How many lights do I need in my area?

whulkamania

whulkamania

Well-Known Member
Hey,

I want to have a CFL setup but I am in a 3 feet wide and it is about two to three feet tall.

How many lights would I need during vegging and flowering?
 
desertrat

desertrat

Well-Known Member
shoot for 75 actual watts per square ft for flowering, you can use half that amount for vegging
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
42 watt average $10.00 each

65 watts, = $23.99 average price

85 Watt, average $29.00 each




105 watt average $38.99 each




Or Look for Clamp Reflectors and Bulbs together:




CFLs come in 15, 26, 42, 65, 85 and 105 watts.
The 26s and smaller are like big breasts on a nun, and not good for anything.

26s to 85s do not put out any noticable heat. The 105s put out some heat, but not as much as HID lights.
The 42's are about $9 each.
65 watts are abut $24 to $25 each, 85s are $30 each, 105s are $39 to $42 each, average is $40 each for 105s.
a CFL needs a reflector, like a hood. I like the $10 heavy duty clamp reflectors at Lowes, Home Depot or Walmart. They also offer a cheaper $8 reflector but it is smaller and flimsey.

With CFLs, you need the DUAL SPECTRUM, red and blue. That does not refer to the color of the bulb that you see. It refers to the kind of rays, UVA or UVB, or the color temp, called kevins.
CFLS come in 2700 kevins, 3000, 4100, 5100, and 6500.
2700k is for BLOOM OR FLOWERING , 6500k is the VEG Spectrum. The others are "MID" spectrums or in between.
In outdoors, the sun produces different rays in the spring (VEG Rays called Blue) and late summer for Bloom spectrum, the RED spectrum. (see more below)

CFLs are new on the scene, in 2006 the biggest made was 65 watts. When we talk about CFL watts, we are talking about the actually electricity used, NOT the equivalant. For example, a 15 watt CFL bulb puts out 60 watts.

CLFS PUT OUT LIGHT FROM THE SIDES, NOT THE ENDS OR TIPS.

YOU CAN GET SPIRAL CFLS (15, 26, 42, 65, 85) AND TUBE TYPE CFLS 105s.

this is from a magazine artice I wrote and a newsletter I wrote for Stealth Hydro:
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).

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.

How far away from my plants do the lights go?
The lights in your grow room should be as close as possible to the plants without burning them. There is no such thing as too much light, unless there is overly sufficient heat to dry out and burn the leaves. A good rule is to put your hand under the light, if its too hot for your hand, chances are that the plants will be too hot too, so move the light up until your hand feels more comfortable. For seedlings or sprouts, I keep them a little further away from the light, because they are very susceptible to burning and drying out, at these young stages.

How do I decide which lights to use?
Efficiency is very important when choosing a type of light. The wattage is not the most important thing, different types of light produce different amounts of lumens per watt. For example, a 300 watt incandescent will produce about 5100 lumens. (not that you can grow with incandescent bulbs) While a 300 watt Metal Halide (just an example, they do not come in 300 watts), will produce 27,000 lumens. Obviously far more efficient for growing, while still using the same amount of electricity.

Approximate light production:
Incandescents: 17 lumens/watt
Mercury vapor: 45-50 lumens/watt
Fluorescents: 60-70 lumens/watt
Metal halide: 90 lumens/watt
High pressure sodium: 107 lumens/watt


Incandescent lights: Incandescent bulbs are the most popular type of lights in the world. They may come advertised as incandescent, tungsten, quartz, halogen, or simply standard. The important thing about incandescent bulbs when it come to growing is simply this: they suck. Using incandescent bulbs to grow plants is like trying to flag down the Space Challenger with a burnt out match! You can do it, but it won't work. There are some incandescents which are sold as "grow lights." They usually have a blue coating and usually come in 60W and 120W sizes. While they may seem like a good choice to new growers, they are next to useless; they produce some light at a usable spectrum, but only have about a 5% efficiency and generate more heat than usable light. Most of us have these in our homes right now. Don't use them for growing, instead opt for a Compact Fluorescent, CFL, as a cheaper but more efficient alternative.

Fluorescent lights: Fluorescents are far more useful than incandescents. They are efficient enough, and much less expensive than HID (High Intensity Discharge) lights. Compact fluorescent tubes, (commonly called CFLs) are popular with growers because of their good output to size ratio. Compared to standard 4 foot tubes, CFLs are smaller, more easily moved, and more can fit into a given small area. CFLs are good for small grows on a tight budget, and for novice growers, since they do not require any special sort of wiring or understanding of the necessary bulbs for a given fixture, and the small wattage ones (23, 42 and 65) are very widely available. Fluorescent lights come in many different Kelvin (spectrum or color) ratings; often the spectrums are labeled on packaging as being 'cool white' or 'warm white.' Cool white is more blue, and is good for the vegetative stages of growth. The bulbs are ultra white. Warm white light is more reddish in spectrum, and is best for the flowering stage. The bulbs are almost cream colored.

