CFL Addition?

[Eshek]

Hey everyone,
Im new to growing so ive been reading a lot but I havent come across anything that might answer this question. If I were to use, for example, 2x150 watt equivalent CFLs, would this give me the same results as a 1x300 watt equivalent CFL?

 

[Hosebomber]

Short answer is yes. It is possible to get slightly better results from 2 than you would one.

 

[Eshek]

Thanks man! I thought it would be a little better.

 

[JamaicaHerbs]

Look at a lumen/watt ration of various CFL's. The higher the wattage of CFLs, the lower the lumen/watt ratio. This chart was submitted by Jerry Garcia, a grow buddy from another grow site, and edited for typos.

For example...

the 200w listed at 9250 lumens for a lumens/watt ratio of 9250/200=46.25

the 150w is listed at 7500 lumens for a l/w ratio of 7500/150=50

the 125w is listed at 6500 lumens for a l/w ratio of 6500/125=52

the 42w are listed for 2700 lumens, l/w ratio of 2700/42=64.28

I have some 26w that give off 1700 lumens for a l/w ratio of 1700/26=65.38

GE lists some 13w that give off 825 lumens for a l/w ratio of 825/13=63.46

So, according to these numbers the most efficient bulbs for growing are the 26w that emit 1700 lumens. If you used 8 26w bulbs (208 watts total) you'd be getting 13,600 lumens...4,350 more lumens than a single 200 watt CFL. AND the eight 26 watt bulbs would cost less than the one 200 watt bulb.

taken from CFL Light Tutorial

 

[Hosebomber]

Please for the love of all things holy, STOP TELLING PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE LUMENS!

Lumens has nothing to do with growing plants. Zero, zilch, nada, nothing....

Lumens are a measurement of brightness to the human eye. When you switch from veg bulbs (5000 kelvin +) to flowering bulbs (2600 kelvin) you are going to lose a a third of your "lumens". However, you are going to gain in radiometric flux (the amount of light produced) and will actually increase your PAR (light plants use) by nearly a third.

 

[Eshek]

Thanks for all the insight everyone.
Hosebomber, what you are saying makes complete sense.Thanks man!