CFL's more watts vs. higher lumens?

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banknchips

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #1

Ok, so from what I get from growing with cfl's is that a 27watt bulb puts out 1650 lumens but adding another 27watt bulb does not increase the amount of lumens to 3300 it just puts 1650 lumens on the plant at a different angles. Am I right in saying this? So my real question here would say a 65 watt bulb that puts out 4500 lumens be better than 4 27 watt cfls putting out 1650 lumens at different angles?

 

breezy05

Active Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #2

its all about the lumens...watts dont mean shit. Ask anyone here and they should back me on this.

 

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banknchips

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #3

yeah thats what I figured

 

tone702

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #4

Lumens are more important and I would use a mix of both 68watt and 27watt the 68 watter on top and use the others as side lighting in a small cabinet setup.. What Ive learned from cfls is the more dissipated the light is the less efficient they will be so with that being said having cfls in a large closet grow prob would not yield as much as a small cabinet because the light has nowhere to dissipate.

 

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Illegal Smile

Guest

• Dec 8, 2009

• #5

This idea of lumens not being additive is misleading. When I put 2 42w cfls in a single clamp reflector instead of one I AM doubling the lumens. Asking whether watts or lumens are more important is like asking if inches or feet are more important. cfls emit 64 lumens per watt average. A 42w is 2700 lumens. 4 of them would be 10k lumens, good light for up to 2 sq ft. What hurts cfls is they lose intensity fast with distance, they have to be up close. The flip side is because they run cool, they CAN be up close.

 

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banknchips

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #6

Oh I will definitly still be using the 4 27 watters with the 65 watter.

 

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banknchips

Well-Known Member

• Dec 8, 2009

• #7

As for you illegal smile Your saying if I put the 4 27 watt cfl's rated at 1650 lumens a peice under one hood I will be emitting 6,600 intial lumens?

 

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Illegal Smile

Guest

• Dec 9, 2009

• #8

banknchips said:

As for you illegal smile Your saying if I put the 4 27 watt cfl's rated at 1650 lumens a peice under one hood I will be emitting 6,600 intial lumens?

Click to expand...

That is correct. Now, how many lumens reach the grow area depends on other factors, mainly how close in you can position them. Putting them under one hood works well for an overhead light, but as plants grow you may find you need light on the sides which is where one or 2 in a clamp reflector work well.