Are BIG CFLs a good idea?

A

AMCRambler

Member
I have been doing a lot of reading and know the rules of thumb on light.
I have a 20" X 36" or 5 SF area with 3 plants in a deep water bubbler. I know the 5000 lumen per SF rule.
I know people po-po CFL growing and it would be far easier/cheaper to use a HPS lamp but I really do not want to go that road due to heat in my area, especially in the hot summer coming up, not to mention the added fire danger. That said, I want to use CFL and am kind of looking into LED.

I have some 5200 lumen monster CFLs in the 5000K and 6700K range I was planning to use for vegetative period, one over each plant. Come flower time I was thinking of moving to 6-7 big 2700K 4200 lumen CFLs. Using my math I get 25,200 total lumens or 5,040 lumens per SF using 6 bulbs. Using pure math, this should be good but I know many more things come into play than the pure numbers.

I really want to do this right, not half ass it. So is this doing it right? Anything I should know?

I would love all the feedback I can get, positive and negative. Tell me why my thinking may be wrong or if you have better ideas.

Thanks​
 
jeffblack

jeffblack

Member
CFL bulbs lose efficiency as the wattage goes up but they do penetrate better. It should work no problem just remember to have more light than too little. I would also get a few small normal 26 w bulbs just so you can position them.
 
A

AMCRambler

Member
I am kind of rethinking and picked up some 40W 2800 lumen and will dubble them up. I am still thinking of trying LED, but they are big $$$.....maybe a mix of LED and CFL come flower time. Again for me it is about heat and safety.

I am growing in a locking steel cabinet 68" tall 20" deep and 36" wide although I have the top shelf holding my phresh filter 200 CFM hooked up to a 171 CFM fan limiting the height to 57". 3 plants in deep water culture.

1. Do I have enough room?
2. Will that be enough filtration to keep the smell down?
Thanks!
 
Mister Black

Mister Black

Active Member
AMCRambler said:
I am kind of rethinking and picked up some 40W 2800 lumen and will dubble them up. I am still thinking of trying LED, but they are big $$$.....maybe a mix of LED and CFL come flower time. Again for me it is about heat and safety.

I am growing in a locking steel cabinet 68" tall 20" deep and 36" wide although I have the top shelf holding my phresh filter 200 CFM hooked up to a 171 CFM fan limiting the height to 57". 3 plants in deep water culture.


1. Do I have enough room?
2. Will that be enough filtration to keep the smell down?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Won't that container heat up like an oven when the lights are on? Keep an eye on temps, especially towards the end of the your light cycle. Please let us know if the temps stay down as you add CFL's.

To answer your original question with CFL's i find the best $ to lumen ratio is using 26w (real watts) compact CFL's.

I personally like bigger ones but they are a bit unwieldy and limited compared to smaller ones which can fit in all kinds of fun places!
 
A

AMCRambler

Member
Mister Black said:
Won't that container heat up like an oven when the lights are on? Keep an eye on temps, especially towards the end of the your light cycle. Please let us know if the temps stay down as you add CFL's.

To answer your original question with CFL's i find the best $ to lumen ratio is using 26w (real watts) compact CFL's.

I personally like bigger ones but they are a bit unwieldy and limited compared to smaller ones which can fit in all kinds of fun places!
Click to expand...
I am worried about that heat, that is why I am not going HPS. It is basically doubble boxed because that cabenit is in another area where I am thinking I can open it up a little during the flower period to let a bit of heat out.
 
Bakatare666

Bakatare666

Well-Known Member
Personally, I like more smaller CFL's as opposed to a few big CFL's.
It's easier to position them close to the plant.
 
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