This will be my first indoor grow and I realize i need some more lights. I have 2 25 watt cfls one 6500 one 2500 and I realize for veggin they need 6500. Im going to buy a couple more, but how many for say a 3,4 plat set up? Maybe 5 CFLs all together? each 25 watt? or as many watt as i can get? Does anyone know about how much I can expect a raise in my electric bill running aprox 5 CFL's 18/6?
CFL Growing Costs
- Thread starter greenhits
- Start date
RikoSuave55
Active Member
3 or 4 plants is what i do and let me tell you right now get as many lumens as you can afford. My favorite deal is at lowes. They have a 100 w cfl that puts out 3500 lumens for 16 bux!
IMO use some day light bulbs for 6-8 weeks then go with a yellow spectrum for bloom and do as many as possible. For decent yields i recommend 10,000 lumens for veg and at least 20,000 for bloom. I use 4 large and a couple small. With the small i can light the mids and bottoms and with the large i just cover the whole top area . Make sure they are close to the plant and rotate your plants evfery couple days.
BlueChronic
Active Member
He was asking about the electric bill, not how to use the lights.
With 5 CFL lights, your electric bill shouldn't really get that high. Its not like you are using like 2000 watts and even then its not that big either
With 5 CFL lights, your electric bill shouldn't really get that high. Its not like you are using like 2000 watts and even then its not that big either
dirtydaztrundell
New Member
I have not noticed any change in my elec bill and in using 12 x 42 watt cfls.peace
awesome feedback guys, I guess that means Im off to buy 2 1oo watters and a bunch more smaller ones as well. I already have one 2500K it was given to me, And ill buy all brighter lights (6500)s for vegging. Reccomend I throw the one 2500K in with all the 6500Ks for vegging or just save that for flowering?
SmeLLyTreeZ
Well-Known Member
Throw all the bulbs you can at it, just make sure when your in veg have more 6500k and when your in flowering have more 2700k. Good luck!
So Dsnutts you reccomend some good ol 42 watters? I havnt gone out and bought any yet but im getting ready too. Thanks for all the feedback guys, Hell why not buy them all now and use the 2700K in my house untill flowering to save some energy anyway. Thanks again for all your guys help
husalife
~ Out-Dawrz ~ Moderator ~
Date your lights as you start using them with a marker, only use them for 1 or 2 grows maybe 3 then replace
the oldest lights and use in your house.
Dont use your lights in the house then to the Grow. They will burn weaker after prolonged use.
just a suggestion
the oldest lights and use in your house.
Dont use your lights in the house then to the Grow. They will burn weaker after prolonged use.
just a suggestion
smokendude420
Active Member
Hello,
I been using cfl's i bought them at wally world, i save all my packages. this way when they die, i can exchange them for new ones, free of charge.
money saving tactic.
I been using cfl's i bought them at wally world, i save all my packages. this way when they die, i can exchange them for new ones, free of charge.
money saving tactic.
Cransi
Well-Known Member
LMFAO... good idea there(free exchange program), really give it to wally world. Teach them to mess wit MJ an its many followerz!!!
1gamma45
Active Member
I was looking in Home Depot today and over in the industeral lighting and light fixture area I not only found MH and HPS bulbs for about 5-9$ less then in the normal bulb section. and I also found pure 200w CFL with 6500k and heres the tissue time each bulb is rated to put out 8200 lumes each BOOOOOONG. At 16$ a pop I am buying 6 next week to replace my current veg setup. They also have some pure 300w CFLs in the 2700k area but these things are insanely huge and I dont have the room for more then 1 in my grow box. So that added to the 4 42w 2500k and the 1 75w 24'' tube I will have about 543w of 2500-2700k CFLs for 1 flowering plant.
Phishjoy
Member
That sounds pretty hefty for one plant man, good job. I need to really pump my closet up but funds are weak right now...hopefully in about a week or 2 when my plants are craving more watts ill be able to fork up another 50-70 and help them out. I'd say for an autoflowering plant you just stick with the 2700K spectrum? I'm sure the 6500K spectrum would help out in the beginning but I'm learning as I go. Hopefully the superthrive does the trick and doesn't kill em lol. My other predicament is that I will need to move my auto to the lower portion of my closet when the rest really need their own light (6500Ks). Ahh what to do. They all seem to be doing fine though. I've got 2 150 watt bulbs (I forget actual watts) and 2 26 (100watt) bulbs and 4 more but wally world ran out of adapters. They seem to be liking what I'm giving them though. My auto have a retarded looking leaf but dwarfs aren't really that stable of a strain IMO.
Husalife , You bring up a great point I never would have thought of. So after my first grow or so I can replace ALL the bulbs in my house to already used CFL's and hopefully cut down some energy bill to throw another fan or two in the room.
And SmokenDude thats also a great point, Because although they are the cheapest grow lights they still add up if your on a budget. God I love Walmart, Looks like im due for a trip tomorrow Thank for all the help guys!
And SmokenDude thats also a great point, Because although they are the cheapest grow lights they still add up if your on a budget. God I love Walmart, Looks like im due for a trip tomorrow Thank for all the help guys!
smokendude420
Active Member
I hate walmart...but love to give it to em. the cfl's i bought are 42w and the coil part is actually starting to melt the base a bit, but i leave on 24/0(i will be makeing a trip to wally-world to return them soon). Good luck sir.
Cransi
Well-Known Member
Headed over to good 'ole wally world to get some 6500k bulbs for future exchange program!... what in the hell... well not sure when the moved their shit around, so while searching for the bulbs I found polarized plug/socket adapters for $.97(GE)... well that blows a goat cause I just came from Lowes an spent $2.19(Cooper) each. Gonna go back to ww to get a few more to replace the Lowes(cooper) I already have.
Phishjoy
Member
I did the same thing. 2.19 at lowes and it took me bout a half hour to find em. I bought the last 2 at walmart the other day and they said they had 8 on order...guess theyll be ordering more of them soon too. I'd love to find someone else buying a bunch of lights and adapters at walmart...would ask em what they need 6 socket adapters for lol.