CFL Light Intensity Question...

[Opie Yutts]

Well if by operate the same, you mean they use electricity to excite mercury vapor that's in an argon or neon gas, thus resulting in a plasma which produces an ultraviolet light, which causes any number of combinations of phosphors coatings to fluoresce, or light up, then yes, they all operate exactly the same.

Anyway I got curious and did a little search. Been thinking about switching to all fluoro in my veg chamber, and supplementing my HPS in the bud chamber with a couple-3 blue-geared fluoros. Thought I might share.

Fluorescent lamps:
- Blacklight
- Blacklight blue
- Sun
- Grow
- Germicidal
- Bug Zappers
- Electrodeless induction, which means there are no electrical connections inside the bulb. The energy is transferred from around and through the glass using electromagnetics.
- Cold-cathode fluorescent, used in scanners, LCD and TV displays
- Dimming
- Therapeutic
- High output
- Very high output
- Miniature
- Circline
- Outdoor

Compact Fluorescents (CFL):
- Spiral
- Triple Tube
- Standard
- Globe
- Flood
- Candelabra

Within those you have different:
- Phosphor combinations that use various blends of rare earth and metallic salts.
- Number of phosphor coatings.
- Gasses used to make the phosphor glow.
- Methods of creating a ballast: resistor, inductor, microwave, or capacitor for magnetic ballasts, transistor or semiconductor for electronic ballasts, or hybrids.
- Current; DC or AC
- Amount of flicker
- Amount of hum
- Start up methods: instant, preheated, rapid, cold, or programmed.
- Failure methods: emission mix, ballast electronics, phosphor efficiency drop off, or mercury absorption.
- Spectrums of color based on the Kelvin (K) scale.
- Watts.
- Lumens.
- Levels of mercury toxicity.
- Degrees of harmful ultraviolet light.
- Degrees of generated radio frequencies.
- Degrees of color faithfulness. Color relativity indexes (CRI).
- Fitting types
- Installation methods

I know I'm leaving a bunch of stuff out, but whatta ya want from a stoner. Feel free to add, comment, or rebut.

[EXP13]

Well, I think we covered just about everything from reflecting light to how and what fluoros use to operate...

:S2:

Good luck with your reflector! :jointsmile:

[Zcomp]

I can answer this one.
The light shines most intense from the sides.
If you look at your bulb you'll notice a thicker layer of phosphorous that must block some light.

[Opie Yutts]

Oh yeah, I forgot odor eliminating fluorescents too.

Wherever the light shines, you'll want a reflector aiming it toward the plants. They're like $2.

[qdavid]

Back to the question, I think you have to go by the number of lumens for an accurate comparison. I don't remember the numbers but I do know that an HPS has a much higher number of lumens per watt. That's the key. A little searching will answer your question. It's here. But look at lumens.

[qdavid]

Oops. My bad. Question was positioning. Somebody said side of bulb. Cool. No wonder the buds toward the back of the cab get bigger than right under the bulbs. Thanks.

[Opie Yutts]

Back to the question, I think you have to go by the number of lumens for an accurate comparison. I don't remember the numbers but I do know that an HPS has a much higher number of lumens per watt.

Huh? What does this have to do with his question? Like I said you cannot be sure unless you look at spec sheets or call the mfg or do a light meter test. That's why I was suggesting that you could just solve any issues about it by getting a $2 reflector. Just because someone says something one way or the other, without backing it up with something, that doesn't mean it's the correct answer.

[Opie Yutts]

When you do the light meter test, make sure you are not checking for lumens, since that's only what the human eye sees. You want to check for radiant flux instead of luminous flux, since that is the real amount of light.

[qdavid]

Huh? What does this have to do with his question? Like I said you cannot be sure unless you look at spec sheets or call the mfg or do a light meter test. That's why I was suggesting that you could just solve any issues about it by getting a $2 reflector. Just because someone says something one way or the other, without backing it up with something, that doesn't mean it's the correct answer.

Oops. My bad. Question was positioning. Somebody said side of bulb. Cool. No wonder the buds toward the back of the cab get bigger than right under the bulbs. Thanks.

Man. I said that. Geez. I'm so, so, sorry.PLEASE, PLEASE accept my humblest apology. Oh well. Whatever. I love know-it-alls.

[EXP13]

It's not about being a know-it-all. Besides, he probably didn't see that you posted your message before he did. Who knows, maybe he clicked quote, started typing then had to hit the shitter...The point is, don't be so sarcastically pesimistic...

And the know-it-alls here on cannabis.com are important to all those who seek guidance from experienced cultivators. It's about having the correct information for the appropriate topic. Depending on where you live, growing cannabis is a big risk. You better do it right.

The "know-it-alls" can help with that. Or not...Your choice really.

Just sayin..:wtf: