23w cfl vs 42w cfl.

I was wondering how much better a 42w cfl with 2600 lumens would be compared to a 23w with 1475 lumens as far as canopy penetration and overall yeild/lumen ratio. I have a 21x28" (1.75'x2.3') area I am lighting. All 6 sides of the area are lined with mylar too. 8.5" square black pots that hold 2 gallons of soil each.

I am planning on having overhead lighting only, no side lights. I am hoping to get over 10,000 lumens as to have 2500+ lumens a square foot. I could buy buying 2 packages of 6 23w 1475 lumen bulbs (17,700, and around $15) or I could buy 5 42w 2600 lumen bulbs (13,000 and $50). I don't need to take into account the sockets as I don't use any!

I normally have a 1" hole drilled into something, then put the bulb through and use a safety pin or something to secure it through 2 holes, but I used cardboard and a pen ink tube for demonstration purposes.

I could also buy 3 packages of the 23w to get 26550 lumens. I plan on putting the lights on strips like in the 5th pic

how are you wiring the bulbs up to the electric?
like the setup similar to mine

In the second picture you can see the red and the black wires stickin out near the top of the ballast. All I do is get a 6' plain white $1.99 extension cord, start cutting it up and using it to connect the wires with the help of wire nuts. I first measure the amount of cord I need to get to the first light, then I cut the cord across with scissors, then cut however much cord is between the first and second light. Strip a 1/2" of plastic off the ends, connect the wires and then put a wire nut on. Well.. I'm tired and so I'll just draw a picture. Remember that there is going to be 3 wires going into every nut except for the last light on the circuit. You can connect however many lights you want in a row as long as you don't exceed your 15amp circuit breaker. The oarnge is the extension cord, the oarnge dots are the wire nuts, the black is the black wire and the red is normally the white wire (sometimes you get 2 white wires, then just cut off the extension cord where you need it, strip it along with the light bulb, then plug in the cord and carefully touch the wires together while NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THE METAL. If it lights, it works, if it doesn't light, then it won't work, for ones that work both way, do it however you want)

I am trying to do a better wiring setup for this next grow. I want to do more of a professional, clean looking setup this time.

any pix of your lowryders, mine 1 has to be about 1-2 weeks from finishing, i think its actually ruderalis mixed with something else

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Originally Posted by Dr.Hashman

In the second picture you can see the red and the black wires stickin out near the top of the ballast. All I do is get a 6' plain white $1.99 extension cord, start cutting it up and using it to connect the wires with the help of wire nuts. I first measure the amount of cord I need to get to the first light, then I cut the cord across with scissors, then cut however much cord is between the first and second light. Strip a 1/2" of plastic off the ends, connect the wires and then put a wire nut on. Well.. I'm tired and so I'll just draw a picture. Remember that there is going to be 3 wires going into every nut except for the last light on the circuit. You can connect however many lights you want in a row as long as you don't exceed your 15amp circuit breaker. The oarnge is the extension cord, the oarnge dots are the wire nuts, the black is the black wire and the red is normally the white wire (sometimes you get 2 white wires, then just cut off the extension cord where you need it, strip it along with the light bulb, then plug in the cord and carefully touch the wires together while NOT TOUCHING ANY OF THE METAL. If it lights, it works, if it doesn't light, then it won't work, for ones that work both way, do it however you want)

I am trying to do a better wiring setup for this next grow. I want to do more of a professional, clean looking setup this time.

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Dude this is exactly what I need to do but I havent a clue about wiring and wouldnt feel confident about wiring that kind of setup although im sure its not too difficult but I really should try cuz at the moment im just thinking about getting 8 desk lamps and plugging them all seperately into an adapter which really isnt going to be very tidy or practicle!:(

I got it set up very nice, I'll post a few photos of my lighting rig right now.

Those pics would be nice... I like your set up and want to make a cab similiar in size to yours but only grow 3 plants. But yeah, pics....

Da da daaaaa

In the paint diagram, the orange things are wirenuts. I just used an old extension cord for the wire.

Sick set up man. I like it a lot. I'm actually now gonna model my set-up after yours soo, thanks.