Reflectors for bigger CFL's

Ive been having a hard time trying to find a cheap reflector for my CFL's but the hanging shop light things don't fit.
The neck part isn't wide enough to allow my bulb to fit into the socket.
6x 42w CFL's

Anyone have any ideas?

Pic for comparison of the bottom portion of a bulb that fits and the new larger bulbs that don't.

You can make your own if you source this item, unfortunately i live in the uk, where you get it from if you live outside the uk i cant help with.

eBay.co.uk: E40 Ceramic Lamp Holder / Lampholder / Lighting (item 290108803476 end time 22-Jul-07 18:57:13 BST)

What's up Zombi - Dude, I'm not sure I really understand your problem... I'm using a few of the 42 watters for side lighting, and they fit just fine in ANY standard clamp light/reflector. If you managed to buy a 42w cfl with a mogul socket, well, that's just plain weird. I'm also assuming that you're talking about standard "clamp light" sockets. IF so, you've either got an odd sized cfl, or an odd sized clamp light. OR, your clamp light's diameter is just to small to accomodate the fatter ballast of the 42 watters. Try picking up a socket extender from your local hardware store, or Home Depot. That'd probably do the trick; I use them to fit 2 of the smaller cfl's in an 8 1/2 or 10" reflector with a splitter/Y-socket. Let me know what happens. Peace, good growin

Jazzman said:

What's up Zombi - Dude, I'm not sure I really understand your problem... I'm using a few of the 42 watters for side lighting, and they fit just fine in ANY standard clamp light/reflector. If you managed to buy a 42w cfl with a mogul socket, well, that's just plain weird. I'm also assuming that you're talking about standard "clamp light" sockets. IF so, you've either got an odd sized cfl, or an odd sized clamp light. OR, your clamp light's diameter is just to small to accomodate the fatter ballast of the 42 watters. Try picking up a socket extender from your local hardware store, or Home Depot. That'd probably do the trick; I use them to fit 2 of the smaller cfl's in an 8 1/2 or 10" reflector with a splitter/Y-socket. Let me know what happens. Peace, good growin

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Yeah but thats on those tiny little cfls that arent really for growing,

he's looking for something to put a big bulb in.

you can buy the reflector material from any metal supplier if its that important to you to have reflectors for them

Hydrofarm - Hydrofarm FLCOUN Compact Fluorescent Grow Light Fixture (No Bulb)

will fit up to a 200 watt lamp $75

good luck

bt dt

nongreenthumb said:

Yeah but thats on those tiny little cfls that arent really for growing,

he's looking for something to put a big bulb in.

Click to expand...

What up nongreen - What' goin on man. Dude, uhh.... I think you missed something... He posted a big ass pic of the 42 watter he's talking about...Doesn't make much sense, the problem he's describing, but I doubt he'd be trying to put one of those nice high powered u-tubes in a clamp light! By the way, that pic you posted: is that yours? I'm using the same bulbs - 250w 65k's, but they're a bitch to find, especially at a fair price, and in 27k. Any suggestions??
If anyone's looking for a nice, inexpensive batwing reflector for the large mogul socket cfl's, I've got a good source. Mine was cheap, works great... just don't buy bulbs from the same guy - I got ripped off. Reflector is sweet though. If you've got the money, and can support the weight, absolutely go for the Hydrofarm reflector. And nongreen, as far as those "tiny little cfl's" not being for growing? Are you nuts? I'd have to disagree. Yeah, it's a pain in the ass to have 27 little ass bulbs in your grow space, but come on man! They're great additions to ANY grow, as long as you've got a decent main light or two, like the one you posted, and the right spectrum. Surely you've heard of side lighting man? Not to mention the fact that they're available at freaking WALMART, and are cheap as hell! Anyway, please let me know where you got that monster cfl, and how ya dig it! Good growin man, Peace Wish this dude would post again so we can find out what the heck he's talking about!

OK i didn't think it was that confusing but I will try to explain it a bit further.
see the base of the smaller bulb how it is pretty narrow?
That one fits fine into the clamp light reflector.
The larger bulb has a much wider base with a a much more aggressive angle on it and is too wide to fit the reflector, it only leaves about 3/4" sticking out the back of the reflector. Not enough to thread into the socket.

