Talkin bout cfls, and fires

jdell424

Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #1

I am switching from fluro tube closet set up to grow box cfls. WHat if any have you heard about fire hazards and cfls? People are saying use as many as possible, is that even safe? I am using these bulbs (2800 lumens 200w equivelant uses 42 watts 6500k. and would like to also know the maximum recommended amount for a 2x4 space.

View attachment 1780410View attachment 1780411

 

kmksrh21

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #2

You could probably get 6-12 in there...

I've never heard of a cfl/cfls starting a fire... ever.

 

jdell424

Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #3

theres news reports, newspaper articles, and you tube videos of people explaining their cfl fires. Im so confused as to this. It seems to only be the cheap walmart brands...

 

kmksrh21

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #4

jdell424 said:

theres news reports, newspaper articles, and you tube videos of people explaining their cfl fires. Im so confused as to this. It seems to only be the cheap walmart brands...

Click to expand...

I got my cfls at walmart (don't remember what brand) but they were cheap, been using them for over 6 months now...

I'd be more concerned that my 400w HPS would start a fire over some cfls...

 

Silversun

Active Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #5

Those are very close to my lights I am using now, I'm running four at 2700K and they work great! For the 2x4 area I would go with what kmksrh said and use, maybe 8-12. Their penetration isn't great so maybe use 8 on top and 4 on the sides/bottom of the plant. Some type of reflective material on the walls helps a lot. Check out my grow to get an idea of their output, there are what I am using for blooming. Just don't cheap out on the extension cord and you should have no worries of a fire.

 

B

BlazedMonkey

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #6

If you stack cfls (like 200W+) in a closed cabinet your temps will be well over 100F and will fry your plants..... but no fire for sure.

Fires would happen from
A. Faulty electrical, (poor diy wiring, putting too much wattage on a timer or extension, putting a power strip on a power strip)
B. Possibly water falling on electrical? less certain of this

I bet even if you put all your cfls in a giant pile with bulbs touch bulb touching plastic it would stink and smell bad but probably wouldnt start a fire.


Link the "CFL fires" i would guess that its not from the CFLs directly but i could be wrong.... its happened once before.

 

yesum

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #7

I get the GE brand so I do not worry about this. Also, the better name brand will last longer. An unshielded HID exploding, or overloaded circuit are the causes of fires.

 

jdell424

Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #8

I will be creating this using two of the bulbs pictured for the outsides and a lower wattage pair for the middle. Totaling six above the plants. Then fit in 4 cfls around the sides where I can.

 

G

Gioganja

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #9

cfl's burn cool. I see no problem here.

 

BecauseIgotHigh

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #10

No they don't cause a fire. Unless its broken (cfl glass shattered) and you turn it on, 100% It will go on fire and melt.

 

sso

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #11

make sure the wiring is ok and that no hot part is touching anything that can melt or burn.

but bad wiring is likelier to blow a fuse than start a fire..

anything is possible, there are people that could accidentally start a fire with floss, but i would not worry if id just taken care of my shit.

all wires properly placed and plugs properly wired.

 

sso

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #12

but, i think you could even wrap a old cheap cfl in cardboard and it wouldnt start a fire.

even if you put some lighterfluid on the cardboard and left it for hours (though i wouldnt put lighterfluid near the wiring lol)

 

Chronic Indica

Active Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #13

kmksrh21 said:

I got my cfls at walmart (don't remember what brand) but they were cheap, been using them for over 6 months now...

I'd be more concerned that my 400w HPS would start a fire over some cfls...

Click to expand...

yea you got that right.

 

G

guitarguy10

Well-Known Member

• Sep 11, 2011

• #14

I've wired 10 CFLs together with no conern or as of yet issues with heat or fire, so I don't think there is much concern about putting too many on a circuit or something.

Only thing i'd say to look out for is if you decide to start mad daisy chaining like this guy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcONLdyDWY4&feature=related

Be aware of the quality of the adapter you are using, and watch for heat. Better yet, don't do what that guy did at all, ever. Do it right

As long as your CFLs are mounted they are no more or less likely to start fires then incandescent bulbs (which are much hotter and more likely to start a fire), and most of what you read/hear is fearmongering.