cfl vs hps debate
- Thread starter peezy315
- Start date
ganjaluvr
Well-Known Member
bottom line.. HPS/MH lights give out more lumens. The more lumens you got.. the better.
When I started first growing years ago, I started out with only using CFL lights. Had around 350watts worth. Did pretty good too.. using just those CFL bulbs.
But.. as I got more educated and experienced with growing.. I just felt the need to give HPS/MH lighting a try. I'm very happy that I did too.. I got twice as good results with the HPS/MH light than I did with just CFL lights alone.
However, as of today.. I use 300watts of CFL lights for all my side lighting needs.. and then I have my HPS (with dual spectrum bulb) for all my
"over the canopy" lighting needs. Needless to say.. with my current setup.. with CFL lights combined with the HPS lamp.. I get excellent results.
Better than they would be if I were only using one lighting system alone.. instead of what I'm currently using.
So.. IMO? The best thing you can do.. is combine CFL lights with HPS/MH lighting in order to get max. results. Works for me!
peace.
When I started first growing years ago, I started out with only using CFL lights. Had around 350watts worth. Did pretty good too.. using just those CFL bulbs.
But.. as I got more educated and experienced with growing.. I just felt the need to give HPS/MH lighting a try. I'm very happy that I did too.. I got twice as good results with the HPS/MH light than I did with just CFL lights alone.
However, as of today.. I use 300watts of CFL lights for all my side lighting needs.. and then I have my HPS (with dual spectrum bulb) for all my
"over the canopy" lighting needs. Needless to say.. with my current setup.. with CFL lights combined with the HPS lamp.. I get excellent results.
Better than they would be if I were only using one lighting system alone.. instead of what I'm currently using.
So.. IMO? The best thing you can do.. is combine CFL lights with HPS/MH lighting in order to get max. results. Works for me!
peace.
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
The main differences between HPS and cfls are that a HPS is more efficient and will allow you to grow a taller plant. Think of light as a wave. A HPS will produces waves of light that contain more dense energy. This is because all of the watts used by the 1 HPS light travel together. A group of cfls will produce the same amount of light energy. Although this will split up the watts and make them fire off at different times and directions. With cfls there will be multiple waves that each contain a fraction of the total light energy. The More dense HPS light waves will take longer to dissipate into the atmosphere, consequently they will travel further. The Cfls produce light waves with less energy so it dissipates quicker traveling a shorter distance. What does this mean, well it mean that a HPS will give off light that is usable by the plant all the way down to the soil. With cfls the light can only be used by the part of the plant it is close to. IN the end it's all about the penetration of light. Remember all girls love the deepest penetration.
Thats why you get more lumes per watt with HPS.
This is for the stoners that didn't get what I was talking about above. I am referring to the density of light waves. A HPS is like a tsunami that will penetrate far in-land. A cfl is like the normal waves at the beach that never go further than the sand.
400watts of cfls =400watts of HPS <<<<BUT 100% of the light from a HPS can used by the plant & maybe 50%of the light from a cfls can be used by the plant
Thats why you get more lumes per watt with HPS.
This is for the stoners that didn't get what I was talking about above. I am referring to the density of light waves. A HPS is like a tsunami that will penetrate far in-land. A cfl is like the normal waves at the beach that never go further than the sand.
400watts of cfls =400watts of HPS <<<<BUT 100% of the light from a HPS can used by the plant & maybe 50%of the light from a cfls can be used by the plant
assasinofyouth420
Well-Known Member
I concur. I used only CFLs for veg to keep my height down and added 400W HPS for flowering. now my plants have just as many nodes as a plant veged under an HPS but at a third of the height. Check my sig for photographic evidence
RyanTheRhino
Well-Known Member
what did you yeild with cfls?