Another CFL vs HPS facts and heat temps.

ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
I have compiled in hopes others make the switch or start with HPS from the beginning instead of spending hard earned cash on CFL and being disappointed, don’t get me wrong I started with CFL also and have seen some impressive results and veg with CFL, but in the long run HPS is indeed the best choice for flowering because I to was/have been disappointed.
I switched 1 weeks ago and already seeing some impressive results than with my CFL array…any way here is what I have learned.
---HPS is much less expensive to operate than any other type of light, and comes in the 70 watt size at the home improvement stores that blows away CFL in efficiency; they are the best alternative to CFL for very small operations, like 9 sq. feet or less. Over 9 sq. feet, you need more light than one of these lights can provide, but you could use two of them as they are a very compact design. Two lamps would be 140 watts putting out about 12k lumens with standard bulbs, compared to CFL which would require (5) 42 watters for equal lumens drawing 210 watts of power and the heat factor would be much higher. (see heat chart below) 70 watt HPS security lights cost about $40-60 each, complete with enclosed housing and glass shield.
The heat is very low compared to CFL and with the glass shield plants can be 1 inch from light with no burn.
Enclosure is also designed so a small PC fan could be installed for additional cooling if needed when running two.
I have compiled a heat chart below with available lights I have as a comparison, the thing I found when using CFL is 5 x 155 degrees is a whole lot of heat to deal with, since switching my temps are now running 10 degrees cooler in the overall enclosure and the plants are much happier not being smothered with all the radiant heat caused by CFLs being placed around the plants.
I do supplement the canopy HPS with 2 dual vertical T8 30 watt 36 inch tubes placed in the back corners using 6500k and 4100k bulbs in each fixture and plants love this combo.
Everyone will have to make your own choice maybe this can help.
---Heat Chart
(All temps taken with a MasterCool™ Infrared digital thermometer)
(Temps taken 2 inches from surface of bulb/enclosure)
(Temps posted in degrees Fahrenheit)
---HPS
70 watt 126
100 watt 145
---CFL
23 watt 143
42 watt 155
---Floro-Tubes
T5 24 inch 17 watt 85
T8 36 inch 30 watt 90
 
I

IndiePhunk

Active Member
So you measured the HPS light from outside the glass/heat shield and the CFLs just next to the bulb with no glass/heat shield? Sorry if I misunderstood anything you said, but if I'm not mistaken, this seems rather pointless in the sense of proving that HPS run cooler than CFLs. I'm sure if you put a plate of glass in front of those CFLs, just like the HPS light has, they would read a lot cooler too. I'm a little baked right now, but this is how it seems to me. Please correct me if I'm wrong and I mean no disrespect, it is just that this test seems skewed.
 
RASCALONE

RASCALONE

Well-Known Member
how tall and how many plants can be put under each bulb?...i would think just spending around $150 for a 400w would justmake things so much easier than a few 70w and fewer plants?1 400w and more plants,right?....ras
 
ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
IndiePhunk said:
So you measured the HPS light from outside the glass/heat shield and the CFLs just next to the bulb with no glass/heat shield? Sorry if I misunderstood anything you said, but if I\\\'m not mistaken, this seems rather pointless in the sense of proving that HPS run cooler than CFLs. I\\\'m sure if you put a plate of glass in front of those CFLs, just like the HPS light has, they would read a lot cooler too. I\\\'m a little baked right now, but this is how it seems to me. Please correct me if I\\\'m wrong and I mean no disrespect, it is just that this test seems skewed.
Click to expand...
The temps were read as stated 2 inches from surface of enclosure or bulb. I would like to see some CFLs in a cool tube or enclosure....due to the size and lumens you would need (5) 42 watters in that enclosure and light penatration will not be but 6-8 inches at best....most CFL set ups Ive seen use bulb in a socket and bulbs are placed around the plant....there by raising temps to sometimes uncontrollable levels.
 
ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
RASCALONE said:
how tall and how many plants can be put under each bulb?...i would think just spending around $150 for a 400w would justmake things so much easier than a few 70w and fewer plants?1 400w and more plants,right?....ras
Click to expand...
It is really not about the number of plants you have but space you have...this thread was done with the small operation in mind....like the example 9 square feet....equals 9 plants if done right....the majority of grows are small cabs and closets and I would imagine that a 400w puts out a heafty amount of heat and this small area would be hard to control heat.....the other reason for 2 is the height factor between plants....I use 2 because I stagger harvests and not all plants are the same height with 2 I can have 1 on taller level and the other on the smaller babes....cant do that with just one light...also I am a big advocate of side lighting as this seems to keep the stretch level down somewhat and bushes the plant and lower buds much more...I have a combined 8000 lumens on back side with the T8 floros...with that being said I do not need the penatration benefit of larger wattage lights...but you are correct more light equals more plants if you have the space.
 
ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
WutangFinancial said:
Indie, I think he did this assuming people didn\\\\\\\'t make glass shields for CFL\\\\\\\'s...
but I guess it is a possibility.
Click to expand...
That is indeed the reason this was done....with all those CFLs around, on top, and everywhere else the heat is hard to control.... and wanted to show CFLs are not as low heat as hyped...and how many CFLs other than the Lights of America security type lights have enclosures??...none and the Lights of America using the florolux bulb is 6500K so that would not work well for flowering only vegging.
 
Miracle Smoke

Miracle Smoke

Well-Known Member
I have a closet with 7 ft (height) x 5ft (length) x 2ft (width)
grow space.

I plan on using a 600w system (which i'll be ordering next week).

7 x 5 x 2 = 70 CBF.

I plan on getting 2 243 cfm fantech FR centrifugal fans,
which will be more than enough.

95,000/10 (area: 5ft x 2ft = 10)
=
9,500 lumens per square foot i believe?
 
ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
Miracle Smoke said:
I have a closet with 7 ft (height) x 5ft (length) x 2ft (width)
grow space.

I plan on using a 600w system (which i\'ll be ordering next week).

7 x 5 x 2 = 70 CBF.

I plan on getting 2 243 cfm fantech FR centrifugal fans,
which will be more than enough.

95,000/10 (area: 5ft x 2ft = 10)
=
9,500 lumens per square foot i believe?
Click to expand...
Ok...whats the question...input...not sure... lost with your post
 
Miracle Smoke

Miracle Smoke

Well-Known Member
ez_growin said:
Ok...whats the question...input...not sure... lost with your post
Click to expand...
As you was saying that it doesn't matter how many plants
just how much space. The smaller the room the less the light.
You was also saying that it will put out alot of heat in small
rooms. A 243 cfm fan should do the trick in 70 cbf space.

I'll probably use bushmaster and start flowering a 12 in" (1ft') tall,
from what i hear that will give the best yield. But concerned if it
affects potency.

I plan on charging for some of what i grow
to enhance my grow op with cfls for side lighting,
this way i get the best of both worlds.
 
ez_growin

ez_growin

Well-Known Member
Miracle Smoke said:
As you was saying that it doesn\'t matter how many plants
just how much space. The smaller the room the less the light.
You was also saying that it will put out alot of heat in small
rooms. A 243 cfm fan should do the trick in 70 cbf space.

I\'ll probably use bushmaster and start flowering a 12 in" (1ft\') tall,
from what i hear that will give the best yield. But concerned if it
affects potency.

I plan on charging for some of what i grow
to enhance my grow op with cfls for side lighting,
this way i get the best of both worlds.
Click to expand...
OK... on fans CFM... yes they should do the job.... but this is about light temps and comparisons...Super duper CFM exhaust does not always mean a cool room/cab....and if you have no fresh air comming in you can exhaust all day and have high temps and stale air. Maybe we need a thread only fans and cooling.
 
Miracle Smoke

Miracle Smoke

Well-Known Member
I plan on getting two of those fans, one for intake and exhaust lol.

My other point is if i planned to grow 6 plants in the space
i said with a 600w it should due nicely, but it would produce
alot of heat.
 
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