stage?

oh, and i have reflectors for the lights.
 
Hiesman

Hiesman

Well-Known Member
i personally would use six of 'em... jus keep them an inch or two from the plants and not only keep them above the plant but on the sides too... but if your going to flower with them too then id say 8-12 all around the plant and above it.
 
tahoe58

tahoe58

Well-Known Member
I started mine under nine....but I bet six would gie you reasonable light....at least to start?
 
Smoke2Live420

Smoke2Live420

New Member
well if u were doing jus one 6 would be even better! lol but idk for one id say 3 or 4
3 42w cfl = 8,000 lumens

4 42w cfl = 10,800 lumens

6 42w cfl = 16,200 lumens
 
Dr G.Thumb

Dr G.Thumb

Well-Known Member
Personally... I'd stay away from the 42 watt bulbs and stick with 23 watt bulbs. Now the reason I say this is because, the average 42 watt bulb is rated @ 2600 or 2700 lumens, where as the 23 watt bulbs are rated @ 1600 lumens.

Well 2, 23 watt Bubls = 46 watts @ 3200 lumens vs 42 watts @ 2600/2700 lumens.

Now myself, I'd rather use 2 bulbs and 4 more watts to get that extra 500-600 lumens as every bit of light indoors counts. Also, in order to get that extra 500-600 watts normally, you'd require an 11 watt bulb rated between 550-600 lumens. So the above solution also saves a few watts in the long end.
 
A

aztecline

Active Member
Dr G.Thumb said:
Personally... I'd stay away from the 42 watt bulbs and stick with 23 watt bulbs. Now the reason I say this is because, the average 42 watt bulb is rated @ 2600 or 2700 lumens, where as the 23 watt bulbs are rated @ 1600 lumens.

Well 2, 23 watt Bubls = 46 watts @ 3200 lumens vs 42 watts @ 2600/2700 lumens.

Now myself, I'd rather use 2 bulbs and 4 more watts to get that extra 500-600 lumens as every bit of light indoors counts. Also, in order to get that extra 500-600 watts normally, you'd require an 11 watt bulb rated between 550-600 lumens. So the above solution also saves a few watts in the long end.
Click to expand...
hmm, i never thought about that. funny you mention that because i found two unused 23w bulbs that i wanted to use for flowering. i was planning on adding a 42w too, but maybe it'd be better to get two more additional 23w's?
 
tahoe58

tahoe58

Well-Known Member
thats a good point and the effecvtive lumens at ground level are prolly better too.....in a way it comes down to having the room to put the highest lumens you can come up with.....within the budget, and within the other constraints of heat management etc.
aztecline said:
hmm, i never thought about that. funny you mention that because i found two unused 23w bulbs that i wanted to use for flowering. i was planning on adding a 42w too, but maybe it'd be better to get two more additional 23w's?
Click to expand...
 
Smoke2Live420

Smoke2Live420

New Member
Dr G.Thumb said:
Personally... I'd stay away from the 42 watt bulbs and stick with 23 watt bulbs. Now the reason I say this is because, the average 42 watt bulb is rated @ 2600 or 2700 lumens, where as the 23 watt bulbs are rated @ 1600 lumens.

Well 2, 23 watt Bubls = 46 watts @ 3200 lumens vs 42 watts @ 2600/2700 lumens.

Now myself, I'd rather use 2 bulbs and 4 more watts to get that extra 500-600 lumens as every bit of light indoors counts. Also, in order to get that extra 500-600 watts normally, you'd require an 11 watt bulb rated between 550-600 lumens. So the above solution also saves a few watts in the long end.
Click to expand...
For what? Then you need alot more sockets for the bulbs..42 has 1,100 more lumens n every lumen counts
 
Dr G.Thumb

Dr G.Thumb

Well-Known Member
Smoke2Live420 said:
For what? Then you need alot more sockets for the bulbs..42 has 1,100 more lumens n every lumen counts
Click to expand...
Well hopefully you can understand the following...

Divide 3,200 by 46 Watts = 69.5 Lumens per 1 Watt vs 2,700 Lumens by 42 Watts = 64.2 Lumens per 1 Watt. The more 23 Watt Bulbs you used vs 42 Watt Bulbs would net you more over all Lumens and use less wattage to achive that output.

Who cares if you require a few more sockets or a few more Y connectors. In the long run, they pay for themself when it comes down to Lumen per Watt.
 
Satchmo

Satchmo

Active Member
I use two of those for the top of my plant and a few 23 watters around the sides of the plant.
 
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