Cfl Lighting question! Ensure safety..

Heres the hypothetical question at hand.


If simply used is one regular 60 watt cfl light bulb in a 9 foot by 4 foot closet. A newly germinated seed is placed in its starter pot about a foot away from the light. The pull string for light is in fact that, a string. Clothes are hung a good 3 feet away from the light, as the shelf above holds the pot. Other items ie. Books and papers and other miscellaneous items also reside on shelf all a good foot or more away from the light.


How likely in your opinion is danger of fire? My opinion is that there is very little to no likelihood for fire as the bulb is cfl and produces minimal heat. I wish to remain stealthy from family members therefore opinions are greatly desired. Id like to sleep easy at night while light remains on in closet. How close is this to being 100% safe?


thanks in advance for your responses.


any further questions feel free to ask.

Its probably safe however 1 cfl bulb wont be much use.

Im in no rush. May use a splitter to make it 2 cfl bulbs. I once had pleasing success starting this way in a smaller enlosed cabinet. I assume understanding larger space offered by closet will most likely result in elongated stem and slow growth. I would simply replant and bury stem encouraging strong root growth. I have great patience. Mostly this is for achieving zen by simply growing something rather than nothing at all. Still safe using a splitter? Would be worth effort of using a splitter?

If the wiring is good you shouldn't have any issue. The cfl's onboard ballast will create some heat, but not that much. You shouldn't be drawing a ton of current either with a 60a light. I'd say the fire risk is likely quite low.

Like hound said, that's not going to be enough light for long term, but if you keep it a couple inches from the plant it'll take care of a seedling.

And a splitter worth the effort or will the strength of lumeans in fact just be split. Ie. Provide same amount of lumens as one cfl in comparison to 2 cfls used in splitter in the one socket. Makes sense to me that equal lumens would be outputted, just over a slightly larger area when using a splitter.

Using a splitter will not decrease lumen output. Each light will perform normally. If each had 1600 lumens you will get 3200 by having two lights, either you use a splitter or not.

Thank you.

Ya might consider getting a Clamp Light reflector from Wallyworld or Home Depot , Prob $9 of so . It will reflect & focus the light improving the quality & amount of light . I would also consider going with a higher wattage CFL as in a 100+ watt range something with 1600 + Actual Lumens output . That bulb should use prob 42 watts of actual power & with the clamp light reflector you'll be good ta go with less risk of any overheating in that large of an area . Consider using 5000k - 6500k bulb color spectrum , Good Luck