1200w of hps or 1200w of CFLS

many CFLs or HPS

  • Total voters
    7
skiweeds

skiweeds

Active Member
why the hell would i want to run 1200w worth of CFLs when i could run 2 600w hps in large cool tubes? also my exhaust is so strong that my plants can literally touch the glass of my cool tube and the tops will not burn. sure my exhaust uses some extra juice as does the ballast. so really to make it fair to compare the 2, you would need to add more CFLs to make up for the watts used by the ballast and exhaust. so maybe lets say 1500w worth of CFLs vs 2 600w hps. the hps would win everytime hands down in yield and faster harvest time right? the reason im asking this is because my patient is getting a free light some guy made. he said its going to use about 1000w and is made from florescents. i told him i dont want it, but appreciate the offer. it would just be a waste of electricity. i'd rather just add a couple 600w hps.
anyone care to elaborate so i can print this off and show my patient why Flourescents are not very good for medium to large grow areas? there is a reason why the big warehouses use HPS and not a bunch of CFLs.
 
Green Inferno

Green Inferno

Active Member
I'm using CFLs right now. The only reason, is because of the limited size of my grow area.
For larger areas, always choose HPS or high quality LED lights (Not HTG LEDs, they are pretty bad)
 
toastycookies

toastycookies

Active Member
skiweeds said:
why the hell would i want to run 1200w worth of CFLs when i could run 2 600w hps in large cool tubes? also my exhaust is so strong that my plants can literally touch the glass of my cool tube and the tops will not burn. sure my exhaust uses some extra juice as does the ballast. so really to make it fair to compare the 2, you would need to add more CFLs to make up for the watts used by the ballast and exhaust. so maybe lets say 1500w worth of CFLs vs 2 600w hps. the hps would win everytime hands down in yield and faster harvest time right? the reason im asking this is because my patient is getting a free light some guy made. he said its going to use about 1000w and is made from florescents. i told him i dont want it, but appreciate the offer. it would just be a waste of electricity. i'd rather just add a couple 600w hps.
anyone care to elaborate so i can print this off and show my patient why Flourescents are not very good for medium to large grow areas? there is a reason why the big warehouses use HPS and not a bunch of CFLs.
Click to expand...

HPS is more efficient than the CFL's - can't really argue there. btw, cfl's also have ballasts, and i would be willing to bet that 2 600w hps ballasts are more efficient than the single ballast per CFL bulb.

In the end, it would help to know more about this CFL system you speak of. and if you have an opportunity to try it out for free, why not?
 
skiweeds

skiweeds

Active Member
toastycookies said:
HPS is more efficient than the CFL's - can't really argue there. btw, cfl's also have ballasts, and i would be willing to bet that 2 600w hps ballasts are more efficient than the single ballast per CFL bulb.

In the end, it would help to know more about this CFL system you speak of. and if you have an opportunity to try it out for free, why not?
Click to expand...
because its about 1000w and i dont want to be paying the electricity for something that is not going to work nearly as efficient. he also built like 2 fans on the sides which i dont really understand cause they dont get hot anyway. my circ fans all over the room would be more than plenty to keep it cool. i just hate it when i have to explain to someone that they're just getting in the way when they try to help. these people are just too inexperienced for me. im no super expert but i've had nothing but damn good results growing outdoors in the past and now growing legally indoors. these people have no results except maybe outdoor crops or small closet grows. but never for me to see. my room is about 10X10, im pretty sure in my situation the only place for florescents are in the veg room. but i already got a 400w mh, a 6 bank 4' t5 HO, and a single CFL for clones.

thanks for posting guys. i just needed some verification.
 
chillwills

chillwills

Well-Known Member
People use CFLs mainly because they can only have a small, usually hidden, low profile grow.

Not everyone can run 'loud', high powered exhaust/carbon filter. And usually the people who run CFLs can't cut any holes or run any type of exhaust/ventilation to other parts of the house.

Believe me, I don't know a single person who would chose CFLs over HIDs if the before mentioned wasn't an issue.

I know pound for pound CFLs 'suck' compared to HPS.
 
Green Inferno

Green Inferno

Active Member
chillwills said:
People use CFLs mainly because they can only have a small, usually hidden, low profile grow.

Not everyone can run 'loud', high powered exhaust/carbon filter. And usually the people who run CFLs can't cut any holes or run any type of exhaust/ventilation to other parts of the house.

Believe me, I don't know a single person who would chose CFLs over HIDs if the before mentioned wasn't an issue.

I know pound for pound CFLs 'suck' compared to HPS.
Click to expand...
I'll probably get about an oz from my 148 watt CFL grow. About 0.2 grams per watt used. HPS can do double, triple, even 5Xs that.
 
W

wiseguy316

Well-Known Member
cfl's can not compete with hps! you may have twelve 100 watt of equiv. you still only have like 3 inches of penetration. not the 3 feet you get with a 600 hps
 
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