Color rating - Measured in Kelvin (K). The higher the number, the more bluish the light. 4000K-7000K is mostly on the blue side of the spectrum for Vegging or GROWING, while 3000K and under goes from a white spectrum, to a redder spectrum and is best for BLOOMING or FLOWERING.


High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lighting Systems:

Mercury Vapor (MV)
Mercury vapor lights are not the most efficient light for growing. They are very bright, and relatively cheap. They do emit light at the wavelengths necessary to support your plants growth, but not nearly as good as a MH or HPS light. Much of the light emitted by MV lights is bluish-white. Street lighting is what most MV lighting is used for.

Metal Halide (MH)
Metal halide lighting systems are optimal for use in the vegetative phase of growing. They emit mostly blue light, which encourages vigorous growth of foliage. They are very efficient, but can get rather expensive to start with; fluorescents may seem more appealing because of their lower price, and they are not much different when compared on a lumen-to-lumen cost level. These lights can be used through-out the grow, but leave a lot to be desired in the BLOOM stage.

High Pressure Sodium (HPS)
High pressure sodium lights emit mostly orange, yellow, and red spectrum light, which is perfect for the flowering stage of the plants growth. They are (in my opinion) the most efficient type of light available for any application if you are not on a budget and can vent the grow area for heat. HPS lights can be used through-out the entire grow. They produce more dense and usually larger flowers or fruit than any other light. HPS lights are generally a little more expensive than MH systems of similar wattage. They are more commonly used by experienced commercial growers because of their ability to produce tighter denser flowers, higher lumen-output-per-watt, and will produce from start to finish.

Just like everything else, available grow lights are evolving. Remember how the sun produces 10,000 lumens per square foot in the mid-summer. Well, today there are CFLs that can actually duplicate those lumens. If you can not grow under the sun, then bring the sun inside. Yes, you can have 20,000 lumens covering the entire grow space with the new 105 watt per bulb CFLs. Three of these bulbs in the proper reflector actually yields 20,000 lumens.This is what I get with my CFLS:



am very happy with 4 65s,a dn 4 85s, vERY HAPPY, adn the additional 105s are great, but I have to keep a fan running and I am not as STEALTHY as I used to be.

Dual Spectrum 65 High Output Fluorescent BulbsLow heat, energy efficient light bulbs for use with Stealth Hydro Dual Spectrum Lighting Systems. Available in blue (vegetative) and red (flowering) spectrums.


65s are 23.99 each.



Price: $23.99 Dual Spectrum II High Output Fluorescent BulbsLow heat, energy efficient light bulbs for use with Stealth Hydro Dual Spectrum II Lighting Systems. Available in blue (vegetative) and red (flowering)
spectrums.



85s are 29.99 each
Multi Spectrum Fluorescent Tube CFLLow heat, energy efficient light bulbs for use with Stealth Hydro Multi Spectrum Lighting Systems. Available in 6500 K (vegetative) and 3000 K (flowering) spectrums.
Price: $38.99



And $9 each for the 42s.

The pics do not show the 42s that I put on the sides, on a STAND I made from a metal shelf.

I like being able to move the CFLS around, adn lower them down in between the plants, the clamp- reflectors are just $10 each.Lowes, Walmart, Home Depot:





then one of these:


and if you want to add two lights to a reflector, you get a Y spliter.


See the difference in COOL WHITE and WARM WHITE:

 
Babs34

Babs34

Well-Known Member
OK, so now that I've been reading and shopping around...here's my dire question. I found some 42 and 85 cfl's. From your pictures, it appears you used with a y-splitter---perhaps a couple of socket extenders as well? The chick in the lighting dept. told me you could NOT use 42's and above in a clamp. (She also didn't direct me to this device either.) She instead showed me something similar which only extends the bulb---the lower wattage at that. Because it was closing time, I didn't research any further. She also said that for the larger flourescents, I needed a "housing unit." I don't know...not falling for it. I'm in no mood to be mounting anything to my walls either. As I said, my intention is to mimic your set-up as closely as possible. So, is "that" device the deciding factor as to whether or not you can use the larger flourescents in the clamps? And...you can plug other lights into it??? Sorry for all the questions that will probably seem stupid to you, but I always say "better to ask questions and be certain." Also, with an approximate 550 watts I plan to use, are 4 outlets safe for this?---"color me stupid".....I'm learning, slowly but surely.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Babs34 said:
OK, so now that I've been reading and shopping around...here's my dire question. I found some 42 and 85 cfl's. From your pictures, it appears you used with a y-splitter---perhaps a couple of socket extenders as well?

I use ONE Extender, and ONE Y coupling with two 42s in the clamp refector. Two 65s, or two 85s are too large and create too much heat for the ballast and connectors.


The chick in the lighting dept. told me you could NOT use 42's and above in a clamp. (She also didn't direct me to this device either.)
I have done it for three years, with no issues or problems, iwth the bulbs burning 24/7 for 5 weeks straight..

