KillsPlants
Active Member
it says 100 watts per play Blah blah blah I know all that but are we talking actual watts or watt equivlent
understanding cfl wattage
- Thread starter KillsPlants
- Start date
Nummingtons
Well-Known Member
Yes if you are fallowing the watts per sqft rule with CFLs you will go by the real watts. So a 100 watt CFL is only 23 real watts so you need at least two per sqft if you fallow this rule. A better way to do it with CFLs is to go by lumen per sqft minimum being 2000 and optimal being 5000 to 7000 lumen per sqft. Thats how I set my CFL grow up and it did great. Here is how it breaks down, I have 8sqft of grow area to light, I run a 550 real watt 2400 eqiv watt light that provides me with 4800 lumen per sqft and 68 real watts per sqft. To answer your next question no you wont save a dollar in electric bills this way but you also wont be on here in two months asking why your plants are garbage making all of us CFL growers look bad lol. The plus side here is that it cost me less than a 100 bucks including bulbs.
Don't let um sway you man great weed can be grown with CFLs
Welcome to Costco I love you!
Don't let um sway you man great weed can be grown with CFLs
Welcome to Costco I love you!
churchhaze
Well-Known Member
watts equivalent means absolutely nothing. It's marketing bullshit.
Nummingtons
Well-Known Member
I agree that's why I suggested measuring by real watts and more importantly lumens.
Cree LED lightbulbs are sold at Home Depot that are 30% more efficient than CFL. I grew this under 22 real watts per sq ft:
They cost $10-$20 per bulb compared to $3 CFLs. But, think of the money (and heat) you'd save using 1/3 the watts.
Nummingtons
Well-Known Member
I saw those lights at home depot and was wondering how well they would work I guess I have my answer god damn brother that is a nice plant. I don't know much about them and everyone I speak with swears you need NASA leds lol. Good to know man thanks for the post.
Yes, the LED grow-light market has a steep learning curve and is filled with predators selling junk for high prices. But, those Cree LED A19/A21 "lightbulbs" and PAR38 spots/floods at Home Depot are pretty straight forward. (There is a cheaper Cree "Tri-Flow" bulb that I would stay away from. A19 & A21 are the two models for lightbulbs.).
For a large grow space they aren't as easy as an LED fixture. But, for anyone accustomed to doing CFL, these LED lightbulbs would be an easy upgrade.
Nummingtons
Well-Known Member
I cant wait man I'm going to go and grab some , its going to cost me a bucket of cash to fill my whole fixture but when I am done I will take a 100 watts out of my light and from what you have shown me here I should be real happy with the investment.
My light is basically a board with two six light bathroom fixtures attached to it with a splitter in each socket. Will these lights work in that set up or will I have to use supplemental lighting?
My light is basically a board with two six light bathroom fixtures attached to it with a splitter in each socket. Will these lights work in that set up or will I have to use supplemental lighting?
I wrote everything I know here. Things like the ratio warm:cool and ideas about how to mount.
Also, Cree LED comes with a 10-year warranty. Keep your receipts.
The lightbulbs come a protective rubber coating. Dig your fingernail in it and roll it off. This increases the lumens about 10%.
The PAR38 spots/floods work well for top lighting if you have the vertical space. The flood needs about 4-6" distance to the leaves, 9" optimal coverage/intensity. The spot needs about 12-14, optimum 18".
I've only used the 9.5w (60w equiv) and leaves can touch it for long periods without burn.