ccarrender
Active Member
What wattage and gow many cfls per plant and how many can i use before there is a big energy jump i dont want a noticable jump or high bill. And which for veg and wgich for flowering also. All info possible please
what cfl's to buy and how many per plant
- Thread starter ccarrender
- Start date
Darkjasper
Member
I agree with MiKron here. I bought a setup of about 5 or 6 bulbs along with a 105w 20 dollar 6500k photography bulb and I ended up buying a 600w MH/HPS light setup for 150 bucks. Spent the same overall and get way more output with the MH/HPS. Though I will continue to use my diy cfl setup for clones. I think my bill jumped 10 bucks maybe with the 200-300~ watts of cfls and hydropump and fan.
You need to browse through the forums a bit. All of the info you requested is easy to find and has tons of journals based on different lights and wattage.
I feel there is not much research done before asking =(
You need to browse through the forums a bit. All of the info you requested is easy to find and has tons of journals based on different lights and wattage.
I feel there is not much research done before asking =(
hsfkush
Well-Known Member
Guys, there is probably a reason why he wants CFL's, like for example, he doesn't want a massive energy bump on his electricity bill...
Basically to answer the OP:
2700k CFL bulbs will produce red spectrum which is best for flowering.
6500k CFL bulbs will produce blue spectrum which is best for veg.
The wattage depends entirely on what you want to grow, if it's just for 1 plant then you only NEED about 3 bulbs, but positioned about 1.5inches away from the foliage as CFL light penetration is rubbish compared to MH/HPS.
I you're doing a commercial grow, then you are best off looking at higher powered lighting, as it will not be cost effective at all and be more hassle than it's worth.
Basically to answer the OP:
2700k CFL bulbs will produce red spectrum which is best for flowering.
6500k CFL bulbs will produce blue spectrum which is best for veg.
The wattage depends entirely on what you want to grow, if it's just for 1 plant then you only NEED about 3 bulbs, but positioned about 1.5inches away from the foliage as CFL light penetration is rubbish compared to MH/HPS.
I you're doing a commercial grow, then you are best off looking at higher powered lighting, as it will not be cost effective at all and be more hassle than it's worth.
lilrich11
Active Member
you can look through my grow and see the difference HID makes.
By the time you get enough cfls, you are using enough watts to power a HID light hps or mh
In my cfl grow I had 440 actual watts and now I just use a 400w mh or hps
Its easier Imo just need to invest into the cooltube and fan.
But you need around 100 actual w for veg per plant and 150 for flower I believe.
By the time you get enough cfls, you are using enough watts to power a HID light hps or mh
In my cfl grow I had 440 actual watts and now I just use a 400w mh or hps
Its easier Imo just need to invest into the cooltube and fan.
But you need around 100 actual w for veg per plant and 150 for flower I believe.
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
...23 and 26watters are often sold in 4packs for under $10.00 and if you look around in the store you can also find a rebate form from your local electric company that will reduce that by another $3.00 which brings the bulbs down to almost a buck a bulb.
...and if you have a discount builders supply in your area you can pick up a bathroom vanity fixture for under $10.00 too, mine were under $5.00 each, then you'll want splitters which run about $2.00 each now so that would be approx. $10.00 for a 4 bulb fixture, 4 splitters for another $8.00 and 8 bulbs for about another 8 bucks for a total of about $26.00 for about 200watts, not optimal but certainly enough to raise you a small crop.
...and you want to mix the spectrum with a ratio of 3 to 1, meaning 3 blue bulbs and 1 red for vegging and 3 red bulbs and i blue for flowering, ...and that's just a rule of thumb, not something carved in stone because you can grow with all of one color bulb from start to finish, it's just that mixing the spectrum allows you to better mimic mother nature.
peace, bozo
...and if you have a discount builders supply in your area you can pick up a bathroom vanity fixture for under $10.00 too, mine were under $5.00 each, then you'll want splitters which run about $2.00 each now so that would be approx. $10.00 for a 4 bulb fixture, 4 splitters for another $8.00 and 8 bulbs for about another 8 bucks for a total of about $26.00 for about 200watts, not optimal but certainly enough to raise you a small crop.
...and you want to mix the spectrum with a ratio of 3 to 1, meaning 3 blue bulbs and 1 red for vegging and 3 red bulbs and i blue for flowering, ...and that's just a rule of thumb, not something carved in stone because you can grow with all of one color bulb from start to finish, it's just that mixing the spectrum allows you to better mimic mother nature.
peace, bozo
VTMi'kmaq
Well-Known Member
you need cfl's i got 36 of these if you can use em i can break bread. I was gonna send them to another dude here but after i couldnt mail them as quickly as he wanted me to he accussed me of being a cop! yeah i was like ill never offer to help you again, but alas here they are if anyone wants em i dont use em, they just sit and collect dust!
justanotherbozo
Well-Known Member
...why not just use them around the house man? ...you'd be surprised how little they cost to run and they work just fine in the lamps in your living room, or your bedside table, or the bathroom fixtures or anywhere else you have a lightbulb.
peace, bozo
VTMi'kmaq
Well-Known Member
every outlet in my house has one in it oh yeah outside porch too! these be extra's
Bakatare666
Well-Known Member
I vegged 1 plant with 98w, 46w of 2700k, and 52w of 5000k and it was plenty.
From what I hear, running 4 or 5 of the CFL's is about the same current usage as leaving a TV on overnight.
From what I hear, running 4 or 5 of the CFL's is about the same current usage as leaving a TV on overnight.
clayman187
Active Member
if you want to stay with cfl's Bozo's light system is badass( and pretty much all his advice is IMO) note: in my little exp. I do know heat can be a issue once you get up in watts.
ccarrender
Active Member
Yes that's exactly why I was thinking about getting 4 t8s and running them and maybe adding a few cfl's to the mix after I get things going was thinking of doing a scrog and as wondering if that would work. I do not wnt a huge jump in electric and if u could gimme an estimate on 2 t8 fixtures that have 2 bulbs electricity increase I'd appreciate it my area is only about 10x6 and was wanting best outcome with flouros and a few cfl bulbs in the mix I know ppl prefer t5 but I'm on budget and just want a cheap way for now . So any advice would be awesome and if anyone has any t8 stories or experience it would be awesome to hear and I did look through forum and never found anything on t8 or cfl that made much since to me so please any if would but much appreciated 