Can't tell what color temp my CFL is...

[Twelve12]

I got some CFL laying around (General Electric / 42W / 2,700 lumens / 150 equivalent) but can't find it anywhere on the box that tells me the color temp of the light. Is there away to tell?

Just got interested in growing and would like to use this for veg/bloom if I know what the color temp is. Or do you think it's safe for both stages?

Thanks,
HighDive

 

[HB Rob]

Check the bulb's ballast. It should be printed on there. I have bulbs that only have "65k" to designate 6500 Kelvins and it's all jumbled in with other things related to the bulb's manufacturing.

 

[SciFi]

It's not always printed on the CFL or boxes.

Easy way.. Turn them on.
If it's Red/Orange/Yellowish... It's 2700. It it's White.. it's 4500+K, if it's blue it's 6500+

I couldn't tell when I first started looking at lights, but I can tell now but just looking at the color temperature.

 

[Twelve12]

Thanks guys.

I got some F-Tubes at 6500K today. The CFL is a bit warm in color, so it could be around 2700-4500k, the F-Tubes are much cooler in colors. I'll save that for following stage.

 

[Roseman]

Warm white bulbs, (cream colored) are low kelvin, like 2700k.

Bright White or Cool White are high kelvin, like 6500 K bulbs.

 

[SciFi]

Those look warm (cream) white to you? They look between ping to almost red to me... Could be the permanent sunglasses thou.

Generally on the box...
Warm white is 2700-3200
Bright White is 4500-5500
And Daylight (not real daylight.. on the box.. they'll call them daylight) is 6500+