Adding CFL lights to a grow

So I am limited (like every one else) to the amount of power I can use. I am setting up a decent grow and have calculated that with the electricity rates in my area I cant afford to do more than 7,000 watts.

At first I was thinking about just going with 7 1000 watt metal halides for veg, and 7 1000 watt hps for fruiting.

Now I am thinking i should set aside about 2,000 watts in each operation for CFL to subset the other lights. 5000k cfls for veg/3000k cfls for flower

I was planning to put them with in close proximity of the plants (i figured 10 200 watt bulbs) spread evenly through out the room.

So I was wondering if any experienced CFL growers could help me out. Would it be worth my time to add the CFL lights, or should I just stick with the hps/metal halide lights?

- Note I am aware that the watt outputs of the lights are not the actual amount that will be used, and it will come up more on the bill, the 7kw limit is an approximation.
 

fraiserblaze

Active Member
You can use the cfls to bump up your lumenems but that seems kinda like overkill if your runnin 7. 1000 watts your light coverage should be ample. If you do use the cfls make sure your verry consious of them cfls need to be adjusted almost daily I would suggest researching your lumenem spread. Lumen calculation chart I think its called cfls are great to get light at places not reciveing enough but as I said I would hate to suggest to do it if iut was unnessary ill try to find the chart and post a link best of luck

Hope this info was helpfull
FRAISERBLAZE
 
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