1st post, CFL question

[32leaves]

So, I have been reading here and I have got some wonderfull ideas to attempt my 1st indoor grow. I was planning on useing CFL bulbs for my lighting, BUT the one answer i cant seem to find is what i screw these bulbs into and how to hang them in my grow area.

Should I just buy some cheap dollar store desk lamps and bust the ceramic lamp part off and use the inside components? Screw them into a flashlight? What do i do with these bulbs so i can hang them above my plants?

32leaves Reviewed by 32leaves on 08-09-2009. 1st post, CFL question So, I have been reading here and I have got some wonderfull ideas to attempt my 1st indoor grow. I was planning on useing CFL bulbs for my lighting, BUT the one answer i cant seem to find is what i screw these bulbs into and how to hang them in my grow area. Should I just buy some cheap dollar store desk lamps and bust the ceramic lamp part off and use the inside components? Screw them into a flashlight? What do i do with these bulbs so i can hang them above my plants? Rating: 5

[420NLGuy]

Sorry for the delay. I just noticed your post.

I have been using CFL bulbs from start to finish. I use one 24W 6500K CFL for all 5 when they are seedlings. I put the Jiffy pots together so they all get the same light. I hang the bulb about 2" above the plants.

I started using a 6" pot as a reflector. I made the bottom drain hole big enough to stick the bulb base through, then screwed it into a lamp socket, then hung the cord from the lamp socket above it. I then attach a small binder clip about 3" above the lamp base, on the cord itself. I use that clip to grap onto the cord above that point to raise the light as needed.

I then found out that the most light comes from the sides of the bulb. So I used a dual-socket lamp unit (the type that has opposing sockets), which hang horizontally. I then used a piece of white poster board as a reflector. You then need to use something sturdy on each side of the poster board to prevent it from curling down too much.

Here are some photos of my setup. One photo shows both lamp types: the 6" pots and the dual-socket type.

The 6" pot lamp is super easy: Just make a hole in the center to stick the lamp base through, then screw the bulb/pot into the socket, then hang the lamp by the lamp cord. Adjust height by sliding the binder clip up.

Both lamp types in closet
http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...1&d=1251751400

6" pots as lamp reflectors/holders
http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...1&d=1251751400

Dual-socket + poster board lamp [side view, top view, another lamp]
http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...1&d=1251751400

http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...1&d=1251751400

http://boards.cannabis.com/attachmen...1&d=1251751400

I found that one CFL rated at 1560 lumens and 2" from plants provides the required 30,000 lumens/sq.meter [which equals 2800 lumens/sq. foot]. [Note that there is 10.76 sq. ft. in a sq. meter.]

When the plants grow enough to put each in a separate 6" pot, I use one bulb per plant. So you can put two 6" pots close enough together to allow the dual-socket lamp to reach both plants.

When they get large enough, usually at the end of the veg stage, you might need to use one dual-socket lamp (2 bulbs) per plant.

My plants grew great until I ran into a problem at week 6 info flowering, but I suspect it's due to not transplanting to a larger pot soon enough. So the plants in my photos are pretty bad (photo taken at start of week 8). I am hoping the transplant works. It seems to have helped for one of them, but I didn't transplant the other one until a day ago.

Hope this helps.

So, I have been reading here and I have got some wonderfull ideas to attempt my 1st indoor grow. I was planning on useing CFL bulbs for my lighting, BUT the one answer i cant seem to find is what i screw these bulbs into and how to hang them in my grow area.

Should I just buy some cheap dollar store desk lamps and bust the ceramic lamp part off and use the inside components? Screw them into a flashlight? What do i do with these bulbs so i can hang them above my plants?

[headshake]

Sorry for the delay. I just noticed your post.

I have been using CFL bulbs from start to finish. I use one 24W 6500K CFL for all 5 when they are seedlings. I put the Jiffy pots together so they all get the same light. I hang the bulb about 2" above the plants.

I started using a 6" pot as a reflector. I made the bottom drain hole big enough to stick the bulb base through, then screwed it into a lamp socket, then hung the cord from the lamp socket above it. I then attach a small binder clip about 3" above the lamp base, on the cord itself. I use that clip to grap onto the cord above that point to raise the light as needed.

welcome to the boards! where to begin.....the single CFL will work for sprouting the beans fine. but after that the more light the better.

and if my understandings of physics is correct, those green pots that you are using as "reflectors" are ABSORBING all other wavelengths of the light that is hitting them, other than the green. that's why we see them as green. so any light that might possibly be reflected (which isn't much from a CFL) would be green which would be absolutely useless to your plants. so at best that pot is sitting there collecting heat.

I found that one CFL rated at 1560 lumens and 2" from plants provides the required 30,000 lumens/sq.meter [which equals 2800 lumens/sq. foot]. [Note that there is 10.76 sq. ft. in a sq. meter.]

again, where did you come up with this?

how can a CFL that puts out 1560 lumens provide the required 30,000 lumens/sq meter? that would mean that one CFL in the sq meter would be sufficient. not to mention a single CFL with the output of 1560 lumens can't put out 2800 lumens in a single square foot.

where did the 30,000 lumens/sq meter figure come from? i've always read/practiced a MINIMUM of 5000 lumes/sq FT is required. so with 10.76 sq ft in a sq meter that should give us a required total lumens of 53,800.

