Lighting CFL questions

[420master]

I was going to pick up a few 200w CFLs, but I am running into a lot of "corn" led lights. What's the deal? I was looking at Bezos-mart, and there are almost no mogul base CFLs. They are all corn style.
I found a thread on here where someone was saying they are no good because the LEDs aren't bright enough.
Lighting tech has changed a lot and is still evolving pretty fast, and it seems like a lot of the info I am finding is outdated.

I plan on doing one auto in a 3x3 tent.

I currently a bunch of t12 shop lights that I don't plan on using, two older MH/HPS type ballast that will run 400/750/1000w bulbs that I don't want to use, 1 Fluorowing and 135w Blackstar.
I didn't want to use the HID lights because I thought they would be too big, too hot, and cost too much to run.
I wanted to get another Fluorowing and some bulbs for them, thinking that would be cheapest and efficient.
My thinking on that beeing 2x200w and the 135w would be plenty for my space.

Of course, I would love to go pick up a new light like the one Muddy just got, but any major upgrade like that is going to out of the quest for now.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me? (pun intended)

 

[Death The Cultivator]

I was going to pick up a few 200w CFLs, but I am running into a lot of "corn" led lights. What's the deal? I was looking at Bezos-mart, and there are almost no mogul base CFLs. They are all corn style.
I found a thread on here where someone was saying they are no good because the LEDs aren't bright enough.
Lighting tech has changed a lot and is still evolving pretty fast, and it seems like a lot of the info I am finding is outdated.

I plan on doing one auto in a 3x3 tent.

I currently a bunch of t12 shop lights that I don't plan on using, two older MH/HPS type ballast that will run 400/750/1000w bulbs that I don't want to use, 1 Fluorowing and 135w Blackstar.
I didn't want to use the HID lights because I thought they would be too big, too hot, and cost too much to run.
I wanted to get another Fluorowing and some bulbs for them, thinking that would be cheapest and efficient.
My thinking on that beeing 2x200w and the 135w would be plenty for my space.

Of course, I would love to go pick up a new light like the one Muddy just got, but any major upgrade like that is going to out of the quest for now.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me? (pun intended)

What is your budget?

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

I was going to pick up a few 200w CFLs, but I am running into a lot of "corn" led lights. What's the deal? I was looking at Bezos-mart, and there are almost no mogul base CFLs. They are all corn style.
I found a thread on here where someone was saying they are no good because the LEDs aren't bright enough.
Lighting tech has changed a lot and is still evolving pretty fast, and it seems like a lot of the info I am finding is outdated.

I plan on doing one auto in a 3x3 tent.

I currently a bunch of t12 shop lights that I don't plan on using, two older MH/HPS type ballast that will run 400/750/1000w bulbs that I don't want to use, 1 Fluorowing and 135w Blackstar.
I didn't want to use the HID lights because I thought they would be too big, too hot, and cost too much to run.
I wanted to get another Fluorowing and some bulbs for them, thinking that would be cheapest and efficient.
My thinking on that beeing 2x200w and the 135w would be plenty for my space.

Of course, I would love to go pick up a new light like the one Muddy just got, but any major upgrade like that is going to out of the quest for now.
Can anyone shed any light on this for me? (pun intended)

CFLs are going the way of the Dodo. They are just outperformed by LEDs of one kind or another. This puts you in a tough spot economically. You are going to pay one way or another either a new light or in power. The best choice you have based on what you listed is probably the 400w HID. You will need to vent the tent well. Just run it 18/6.

 

[420master]

What is your budget?

At this point, I'm trying to stay under or as close to $100 as possible. After the first of the year, maybe Feb or March, I can probably swing $400-$500, but not right now. I still think I have to get a new ph meter too and a few odds and ends.


I just got a "300w" CFL for my wing fixture at Lowes for less than $8.00. Now that I'm looking at it, I see that it's only 4,200 lumens. I just went and to their website and looked at the cheap MH I saw there; the 400w MH bulb was less than $30.00 and 34,000 lumens. It appears that I would need 8 of the 300w CFLs to get the same amount of light, and the cost of the bulbs would be $64. Vs. 1x$30.00
Could anyone offer a ballpark estimate on the cost to run that MH per month? I haven't used one in over 15 years.
I'll have to call to find out the price per kWh my electric co charges. The bill is all greek to me. All I understand is the date and the numbers after the $.

 

[Death The Cultivator]

At this point, I'm trying to stay under or as close to $100 as possible. After the first of the year, maybe Feb or March, I can probably swing $400-$500, but not right now. I still think I have to get a new ph meter too and a few odds and ends.


I just got a "300w" CFL for my wing fixture at Lowes for less than $8.00. Now that I'm looking at it, I see that it's only 4,200 lumens. I just went and to their website and looked at the cheap MH I saw there; the 400w MH bulb was less than $30.00 and 34,000 lumens. It appears that I would need 8 of the 300w CFLs to get the same amount of light, and the cost of the bulbs would be $64. Vs. 1x$30.00
Could anyone offer a ballpark estimate on the cost to run that MH per month? I haven't used one in over 15 years.
I'll have to call to find out the price per kWh my electric co charges. The bill is all greek to me. All I understand is the date and the numbers after the $.

Can you check Craig's list or the hydro stores for used lights?

If you can swing the 4-500 later I would and get some quality later. A 400w MH will probably be your best bet for, I think a 600 is just going to be too much heat

 

[420master]

CFLs are going the way of the Dodo. They are just outperformed by LEDs of one kind or another. This puts you in a tough spot economically. You are going to pay one way or another either a new light or in power. The best choice you have based on what you listed is probably the 400w HID. You will need to vent the tent well. Just run it 18/6.

I'm starting to think so too. I am concerned about the heat. I know that light is going to use a lot more power also, and running the fan at higher speeds uses a lot more energy than it does at slow speed.

Hopefully, by this weekend can start doing some testing for power demands.

 

[Sami]

I think that if you are looking to maximize the yield and get the absolute most out of the plants, you should probably go for led.
Me, I grow with cfl. I have a couple of plants at a time and it gives me plenty to keep me going until the next harvest. So basically it comes down to what you want and what you need to get that.