Thu, 2011/02/03 - 9:00pm
Hi All,
I'm looking at this compact fluorescent light fixture that uses a 125 Watt bulb but can't seem to find specs on spectrum/lumens. Do you think this would provide more light to a couple of pepper plants than 3 shop lights (4' long by 22" wide) with six 32 watt bulbs (says 2700 Lumens/6500 K)?
http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-FLC0125D-Fluorescent-Light-System/dp/B0006HRQTK/ref=pd_sbs_ol_2
Thanks,
Beth
Thu, 2011/02/03 - 9:33pm
#2
Hi All,
OK, did a little searching. You'd think the specs would be on the Hydrofarm site! Looks like a 125 Watt bulb equals 6500k/ 8500 Lumens. Little hydro unit is 24" by 16". Seems I could get more Lumens per area with this light. (HPS and MH are not in consideration for the basement.....)
Thanks,
Beth
Thu, 2011/02/03 - 9:39pm
#3
Hi Gisette,
Thanks for the comments. I posed before I read your response. Yeah, I really can't complain about my shoplight setup. More light per area and peppers don't seem to mind. I'll stay low tech or now.
Beth
Thu, 2011/02/03 - 9:49pm
#4
My daylight 6500K T8's say 2700 lumens apiece. That would be 16,200 lumens for an array of 6, or 16,200/8500=1.9x the light for (6x32W)/125W=1.5x the power.
Hopefully the little hydro unit's floor area won't constrain the size of the pepper plants. 
For two, they should be bigger than 24"x16". Though probably only two thirds of the 4' width of the shoplight array.
Thu, 2011/02/03 - 9:50pm
#5
cross-posted - twice. 
Hi, Beth,
I think - not a chance. The 6x32W T8 6500K lights would be more grow light. Also, consider the first reviewer's comments here, on their 200W light bulb. And, with the 6 tube approach, you could make one of them a redder spectrum to encourage flowering, if the peppers seemed to need encouragement. (I've never met a pepper that needed encouragement to flower - just light and warmth to grow fruit. But someday you might want a redder light for something, dunno what.)
I think a CFL is essentially a coiled T5 tube with socket-plug. And from experience, 125 W of CFL is probably only enough for 1 pepper plant. Spreading the light with the shoplights will help, too - peppers seem to need light on the fruits to ripen.