When the plants grow enough to put each in a separate 6" pot, I use one bulb per plant. So you can put two 6" pots close enough together to allow the dual-socket lamp to reach both plants.

When they get large enough, usually at the end of the veg stage, you might need to use one dual-socket lamp (2 bulbs) per plant.

My plants grew great until I ran into a problem at week 6 info flowering, but I suspect it's due to not transplanting to a larger pot soon enough. So the plants in my photos are pretty bad (photo taken at start of week 8). I am hoping the transplant works. It seems to have helped for one of them, but I didn't transplant the other one until a day ago.

Hope this helps.

again, see above on lighting requirements.

i appreciate the eagerness to want to help, but after seeing your pics you really have no business giving advice to anyone. you haven't even introduced yourself to the boards yet, not that that is a requirement, but your first post shouldn't be bad advice. take your time, get acclimated to the place.

there are plenty of successful CFL grows around here. read through a few. if you have question ask. once you get better bearings by all means please return the help. that's why this site is so great....and kinda how it functions ya know!?

if you need some help with your ladies check out the plant problems sub-forum.

So, I have been reading here and I have got some wonderfull ideas to attempt my 1st indoor grow. I was planning on useing CFL bulbs for my lighting, BUT the one answer i cant seem to find is what i screw these bulbs into and how to hang them in my grow area.

Should I just buy some cheap dollar store desk lamps and bust the ceramic lamp part off and use the inside components? Screw them into a flashlight? What do i do with these bulbs so i can hang them above my plants?

32leaves, welcome to the boards also! read my advice above.

you can get vanity bars that are made for bathrooms at your local hardware store. just get the cheapest ones you can find. you can get Y adapters (splitters that allow to bulbs to go in one socket) to add more bulbs to less sockets.

use your imagination. use rope or chain to raise/lower your lites. again. read through grow logs. i'm not trying to pump my own, but look for "vote headshake king of cardboard!". i happen to have a box i built up there with a movable reflector. i do okay for CFL grows. there are many others, by all means read them all. then do the same thing and return the help/advice experience!

good growing!


-shake

[ForgetClassC]

welcome to the boards! where to begin.....the single CFL will work for sprouting the beans fine. but after that the more light the better.

and if my understandings of physics is correct, those green pots that you are using as "reflectors" are ABSORBING all other wavelengths of the light that is hitting them, other than the green. that's why we see them as green. so any light that might possibly be reflected (which isn't much from a CFL) would be green which would be absolutely useless to your plants. so at best that pot is sitting there collecting heat.



again, where did you come up with this?

how can a CFL that puts out 1560 lumens provide the required 30,000 lumens/sq meter? that would mean that one CFL in the sq meter would be sufficient. not to mention a single CFL with the output of 1560 lumens can't put out 2800 lumens in a single square foot.

where did the 30,000 lumens/sq meter figure come from? i've always read/practiced a MINIMUM of 5000 lumes/sq FT is required. so with 10.76 sq ft in a sq meter that should give us a required total lumens of 53,800.



again, see above on lighting requirements.

i appreciate the eagerness to want to help, but after seeing your pics you really have no business giving advice to anyone. you haven't even introduced yourself to the boards yet, not that that is a requirement, but your first post shouldn't be bad advice. take your time, get acclimated to the place.

there are plenty of successful CFL grows around here. read through a few. if you have question ask. once you get better bearings by all means please return the help. that's why this site is so great....and kinda how it functions ya know!?

if you need some help with your ladies check out the plant problems sub-forum...............

I chuckled almost the whole time....aloud


On a serious standpoint, there is nothing shake didn't address amazingly. I just thought I would post to show my appreciation........?





Nah it was funny........

-C

[DOUGAL25]

"you must spread rep around before adding to headshake's"
:stoned:

[GetThisOrDie]

I use some cool sockets I found at the hardware store that you can plug two bulbs into it at once. They also have a metal thing on them that looks like it might be used for a lampshade or some crap? I dont know but I glued a small magnet to each of them and I ran a small metal strip across my grow room and using the magnets to attach the sockets to the strips, it acts almost like a light mover. I cant find the cord to my digi cam otherwise I would show you. But my advice is be creative and read tons of posts! I learned everything from these forums. There is some very smart people here when it comes to growing/lighting/ etc.

Shake summed it up for you though. Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and look for cheap sockets... You can find them there from $1.50 - $5.00 depending on the type you choose. The "Y" splitters he mentioned are $2.85 a piece if I remember correctly. If you choose to buy bare sockets and not the vanity bars you can just find an old electrical device and chop the power cord off and connect it to the sockets wires. Just make sure you connect the wires correctly!

Always think about safety as well! Make sure all your electrical connections are terminated and sealed properly and away from moisture/water.

Electricity + water = bad...

I am terrified of house fires so I am paranoid about electrical safety...

Goodluck on your first grow and have fun!

[irydyum]

"In the land of the blind, they one eyed man is KING!!!"

ROTFL....Thank you so much for that Shake
Peace

[NeverEnough]

I have failed so many times just because of lighting that you should put alot of thought before you do something rash.

if you get about 6 23 watt cfls that can support 2 plants. You can buy single holders for the cfls at home depo for 5 dallors that will reflect the light in a general direction. Or you can buy one of those bathroom wall mounts that hold up to 8 cfls but are in a line so getting the light to the plant is tricky.

Id listen to HeadShake he was the first to call bullshit and seems to know his stuff.