Cfl question

This like 700 watts......

Wow, thanks for all the replays everyone. I have some thinking to do. Either go the cfl way or just buy a portable ac and still use my hps.

strangejuggalo said:

Wow, thanks for all the replays everyone. I have some thinking to do. Either go the cfl way or just buy a portable ac and still use my hps.

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the AC and a cool tube/hood for your HPS will do wonders, my 600W made my temps jump +10C after fitting a cool hood/6 inch ventilation it only jump 5C

althor said:

Yes, this is the entire issue with CFL regardless of how many bulbs and watts, they do not penetrate. By the time the light gets to your buds, it is already vanished. That is why they suck and always will. I know some people hate to hear that and get all upset about it but truth is truth. CFL is only going to take you so far.

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I have over 100 pics here that say otherwise. In fact, I've done a side by side comparison of 600 HPS vs. 600 watts of mixed CFL...and the CFL's performed just as well.

Mr.Vega said:

This like 700 watts..View attachment 2644768....

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This looks much like my ghetto set-up...nice work!

Sunbiz1 said:

I have over 100 pics here that say otherwise. In fact, I've done a side by side comparison of 600 HPS vs. 600 watts of mixed CFL...and the CFL's performed just as well.

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Interesting. My first 5-6 indoor grows (granted about 15 years ago) were with over 400 watts of flourescent. As soon as I started using 400 watts of HID the difference was amazing. Then, about 3 years ago my buddy decided to go cheap and was using CFL, not sure exact watts but a lot (around 15 bulbs all over the plant). He was using clones from me and getting nowhere near the same buds. He is now using a 400 watt MH and HPS and the difference is amazing, once again.

Maybe light meters are worthless and regardless of what they say you really are getting HID penetration from your same wattage of cfl....

Lol im to lazy to wire up 20 different places i just used 5 head lamp and y adapters

IMO if your willing to use the time, to set up/correct +20 bulb`s

use the right Kelvin mix, and use a method that keep the plant short and bushy
and other wise have it all dialed in, your temperatures/RH,air flow, nutrients Aso. spot on, so you can keep the plant`s healthy your better off then ETC. a Nub with a 600W HPS from seed and high temperatures

Im sure you can come pretty close to a result that some how match the HPS, but it wont be easy ..

i get hid results w cfls.....it all depends on the grower...

Sunbiz1 said:

I have over 100 pics here that say otherwise. In fact, I've done a side by side comparison of 600 HPS vs. 600 watts of mixed CFL...and the CFL's performed just as well.

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And ur space....obviously im not gonna blow a whole room out w cfls....but like a 4 by 4 n smaller I like cfls....larger grows demand hid lighting.....but for quality of spectrum I think hid is on the bottom of the list...ima say led then cfls then hid in order for quality....for power u cant beat hid...but Advanced leds has some very powerful leds...theyre expensive tho.

althor said:

Interesting. My first 5-6 indoor grows (granted about 15 years ago) were with over 400 watts of flourescent. As soon as I started using 400 watts of HID the difference was amazing. Then, about 3 years ago my buddy decided to go cheap and was using CFL, not sure exact watts but a lot (around 15 bulbs all over the plant). He was using clones from me and getting nowhere near the same buds. He is now using a 400 watt MH and HPS and the difference is amazing, once again.

Maybe light meters are worthless and regardless of what they say you really are getting HID penetration from your same wattage of cfl....

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It depends how the CFL's are utilized. Because of their lack of penetration, they are most effective when surrounding plants at varied heights. I hang mine all individually(in pairs using 42W mixed 2700 and 6000K), in this manner I can adjust every light at any time. CFL's also give off a minimal amount of UV/UVB(which spectrum I am not sure of offhand). A lot of newer CFL users make the mistake of using bath fixtures or other such fixed housing units, which make it all but impossible to keep bulbs an inch or 2 away. I don't think I can recall any of my ladies having not at least 1 light burn by chop time.

Peace!