confused about light set ups

Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
pabloesqobar said:
Hey man, I tried posting this question in the electrical help thread but didn't get any response. But, from what I've read of your posts - you will have an answer. Here's my question/problem: I bought some of the 68w/2700k cfl's from home depot. I want to use them for a 12/12 from seed grow. I also bought some of the 8.5" clamp lights to use as the fixtures to screw into.

I tried it today and was unsuccessful. First, I tried screwing the bulb into the clamp light. It would start to screw in, but I could tell that the bulb was too big for the light and wasn't screwing in all the way. Next, I screwed an extender into the clamp light, and screwed the bulb into the extender. I plugged it in, it "blinked" on for a fraction of a second, and went out. I tried the same set up again with a different clamp light with the same result.

Then I took the bulb and screwed it into a hallway ceiling light fixture, but it didn't work.

Did I just blow the bulb? Do you know what kind of plug-in fixtures I can use for these bulbs? Thanks so much.
Click to expand...
I have not bought the 68 watt bulbs from Home Depot, so I do not know from experience.
I have bough the 42 watt 2700k CFLs and they have a normal regualr socket and they do easily screw into the Clamp Reflectors.

IF the bulb you bought will and did screw into the EXTENSION, then it IS the correct size and should have worked in the Clamp Reflector.
Take it all back to Home Depot and get a clerk to help you, and see if it is a normal regular socket on the 68 watt bulbs. They are easy to get along with, and if it doesn't connect correctly, they will give you a refund. If he asks, tell him you bought it for your pet turtle or pet lizzard or pet baby chicken.
Please let us know what you learned.
 
P

pabloesqobar

Well-Known Member
Thank you for responding, Roseman. I am a bit surprised that nobody has ever encountered this issue before. I'll wait and see if the electrical expert guy responds, and if not, I guess I'm off to Home Depot. Regards.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
pabloesqobar said:
Thank you for responding, Roseman. I am a bit surprised that nobody has ever encountered this issue before. I'll wait and see if the electrical expert guy responds, and if not, I guess I'm off to Home Depot. Regards.
Click to expand...

I think the Clamp Reflector was just BAD, and you need to get your money back, or get new parts.
 
P

pabloesqobar

Well-Known Member
I tried 2 of the 3 lamps with the same result. I thought perhaps they just couldn't handle the higher wattage. But you are right, the 8.5" clamp lights are flimsy.
 
S

SyNiK4L

New Member
hmmm...i think ima hafta get some more lights and i guess ima go with some 2700k bulbs since i have 12 6500k bulbs right now...how many do u think would b good to add...jus to add alil mixed spectrum
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
SyNiK4L said:
hmmm...i think ima hafta get some more lights and i guess ima go with some 2700k bulbs since i have 12 6500k bulbs right now...how many do u think would b good to add...jus to add alil mixed spectrum
Click to expand...
For Flowering, at least an equal amount of watts or lumens. Use 50-50 2700 aand 6500.
 
S

SyNiK4L

New Member
ight cool ya i added a couple and now im running 12 daylight 23 watt. and 4 42 watt soft whites...im runnin outa room for lights lol ima have to expand my grow setup which isnt hard cus the wooden frame i made isnt connected its just sittin on each other so i can move them out and whatnot...so im prob about to have to do that cus the plants are gettin bigger and im about to transplant the rest of them into bigger pots and i deff need all the space i can get lol...i need a more organized way to do my lighting....for my next grow ima goto home depot and buy those bathroom vanity light fixtures and wire them to replacement power cord that u can also get at home depot that way im safer and i wont have 2 power strips and 8 sets of wires runnin everywhere.
 
nick17gar

nick17gar

Well-Known Member
so correct me if im wrong 18/6 for veggie and 12/12 for flowering? 4 pages of what type of lights but no one makes a firm case for the timing of off/on
 
B

bam bam

Active Member
During veg, should I have some lights at the bottom of the plant? I know for flowering having lights at the bottom of the plants will help the bud sites on the bottom, but during veg, will it help to have lights at the bottom of the plant?
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
SyNiK4L said:
ight cool ya i added a couple and now im running 12 daylight 23 watt. and 4 42 watt soft whites...im runnin outa room for lights lol ima have to expand my grow setup which isnt hard cus the wooden frame i made isnt connected its just sittin on each other so i can move them out and whatnot...so im prob about to have to do that cus the plants are gettin bigger and im about to transplant the rest of them into bigger pots and i deff need all the space i can get lol...i need a more organized way to do my lighting....for my next grow ima goto home depot and buy those bathroom vanity light fixtures and wire them to replacement power cord that u can also get at home depot that way im safer and i wont have 2 power strips and 8 sets of wires runnin everywhere.
Click to expand...

Every grow I've done, I added more lights, and got more yield.

Look at these Fixtures in this thread:
CFL Tutorial -
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
bam bam said:
During veg, should I have some lights at the bottom of the plant? I know for flowering having lights at the bottom of the plants will help the bud sites on the bottom, but during veg, will it help to have lights at the bottom of the plant?
Click to expand...


If you use HID (High Density) lights, they will peentrate deep into the plant, just like the sun does.
BUT, with HID lights, you got to VENT the HEAT or get air cooled lights.

With CFLS, you got to have SIDE lights or lower lights, at all times, if possible.
 
Leilani Garden

Leilani Garden

Well-Known Member
Hey, that's some great info, Roseman.

What about T5 HO's and heat? Same thing or do you need to vent the heat from those too?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top