Lighting help (CFL setup)

Specs for grow box

- box is 1.5' x 2.5' x 3.5' (approx)
- I have decided to split the box into two sections so that I can have a veg side and a flowering side.
- This will use a CFL lighting plan due to the small space and LED's are too hard to come by.
- I have already decided on the lights: Veg growth - 6 to 8 23 Watt daylight CFL bulbs
Flower growth - Still unsure (depends on the info given by you lovely gentlemen) but I'm thinking anywhere from 15 to 20 14Watt soft light CFL bulbs.

My thoughts for the flowering side is too have the main light source being hung from above and to have additional lighting around the bottom of the plants (something like 10 bulbs up top and 5 to 10 down below). I'm already thinking this is too much lights and maybe I should get some stronger soft light CFls for the top lighting and use the weaker 14 watts for down below, so that I have less lights.

But the question I am here to ask, that will determine my overall scheme used, is how to actually put these lights together so that they turn on and are all pluged in? I am not the greatest with electrical schematics and understanding anything to do with lighting/outlets/wiring, so please treat me like a child with your answer. Would I have to run a cord from each of the bulbs that plugs in to its very own outlet? Is there anyway to hook them altogether so that they are wired to one outlet?
 
This is a copy paste form another thread so hopefully most of the info applies to you as well. As to wiring - just plug them all into a good heavy duty power strip. If your power strip can take a space heater it can also take a ton of CFLs. Typical space heater is 1200w which is equivalent to 52 23w cfls... Just plug your power strip into a timer an wahlah, done.

HID are easy and pretty cheap but are hot and require a bit of extra gear. For cheap cheap grows I would recommend CFLs. To do it cheap focus on 23w CFLs only (other bulb cost much more $/w and $/lumen) and try to find sales. I can find 23w bulb at the dollar store any day for $1/each to $1 for 2. I can often find sales at home depot for 4 packs for $1. For fixtures I would recommend cheap bathroom vanity lights. These 4 bulb fixtures are only $4.50 http://www.lightingdirect.com/maxim-...ection/p860557

You can easily make adjustable reflectors... With Y splitters ($1.50 each) you can easily double your wattage.

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Here's my generic blurb on CFL grows -


I was pulling an oz a week with 388w of CFL here - First CFL Grow - Help appreciated

I would recommend a 3:1 of 6500K:2700K for veg and the opposite for flower.

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Keep them small! CFLs don't do nearly as well with large plants unless you keep a clean scrog or LST. I started flowering at this size -

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Dropping bulb between plants maximizes plant absorption without the loss of restrike like you would have with a reflector. I tried to cover the canopy in smaller bulbs and submerge larger bulbs between plants.

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I would yield ~ 1oz per plant. With 6 in full flower at a time and two others just rotating into the flower box I was able to harvest a plant per week.

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This took place in a 2x3x3.5' area of a small closet.

 
Good info gastanker but if ypu already have what ypu need you can google gang run lighting not series with series you loose watts per light with a gang run all lights will get full power. Hope this helps
 
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