[dcarch]

Go with what Ami suggests with the following thoughts:

I would suggest to you, and everyone else, to go all out and get the best lights possible, even that means you have to get a second mortgage.

You spend enough in fertilizers, tools, time and efforts, energy costs ------------------.
A good lighting system will make the difference if you can or cannot grow certain varieties, and will get you so much more in bigger production from your plants.

A good lighting system will last a long time, and saves you electric cost. It will pay itself back at the end in many ways.

I would go with a system similar to what Ami suggests, but I would consider getting a system with electronic ballast. You will get more light output, and the light bulbs will last longer. Yes, it is very expensive. But if you are patient and shop around (eBay, Craig’s List). You may end up very lucky.

I got two electronic ballasts, one $45.00 and the other $40.00 and I built my own lights with spare parts.
http://tomatoville.com/showthread.php?t=7747&highlight=halide

Bill, in you case, I would assume you are just trying to extend the daylight hours to grow plants, and not so much for seed starting. The only option I belief is to go with a HID system to get the cheapest per watt of light output. A 1,000 watt CFL will cost you a lot more in light bulbs alone. A 125 Watt bulb will cost you about $60.00 and it lasts about 8,000 hours.
I got my 400 watt MH bulbs at $11.00 each and they last about 10,000 hours.

dcarch