How close can cfl`s be together?
- Thread starter fatc2k3
- Start date
Yea, they can all be very close to each other, but that's not how you get the most out of your CFL.
Putting a bunch of CFLs next to each other won't really make the light any different or stronger in comparison at least to how spaced out cfl's are good because they mean you are able to get that light everywhere.
Basically, 3 y splitters to make a 4-light-setup is perfect, then you can place lights all around the plant since those 4 at the top wont penetrate far as the plant grows.
CFLs are good because they give you control. You can have them touching if you want, provided, as shap3less said, you have adequate cooling, which is also luckily pretty easy to accomplish good temps with CFL. Their heat almost turns into a wanted thing in some occasions vs other types of lights having unwanted heat. You'll see what I mean on cold times or when your AC is blasting
Basically, having CFLs 20 or 23 watts (best kind IMO) gives you the advantage that you can space them out around the plants and simulate stronger light, while bunching them all up just leaves you with a 1-bulb-size area of light, where spreading them out makes that light area bigger and lessens the impact of light falloff.
Putting a bunch of CFLs next to each other won't really make the light any different or stronger in comparison at least to how spaced out cfl's are good because they mean you are able to get that light everywhere.
Basically, 3 y splitters to make a 4-light-setup is perfect, then you can place lights all around the plant since those 4 at the top wont penetrate far as the plant grows.
CFLs are good because they give you control. You can have them touching if you want, provided, as shap3less said, you have adequate cooling, which is also luckily pretty easy to accomplish good temps with CFL. Their heat almost turns into a wanted thing in some occasions vs other types of lights having unwanted heat. You'll see what I mean on cold times or when your AC is blasting
Basically, having CFLs 20 or 23 watts (best kind IMO) gives you the advantage that you can space them out around the plants and simulate stronger light, while bunching them all up just leaves you with a 1-bulb-size area of light, where spreading them out makes that light area bigger and lessens the impact of light falloff.
oh yeah, i should've probably mentioned that that isn't always the ideal setup..i'm just in a pc box, so it's the most i can cram in there. but if you have the space, do as brian. said...space em out around the plant. you do need to keep them close though, 1-4 inches from the plants, for them to really be efficient.