CFL question

Went to my local hardware place today to scout out some bulbs, prices for cables and fixtures ect. Came across some things that threw me off.. info I wrote down from the boxes..

So for £4.98, you get a 23W(100W eq) 1,400 lumen 2700k B22 bulb.
Same brand.. £12.98, you get a 20W(88W eq) 1,200 lumen 2700k E27 bulb.

Now the E27 fitting is a slightly larger bulb and fitting, but according to the numbers isn't as good? Or am I missing something here.

Again same brand..
£9.98 gets you 35W(151W eq) 2,285 lumen E27 2700k.



Is it just funky pricing or should I be looking for other details? Thanks

'Gasm

you want actual wattage, the higher the better, don't even both looking at the equivalent wattage

It's more the fact that lumen output is higher, wattage actual and equivalent is higher, but it's less than half the price just for a different fitting. They sell the £9.98 same stats different fitting for the same price.

The 35W CFL's are the biggest they had in, i'm looking for some higher wattage bulbs online atm.

Before i upgraded to HID i just got the cheapo's at walmart, get a 4 pack of 23w's for 8 bucks, one pack per plant and you're good to go =D

If you are vegging, you want a 6400k bulb really, lumens are worthless if the spectrum is wrong. That bulb is a "red" bulb.

http://www.venturelighting.com/techcenter/lamps/Color Temp Chart.jpg

Check that out. You need a CFL grow light, not a generic bulb for flowering. They typically come in 6400K for "blue" vegging light and 2700k for "red" flowering light. If you are flowering, you need something a lot higher wattage than 35W. You want a good 200W bulb. If you are vegging or even propagating seedlings and put that bulb on it, they will stretch like mad seeking that blue spectrum they need to veg. If that happens, you get less yield and a weaker stemmed plant.

Shop at hydroponic stores mate, they stock what you need.

You can grow with either the entire grow...23 watt bulbs are best heat/watt/lumen ratio..I only use the flowering ones, even in veg just for simplicity...I don't notice much difference
I use 750 watts and pull a lb
Aim for 7k lumens per sqft. Do the math for your cab

Or, you could quit screwing off with the toys in the new-b section and get a real light.

I prefer my cfl bud to my hps... so I keep it going,
what's your definition of a real light? And why is it superior?

qwizoking said:

You can grow with either the entire grow...23 watt bulbs are best heat/watt/lumen ratio..I only use the flowering ones, even in veg just for simplicity...I don't notice much difference
I use 750 watts and pull a lb
Aim for 7k lumens per sqft. Do the math for your cab

Click to expand...

You can follow virtually every professional botanists advice and use the right spectrum for the right stage of the plant's growth or you can be lazy and do that...

qwizoking said:

I prefer my cfl bud to my hps... so I keep it going,
what's your definition of a real light? And why is it superior?

Click to expand...

Something not intended to keep Joe Biden happy when he's reading up on the implementation of socialism.

A real light, is one specifically designed to do what it is that we are asking it to do. A CFL is an eco-nut oxymoron that has no real value in growing cannibus.


You want good weed, you need good light. There is no way around that fact. Even if you do get 600 watts worth of CFL, you not only have created a heater, and a fire hazard, you still aren't going to get but 1/3 of the lumens that you would get from a real light.

The only advice I will ever give a grower who is using a CFL, is to get rid of the CFL. Once they decide to take their garden seriously, then I'll take them seriously enough to help them out.

Riiiiight....lol
Whatever bro

Seriously? Just because you do not understand something, or know how to make it work, doesn't mean others have not mastered the art form....

ProdigalSun said:

...bla-

...bla

A CFL is an eco-nut oxymoron that has no real value in growing cannibus.

You want good weed, you need good light.
There is no way around that fact.
Even if you do get 600 watts worth of CFL, you not only have created a heater, and a fire hazard, you still aren't going to get but 1/3 of the lumens that you would get from a real light.

bla-
...bla...
bla.

Click to expand...

Anyone that says their way, or their light, or their idea, is the only way to do it, or that you can not do it the way [I do it/others]do it is an IDIOT....
Sorry You DO NOT HAVE A CLUE...

Saying stuff like this is Bull Shit, and proves this person is closed minded....

It life, or here at RIU, there is no place for misinformation...

Just do the math. It's very simple addition and multiplication.

Then I guess i'll stick to the advice of those willing to give it, but thanks for posting.
The lights in OP seem to be taking things the wrong road, I wasn't asking if they'd do the job i.e spectrum, lumens ect just why there was a price difference for what seems to be a better bulb being cheaper. I thought i'd missed something in the details.

Your bridge to burn New-b.

Greengasm said:

Then I guess i'll stick to the advice of those willing to give it, but thanks for posting.
The lights in OP seem to be taking things the wrong road, I wasn't asking if they'd do the job i.e spectrum, lumens ect just why there was a price difference for what seems to be a better bulb being cheaper. I thought i'd missed something in the details.

Click to expand...

You didn't miss anything ...
Just buy the highest wattage [actual] per lamp you can afford...
Put them between 3"-5" away from anything green and growing....
Others say- 1-2" away... Me, no, I have had 2" of growth under CFL's in one night, many times.... and burnt new growth...
So, good luck man...
Highest wattage, Highest Lumans, And Highest Kelvin for Veg....



PS-when used to code and ratings of your fixture, the CFL is in no way more of a fire hazard than any other lamp....
Really... a 23 watt CFL is more of a fire hazard than a 1000 watt HID... surely you jest...

Roger that ProdigalSon. Like I said, thanks for posting. The time someone takes to post if I like the answer or not is appreciated.

@authentic196 - I was planning a little more love for the garden, you got a grow journal of any of your stuff? Be it your 4x23w or anything else?

@Green Troll - I'd only gone in to see what they had, I haven't bought any of the low wattage bulbs. There isn't many hydro shops around me, so I decided to have a look everywhere I could. I managed to find a 125w 6700k and 125w 2800k at the only near by hydro store I know of. A buddy tells me they sell 250's but there's no details other than that, i've e-mailed i'm currently waiting for a response.

@Sand4x105 - Not too worried about the electrics, i've got an electrician doing the wiring for me! More (actual) watts is the plan. See section aimed at Green Troll.

Thankyou all for your replies. Lesson learnt.. Find a good Hydro shop. Any UK recommendations that do delivery?

ohh you are UK based? most do delivery mate. you can even get them from Amazon. ebay is another good place. i got one from there, used a 200w 6400k to get my mothers up to their first 18 inches. good lights. the bulb, a cheap shade and the lead was about £45

a note though, going from the 200w CFL to 400w MH HID, they grew an inch in a weekend. plants love HID. plus the HID helps keep the temps right during this epicly cold winter we are going to have.

Oh yeah, up in the North. Winter truely is coming... What size room have you got the 400w MD HID in? How many plants underneath it?