CFL's and Fixtures...

S

sm0keyrich510

Active Member
As I posted in another thread i was considering buying this
http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Bath-Vanity-Lighting/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zarv3/R-202022451/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053 bathroom lightfixture and using it for my CFL's.

well lucky me i got a pack of 12 23watt cfl's for less than $2 a piece....

i could get said fixture and wire it so i can be plugged into the wall (rather than hardwired into it)

i spoke with someone at the store about such a thing and they described it being pretty east...match the wire on the fat side of the plug to the white wire on the fixture and the one on the smaller side to the black wire and i will have easily converted it to a fixture that can be plugged in and used at my disposal.

however i was wondering if there was a place or method that would be even more cost efficient and maybe even easier than that.

the wire with the plug was only $5 and the fixture is only $12...so anyone have a better suggestion.

please and thank you.
 
@jax1969

@jax1969

Active Member
That is a pretty good, cost effective and popular fixture for CFLs. It does limit you to how many bulbs you can install. One thing to really keep in mind is that you want to get at least 3000 lumens per sq foot. The 23 watt bulbs I think are around 1600 lumens. 1600 x 4 = 6400. So if your grow space is 2 sq feet or so, that is pretty good. Good growing!
 
S

sm0keyrich510

Active Member
@jax1969 said:
That is a pretty good, cost effective and popular fixture for CFLs. It does limit you to how many bulbs you can install. One thing to really keep in mind is that you want to get at least 3000 lumens per sq foot. The 23 watt bulbs I think are around 1600 lumens. 1600 x 4 = 6400. So if your grow space is 2 sq feet or so, that is pretty good. Good growing!
Click to expand...
actually i was going to be using more than just 4 bulbs...so i'd be using a few fixtures and different types of lamps for lighting that is more mobile...im not having them all on fixtures like that but i did plan to use ones like that i'd mount longways on the wall that would be starting at the base of the plants going up...for optimum lighting.

all in all i intend to blanket the plants with as much light as possible...especially considering im going to have probably 24 cfls (since im getting them in 12 packs...)

1 pack 2700K (which i bought already) and a pack of 6500K (which i still need to get)...

so i plan on using as much as safely possible.

so cheap fixtures would be great. i just couldnt find any that werent hardwired :(
 
G

growone

Well-Known Member
probably the classic cheap cfl fixture is the 'hanging strip' fixture
take a power strip and plug in short extension cords with sockets
hang from top of grow area
very flexible in draping a plant with cfl's, haven't tried it, but sounds cost effective
 
S

sm0keyrich510

Active Member
growone said:
probably the classic cheap cfl fixture is the 'hanging strip' fixture
take a power strip and plug in short extension cords with sockets
hang from top of grow area
very flexible in draping a plant with cfl's, haven't tried it, but sounds cost effective
Click to expand...
i've heard of this but honest to god i couldnt find the sockets and y splitters (if thats what they're called) at the local hardware store.


i admit right now that im not an electrician nor am i savy in that department in anyway. so im going to need some help/advice/guidence if im going to make it.

i also am paranoid with ghetto rigging electrical equipment (like the fixtures) because i fear making a small mistake i dont catch at the time could burn the whole place down and thats definately NOT what i wanna do.

so safety first would be great guys. if anyone built one of those i'd love to have a link to a thread on how to do it or someone to try and please explain what you used/where to find it/buy it and how u do it.

excuse my n00bness...

im in my 20's...been around weed since i was 13-14 but never actually grown on my own before so yeah...be patient with me guys...

and if it at all matters i will taking a stab and a feminized purp wreck and 3 mystery ones i found in some bud i got a while back...(i know i know if they turn out to be male remove them) ;)
 
G

growone

Well-Known Member
sm0keyrich510 said:
i've heard of this but honest to god i couldnt find the sockets and y splitters (if thats what they're called) at the local hardware store.


i admit right now that im not an electrician nor am i savy in that department in anyway. so im going to need some help/advice/guidence if im going to make it.

i also am paranoid with ghetto rigging electrical equipment (like the fixtures) because i fear making a small mistake i dont catch at the time could burn the whole place down and thats definately NOT what i wanna do.

so safety first would be great guys. if anyone built one of those i'd love to have a link to a thread on how to do it or someone to try and please explain what you used/where to find it/buy it and how u do it.

excuse my n00bness...

im in my 20's...been around weed since i was 13-14 but never actually grown on my own before so yeah...be patient with me guys...

and if it at all matters i will taking a stab and a feminized purp wreck and 3 mystery ones i found in some bud i got a while back...(i know i know if they turn out to be male remove them) ;)
Click to expand...
safety first, that is the way to go
generally, the strip setup should be pretty safe if you use 'off the shelf' cords and sockets
Walmart has all the stuff, it really shines when you have some of the stuff already hanging around, then it is really cheap
there's a good thread on it over in the DIY forum somewhere
good luck on any way you go
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top