Compact Fluorescent Bulbs 105watt

thinking of upgrading my 45 watt CFL grow bulb to this:
Manufacturer Code: 81180
Manufacturer: Generic Product Specs Voltage 120 Wattage 105 Lumens 6900 Base E26 Shape SPIRAL Overall Length (mm) 292 Life Hours 8000 Kelvin 5000 CRI 82
Going to purchase at:
http://www.bulbman.com/index.php?main_page=product_bulb_info&cPath=12553_12567&products_id=18217


Anyone have any reason why I should not upgrade?
Thanks!
Jeff

jeff4free said:

thinking of upgrading my 45 watt CFL grow bulb to this:
Manufacturer Code: 81180
Manufacturer: Generic Product Specs Voltage 120 Wattage 105 Lumens 6900 Base E26 Shape SPIRAL Overall Length (mm) 292 Life Hours 8000 Kelvin 5000 CRI 82
Going to purchase at:
http://www.bulbman.com/index.php?main_page=product_bulb_info&cPath=12553_12567&products_id=18217


Anyone have any reason why I should not upgrade?
Thanks!
Jeff

Click to expand...

Well, I was always from the school of thought that if you're going to upgrade... wait... see what the best item is you can get, or get in the near future and go for it.

So, my limited knowledge answer is, go for an HID light. You're making a mild jump by going to this CFL, and it will help. But if you want to make a jump, make it a good one.

Then again, if money is a concern... Go for it Sir. REP to you.

I have the 175 HID, but last time I hooked it up our electric bill went from $250 tp $500.
It's not an option. However, just to let you know, when I bought the 175 watt, i also bought an antique ballast (off ebay) that generated more heat than my water heater in my garage, So that could have been the prob.
Not knowing if the ballast was out of date (consuming too much electricity) I'm all for CFL's until you can convince me otherwise. And if comes straight down to wattage to keep the electic bill (and my wife) from being out of conrol, I would just assume to continue with CFLs

jeff4free said:

I have the 175 HID, but last time I hooked it up our electric bill went from $250 tp $500.
It's not an option. However, just to let you know, when I bought the 175 watt, i also bought an antique ballast (off ebay) that generated more heat than my water heater in my garage, So that could have been the prob.
Not knowing if the ballast was out of date (consuming too much electricity) I'm all for CFL's until you can convince me otherwise. And if comes straight down to wattage to keep the electic bill (and my wife) from being out of conrol, I would just assume to continue with CFLs

Click to expand...

Yeah, you're right... the HID's kill the elec bill. Mine jumped a couple hundred... Luckily it was only one month's worth.
I think I have an older ballast as well, it's the one that comes with the 400w hps complete '6'-seat bubbler system. It's just a metal sheild, not really any reflection.

You see, from what I've read... It's all about yield. And the only one I know who TRULY got decent yield from CFL's is Roseman. He twists & ties them down, does a lot of nurturing, and gets some DANK bud. Most people get a few OZ's from CFL's... whereas the people that run HID's get far more. That's just been my experience in reading on this great topic.

So, if you can get a few OZ's EXTRA of some DANK bud from an HID, say you spend $800 extra on electric. It's still worth it in the end. Good 'kryppie' (what they call dank bud in my part of the U.S.), runs $400 STRONG... ridiculous.

Either way, we all end up paying.

Peace my friend.

My wife would never go for it! I'm stuck with CFLs

I would suggest you change from CFL and upgrade to Linear T5HO, if you're going to keep in fluorescent.

If space is an issue buy a few two-foot single lamps and mount them vertically.

Or alternately you can look for CFL bulbs like the ones shown in the link below - about 1/3 down the page.

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights.shtml#8

I'd personally go with the T5HO.

As a side note - power used is power used, it doesn't matter if it's 400 watts HID or 400 watts fluorescent. 400 watts is 400 watts.

Now to add - HID lights are not as efficient as T5HO and a few types of CFLs until you go over 200-250 watts of power consumption. Once you hit about 300 watts, HID lights put out more light per watt.

So if you're doing a low-power one or two plant grow, CFL or a couple T5HO lights are fine.

My current CFL 45W raised my elec bill about $20 during the 24/7 grow stage. If I now switch to 105 watt (same CFL bulb) my elec bill should stay the same. The wife complains about the elec bill so I need to keep it consistent.
Last year I tried a metal halide bulb 175W with an old ballast i bough off ebay. The ballast was too hot to touch when in operation. Our elec bill went from 200 to $500 per month. Had to shut it down immidiately! Some may say it was the old ballast (and I mean OLD). My goal is to keep the $ down!

after doing a bunch of research and not wanting to spend more money, I just spent the last three hours wiring up my old 175W metal halide bulb. See pics on my photo album.

Took out the 175w MH and .... TOO hot .... and replaced with 70w HPS
See album...

I would just suggest getting a cooltube for your light and trying to find a way to vent the heat out. You're really fighting an uphill battle with weather warming up in the northern hemisphere.

jeff4free said:

Took out the 175w MH and .... TOO hot .... and replaced with 70w HPS
See album...

Click to expand...

I dont understand. how does it work.

Hey Polishfalcon, what don't you understand?

I dont know I was a little off the deep end last night. are you using the 70whps with the MH ballast? I thought with a ballast you had to run the specific wattage that it ran same with bulb type hps or MH.

Something doesnt sound right with the electric bills. Are you sure your neighbors are not tapping into your house for power?
Invest in a decent electronic / digital ballast. It will pay for itself in the long run... actually... it will pay for itself in the short run too in your case.