CFL dimming

[d3thr0w]

so im borrowing a 68 watt cfl that was never used b4 me. ive been using it for about 10 days now where its on 12/12. after about 6 days the bulb wont get any brighter than what a 1 watt cfl would do...its in a reflector with an extender but ive tried taking them off and putting back on but is the bulb faulty? or is it something ive done.

 

[grow1620]

I've had a few faulty bulbs like that, sometimes they're just barely dimmer then a normal one...other times you can barely tell they're on like how you described.

your best option is to just try another bulb....just grab one from around the house and see if it fires up in there. If it doesn't fire up properly then it's the fixture or wiring.

*edit sorry just saw it's a 68w. those have the larger sockets right? if so then you might need to get another bulb to test it out....maybe just go buy one, test it out and try to return it...just tell them it wouldn't fit your socket.

 

[d3thr0w]

I've had a few faulty bulbs like that, sometimes they're just barely dimmer then a normal one...other times you can barely tell they're on like how you described.

your best option is to just try another bulb....just grab one from around the house and see if it fires up in there. If it doesn't fire up properly then it's the fixture or wiring.

*edit sorry just saw it's a 68w. those have the larger sockets right? if so then you might need to get another bulb to test it out....maybe just go buy one, test it out and try to return it...just tell them it wouldn't fit your socket.

its a normal size socket one aculy lol. but do companies usually give you a replacement for faulty bulbs or am i just sol?

 

[NEEDforWEED]

companies donot give replacements unless u bought it their, normally, requiring a reciept. its sound like your bulb(lamp), is bad. the ballast often fails in cfl's. you said u borrowed it, ud be best to try a diffrent lamp(to make sure the voltage and wiring are good, try to use a cfl to check it, sometime, a weak nuetral, will fire an incadescent, but not a cfl. im possitive its the lamp tho, id hurry up and buy another one. you dont want to do irreversable damage to the plant by neglecting it. cfl's, like all flourescents, are not dimmable. you cannot dim them with out a 100 dollar reohstat,lol, so thats not the case.

id recomend a 65 watt, 5000k for the sheild at the top, and id consider hanging some 13w and 26w t-2 cool spectrum, pendelum style aronud the plant. you will need a fan for temp control tho. if your serious about the hobby, id just drop 20-50 bucks on some lamps and holders, still makes it a cheap hobby....lol...
i wish you good luck, and ill watch for your posts.......

 

[d3thr0w]

companies donot give replacements unless u bought it their, normally, requiring a reciept. its sound like your bulb(lamp), is bad. the ballast often fails in cfl's. you said u borrowed it, ud be best to try a diffrent lamp(to make sure the voltage and wiring are good, try to use a cfl to check it, sometime, a weak nuetral, will fire an incadescent, but not a cfl. im possitive its the lamp tho, id hurry up and buy another one. you dont want to do irreversable damage to the plant by neglecting it. cfl's, like all flourescents, are not dimmable. you cannot dim them with out a 100 dollar reohstat,lol, so thats not the case.

id recomend a 65 watt, 5000k for the sheild at the top, and id consider hanging some 13w and 26w t-2 cool spectrum, pendelum style aronud the plant. you will need a fan for temp control tho. if your serious about the hobby, id just drop 20-50 bucks on some lamps and holders, still makes it a cheap hobby....lol...
i wish you good luck, and ill watch for your posts.......

i no its the bulb and it aculy stoped working today compleatly. but i dont want daylight bulbs im flowering now so im would get 2700k but i dont even have the money right now anyway.