500 Watt CFL

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Why aren't High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lamps being considered as an alternative to Incandescent? Here's a link to a page where they are sold: http://www.4hydroponics.com/lighting/sodiumbulbs.asp Here's a competitor's link so I'm not accused of playing favorites: http://www.htgsupply.com/products.asp?categoryID=4&subcategoryID=123&typeID=75 I use them in my greenhouse to artificially lengthen daytime when needed. They're twice as efficient as CFL's, clocking in at upwards of 120 lumens/watt. Compare to 70 lumens/watt for a CFL. Their spectrum is pleasant, they can theoretically be used on an ordinary household dimmer. Of course, they're expensive. The smallest of 'em, at 20,000 lumens is comparable to a 2,000 watt (!!!) incandescent. Produced in quantity, the price would go down I'd think. They actually *do* last 8000-12000 hours rather than my CFL's which seem to burn out after 500 hours on average. So... why aren't they a contender? 3 reasons:
1. They are impractical to make small enough for home lighting applications.
2. They remain more expensive due to materials and parts count than CFL.
3. High Pressure=kerblammo! if they break. (Not suited to home use.)

How safe is it to replace a single 100 light bulb with 250 light bulb in bathroom lighting? How safe is it to replace a single 100 light bulb with 250 light bulb in bathroom lighting? Our bathroom has 2 sets of lighting switches 1 is for 2 of the "heating light" which I believe is designed to have max of 250 watts each or 500 watts total (500/110 = 4.54 amp) The other swich controls 5 lights and supposly max out at 75 watts (or 100 watts each, it didn't say, but I suspect a regular outlet for lights supports only up to 100 watts) so that swich is for max of 500 watts also. Now, I have 4 of them on energy efficent (CFL) lights of 20 watts each. but on 5th one. (different location, I want to put a 250 Watts light) My question is...IS THIS SAFE??!?!?! I really like to have this done cause I want to get some "heat" from where the 5th outlet is located. 250 watts only requires less than 2.5 amps of current but I don't understand why some light says max you can use is 100 watts? LOL...I should make a details that I do have a very high grade in general college Physics regarding electricity so yes, I know P =VI....and V=IR so that P = I^2 *R or V^2/R etc etc. I should make it clear that this question is only for Real electricians. And I guess my main question is…where is the weakest link (the part I need to upgrade) to make this safe? The wire between the switch and the fixture? The fixture itself? Base on my calculation. The wire between switch and circuit break should be fine cause I know those are rated at least 15 amps (possible 20) And I am just surprised that such crappy fixture out there existed that it can’t even handle 2.5 amps of current. The term Watts is a measurement of energy, in this case heat. A 250 Watt bulb is 2.5 times hotter than a 100 watt bulb. If you are talking about screwing in a 250 watt bulb into a fixture rated for 100 watts, it may melt the fixture causing it to short which may trip the circuit breaker or start a fire! A typical power source for lighting can generally supply 15 or 20 amps depending on the size of the circuit breaker and wiring size. The wall switches are typically rated at 15 amps.
I think what you are asking is, can I put 4 20w CFL lights and one 250 watt light on the same switch (or circuit)? If so, then yes. A rough approximation of wattage is, Power in watts = volts X amperage. This would mean that each 20w bulb is using (at 110 VAC) 0.18 amps or 0.720 amps for all four and the 250w bulb is using 2.27 amps for a total of 3 amps. Your old lighting scheme using five 75w bulbs used a total of 3.4 amps. The old and the new lighting schemes use approximately the same amount of power. Your old lighting scheme used slightly more power than your proposed scheme. Note that this is only true if you use CFL lamps.

Plant/Flower Grow lights? Im using 6" pots to grow johnny jump up viola, delphinium, morning glory and sweet pea. (in good, new potting soil) All were started from seed and are 2 weeks and growing. What a great new hobby! I want a grow light system and was wondering which is best?? Im open to any suggestions. Im a beginner at this and want to keep the tab under $160. I was looking for a set which includes the bulb, protective lens, reflector, housing with hangers. You suggest either HID, HPS, CFL, wattage, lumens, etc The 2 main sets im looking at are: 1. Sun Systems 150w HPS (high pressure sodium) which claim to put out 16,000 lumens. However, I read somewhere that the color spectrum is mostly yellow/orange. -----http://www.bghydro.com/BGH/itemdesc.asp?ic=HLCSHPS015SS 2. Hydrofarm 125 Watt Daylight 6400K Compact Fluorescent Plant Grow Light System The average lumens per watt is 60. Which means this light would produce roughly 7,500 lumens. But, more red and blue spectrum with this "new" bulb tech. Again, I do not know how important lumens really are. -----http://www.homeharvest.com/hydrofarmcompactfluorescents.htm I might add I live in southern California. Its usually sunny here so I will take pots outdoors for few hours of sunlight on good days during winter/fall. During the spring and summer the plants will be outdoors all during the day light hours. (Being as no light can exactly reproduce the Solar light.) So Im really looking for a supplement light to give the plants an extended time span of light.. Thanks for your help! I live in Southern Calif also, And grow all year round also. The second lighting system is the best. but it all depends. Will this be seen all the time in your home? Are you using it also as a focus feature in your home? If so, and the cost dosn't matter, but looks count, get it. Otherwise, yep the old fashioned shop light fixture will work. Home depot. And their grow light will work also.
Yes the out put is important, but the distance from the light source is also important. As the plants are short. Keep the light about a foot away. As the plants grow, raise the light bar.
The plants that you are growing now, like the Johnny jump ups and the violas can be grown in your yard now through spring. Just keep them out of the wind a light touch of frost general wont harm them here in Calif. Sweet peas are generally started here around Feb-March. so you have a head start on them. You will need a trellis for them. I'd move them up to a 12" pot when about 6' tall. You can then put container and all in the ground for their season outside. The morning glorys are usually grown during the summer, watch out once these get going they climb all over and can smother your other plants. If you have a Southern window. Put in BIGGER cotainer with a tall and well supported trellis (they get heavy) they love the light and heat. When you notice black seeds after blooming, colledt them. You then can start all over again for next year or season. Delphinium here is usually grown, spring through summer. Hopefully you started the preannuel ones. This means they come back each year for a new growing season.
You already sound like you have the knack of growing things. Around March April is when we go crazy here at our home. Seeds containers going everywhere. Even my kids are afaried to stand still, or I might put one on them.
Happy plantings
johnny jump up viola, delphinium, morning glory and sweet pea.

500 Watt CFL is from category: Flashlights.