CFL's

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Originally Posted by Chronisseur

(not covered like in a desklamp, but on a 3 strip for 2 sides)

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A reflector will almost double your light output, and is ESSENTIAL when growing with CFL's

I think he's talking the ballasted bulbs? 2 to 4 footers?
If so, those WILL work, but are more limited than the Bulb shaped CFLs.

You can spend a chunk of change and get the high output T5 fluro bulbs (light sticks) and get a good amount of lumens, but you'll still be limited to mounting. With CFL's you can move the bulb inside the plants grow space if needed.

this is a stupid question because I'm pretty sure I know the answer - 250 watts of CFL lighting: will it produce the same yield as 250 watts of HPS lighting when flowering?

I only ask because I think I will be flowering in an Ikea wardrobe type thing, and I'm worried about being able to control the heat. (I posted here and not a new thread because I feel its very relevent to this thread)

Well, that's a little mixed in question and answer.

When you say CFL Watts, are you referring to the actual wattage of the CFLs or the incandescent equivalent?
We'll go with the actual CFL wattage.
Will 250 CFL watts be like 250 HPS watts? No. I'd say the 1st 2 feet from the bulbs would be kinda close, but farther away you lose Lumens from the CFLs, it might still be bright, but no where near the intensity of an HPS.
You can move the CLFs alot closer to the plants then you could with the HPS, so you can start to make up for the difference, but they would still fall a little short. Now if you put a cool tube on that HPS then you can get right up and cozy with the plants as well and blow the CFLs out of the water again.

Heat.
CFLs do run a LOT cooler than an HPS, but you put 250 watts of CFLs in there and it ain't all that cool anymore.
Cool tube on an HPS and vented outside will be less heat.

Not sure if I helped or compounded your questions. :)

that definately helps and I was talking in actual CFL wattage, so thanks for intuitavely interpereting my poorly formed question :)

I havent read about/dont know anything about cool tubes in HPS'. Are there HPS bulbs that run cooler than regular hps bulbs that are catagorized in a certain way, or is there some kind of cool tube that you can screw into an hps ballast?

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Originally Posted by spectrum balanced

I havent read about/dont know anything about cool tubes in HPS'. Are there HPS bulbs that run cooler than regular hps bulbs that are catagorized in a certain way, or is there some kind of cool tube that you can screw into an hps ballast?

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ROFLMA

Greenfire Product: COOL TUBES & LIGHTING SYSTEMS

When you see what the cool tube is, you'll see why I was laughing. :D

PeaCe :thumbsup:

Hehe :)

You can also do a home brew cool tube. If I can do one, anyone can do one. ;)
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Quote:

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Originally Posted by psteve

A reflector will almost double your light output, and is ESSENTIAL when growing with CFL's

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Right, but to maximize lower and mid growth, I think the longer bulbs placed vertically(bulb tips up) could depend on reflection from inner surface of box alone. Done right n tight leaves minimal lumens wasted.

Very true though, if you dont properly harness your cfl's they're about as usefull as another Bush in office!

I use the big CFL's, with a 105 wt blue and 150 wt red bulb, both with reflectors. They seem to work fine, here a pic of a flower at 4 weeks. (I only have a 6 sq ft garden in scrog)