She instead showed me something similar which only extends the bulb---the lower wattage at that. Because it was closing time, I didn't research any further. She also said that for the larger flourescents, I needed a "housing unit."

She was tring to help you light your yard, and sell you something else.

I don't know...not falling for it. I'm in no mood to be mounting anything to my walls either. As I said, my intention is to mimic your set-up as closely as possible. So, is "that" device the deciding factor as to whether or not you can use the larger flourescents in the clamps? And...you can plug other lights into it??? Sorry for all the questions that will probably seem stupid to you, but I always say "better to ask questions and be certain." Also, with an approximate 550 watts I plan to use, are 4 outlets safe for this?---"color me stupid".....I'm learning, slowly but surely.
Click to expand...
I use these
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
I use a surge protector, and run the lights to it, with it taped and glued to the wall in my closet. I use all ten inch clamp reflectors, hanging from the closet pole. I use 65s, 85s, and 105s, one each, in each clamp refector and I sue 2 42s, in a Y spilter with one extender. let me know if I explained tht well enough, and let me answer any otehr questions you have. I use two 8 gallon tanks, get 3 females in each tank, and I harvest 16 ounces of dried manicured buds.
 
Babs34

Babs34

Well-Known Member
"Much, MUCH appreciation. That clarifies my questions for now. Every time I go to Home Depot, I remember why I prefer Lowes.
She was tring to help you light your yard, and sell you something else.
LOL...no. In fact, she was trying to show me some metal racks for my "orchids" .....AND other exotic plants. Being I have some good knowledge of all plants in general, it was simple to roll with.
Now I'm wondering if charcoal alone would be good for the smell. Sigh, I'm on a budget. Again, thanks.
 
Babs34

Babs34

Well-Known Member
"I'm back"...with more questions. I got the socket adapters. I have the clamps. I guess I was thinking that particular adapter was going to accomodate the 85, apparently not. I assumed that was what was hanging from your clamp on at least 2. So, what's the secret? AGAIN, no one from Lowes or Home Depot is able to help me out with any of this. If it's not rocket science---and I'm hoping it's not--would you fill me in on how you connect the larger bulbs? I would think there would be an adapter large enough to accomodate the base of the bulb (as it is larger.) Also, the silver lining on the wall, what is it called? Approximately, what is the cost? I'm anxious to set this up ASAP. It's getting close to being past time for flowering and I don't want to throw my plants off their cycle.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Babs34 said:
"I'm back"...with more questions. I got the socket adapters. I have the clamps. I guess I was thinking that particular adapter was going to accomodate the 85, apparently not. I assumed that was what was hanging from your clamp on at least 2. So, what's the secret? AGAIN, no one from Lowes or Home Depot is able to help me out with any of this. If it's not rocket science---and I'm hoping it's not--would you fill me in on how you connect the larger bulbs? I would think there would be an adapter large enough to accomodate the base of the bulb (as it is larger.) Also, the silver lining on the wall, what is it called? Approximately, what is the cost? I'm anxious to set this up ASAP. It's getting close to being past time for flowering and I don't want to throw my plants off their cycle.
Click to expand...

you may have read those last two or 3 posts too fast. I use a 65, 85 or 105 alone, in one CLAMP REFECTOR.
Here is a pic of an 85 watt bulb in a clamp reflector that I use.


I use 65s, 85s, and 105s in that clamp reflector, a ten inch, heavey duty reflector, about $11 at Lowes or Home Depot.

The 65s, 85s, and 105s are all the same base, and will fit into any bulb socket. They are standard sockets. They will fit in any lamp.

I also use 2 42s, in a Y extension. Because two 42s will not allow the Y connector to screw into the reflector, they take up too much room, I have to use an extension as shown here
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
I had two sheets of that reflective insulation board given to me for free, and it cost them $16 a sheet. I could not hurt their feelings so I used it. WHITE board is much better.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society



where you see two bulbs in one reflector, those are 42s. The single bulbs are 65s, 85s, and 105s.


 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Lowes now has 65 watt CFLs, with a regular sized screw in base, on sale for $16, 2700 kevins.
 
Babs34

Babs34

Well-Known Member
I'm looking at the pictures of your bulbs (85 and up)---You will have to check out the bulbs at both HD and Lowes. They do NOT have the same base (silver part)---they are MUCH wider. I don't know where else- other than ordering online-to get something that will fit. The 65's are even cheaper at HD--$14.98. I don't get it. The 65's are a BIG bulb and they fit .Sigh, I really hate to order anything online, but seems like I don't have much of a choice.
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
Babs,
you are reading too fast and not absorbing what I am telling you.
Lowes has 65 watt regualar based bulbs :



Bright Effects
65-Watt Twist Compact Fluorescent


Item #: 46931 Model: 017801997118

$16.98

that is a cut and paste from their website.
 
Babs34

Babs34

Well-Known Member
And by the way, I DID get the heavy duty reflector/clamp---13 bucks and reads 250V/660W. Item # E136278. I'm sure it's the same as yours.
 
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