Watt Watt CFL should I use?

L

LordStoner

Active Member
Excuse the pun

Attatched picture is the box Im going to use for my indoor stealth grow. This will be my first ever grow. Ive been reading it all up and fairly confident I'm going to get this right. However, one thing I'm not sure about is what Watt CFL bulb to get. I can fit about 3 plants in there and was thinking about using 2 x 125w bulbs. However, will this be too hot or not enough watt power?

Can post dimensions of the box if you feel this would help.

Thanks

P.S Excuse the mess
 

Attachments

L

LordStoner

Active Member
The total space inside the box is:

22.3 inch x 11.6 inch x 22.2 inch

This doesnt include the outer rim parts
 
Little Tommy

Little Tommy

Well-Known Member
The wattage will depend on how you intend to circulate air in and out of the box. I usually say the bigger the better within reason as far as lights go.
 
1gamma45

1gamma45

Active Member
Is that true watts or = watts. The thing with CFLs is you need account for true wattage not what it is = too. If its 125 true watts then I think yes 250 total watts should be fine. I would suggest though because your going to be putting 3 plants on only 2 lights you hit wal mart and buy some mylar camping blankets 1.99$ each and line the inside with them to max out your refective light. As far as temp goes you will need to set it all up without the plants and let it got with the lights on for like a day or 2 and see what your temps max out at.
 
L

LordStoner

Active Member
Little Tommy said:
The wattage will depend on how you intend to circulate air in and out of the box. I usually say the bigger the better within reason as far as lights go.
Click to expand...
Havent really decided on the best way on how to cool the box yet. I was think about drilling some vent holes near the top and getting a 6inch fan to blow air out and maybe a 120mm computer fan to intake air. However, I'm worried about light leakage
 
L

LordStoner

Active Member
1gamma45 said:
Is that true watts or = watts. The thing with CFLs is you need account for true wattage not what it is = too. If its 125 true watts then I think yes 250 total watts should be fine. I would suggest though because your going to be putting 3 plants on only 2 lights you hit wal mart and buy some mylar camping blankets 1.99$ each and line the inside with them to max out your refective light. As far as temp goes you will need to set it all up without the plants and let it got with the lights on for like a day or 2 and see what your temps max out at.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. Will painting the box white be as affective or not?

I think its = watts.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ecotechnics-125w-Eco-Light-25000k/dp/B00473E4IK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=garden&qid=1288796448&sr=8-3-spell
 
J

jairocompany2

Member
ok im using a box that looks close to that size .. im useing 4 25w cfl daylight 5000k=to 100 w each reg also coverd in mylar i am using pc fans 3 at botttom for air flowing in 1 in back and 1 on each side .. also have 3 more pc fans for exit air up around the top ok my cfls are 2000 lumens each really you dont need a whole light of bulbs the sun on a sunny day is about 10,000 lumens im running on 8000 and the plants are growing fine but thats for th confind space ,to make it simple cover in mylar or paint white install the fans i recomend at least 2 low and 2 up top ,for that space you have there 4 25w cfls should be fine thats equal to 100w each meaning same as 400 watts total but good thing about cfls you will still only be running 100 watson the bill :P but remember check the lumens cuz some comewith 1700-2000 lumes .. i do recomend getting the the lil cfls instead of just buying one big ass long one cuz the lil ones you can remove them to better light around the plants instead of just having light on top :0 well anyways if anyone can add anything to that please do or if i confused you in anyway please tell :) but be sure the airflow circulation is well enough for whatever you decide to stick in there :) forgot to add what you can do for the light escaping is make a lil box to place in front of the fans that have multipple layers on the inside but to where air still flows in .. like a mini maze inside :) that way air can still be going through but no light comes out the outside if anyone can explain that a lil better please do :P lol im realy high and running a blank for words :P
 
J

jairocompany2

Member
LordStoner said:
Thanks, I think ill go with the mylar.

One more question should I get 2 purple spectrum or 2 red and 2 blue?
Click to expand...
umm for the veg stage try to just look for the closes you can get to 6000k like i said on the other post i use 5000k daylight cfls but will change to sofwhite 2700k cfls for the flowering
 
april

april

Pickle Queen
we use a 50 cfm bathroom fan for intake in lower front right corner (about 20$ at walmart) and hole in rear upper left corner for exhaust( flexi dryer tube with bounce sheet on end) works great, we have 3 plants inside- temp is always about 25 celcius and humidity is between 45 and 60 depending if i just watered and if lights are on. works great, very cheap and circulates air very well.
 
