CFL Wattage

Hi, I would like to get this straight. people are telling me both ways. my questions is when u buy for example a cfl 45w=150w, can u put that light bulb into a normal 60watt lightbulb socket on a lamp? because it only draws out 45w but shines as bright as a 150w indacesent, right? People have told me that i need to match up the second number of wattages (which is indacasent) to the light socket. But it only draws 45w, so whats the harm? I just do not want to burn down my cabinet grow op.

Thanks for any help.

Yes, you can use the 42w CFL in a standard socket. Ignore the 150 w comparison. Its just marketing hype to say how bright the bulb is. The only factor that concerns you in this instance is the actual wattage used, which in your case is 42w.

thanks for the answer, but just to make sure cuz im a paranoid guy, does any one else agree with his answer??

Yes he is correct


good luck
kd

damn, that was a fast reply. thanks kd. i cant wait to get my cabinet grow room going. alot of work still to come for me.

One of the big things with how a lamp or fixture says '100w max' is heat and potential for setting like the lamp shade on fire.
CFLs run a lot cooler for the same # of lumens, so a 100w 'equivalent' CFL is cooler and safer than a 100w incandescent.

Amen.

(professional light and power guy, retired)

So does that mean one could use the Home Depot 65 watt Floodlight with a 125 watt CFL?


125 Watt Compact Fluorescent Grow Lights - Sale

These grow lights are available in 125 watt models. The 2700k bulb provides increased output in the red spectrum which promotes flowering and budding in plants. The 6400k bulb is full spectrum bulb which promotes overall plant growth. 125 watt bulbs are 9,500 lumens. Average life span is 10,000 hours. Requires mogul fixture or socket and 110/120 volt outlet. Size 14" x 4
Thanks....:thumbsup:

Is the Home Depot floodlight a CFL? The 125w ones are good...I've got 3 of them in my grow closet, and it's a lot of light.

BTW, where is that description from that has the 125w lights on sale? I need to get 2700k ones for flowering.

Yes, the Home Depot is a CFL....

http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/lights.shtml

Hope this helps....
:thumbsup:

Here's a link to some 105-watt CFLs. Not the perfect spectrum, but they'd work fine I'm sure. Not quite as beefy as the 125-watt bulbs in the link provided above, but like 1/3 the price. Three 105-watt bulbs seems like a better value than one 125-watt bulb, for almost the same money.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/products.ph...ct-Fluorescent

Those are great prices on those bulbs Jamstigator - only wish the spectrum was a little better. What do you think possible adverse effects of using that 4100k or 5000k for full cycle would be? Just a reduced yield?

I think if you used the 105 watt 4100Ks (maybe add a few high wattage warm spectrum) at that price you could probably add some of those Ozone, odor reducing warm spectrum CFLS and get nice buddah.

Remember when using CFL's from start to finish, you need to switch out the lighting spectrum for vegging/flowering.

cool white = blue (higher than 5500k)
warm white = red (Lower than 3500k)

Lumen, light colour and wattage are all you really need to look at when buying a CFL.