Light Fixtures for 40 watt fluros

16 years ago

Walmart carries Lights of America that have 7 inch reflectors and Home Depot has same type of inexpensive fixture that are only 5 inch reflector. I bot the walmart type $8.50 and one of them keeps shutting off every couple hours or so.

I am thinking of replacing with the Home Depot shop light but are the 5 inch reflectors wide enough to provide enough light over 3 pepper plants wide in 4 inch pots? It seems that the outside leaves will go wanting. What size reflectors do you guys have and what has been your seedling experience growing under them? I am hoping that I don't have to move up to more expensive fixture.

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Comments (21)

cmpman1974
16 years ago
The smaller ones should be just fine. I've used both. In my opinion, it's not worth extra $$$. If you're going to spend money, do it on Mylar. Great investment that really amplifies the lighting you do have.

Chris
smokemaster_2007
16 years ago
I'm using Shop lights that I put electronic Ballasts in.

http://www.usalight.com/t12_fluorescent_electronic_ballasts_c_242.html

I'm using Vi Tech 93+ bulbs

http://www.charleysgreenhouse.com/index.cfm?page=_productdetails&productid=5016&cid1=176&cid2=730&cid3=-99

6700 k color
3240 lumins
40 watts
4800 hrs.
T10
48inch bulbs.
I've got 10 in a 11x14 room.6 on the cieling and 2 shop lights on my plants/sprouts.
Seems to work out ok so far but I'm going to buy a couple more shop lights for 2 more seed starter trays.

Other lights:Some cheeper and you don't have to buy a case.I needed a case anyway so....

http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ft1_lighting_fixtures_bulbs-ft1_light_bulbs_1;pg103995.html

http://www.fullspectrumsolutions.com/full_spectrum_fluorescent_bulbs_33_ctg.htm

Specs for other bulbs.

SpectraÃ¢ÂÂ¢ 5500 48" F32-T8 MB-HO
TCLP Compliant
Length: 48 inches
Diameter: 1 inch
Wattage: 32 watts
CRI: 93
Kelvin: 5500
Lumens: 3050
Pin Configuration: Bi-Pin
Hour Rating: 34,000 hours

MaxumÃ¢ÂÂ¢ 5000 48" F32-T8 MB
TCLP Compliant
Length: 48 inches
Diameter: 1 inch
Wattage: 32 watts
CRI: 91
Kelvin: 5000
Lumens: 3300
Pin Configuration: Bi-Pin
Hour Rating: 34,000 hours

Changing from magnetic Ballasts to Electronic ones greatly increased the amount of light the bulbs put out.I don't know if it's because the other ballasts were old or ?
The new shop lights brightened up too.
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User
16 years ago
I use the Wal Mart shop lights with 40 watt bulbs. If you are having trouble with one take it back and they will replace it. They are very good about that sort of thing.
dbags
16 years ago
I too am using the 40 watt walmart shop lights(4 footers),running parralel to one another,,I currently have them side by side right next to each other.i was wondering if i could space them apart for more coverage,that way i could place 4-72 cell seed trays perpindicular to them instead of just 2-72,s running paralel underneathIt would save me space and having to buy 2 more shoplights.....anyone have any thought
ardnek710
16 years ago
dbags...I would get a 3rd light for that set up. Space them a little ways apart and you should be good

kendra
dbags
16 years ago
think thats what im gonna have to do kendra,,,,so many seedlings,,,,,,,,,,so little light..lol
kj_57701
16 years ago
I have one of the standard Chrome racks they sell at Menards/Home Depot. I've got 4 fixtures that measures 6 inches across and 2 measuring in at 7 inches. If I bought my lights over again I would choose the 7 over the 6. In fact, I would have liked 8 inches (if there's any light fixtures like that).
The reason, is that I cannot fit 3 - 6 inch fixtures on one shelf, but 2 - 8 inch fixtures would be able to cover the entire shelf. The distance is actually 15-3/4, so I am definitely sure I could wedge them in there, or cut to fit if necessary! The 7's come pretty close though, so I use them on the bottom for the largest plants. An extra $10-$15 for a larger fixture would not matter the least to me, because I'll probably/hopefully use them many-many years.

