Hi there just reading all your journal. Nice one.
Just a comment on the wiring of your bulbs, which might help.
Going by your diagram, you've wired in "series", you should wire in "parallel."
Basically and I mean basically and probably not even close to fact but worth looking into..
parallel means brighter than series.
And I think if one bulb goes in a series set up old Christmas tree lights they all go off.
Which would be bad news for your plants.
Also I'm sure in series each blub gets dimmer as you move away from the power source. Ohm's law I think.
I'm no electrician, but like I said worth reading into.
Had a quick google... here are a few bits on it for ya.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071004162918AAGXo2A
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Series_and_parallel_circuits
This one here is like a quiz, but good
http://iss.cet.edu/electricity/pages/a143.aspx?t=.xml
Good luck with your grow.
I'm using CFL's too. I've 8 light around 2 plants on mine.