Lumens, Lux, and Adding It all Up

Originally Posted by Brother Numsi

I've tried reading a lot of posts here and elsewhere. Simple questions....1st grow will be 4 plants. I have been looking at the 250 watt CFL with reflectors. If I go with those using 2700K and 6500K how many would you think are needed for 4 plants in a 7X7 room? Would you go with less wattage. Really want to stick with CFL. I'm thinking 10-12, but I'm a newbie.
Thanks in advance for your help.

I did last grow with a mixture of 2700K & 5000K, had a 300watt cfl, a 200, and 9, 100s. I think the lumins added up to around 20,000, can't find my notes. They did pretty good. Have a HPS/MH now and a lot better and wish I just had purchased to start with as I spent alot on all the cfl's and fixtures to burn them in and my HPS/MH 600watt is alot better and easier to use. Don't think the electric should be much more than when using cfls from what I've read. Had to keep moving those cfls and when the plants got bigger they sometimes burned leaves before I could move. Had to keep within a few inches of plant and that was a pain.

If anyone knows what the 600watt using HPS runs in a month I would love to know. Best I could figure out in a couple of months, the cfls cost about $30 a month.

Did have use for all those cfls. All over my house to save on electric. Except 300 & 200. Just keep them in case I ever need I guess.

600watt HPS is the way to go. $250. cost

Originally Posted by mRIZO

you were making sense....then, you got all gangsta about light bulbs... :S
are you allowed to use the stove yet?
my 600w hps maxes out at 400C. with a cool tube and a desk fan on 1 i can touch the glass tube.
get your head out of your ass and pull up your panties.

Did 2 cfl grows and worked myself to death moving cfls to keep close to plants. Love the dimmable HPS/MH. If you don't need 600watts, you can dim twice to lower watts.

http://growace.com/product_info/ga-e...ng-ballas.html I think its on sale now darn it. I would get the dimmable one for sure for small grows. I also like having the option of hps or mh.

90,000 lumins verses my 20,000 or so with cfls.

I have a simple question. I've got a ballast, well, a MH/HPS light that says it's 100w. But I've got a bulb that fits and says 400w. Should I?

Originally Posted by Young Contemporary Peter

I have a simple question. I've got a ballast, well, a MH/HPS light that says it's 100w. But I've got a bulb that fits and says 400w. Should I?

short answer...NO

Well I don't get it. This ballast is huge, and it's pretty much like an outdoor floodlight or something.

Actually, it's this exact one here.

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-25ec...1#.UNdqReQ0V8E

Not sure if it's helpful, but I found this video on measuring lux with a DSLR camera.

ceestyle: thx for ur complete explainations

Originally Posted by Shaun420man

Ive grown with MH..Ive Grown With HPS.. Ive Grown with CFL's ..Been Growing for 20 years. Each Grower has his/her own style. I currently use CFL's with AMAZING results all the way to flower. I use a basic lulmens per sq ft measure. I swap kelvin as i see fit.

What is your lumens per sq ft recommendation?