cfl lighting

[Big len]

I plan on changing my grow room which is aprox, 4x5 foot from 2 400 watt hps. to 24 26watt cfl.the energy saving type each equivilent to 6500 lumens, would there be much energy savings, should I use soft white or day light. I am growing in hydro, ive seen numerous pictures with cfls I thought I would give it a try, any of you pros. please offer your guideance.
Thanks:smokin:

Big len Reviewed by Big len on 10-07-2007. cfl lighting I plan on changing my grow room which is aprox, 4x5 foot from 2 400 watt hps. to 24 26watt cfl.the energy saving type each equivilent to 6500 lumens, would there be much energy savings, should I use soft white or day light. I am growing in hydro, ive seen numerous pictures with cfls I thought I would give it a try, any of you pros. please offer your guideance. Thanks:smokin: Rating: 5

[texas grass]

i wouldnt say im a pro in cfl grows but i think it would be more efficient using a 600hps over 24 26watters
would use around half an amp to 1 amp more using a 600

but thats just me

[FireTheft]

well since you're using over 600watts of CFL i'd say no......
daylight is good for vegging, cooler ones for flower

if you have access to a HPS why would you switch?

i can't see how it would NOT be a pain in the ass to build a rig for 24 lights....when you could just use your HPS

[Bulster]

Well, I'm no expert but,
You can get 100w cfl's at HD that put out close to 7000 usable lumnes each (listed at 10,000)and get better canopy penetration than a bunch of smaller ones. They are like $15 per bulb. Would be a lot easier to rig a few of those and it's slightly more efficient too.
...and yes, cool white for veg. and mix in some warm white for flower.

[Big len]

Thanks, all my electric is currently under investigation they changed my meter from a old type to a digital my budget price went way up after the meter switch. I thought switching from the 2 400 watt hps that I normally run to the energy saving type maybe just a little paranoi set in.
Big Len

[budcraft]

Hi.
I'm no expert either, but from the little I know, you will be saving energy.
2 400 watt hps. = .8 Kw/hr
24 26watt cfl - .624 Kw/hr

Your saving about 1.75 Kw/hr. If you have your last bill handy, it should say the cost of a Kw/hr. So, you can find out just how much your saving.
It might be kWh or something. I mean a kilowatt per hour rater anyways.

I grow 7 plants plants in a 40" X 40" space like this. Each lamp has 2 36", 36 watt lights. One cool white and one warm white. That's only about .216 Kw/hr.
And I use 1 400 watt hps in another space the same size to flower them. I only flower 3 now, but the next will try to fit 5, but at least 4 plants in the space. It seems to be working, and the total consumption is less then your 2- 400 watt lamps.

Another thing you can do to overall reduce the electricty useage is to replace every single light bulb in your house with those twister flourescent lights. (if you haven't already done so). Useing them just in your house will also offset the extra useage of your grow lights.

Cheers, hth.
BC.

[the image reaper]

well since you're using over 600watts of CFL i'd say no......
daylight is good for vegging, cooler ones for flower

WRONG ... cooler (blue) waves are for vegging, warmer temp (red) wave lamps are for flowering ... and, those CFLs will not penetrate the canopy anywhere near as much as the big sodiums ... stick with your HPS, at least for flowering ... :smokin:

[Big len]

Thanks for the replys I try to fit 10 plants in area figureing at least 5 will be males although last grow I went 10 out of 10 were females just luck.