Cfl Wattage Actual vs Comparison

Hello,
New to the forum. Id Like to know when figuring lets say wattage for a 20 square foot grow space do you figure the wattage using the actual wattage of the CFL is Using Or its compared Output?
example
20 square feet 50 watts per foot = 1000 watts you would need bare minimum. If you have lets say 15 bulbs at the CFL wattage of 30 watts a piece thats 450 watts or do you go by its equivalent which a 30 watt puts out an equivalent of 100 watts so you would have a 1500 equivalent?
Thanks everyone in advance!

go by output comparable to the incandescent. for instance, 42 watts is 150 watt ouput, so ud go by the one 42w yielding 150watts output. watts are less important than lumens. 1 42 watt gives about 2600 lumens, each plant needs 5500 they say for optimum growth. im using cfl's. but 2 200 watt cfls for 2 plants. they are the ones some actually use to light parking lots or driveways etc, they are at walmart.

tantramastaZ said:

im using cfl's. but 2 200 watt cfls for 2 plants. they are the ones some actually use to light parking lots or driveways etc, they are at walmart.

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