L

LordStoner

Active Member
april said:
we use a 50 cfm bathroom fan for intake in lower front right corner (about 20$ at walmart) and hole in rear upper left corner for exhaust( flexi dryer tube with bounce sheet on end) works great, we have 3 plants inside- temp is always about 25 celcius and humidity is between 45 and 60 depending if i just watered and if lights are on. works great, very cheap and circulates air very well.
Click to expand...
I was thinking about that but I need to keep the noice down. How noticable is the noice?
 
L

LordStoner

Active Member
jairocompany2 said:
ok im using a box that looks close to that size .. im useing 4 25w cfl daylight 5000k=to 100 w each reg also coverd in mylar i am using pc fans 3 at botttom for air flowing in 1 in back and 1 on each side .. also have 3 more pc fans for exit air up around the top ok my cfls are 2000 lumens each really you dont need a whole light of bulbs the sun on a sunny day is about 10,000 lumens im running on 8000 and the plants are growing fine but thats for th confind space ,to make it simple cover in mylar or paint white install the fans i recomend at least 2 low and 2 up top ,for that space you have there 4 25w cfls should be fine thats equal to 100w each meaning same as 400 watts total but good thing about cfls you will still only be running 100 watson the bill :P but remember check the lumens cuz some comewith 1700-2000 lumes .. i do recomend getting the the lil cfls instead of just buying one big ass long one cuz the lil ones you can remove them to better light around the plants instead of just having light on top :0 well anyways if anyone can add anything to that please do or if i confused you in anyway please tell :) but be sure the airflow circulation is well enough for whatever you decide to stick in there :) forgot to add what you can do for the light escaping is make a lil box to place in front of the fans that have multipple layers on the inside but to where air still flows in .. like a mini maze inside :) that way air can still be going through but no light comes out the outside if anyone can explain that a lil better please do :P lol im realy high and running a blank for words :P
Click to expand...
Wow, that helped alot man. Did you find it hard to connect the PC fan to the mains?
 
april

april

Pickle Queen
LordStoner said:
I was thinking about that but I need to keep the noice down. How noticable is the noice?
Click to expand...
Honestly not very loud , my father in law was standing right next to it asking where it was lol.( he couldn't even smell it until i opened the door. It really depends how insulated the box is since its inside.(negative pressure no air leaks in box forces air up and out, also keeps noise inside box.) Here's a few pics- also they do sell "low noise" bathroom fans, cost more but worth it. Only thing is possible light leak in air intake(bathroom fan ) our box is in the basement so when lights go out, they go out until the morning.
100_4001.jpg100_4000.jpg100_4015.jpg
100_4003.jpg
 
april

april

Pickle Queen
fan connection is very simple, instuctions come with it, all u need to do is use marrettes and connect wires.
 
L

LordStoner

Active Member
april said:
Honestly not very loud , my father in law was standing right next to it asking where it was lol.( he couldn't even smell it until i opened the door. It really depends how insulated the box is since its inside.(negative pressure no air leaks in box forces air up and out, also keeps noise inside box.) Here's a few pics- also they do sell "low noise" bathroom fans, cost more but worth it. Only thing is possible light leak in air intake(bathroom fan ) our box is in the basement so when lights go out, they go out until the morning.
View attachment 1247770View attachment 1247771View attachment 1247772
View attachment 1247769
Click to expand...
Very nice setup you have there I must say. However my grow as to be 100% stealth so cant really have an exaust coming out so no real way to exaust the hotair out from the box.
 
april

april

Pickle Queen
Thanks- bought and built for 200$ .Ya that was just to show where it came out- The dryer tube is now hidden behind the box,maybe u should look at installing a bathroom fan for exhaust but with a filter, my friend buys those filters they use in top vented litter boxes, replace every few weeks and no smell.
 
1gamma45

1gamma45

Active Member
For you color question. Color is not as importatint as your spectrum. I use 50% of my lights are 2700k the other 50% are 6500k. Some say you should use all 6500k for veg and all 2700k for flower. I dont wana have to change out lights so I use 2700k 6500k for both stages. here are the results. You tell me?
 

Attachments

You must log in or register to reply here.
Top