cooltube and cfl

Hey guys, so I am making a setup for my grow room. I have few questions regarding it. First of all, I would like to ask is it ok, when a CFL bulb that is placed in a cool tube is touching the plastic or I have to do something about it?
As well, I have a problem with putting all the system together for the HPS use.
What is better option
​Filter->fan->cool tube->outside
or
Filter->cool tube->fan->outside
And as well, I would really appreciate if someone would explain the exact reason why one of the options is better than the other

Peace
Leo

Hi,

I tried a cfl grow a few years ago... but i found that the cfl bulb i was using virtually created no heat at all... was plenty of light... but room was just warming slightly when it was time to turn off!!...lol

Not an expert in this but if there isnt much heat from your cfl would it be necassery (or however u spell it!) to use a cool tube?..

lol... doent really answer your question i know but may help...

I use a cool tube, because reflector, that came in package with tent is not able to hold a CFL bulb, it is too heavy for it. I will be using CFL only for vegetating, when flowering is going to start I will go for 600w hps, thats when it will be used to its potential. As well, don't want to buy a new reflector for a CFL and a tube for HPS, so I just bought 1 that fits them both.

you can make a simple reflector for a CFL bulb using 6" or 8" round duct. just cut it up the middle lengthwise and spread it open. then find a way to mount it to your fixture.

I would do that rather than mess with that cool tube. you're losing like 10% of the little bit of light coming off the CFL into the tube anyway. seems like a double whammy to me.

also, about your fan question, from what I understand it's better to push hot air out, than to pull it through the fan. the heat can wear the motor on the fan out faster.... however with your CFL I doubt the small amount of heat would make a difference.

Cfl does not neet to be put in cool tube come on now think

Dannoo93

CFL doesn't need to be in a cool tube, they don't put off that much heat. Use a metal halide for veg.

cool tubes reduce lumen output too, cut a pringles can in half

I really appreciate all your effort in trying to help me. Really. I know, that cfl is not generating heat, and I will not be connecting a fan there, before the HPS comes in to game. So again, I would really like to know, is it going to be a problem if the bulb itself touches the plastic ?
Peace
Leo

authentic196 said:

cool tubes reduce lumen output too, cut a pringles can in half

Click to expand...

Good one, but its 250w bulb )

mr2shim said:

CFL doesn't need to be in a cool tube, they don't put off that much heat. Use a metal halide for veg.

Click to expand...

I cannot use the other bulb, because my ballaster only supports 600w hps, and buying new one is expensive..

I'm saying that you might end up melting some plastic with a 250w cfl.... it would be better if you took it out of the tube.

CFLs...





600HPS...





note that there are NO cooltubes needed.

this is a cab from my early days, note that the fan can't be seen because it is built into a box that feeds the airflow out the back of the cab.



here you can see the fan off to the right, that round hole with the 4 bolts. ...the junction boxes house ballasts for the twin 150s.



so, working backward that's fan, attached to the exhaust hole of your tent on one side and ducted to the cooltube and then the scrubber, ...this forces the fan to suck the air from the tent into the scrubber, down through the cooltube and out through the fan and exhaust hole.

peace, bozo

ii dP ii said:

I'm saying that you might end up melting some plastic with a 250w cfl.... it would be better if you took it out of the tube.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the answer, that what I was looking for from the beginning!
But I was thinking, first, there are little plastic things between the light tubes that separates them.
And the second thing is, that the plastic is specially designed to withstand heat (it is originally for 600w HPS)
So, taking into consideration all those facts, do You still believe, that there is a chance, that they can melt into each other ?
And maybe in this situation it would be even better to use cold air on CFL, so the temperature would stay low ?
Guys, I really appreciate time your time spent on answering my questions, as soon as I figure this all out, I will start 600w HPS 4x4 white widow journal.
Peace
Leo

the tube is for a 600w hps? then why are you even questioning if it will be ok for a 250w CFL? I think you'll be fine if you really think you need the tube.

never seen a plastic cooltube honestly, mine is thick glass.

ii dP ii said:

the tube is for a 600w hps? then why are you even questioning if it will be ok for a 250w CFL? I think you'll be fine if you really think you need the tube.

never seen a plastic cooltube honestly, mine is thick glass.

Click to expand...

It feels like plastic, maybe it is just some kind of a weird glass... and to answer ypur question, I just heard that cfl's should not be touched. At all.

nah CFL's are fine to touch... you aren't supposed to touch HID bulbs bare handed and same with Halogen bulbs.... I think it's really only ones that are known for putting out serious heat. because the residue from the oil on your skin will be left on the bulb and heat up and cause them to shatter.