Another type of fluorescent lighting is called Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs). Their lights are larger in diameter than regular CFL lights for weed lighting but have a great impact on small indoor gardens. These lights have:
- Increased power
- Smaller in size
- Utilize electronic ballast
CFL bulbs come in many different wattage sizes ranging from 40 – 250 watts. These systems are perfect for growers who only have a small space to use FCL lights for weed while not wanting to have too much heat generated.
The CFL lights run much cooler than HID lighting and require minimal ventilation to keep your garden cool. Compact fluorescent lamps create light by passing electricity through gaseous vapor under low pressure, which is the same way as traditional fluorescent.
CFL lights are generally produced in two (2) main shapes that are either spiral glass tubes or one or more ‘U’ shaped tubes. A CFL light will normally last 10,000 – 20,000 hours while their ballast will last from 50,000 – 60,000 hours of operation.
If you are purchasing CFL lights for weed growing that have built-in ballast you are wasting the ballast since you have to throw it away in the trash when the light bulbs stop operating.
If the ballast is separate then you will only need to throw away the light bulb itself. These CFL lights for weed can be used as a supplement to the reddish-yellow spectrum that HPS lights produce. When the bulb or ballast goes out either one or both will need to be replaced.
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