CFLs!! Horizontal or Vertical????

HarveyKushman

HarveyKushman

Member
Which way is more efficient use if light when mounting a cfl, horizontal or vertical. I've heard people say that either way is better. What is the best?
 
GooDGR3EN13

GooDGR3EN13

Well-Known Member
He's right side is better especially with a reflector if your able to get one, but if your gonna do it vertical your best bet is to add Y-Splitters to maximize your lumen output.
 
endofwed

endofwed

Active Member
I've read a few post describing the uselessness of reflectors for cfls (cfls are already weak and by the time it takes to reflect, it would have lost all its enegery) but if money isnt a issue, go for it.

but yes, horizontal....
 
B

BlueChronic

Active Member
Good reflective material all around the plant(s) works really good! Especially with CFLs! I recommend getting 42 watt CFLs and y splitters and vertically use them, and have some on top of the plant as well. I would say have a pair of CFLs whatever wattage they may be within 3 inches of each other so your plant absorbs as much as it can from those lights. And remember the reflective material like mylar, or panda film I think it's called it has a black side and white side.
 
d r0cK

d r0cK

Well-Known Member
i have most of my cfls running vertically. only some of them are horizontal. check out my grow in my sig.
 
M

Mr.Juana

Member
It really depends you can have the cfls hanging above your plants or up close and personal in dark areas or right in between the cola and branches vertically.
 
Sand4x105

Sand4x105

Well-Known Member
Best way for a CFL... Hold one in your hand... Now look at it horizon... vertical .. hummmmm... looks to me that hanging at a 45 degree would give you more tubes per square inch looking back at your plants.... Good Luck!
 
BeastGrow

BeastGrow

Well-Known Member
Horizontal.. Youz can cut up a 12 oz soda can and use a little duct tape to make individual CFL reflectors. If you use a little string you can make wing reflectors with the soda cans too
 
qwizoking

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
Interestingly enough they put out 5% more light when upright...if you don't believe me its probly in small print on the back of the package..
I suppose it matters more on what the plant is receiving.. if its side lighting I would put them upright..if its for overhead, you want them as close to your plants as possible with the most light reaching them..it will have to be sideways or upside down, if the top is down its less efficient....

Temps also make a huge difference in tho color and intensity of the light emitted......just thought that was cool........maybe I helped
 
S

sparrowhawk85

Member
ignoring the led thing... if you want



Light Source
Light Source Efficacy
Coefficient of UtilizationFixture Efficacy
CFL

65lm/W

54%		35 lm/W
XLamp XR-E Neutral White

58 lm/W

77%		44 lm/W
Figure 2: Comparison of CFL & LED Coefficient of Utilization.​

I believe that CFl's are not strong enough to get 100% out of your plant... but if you put them vertically with a good reflector, then you will be getting at least a decent 'hot spot' (lumen wise).. SO you get less space for more light intensity... if you use enough, it might be worth it to go horizontal... right?


To calculate fixture loss for the CFL example, we assumed 85 percent reflectivity for the fixture reflector cup and that 60 percent of the light will hit the reflector cup. Therefore, the optical efficiency will be:

Optical Efficiency = (100% x 40%) + (85% x 60%)
Optical Efficiency = 91%

from
/www.digikey.com

Plus I found this...

 
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