Official CFL Positioning Thread!

silverserf

silverserf

Well-Known Member
I've found that my bank of 8 T8 cfl tubes on chains works great with scrog, don't have a pic of that cause i just cut her down but i've learned that the key to theses puppies is not to just get the light as close as possible but to actually let them grow right into the light. They don't burn at all my last grow was scrog with about 14 nice colas right into the lights. Kinda like this but smaller and a lot more of them...



Here's a shot of my patented light board....not a good shot but one...


It's a 2x4 with 2 holes drilled in it, 2 99 cent light fixtures wired to cords cut off some busted old shit, 2 hooks and some chain and a couple of y splitters you got one ghetto light....


Found a good shot of the light board, honestly I only use it in case of emergancy and don't let the chain fall in the hole onto the bare wires while your holding it.. ;)


Cheers,
SilverSerf
 
Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
No light will ever penetrate my canopy. That's four plants in the 2 by 2 foot area and no chance to get any light around them. I guess i'm going for a lot of tops. Begging for some mold as well. I should have pulled one weeks ago but could not bring myself to do it. I over pinned and lsted if that's possible. Time will tell i guess. Just never imagined they would grow so dense. I think under the canopy is a micro rain forest. wtf.
 
Rottedroots

Rottedroots

Well-Known Member
Well bud. I have heard it said more than once that aluminum foiling and pie plates i assume can focus hot spots back on to the plants burning them. I doubt that would be a problem with cfl's. Just not hot enough. Any way you can get more light on your plants is better than it going to waste. Rock on
 
rollinbud

rollinbud

Active Member
That pure bullshit... The only way you are gonna get a hot spot and burn is if you made a parabolic reflector and focused the light in one point like a solar cooker... Its just one of those false memes that gets repeated, usually by noob's. The way I did mine was to cut a hole the same size as bulb screw base and place it on bulb, then screw in. Be sure and punch some holes around so the heat doesnt get trapped, that might cause a problem but I doubt it.
 
H

harleygrower61

Member
Howdy All, I moved from the Gasscity forums to here. I was told better info here.

Here is our set up. We use T5 over head and T5 for the sides as well but we supplement with 200 watt floor CFL's. Here is a pic of our current set up with our new ladies.

I've also included a couple of pics from our second grow.
 

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rollinbud

rollinbud

Active Member
Yeah but your mommy is gonna wonder why you are eating so many pies and why you want her to wash the throw away pie pans......lol
 
Catchin22

Catchin22

Well-Known Member
^ Agree. I am trying to find a vanity that when you lay it flat and hang it, the sockets are horizontal and have enough room between them for Y sockets. I found a few online but I am not sure of the spacing between them. I guess this week I will have to run to the hardware stores and measure.
 
electronug

electronug

Active Member
Catchin22 said:
^ Agree. I am trying to find a vanity that when you lay it flat and hang it, the sockets are horizontal and have enough room between them for Y sockets. I found a few online but I am not sure of the spacing between them. I guess this week I will have to run to the hardware stores and measure.
Click to expand...
Wouldn't it be easier and cheaper to just make your own fixture that meets your needs? I'd think that a few of these mounted on a support would save you a few bucks.



Scratch the 'Y' splitters and you could get better coverage by placing all the lights closer together.

You'd lose horizontal space with the socket splitters and if you can mount on both sides of the cabinet you could alternate the lights to make a nice sheet of CFL illumination.
 
electronug

electronug

Active Member
Unless you're going with 23W bulbs, HPS will be cheaper.

A small 150W will do for most cabinets if you supplement with CFL.

EDIT: Location dependant, I guess.... 42W CFLs are $15/each here....
 
Catchin22

Catchin22

Well-Known Member
Yeah already experienced with CFLs. I know the cost ratio between the two. The only question is how much until I have the perfect CFL setup (if such exists). Chances are any more I spend on the CFLs is a waste. I personally think the only perfect setup is using the extensions in my sig along with single bulbs on each. That adds up to a lot and still wont out do a HPS system. So, for $150 or so, a 600w dimmable HPS seems like the best option. I will no doubt still use CFLs for side and under lighting but I don't think they make a great single lighting source.
 
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