How to assemble a CFL fixture?

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swishatwista

Well-Known Member
I am interested in adding cfls to my grow, but im not sure how to make the fixtures i see in the tutiorals. I want to make a couple of the three socketed fixtures that iv been seeing, but i dont know how to make one.

Could it be explained with all the materials ill need so i can just hit up Home Depot and get to rockin, thanks
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
How much light is needed for growing?
Depends on the size of plant you are trying to grow. I'll try to answer this "in general" instead of being specific to one size plant. Light seen and perceived with the human eye is measured in Lumens. There is an ideal amount of lumens for growing and a minimum amount of required lumens. The very minimum amount of light required for smaller sized plants grown is around 3000 lumens per square foot. Let me put emphasis on "minimum amount" of light. However, that's not 100% exactly accurate, since although you may have a 10,000 lumen light, the amount of light that reaches the plant varies with the distance between the light and plants, and the reflectivity of the grow area. The ideal amount is somewhere around 7000-10,000 lumens per square foot for average sized plants. As long as the plants do not show burn, as much light can be used as you want to use. (Note, the sun produces about 10,000 lumens per square foot, on a sunny mid summer day). Contracy to "talk" you CAN have too much light.

Determining lumens for your grow area:
First determine the square footage of your area (example in a 4 foot by 4 foot area, there is 16 square feet, 2 by 2 feet is 4 Sq ft. ) If you have a 1000 Watt High Pressure Sodium Light Bulb, that produces approximately 107,000 lumens. Divide this by 16 (your square footage) 107,000 divided by 16 = 6687 lumens per square foot. So just divide the total amount of Lumens, by the total amount of square feet, and that's your lumens per square foot.



Note on HIDs contributed by PurpDaddy, of RIU:
When given the choice of only one light, most marijuana growers will choose an HPS, High Pressure Sodium grow light over MH, Metal Halide, because HPS lights are more efficient (larger harvest).
You can't use a standard high pressure sodium bulb in a metal halide fixture, but you can use a metal halide bulb in a high pressure sodium fixture of the same wattage.
There are special hps bulbs that can be used in a mh fixture and vice-versa. But these conversion bulbs cost about double the price of a standard bulb.
With HID Lights:
A 250 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 2.5 foot by 2.5 foot grow area. (6 plants or less)
A 400 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 4 foot by 4 foot grow area. (12 plants or less)
A 600 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 5 foot by 5 foot grow area. (18 plants or less)
A 1000 watt fixture will supply enough light to cover a 6.5 foot by 6.5 foot grow area. (30 plants or less)

Lets look at some Clamp Reflectors:



The above are the CHEAP ones, and not durable.

Below are the very good ones:


IF you see PLASTIC on the Clamp Reflector, they are cheap and flimsey and you should avoid them.

I have come to believe that 2 42 watt bulbs, in one Clamp Reflector is the most efficient, cost effective way to provide light to your Grow.
You also need one of these

and two of these




Available in black or cream colored at Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot and any Hardware store, about $1.69 to $1.99.
They are used to put two 42 watt CFLS in one Reflector.

I also like these:



1 to 4 Sockets Adapter A4E27​


This adapter will allow 4 bulbs to be installed in one socket. Each socket on the adapter can support up to 250W, so it support up to 1000W in total.​


I have seen these lined up and used in a Surge Protector:


Or try two of these :


in one of these:​



One in each side. There is a socket on the bottom of this that u can not see.​


One of those equals 3 sockets all 90 degrees apart. ​
 
K

kaiserAxel

Active Member
Hey, just a little on the fixture below that I made...
Eq: Wires, outlets, electrical tape, one outlet -> two converter for the double ones, outlet - > fixture converters, 8 bulb spaces total.
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
I think the advantage of cfls is that they can be used in clamp reflectors and are easy to move and position. If I wanted to use flouros overhead I would go with t5s.
 
tomahawk2406

tomahawk2406

Well-Known Member
i like that setup, very clever and an excellent way to use the cfl's horizontally, the way they should be used!
 
K

kaiserAxel

Active Member
So would I, illegalsmile, except for the fact that HO T5's are expensive and I didn't have a big enough area for 4' bulbs.
 
I

Illegal Smile

Guest
kaiserAxel said:
So would I, illegalsmile, except for the fact that HO T5's are expensive and I didn't have a big enough area for 4' bulbs.
Click to expand...
I just bought two t5 fixtures with four 24 inch bulbs each, power cord and off/on switch for $121 each shipped. More than cfls I know but they save vertical space for overhead use and the t5s put out more lumens per whatt than cfls.
 
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