CFL vs HID grow vs grow

I can't seem to find someone who puts it to the test. I read ceestyle's cfl vs t5 vs hid and others I see his point on HID being better on paper but what about on a plant. Has anyone done a comparison with same genetics like 2 clones 1 under cfl other hid? and what if you take ur 8 cfl lights and surround the plant close as possible and the other just top of plant with hid. I'm sorry if this has been asked alot but I am considering spending some cash for a decent setup next time and want to know yield vs cost like electricity bill with cfl compared to hid. Thanks for any info

i have 1000w equivalent cfls in my veg room when i switch to my 400w hps they explode. so its not even a question.

ok lets try it like this..... hid beats cfls, but cfls beat reg. floros

growcheese said:

i have 1000w equivalent cfls in my veg room when i switch to my 400w hps they explode. so its not even a question.

Click to expand...

1000w equivalent do you mean like 20 42w bulbs that are susposed to be 150 equivalent or like 7 42w bulbs rated at 1000w of power. Im talking like 1 say 400w HID compared to 10 42 watt cfl. I want the cost of electricity compared to bud loss with the cfl. Just wondering if the loss of bud would be cheaper in the electricity dept with cfls even running similair wattages

newbie grow420 said:

1000w equivalent do you mean like 20 42w bulbs that are susposed to be 150 equivalent or like 7 42w bulbs rated at 1000w of power. Im talking like 1 say 400w HID compared to 10 42 watt cfl. I want the cost of electricity compared to bud loss with the cfl. Just wondering if the loss of bud would be cheaper in the electricity dept with cfls even running similair wattages

Click to expand...

HID lights win, hands down. I have nothing against CFL's - I veg under them. 400w worth of CFL's are going to use pretty much the same amount of electricity as a 400w HID, as well as put off similiar amounts of heat. The biggest difference between them, is the CFL's will not penetrate your plant as far as an HID light will. Even right up on top of it, they still will only penetrate about 6", vs a couple of feet for an HID.

Depends on if you can vent the heat out with HID lighting as with cfls you can put as many as you can fit in there with no probs..Vented HID lighting wins in my book.

The differences in the 2 are obvious when you grow larger plants as the CFLs never have the brightness to penetrate to the lower bud sites through the leaf canopy.

pictures?>

Fuzzotany said:

The differences in the 2 are obvious when you grow larger plants as the CFLs never have the brightness to penetrate to the lower bud sites through the leaf canopy.

Click to expand...

Put a couple cfls at the bottom..Solves that real easy....With HID u cant just put 2 or 3 bulbs at the bottom without having to vent or duct so cfls do have their advantage.

purpdaddy said:

Put a couple cfls at the bottom..Solves that real easy....With HID u cant just put 2 or 3 bulbs at the bottom without having to vent or duct so cfls do have their advantage.

Click to expand...

Thats what I am doing now is some on top, side, and close to the bottom. But if 10 42w pulls almost exactly the same as a 400w hps I think I will get a hps. and keep the cfls I got to add to the mix keep those lower branches lit well thanks for the info people

you could use the cfls when there real small and dont really need the penetration.. good for side lighting later on tho for sure