Dollar Store CFL's any good?

M

meinhere

Member
I bought 4 30w "daylight" CFLs from a big dollar store nearby and I was wondering if they are any good for vegging. I have 2 NorthernLights and 1 C99 under them. I don't have any pics now 'cause I lost my camera but they're about 5 days old and either I'm too worried or these lights suck. I will have some better CFLs for flowering tho.

The make is Trisonic, and the only thing the packaging says is: 30w Day Light = 150w regular bulb.

What say you?
 
I would look on the ballast part of the cfl, often it will say the "temp" of the light, which is the Kelvin rating that says what color the light is putting out. If it is in the 6000k+ range i would say it will work well, if it is 5700k or less i would be concerned. But if you already bought them i would try them with some bag seed. Tell us if you find the kelvin rating and we will help you if it will work or not.
 
Just remember, if you are only willing to spend $4 , don't expect too much. Don't expect them to work a miracle.
 
That's a steal of a deal. If the bulbs have slight imperfections, they would still be great for supplemental lighting or extra lighting. I wish I could find a deal like that, I would buy no less than 10 for $10. I paid $9+ for one 150 watt equivalent CFL bulb.

What don't you like about them?:leaf::leaf::leaf:
 
The one's around here sell GE bulbs at a discount,and their own DGB brand,which I figure is made by a GE subsidary in Asia. Normally the selection is just Soft White at 2700 K.

If you've got a Big Lots/Odd Lots around your neck of the woods,you can get six packs of 23/26 CFL's for 10 bucks before tax. They have a variety of spectrums
 
meinhere said:
I bought 4 30w "daylight" CFLs from a big dollar store nearby and I was wondering if they are any good for vegging. I have 2 NorthernLights and 1, and the only thing the packaging says is: 30w Day Light = 150w regular bulb.

What say you?
Click to expand...
if they are true Daylight (6500 K) then that's a great price. I had 42 watt GEs and those were supposed to = 150 watt incadescent so I question that part. A 15 watt cfl is = 60 watts right ?
 
marijuana_plant_pic%281%29.jpg
what do you think?
 
you can't get quite as good of results with just one of the dollar store cfl's so to get results you can use two
 
You bought 4 CFLs 30 watt, if they will fit use them all in your grow area. Whatever you have room to put in there go for it. CFLs do generate some heat so be careful:leaf::leaf::leaf:
 
Thanks for the response guys.

I checked the bulb's ballast and it doesn't say the temperature number.

I have all 4 of them inside a 2x2x2 box with 3 1week old plants. I am having some troubles getting the temperature in the right spot, in the day the temps are around 78-82 and at night they are around 82-86 (sometimes 88-90). It's hotter at night because where I live the thermostat is controlled by the people who live in the first floor. I'll continue to use these lights just because they are cheap, but for flowering I will get some good one from HERE
 
meinhere said:
Thanks for the response guys. I checked the bulb's ballast and it doesn't say the temperature number. I have all 4 of them inside a 2x2x2 box with 3 1week old plants. I am having some troubles getting the temperature in the right spot, in the day the temps are around 78-82 and at night they are around 82-86 (sometimes 88-90). It's hotter at night because where I live the thermostat is controlled by the people who live in the first floor. I'll continue to use these lights just because they are cheap, but for flowering I will get some good one from HERE
Click to expand...

Are you using a fan? A fan will help reduce the temperture, as well as, bring fresh area into your grow area. Just because you found a good deal on your CFLs does not mean that they are sub par. The specs might be slightly off or the manufacturer had too many in stock and needed to get rid of them, selling then in bulk to discount and overstock stores. Next time you buy CFLs buy both kinds (brights and warms).:leaf::leaf::leaf:
 
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