What's better CFL's or HPS bulbs?

What's better the cfl bulb or an hps bulb if both have the same wattage and also keep in mind the wattage for the cfl bulb is the actual amount not equavalent to and in the right as well.

hps because it lets off more lumes them the cfls.......lumens are what matter ...400w hps = 50,000 400w cfl (17 x 23w @ 1700 lumes)=28,900

hps of course,
lumens per watt
cfl 70w/l
hps 120w/l (at least) up to 150w/l
also, both of them have different kind of light spectrum. So, it is more reasonable to compare cfls with mh

http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-SL150-27K-MOG-Wattage/dp/B005550KKU/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&qid=1350099734&sr=8-17&keywords=150+watt+cfl vs http://www.amazon.com/Sunlite-03620-SU-LU150-MED-Pressure/dp/B002J39728/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1350099857&sr=1-2&keywords=150+watt+hps just give you an idea. hps will give a higher lumen output which is what you r looking for although cfl is much easier to keep cool. hope this helps

Hps way hotter and way more lumens. Cfl way cooler and way less lumens. I use cfl because I grow in a tiny closet that a hps would make waaaaayy to hot once I get a bigger space it going to be mh and hps lighting for sure

TMAN808 said:

What's better the cfl bulb or an hps bulb if both have the same wattage and also keep in mind the wattage for the cfl bulb is the actual amount not equavalent to and in the right as well.

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You opened a big ol'View attachment 2371267

Cfl's are better and that's the truth.Hps and mh will become the "cassette tapes"of growing.Led's and cfl's are the way of the future of indoor growing.People will use hps and mh until they make a 1000w cfl bulbs..lol.I'll work on a pros and cons list and post it here later,as im sure someone else will beat me to it.

would you ever use that hps bulb to grow with?

TMAN,

Disregard the post above yours. CFL's have their place, and that's in small cupboard grows. If you can deal with the higher temps of HPS/MH lighting, they will give you bigger, denser buds.

You can definitely flower with CFL, but watt for watt, the quality and yield don't compare to HID.

Don't disregard my post its the truth.......for growing at home on the downlow,cfl's and t5 or t8 setups cant be beat!Now on the other hand if its legal or you just want to show how fat your wallet is,or growing commercially(legal) then HPS is the lighting to use.I've been around,seen many grow setups,so I feel my opinion is valid.I would advise for anyone starting out,do your homework,keep in mind you can not just go buy any hid bulbs take it home and plug it in.There's just more to it,bulbs,ballasts,hoods or reflectors,duct and venting(heat),I know they don't last as long and for my $20 I could buy 8 26w cfl's plug'em in and grow.Now im not saying anything bad about hid's ,like clownbaby said cfl's have their place,in turn hid's have their place too...peace..................now.............................GO LONGHORNS FUCK O.U....hahahahahahahah



Go

im doing my first cfl grow cant wait to get my hps in a couple months first pic is 13 days flower other is 5 or 6 weeks veg running 382 watts actual watts

I think it all depends on exactly what your growing I like to use floros for my mothers and hps for flowering I like the floros to keep my mothers short though seems to work better than hps does each to our own I guses

They both have strong points. If you want to go over 200 watts or so, you want hps or mh. Smaller grows can be done fine with cfl.

I have looked at the spectrum of cfl and hps and I prefer the cfl. Quality of buds is not better with hps imo. Just the opposite.

I use 55 watt pl-l tubes with professional reflectors which are more efficient than a coil type cfl. y splitter with 2 bulbs per large (10 inch) clamp reflector is my choice for using cfl. Do not use a good reflector and you lose half the light.

A cfl has to almost touch the buds during flower to get all the light it has to offer. 1 or 2 inches away.