DIY CFL Hood

Hi everyone I hate to post but here is a c/p from my cfl diy hood from another forum. I just build one recently with out the fan

Hi guys I don't use to post here but I think this is going to help out all the cfl community.
I used to flower my girls back in the days with 12 cfl 2700k with out a 120mm fan and they create a lot of heat... that's why I came with the mini fan idea now its only 6 bulbs and they do the job very well and the room will warm up if you don't use an exhaust fan also I use a oscillating fan for air circulation inside the room.
you can find all the parts at Walmart

20" x 30" poster frame
24 or 26watts cool white cfl (6500k)
bulb socket
clear or white silicone/silicone caulk
120mm fan 100cfm (ebay)

Here is the tutorial in pdf riu wont let me upload it the file is too big.

[FONT=arial, tahoma, helvetica, sans-serif]ps [/FONT]Sorry for my writing skill, english is not my first language.

Looks great.

Unfortunately I don't find DIY CFL setups to be a value. Not a value in price, not a value in performance.
My first setup was similar and cost me about 80.00 including bulbs. Purchasing a HID set with the proper bulbs is near the same cost and the performance is far greater.

I looked around for a moment and here was the pricing I came up with.

Poster frame 20x30 (walmart) = $14.97
Sockets (walmart) $4.99 x 6 = $29.94 (Y splitters not factored in as I couldn't find a price, I would estimate additional 6 x $ 1.99)
65000 CFL bulbs $4.24 x 12 = $50.88 (not listed at walmart but this is near my local price, sourced from 1000bulbs_com shipping not factored)
Silicone (walmart) $9.97
Cord to wire sockets (walmart) $12.97 (decent amp rating as not to cause fire)
120 mm fan (ebay) $ 3.89

Grand total for CFL setup = $122.62
Complete 400 Watt system = $116.66 shipping included
http://www.ebay.com/itm/400-watt-400w-Dimmable-HPS-MH-Grow-Light-System-Set-Kit-/150656047425?pt=US_Hydroponics&var=&hash=item2313ccd941

Comes with dimmable, fan cooled digital ballast.
Both HPS and Metal Halide bulbs (400 watts)
Basic reflector hood
Ratchet hangers
Warranty
Free Shipping

I have that unit and I know from experience (and basic understanding of horticulture lighting) that a HID will far out perform CFL for growing plants.

Really, if you think about it, many DIY projects are more expensive and less effective than buying the product intended for the job.

If one is a handyman that gets enjoyment from the DIY experience, then by all means building your own is the way to go. (although I would recommend a HPS ballast kit project in lieu of a CFL project)

Thanks for the share man!

Sorry bro I forgot to mention is for clones and veg. I alredy own a 600 hps and a 400 mh for bigger plants. this cfl set up keep my plants short and bushie. I pay $2 for the sockets and $9 for a pack of 4 bulbs the rest of the prices look right.

also your points are true

I liked this 2

HID will far out perform CFL for growing plants.

If one is a handyman that gets enjoyment from the DIY experience, then by all means building your own is the way to go

I also build this: DIY aeroponic
thank you Stinkbud for your lp aeroponic design

I imagine there will be a long-term difference in terms of electricity bills at the end of the month, right?

Mont@n@ said:

Sorry bro I forgot to mention is for clones and veg. I alredy own a 600 hps and a 400 mh for bigger plants. this cfl set up keep my plants short and bushie. I pay $2 for the sockets and $9 for a pack of 4 bulbs the rest of the prices look right.

also your points are true

I liked this 2

HID will far out perform CFL for growing plants.

If one is a handyman that gets enjoyment from the DIY experience, then by all means building your own is the way to go

I also build this: DIY aeroponic
thank you Stinkbud for your lp aeroponic design

Click to expand...

I'm under the belief that CFLs, used in high intensity, at close range, can actually match or even rival that of an HID in certain instances, and depending on the grower. CFLs actually contain more usable light than HID, considering how close they can get to the foliage without burning it. Now, I've noticed that most if not all people who don't believe in the performance of CFLs, compare grows in which the growers used LOTS of CFLs; good coverage, but not necessarily strong intensity.

And all of the CFL grows I've seen either have LOTS of CFLS spread all over the plant ("spread too thin"), too few CFLs above the plant; CFLs too far away from the plant (with no reflectors at all) or a long hood with pairs of CFLs spaced too far apart to give any real light intensity. Having CFLs spread around your plant may give them light, but that light isn't concentrated over a square area to provide the intensity needed to make the buds grow large and dense. That makes all the difference.

In addition, when considering that light diminishes at the square of the distance, and HIDs can produce large amounts of heat (unusable energy), you can actually beat the watt/square ft. or watt/lumen--ratio of a HID or HPS if your hood has the correct reflector, wattage and spectrum. Those lights have to be placed further away and that is lost light. Lost light = energy costs going down the drain, no matter how you slice it.

For large grows and large grow areas, yes, HIDs are more efficient and pretty much needed if you want the most efficient solution considering the cost.
BUT...for small grows, CFLs are the way to go, if used correctly, IMHO.

I have a background in engineering, so I have devised a CFL hood similar to the one posted, for about $30 per light max, and use two in my flowering tent currently. I like the CFLs vs HID challenge!

cfls are usually less efficient than HPS, they have poor power factor and inefficient drivers.

Where a 1000w HPS puts 400w's as PAR and 600w's as heat, it is 40% efficient. CFL's are worse especially when mounted top down, especially the ends, that have dead spots. Tilting them to side lighting will double your umol's.