length of fluorescent

[amstron]

Plants under a 250w HPS. I wanna throw in two 60w fluoro's either side. Does the length of the fluoro effect lumen output. Just wondering thanks
:rasta:

[JohnnyPotGrower]

no i dont think it directly effects output. but the shape of the light will effect how much of those lumens reach the plant. if i am correct, the elongated CFLs are the best, especially if you are able to hang it horizontally above the plant. Reflectors would also obviously increase the efficiency. So althought the shape/length doesnt determine lumen output, it would be wise to find the most effective way of getting the most light possible going towards the plant.

JPG

[Mellow Man]

no i dont think it directly effects output. but the shape of the light will effect how much of those lumens reach the plant. if i am correct, the elongated CFLs are the best, especially if you are able to hang it horizontally above the plant. Reflectors would also obviously increase the efficiency. So althought the shape/length doesnt determine lumen output, it would be wise to find the most effective way of getting the most light possible going towards the plant.

JPG

Dude I vegged for several grows using just the 4ft(48) inch shop lights with the flourencent tubes.........each tube throws off about 2000 lumens but gets weaker as you get closer to the ends of the tube......I found my plants that were in the middle of the tube always did better then the ones closer to the end of the shop light,I heard the cfl can do alot better but from my own exsperience I did pretty good by them.....if you have enough of them you can get alot of lumens happening and they are cheap ass! to run, won't even notice it on the power bill! but as far as deep penatration of light into the leaf canopy it won't happen with flourecent tubes,thats why when I grew with flourecents I always went SOG...

[oldsanclem]

What Watt is the bottom line. Bulbs put out light by the coating on the bulb, being excited by uv from the gas with the flow of electrons from the heaters.
The basic way is by the watts used and the company real output numbers. Now that is a base line when the bulb is new. The output goes down over about 3 months with normal ballast (magnetic). With the electronic ballast it goes even faster.
The bottom of the stack is CPF and goes to the top at UhO The best bulbs for a magnetic ballast are 38 watts for a 40 watt ballast. The cheap shop lights are electronic ballast and kill bulbs very fast. Not worth it if they are free, unless your rich. Regular mag. ballast last 30-40 years.
Remember for each reflection you loose 6-10 % mim. Thats why a coiled CPF bulb must be the straight type for max output.
I have used standard mag ballast for over 30 years and still get a good responce from the plants. Noting you should replace them every 3 months max. You can buy them in case or 2 bulb lots from around 2 bucks a stick. To add them to your grow its best to use the standard sizes 18/24/48/92 full size bulbs, usualy 1 1/2 in dia.
Bastard sizes 36/60 can be used but the cost is out of this world.
Oldsanclem aka sanclem :)

[elcheapo]

My understanding is the smaller the tube and the higher the wattage, the better the light penetration will be. High output energy saving Compact Flouros apparently have much better light penetration.

[oldsanclem]

Lets look at the tube , its curled up and surface area of a straight tube is more
Also remember that the phosper (sp) is excited by the uv in the tube. Also the failure rate of a over driven bulb goes down hill real fast. Even at that a normal good mag ballast with a full service bulb!!!! is only about 3 months , maximzed for watts per oz of bud.
If cpl were efficent cash cropper would have them in a minute.
Along with the fairy tail of leds. (please some day by 2020 they may replace hids a florsents maybe)