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Help with light cart needed

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I love my fancy-dancy light stand for ease of use and convenience - much better than my old jimmy-rigged set-up. But, it seems my annuals and vegetables didn't grow as strongly the last two spring cycles and not as much heat is generated (heat is a good thing for seedlings) and I'm wondering if it's the tubes I'm using. 4' 40-watt wide spectrum T12 fluorescent tubs came with the set up -- this is Greek to me. With my old set up, I used an equal mix of cool and warm spectrum fluro bulbs with terrific results. I'm wondering if I should replace the current bulbs with what I had before for better results. Can anyone offer any input?

This is the set-up:

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Comments (4)

zen_man
5 years ago
Were your old bulbs also T12's? Or were they T8's ? They are not interchangeable unless the literature that came with your light stand says they are. That interchangeability depends on the ballasts that are in your light stand. Some can. Some can't.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
im wondering if the difference is the basement in the new house is different temps wise ... to the old house ...

i use common shop lights ... i dont recall whether 12 or 8s.... i buy the cheapest without regard ...and i was told that they should be replaced once per year ... they are still good bulbs.. but apparently they can weaken in regard to plants ...

btw.. from what i can see of the plants on that cart.. i wonder what you are complaining about ...

how are the new boots??

ken
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mxk3 z5b_MI
Original Author
5 years ago
I just used el cheapo shop lights before - I don't even know what T12 vs. T8 means...

The location is cooler here. Had a tri-level before, so while below-grade wasn't really a "basement". Yea, maybe that made a difference, too. The pic is from last year. I'm disappointed in a few things I grew this year.

Love the new boots! But they're too hot to do yard work in. If I have some extra money in the budget, I should splurge on the Muck shoes. For now, will just have to stick to the good 'ol LL Bean slip on garden shoes.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
i not sure the shoes would be significantly cooler ...

but i suppose you could ear the boots when its all dewy in the morning ...and then switch out ...

i think with the lights its watts ... 12w vs 8w ...

couldnt have been more wrong.. lol ..http://www.hoveyelectric.com/hovey-electric-power-blog/bid/84918/T12-vs-T8-vs-T5-T-12-As-Outdated-As-Your-Granparents-Bingo-Game

ken

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