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PL-L vs T-5???
- Thread starter DSM
- Start date
Since T5s do not radiate heat they can be placed within 3" of the canopy. If you are using them in a warm climate simply operate a small fan across them (which you want to strengthen the main stalks anyway). If you haven't purchased yet, I recommend 2 fixtures instead of one. The increased flexibility can come in handy should you decide to supplement with other lighting.
i've not bothered to try and measure the surface temps of my bulbs but i own a 2ft, 4bulb T5HO and i've incorporated PL-Ls in my clonebox build and as far as i can tell just using the back of the hand method is that the PL-Ls give twice the power while the heat increase isn't anywhere near that significant.
frankly, i wish i'd known about PL-Ls before throwin' down on my T5, if i had i wouldn't own a T5.
peace, SOG
here's a couple pics of my T5 setup and my PL-L setup.
frankly, i wish i'd known about PL-Ls before throwin' down on my T5, if i had i wouldn't own a T5.
peace, SOG
here's a couple pics of my T5 setup and my PL-L setup.
Petflora ~ From what you say T5's sound the same (temperature wise) as a standard T12.
someotherguy ~ Why do you prefer PL-L's over T-5's? Do you have reasons other than the higher light output combined with a smaller package?
Thank-you both for your help. My Cabinet has an approximate internal dimension of 18"W x 18"D x 30"H. I was looking to use 10 ~ 23w CFL's up top as my main light and add some lighting to the sides also. I am expecting the plants to touch the bulbs on the side walls (unless I use some form of cool tube or a pane of glass to prevent contact). I WAS thinking vertical lighting (at least 6 bulbs) on the side walls though I have not ruled out horizontally mounted PL-L's if this will provide more even light distribution. As I write this I'm thinking I would need to add MANY vertical bulbs to have nice even light distribution where as horizontal mounting will be fairly even (from one plant to the next) regardless of the number of bulbs I use. I only started reading about PL-L's last night.
I'm still very eager to hear some temperature numbers and/or other peoples opinions. Thanks again guys.
someotherguy ~ Why do you prefer PL-L's over T-5's? Do you have reasons other than the higher light output combined with a smaller package?
Thank-you both for your help. My Cabinet has an approximate internal dimension of 18"W x 18"D x 30"H. I was looking to use 10 ~ 23w CFL's up top as my main light and add some lighting to the sides also. I am expecting the plants to touch the bulbs on the side walls (unless I use some form of cool tube or a pane of glass to prevent contact). I WAS thinking vertical lighting (at least 6 bulbs) on the side walls though I have not ruled out horizontally mounted PL-L's if this will provide more even light distribution. As I write this I'm thinking I would need to add MANY vertical bulbs to have nice even light distribution where as horizontal mounting will be fairly even (from one plant to the next) regardless of the number of bulbs I use. I only started reading about PL-L's last night.
I'm still very eager to hear some temperature numbers and/or other peoples opinions. Thanks again guys.
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@SOG: great custom work! I do have a question though....I have some pl's that I'm not using and would love to set up a clonebox....but also have some t5's....it seems like the t5's are easier to mount. Can you post how you mounted your pl's? Id love to use them but really don't know the best way to mount them.
...i prefer the PL-Ls because i can fit a 55watt PLL in the same physical space as a 24watt T5, ...both are approximately 22 inch's so for me 55watts over 24watts is a no-brainer.
i grew under nothing but CFL's for over 2 years so i know what you've been doing, ...btw, PLLs are CFLs, just with straight tubes and with remote ballasts.
as to why, well, lol, that was what was available at the time (my bulbs are now over 2 years old and still going strong)
morning my friend, and thanks for the props, you know how creative a stoner can get when he puts his mind to it, lol.
...and yeah, the T5's only SEEM easier to mount, in fact, the PLLs are easier.
...if you take a walk through my clonebox build linked in my sig you'll see how i wired them up and you'll also find links to suppliers and other threads.
if you guys don't mind waiting until later today i'll post up some links you both may find helpful.
shit, lol, why wait.
"the high-pod" by inefectualize
[URL="https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=143628"]Preview of my pl-l micro closet. by superpedro[/URL]
[URL="https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=180493&highlight=pl-l"]Anti's MicroStealth Cab 4000 (The PL-L adventure!)[/URL]
anyway, that should get you both started and if you have any questions i'll do my best to answer them.
peace, SOG
btw, those are only a very few of the many excellant threads available on this topic, we have MANY accomplished members using PLLs, ...for example, be sure and check out superpedro's other threads, he is one VERY handy guy, ...his english isn't perfect but then, neither is mine, lol.
pictures are worth a thousand words, lol.
peace, SOG
btw, i no longer use the upper bulb, it was too close to the tops of my cuts and caused more trouble that it was worth, ...fortunately the lower bulbs not only provide me with a passive heat source to warm the rootzones of my rooting cuts, they also provide enough reflected light to root them, lol.
PL-L lamps reach optimum output at 75F ambient temp around the lamp.
T5 lamps reach optimum output at 95F ambient temp around the lamp.
So... pretty much the opposite of what you're thinking.
PL-L's are more difficult to mount and put out a bit more light than a T5... they're like a T5HO bent in half.
PL-L's require less cooling than a T5 and I believe PL-L lamps are cheaper, last longer and come in more spectrums than T5's.
Choose your weapon!
Stay Safe!
brotherjericho
Member
I'm new to growing and started out with PLLs, never had t5s...but I will say I had trouble with heat on 3-55w PLLs until I fabricated an air-cooled lighting fixture for them. My veg box is not large so that is an issue, but with passive intake and a 120mm 80 cfm PC fan in a space 21W x 30L x 30H I was getting 85-87 before making the fixture. Now I get 75-77. Not sure how t5s would do in that same space, but probably much lower because I could only fit 2 footers so I'd had alot less watts & lumens.
2000pm
Member
Plls aka PowerCompacts/PCs have(or maybe had these days) quite the following in the aquarium world as well. Definitely more than a few different bulb choices available.
i believe it was for aquariums that PLLs were first used and yeah, there are MANY Kelvin temps to choose from as well as MANY wattages and lengths to fit almost anywhere.
peace, SOG