My light setup is already up and running, but the light is just kinda going everywhere, i wanted to see if i could just use the type of reflector found in the pic below, but clearly it will not work.


Frankly I really don't know if reflectors are even necessary, the plants seem to be doing just fine without them.

yes both the bulbs you have displayed are the standard E27 fitting, not the E40 fitting which is present on HID lights and envirolite type cfls.

you can buy a clamp socket for it, i have one and you can fit any E27 bulb in there, even if it has got a big bulky arse...

this is the best pic i can find of what i mean..

or just file some of the restricting plastic off from the O shape where you insert the bulb

For the comparison in bulbs, i believed the smaller one to be a 48 watt or whatver because it still looks a decent size, the larger one in your pic looks to be one of about 100w, these larger bulbs usually fit into an e40 socket. I looked at the base of each light though and there didnt really seem to be much difference.

The lower wattage bulbs, i.e. the 28 w bulbs or whatever, were not made for growing, they were made to light your house, while some people do still use them for growing, this wasnt its design, where as with the envirolites or hps bulbs, these are made with horticulture in mind.

the metal part is not what i am concerned about, its the big honkin white plastic piece between the glass bulb and the metal piece on the bottom that is interfering with the reflectors.

Ive given up on finding a reflector that doesn't cost a fortune or require creative modification. They will remain reflector free until i get re-motivated to attack this project again.
The light in question is a 42w 150w equiv 6500k. They will be fine for growing.
The smaller one was just thrown in for comparison because the small one does not interfere with the reflector and the large one does due to the larger diameter white part.

make one out of a beer can then

My 85 watt bulbs fit in a standard 10 inch clamp reflector from Lowes or Home Depot

Zombi said:

the metal part is not what i am concerned about, its the big honkin white plastic piece between the glass bulb and the metal piece on the bottom that is interfering with the reflectors.

Ive given up on finding a reflector that doesn't cost a fortune or require creative modification. They will remain reflector free until i get re-motivated to attack this project again.
The light in question is a 42w 150w equiv 6500k. They will be fine for growing.
The smaller one was just thrown in for comparison because the small one does not interfere with the reflector and the large one does due to the larger diameter white part.

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Zombi - What's up. Bro, that's the ballast you're referring to. Did you check Roseman's reply? Like I said also, those 42watters are great, and cheap, and if it doesn't fit in your reflector, well, you bought a tiny ass reflector - or a wacky one. Home Depot? Walmart, etc.. 10 or 10 1/2" clamp light costs about 10 bucks. Should work perfectly, and ABSOLUTELY, a reflector is necessary with cfl's. Increases the light output and directs it all towards your plants man! If you don't have ROOM for a bunch of clamp lights, that's one thing - just use MORE of them, and make sure you're using mylar, or panda film. Not to mention, that 10 dollar clamp light is just plug and play dude. And there's nothing wrong with using the lower wattage bulbs, like the 26w's. Just use a Y-socket, and you end up with ~52 watts PER reflector, as opposed to just 42. PLUS, the smaller bulbs are cheaper, and more efficient in lumens per watt. If you insist on using that reflector, just read my last post! For a couple bucks you can get a socket extender, which will give you the space you need, but your bulb will be sticking way out of the reflector. And yeah, those bulbs ARE fine for growing... But nongreen's right: you should have a main high powered mogul socket horizontal cfl at the top, WITH a nice reflector, or ALOT of those 42w bulbs. I'm curious man, where'd you find a 42w one in 65k, not 27? They're usually hard to come by unless ordering online...?? Peace

Jazzman is absolutley right!
REP for you!

I understand that the 42 light is too big for a soda can reflector, but if you could get you hands on one of those big ass fosters beer cans, im sure you could make one out of that.

are the 100+ watt cfl's any good at flowering stage?

The bigger the bulbs you use, the more watts and the more lumens equals a bigger yield.

just an idea guys you do know you can buy the material that reflectors are made from in flat sheet form in 8ft by 4ft sheets - they are better than beer/coke can reflectors as they are not as polished and dont reflect as much light ( beer cans that is)