Will this setup work?

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #1

Hi so I am debating between going with an LED panel or a CFL setup for my first grow and I need some help.

If I go with LED then I am going to shell out around $400 for a light (CLW Solar Flare 200), but I would like to build my own LED panel so I have been thinking of going with a CFL setup for my first grow or 2 while I build one, so I have been doing some research and have been designing my own CFL setup.

Will this work?

• 4 x 42w 3100k bulbs
• 3 x 40w 5000k bulbs
• 1 x 42w 6500k bulb

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #2

Sorry I should have started by saying that this setup will be to grow only 1, maybe 2 plants

 

hiitsbob

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #3

yup shoot for 5,000-10,000 lumens per square foot.
just make sure your setup has proper ventilation so you can keep temps in check.
have a soil recipe,using hydro make most plans before you start make for less headaches down the road.

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #4

thanks man. i might swap that 6500k light for another 5000k because of the price. i actually already have all of the equipment/soil/nutes/etc as i had started a grow a few months ago with a 400w HPS, but i couldnt manage the heat so i just sold that but still have everything else. i will probably get some new nutes, funny story my lawyer's son grows medicinal crap in michigan so i am just going to get what is working for him now.

 

hiitsbob

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #5

if heat is a problem run 5:1 5000k:2700k the whole run veg and flower. i run mine in a 2x2 cab so heat is an issue also.
i used to switch to 2700k but find no difference except i can keep heat in check much easier.
5000k will give you plenty of blue and red spectrum. i run all 23w bulbs check out my results.
blue widow
liberty haze

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #6

alright great thanks man. do you think that the more wattage the higher the yield/quality?

 

hiitsbob

Well-Known Member

• Nov 23, 2013

• #7

yield yes as long you can keep it cool. quality no that is predetermined by genetics.
focus on healthy plants and what they need to be healthy. lights are only part of the equation.
good luck. read lots to figure out proper growing. don't over think it and buy into all the marijuana bull crap.
its a plant just like any other keep them green and happy throughout.
if you do this with about 300 watts should be able to pull 1-3 ounces per plant.
good luck
bob
g

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 24, 2013

• #8

Ok I already have done a lot of research and am still doing some (I love Ed Rosenthal's grow bible), my question is it easy for you to cool your lights and do you think I could manage the heat from the setup I want to go with? Thanks

 

justanotherbozo

Well-Known Member

• Nov 24, 2013

• #9

if this is your first grow i'd suggest a CFL setup, that way if you end up not liking the gardening thing you can use the bulbs around the house.

here is a simple, cheap CFL setup that in my case i bought at a local discount builders supply, kind of like a discount Lowes.

anyway, something like this can be put together for very small money.

here you can see it's just a multi-bulb bathroom vanity fixture with Y splitters to double the number of bulbs, if you use 23watt bulbs that's just shy of 200watts, plenty for a single plant.

btw, welcome to the hobby and to the site and good luck with whatever you decide to do.

peace, bozo

 

hiitsbob

Well-Known Member

• Nov 24, 2013

• #10

all depends on out take fan size, what type of scrubber.
i run a 240cfm panasonic whisperline fan at about 75% to cool 500w of cfl.
i push it through an 18 inch carbon filter keeps temps in a 2x2x4 box 78-82.
if i run it at 100% runs about 77-79. i exhaust into the room i grow in and ambient room temp is about 72.
have passive intake of 4 inch diameter hole and a 2inch x 20inch rectangle. seems to work for me.
will be changing setup soon and exhausting to the outdoors but all in good time.

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 25, 2013

• #11

ok thanks for all the advice.

would it be wise to include 2/4 of these flood lights in my 16 bulb CFL setup?

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 25, 2013

• #12

Nevermind the lumen output on those lights suck. This is the proposed light setup I have, total lumen output is 14,300. If I can control the heat with one of these setups I am going to add another. I can get all the supplies I need to construct this light from Home Depot for less than $70. Here is the list of stuff I am going to get, probably soon.

• 23w 2700k bulb
• 27w 5000k bulb
• 120/30w 5000k bulb
• 4 light bathroom vanity fixture
• Y-splitter

 

smigula

Well-Known Member

• Nov 25, 2013

• #13

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It would not let me upload this image without having to type a bunch of random characters...