Growing with CFLs and CFL Ballasts

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by AllJokesAside, Nov 22, 2014.

  1. Hello fellow growers and smokers alike! :wave: My names Joker and i'e been doing some research on CFL's and CFL ballasts. Im not interested in the kind that the majority of you have sitting in your lamp at home. 
     
    I'm talking about the 50, 55, and up to 80 watt CFLs that I feel are the gold standard when i comes to growing with cfls. Now my question for any1 whos made it this far into the post is; how do i choose a ballast to power the bulbs and how to overdrive and stuff which ive heard quite abit about. Hell, do i even need a ballast?? :p
     
    I'm looking at the 4-pin 2g11 type (CFLs I mean)
     
    THis is the bulb im interested in and if im convinced that these are good enough, then you'll be seeing a grow powered by them pretty soon!
     
    https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/99423/PHILIPS-386987.html
    https://www.1000bulbs.com/pdf/philips-386987-specs.pdf
     
    Been looking at fulham ballasts but as far as which is right to power about FOUR OF THESE is beyond my knowledge. Please any1 with wiring or general knowledge about this knid of thing feel free to chime in! Thanks inadvance guys! Looking forward to becoming an active member in this community! :D [​IMG]

     
  2. Come on guys. any1 got any advice?? :confused:
     
  3. Not sure about the four pins but at 75 lumens per watt it should be perfect for growing typically 80 watt cfl's have half the lumens.
     
  4. lumens mean little as does watts and CRI to plants, if your new bulbs have any photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) numbers or even PAR watt numbers, then you can gauge them for plant growth, no other way works for plants. lumens, watts and color rendering index only apply to what humans see, not plants.
     

Share This Page