I like the idea of the Mylar. I think I'll look into what they got at the local large market hardware stores. It's fun to tinker with the setup and improve it a little every year.
donandsara
16 years ago
I have 4 of the ~5" wide Home Depot shoplites over a 2'x4' growing area....works great. I'd recommend daylight bulbs for a broader spectrum, but cool whites work OK too... I've used cool whites for several years!

The Home Depot light have electronic ballasts. I use 32W t8 (1") tubes, they actually put out more light than a 40W t12 (1-1/4" ) tube.
thepodpiper
16 years ago
I just rigged my 18" wire shelves to accomodate another shop light. The shelves will now hold 72 4" pots. Also I just bought some of the daylight bulbs and put one every other bulb along with the cool whites. Are the daylight bulbs suppose to be a little blue in color.Here is a couple of pics of my new setup.

{{gwi:45955}}

{{gwi:26138}}

Dale
dbags
16 years ago
Nice set-up podpiper.Is that your basement the plants are in?If so,whats the tempeture range down there because im hesitant to keep my set-up in the basement out of fear of it just being too cold at times
cmpman1974
16 years ago
Dale,

Do you notice the third fixture makes much difference? I have found four bulbs total over a stand to be sufficient. Just curious.

Chris
User
16 years ago
I use a 2 bulb fixture for two trays and it seems to work fine
cmpman1974
16 years ago
John, I turn my trays the opposite way so I need dual fixtures. I double capacity per shelf. Your method works perfect for the way you spread the trays. You can still grow a ton!

Chris
User
16 years ago
Chris

So you have one fixture for two trays side by side?
byron
16 years ago
I do double wide shelves with 2 sets of lights. With this method I can rotate trays 90 degrees every few days. This helps the plants in the outside rows
cmpman1974
16 years ago
John,

I turn a standard 10x20 flat lengthwise instead of widthwise. Therefore, I can fit four of these on a single shelf. I use two dual bulb fluorescents for light per tray. I think the extra lighting helps because you need the light to catch the outside plants as well. Otherwise, they'll lean inwards towards the single bulb.

Chris
smokemaster_2007
16 years ago
I just checked my fixture from Home Depote and 1 has an electronic ballast and the other doesn't.
Both fixtures are the same modle # etc. but the boxes are a little different.
One says SHOPLIGHT with all black letters and the other says SHOP in green and LITE in black(notice different spelling).
Both are made by Lithonia Lighting,same size etc..
One has a Keystone Magnetic ballast(shoplight) and the other(shoplite) has a Wuxi HangFeng Electronic products Co. electronic ballast in it.
So check wich one you get.
Electronic Ballasts are supposed to be better-longer bulb life...
I baught mine a couple weeks apart.
They both were around $9.00 each without bulbs.
greengrass12
Original Author
16 years ago
A note about walmart 40 watt fixtures. Same model number but they now have in bold letters on the box-- 30% more efficient if you use t8 bulbs. I got one on my exchange and they work fine with existing t12 but I guess not as efficiently.
byron
16 years ago
FWIW

In Nancy Bubels "New Seed Starters Handbook" she recommends a cool white and a warm white for the correct spectrum

The Lights of America (Made in China) was about 1/2" to short for the warm white bulbs, they didn't work for me

The previous bunch of Wal-Mart fixtures, 50% died in the first year

Last batch of fixtures I paid $5 more at Ace and they lasted 5 years

Your choice
greengrass12
Original Author
16 years ago
Wayne Schmidt did some good research and plant growth comparison testing with 5 different lights, link below.

http://www.waynesthisandthat.com/fluorescent.html
naturegirl_2007 5B SW Michigan
16 years ago
Greengrass1, very interesting light (and other) info. Thanks!

Light Fixtures for 40 watt fluros

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Light Fixtures for 40 watt fluros

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