Definition of NOOB lighting questions

[QuickStrike84]

I pretty much have my grow box complete but after going back and forth all day on what to do about the lighting situation, I decided to post here and see if some experience could point me in the right direction. If there is a thread like this already, I am sorry that I missed it as I have searched for it extensively. I was really inspired by lots of ppl on here so I decided to try this myself. With the actual box almost 90% complete, I am starting to think ahead and I have no clue where to begin as far as lights.

I understand what KIND of lights to use and those aren't an issue, just a truck drive away. My problem is, I am not a handy man by any means. Although, I am learning a thing or two by this little project. Anyway, so my question is, how do I actually get the lights inside my box? I know this may seem a bit odd to ask but i know absolutely NOTHING about "fixtures" or "wiring" and I'm basically stuck. I saw a couple of pics of some homemade boxes with power strips running along the sides for the CFL's, which is not very hard and I should be able to manage this portion. However, for my MH bulbs and HPS bulbs, how the hell am I supposed to get them inside my box and up and running?

I'm sorry for the lengthy write up but I am in desperate need of help and couldn't think of any better place to get advice from than this awesome site!

Thanks in advance and ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Brick Top]

Not knowing the design, size, shape, layout, dimensions, materials, construction of your grow box it is rather difficult to say what would work best or even work at all in your case. There are numerous ways to hang/attach lighting and some may work for you and others may not work for you.

Maybe a little more information would help people to be able to give you the best possible advice. Do not worry about the length of your message because the more detail you can give in any situation, be it how to hang/attach lighting or plant problems, the more detailed information you can give the more likely it will be that someone will have experience in the same sort of setup or something very similar and can tell you just what to do or someone with some ingenuity will just be able to think up a very good way to tell you what you need to do and how to do it.

Don’t be shy. Never give out any details that will cause a security risk but in all other cases the more detail you can provide the better your chances are of getting the best possible help/advice/instructions.

 

[lampshade]

I pretty much have my grow box complete but after going back and forth all day on what to do about the lighting situation, I decided to post here and see if some experience could point me in the right direction. If there is a thread like this already, I am sorry that I missed it as I have searched for it extensively. I was really inspired by lots of ppl on here so I decided to try this myself. With the actual box almost 90% complete, I am starting to think ahead and I have no clue where to begin as far as lights.

I understand what KIND of lights to use and those aren't an issue, just a truck drive away. My problem is, I am not a handy man by any means. Although, I am learning a thing or two by this little project. Anyway, so my question is, how do I actually get the lights inside my box? I know this may seem a bit odd to ask but i know absolutely NOTHING about "fixtures" or "wiring" and I'm basically stuck. I saw a couple of pics of some homemade boxes with power strips running along the sides for the CFL's, which is not very hard and I should be able to manage this portion. However, for my MH bulbs and HPS bulbs, how the hell am I supposed to get them inside my box and up and running?

I'm sorry for the lengthy write up but I am in desperate need of help and couldn't think of any better place to get advice from than this awesome site!

Thanks in advance and ANY help would be greatly appreciated!

Ok so i take it your building a wooden box. Just run an extension cord into the box and put a good heavy duty power strip on it. Mount that wherever. You need to have 2 boards at the top going across in order to hang lights. CFLs will be easy, you can just you wire. Now the HID light, is it a ballast and separate reflector or is it built together?

 

[QuickStrike84]

Wow! Quick responses! I knew this was the right place to ask this question. Ok, I am going to attempt to attach some pics of the box as of right now. I have the all panels cut but I'm waiting until I get the mylar tomorrow to attach all of them so that's why the frame looks really bare. I really think mounting a power strip on every side (minus the door) for the CFL's I intend to use, will be quite easy as I don't think i'll have much problem running a cord to the outside of the box. It's the HID lights that I'm really going to have trouble with and it's what is picking at my brain. Like I said, I know NOTHING about "wiring" or "fixtures" so if possible, dumb it down a little for me as I think this is my first and HOPEFULLY last major hurdle. I plan on having the two HID lights in the top chamber with a piece of glass seperating the main chamber. I got this layout from someone else who had excellent results but he didn't go too much into detail about the lighting and such as I'm sure most know what they are doing in this area. I noticed in his setup he didn't have any ballasts of any kind for his HID lights but IF i HAVE to go that route I will indeed.

I am having a hard time finding the right words to ask what I need to know but I'm hoping someone understands my problem. I've never dealt with light fixtures(new homeowner) or anything of the sort. There is a small light near where my grow box will be if that helps. Would I just take that light off the wall and use the wiring to wire, or attempt to wire(lol), a new fixture that will go inside my box? Again, thanks for any and all help!

 

[lampshade]

Wow! Quick responses! I knew this was the right place to ask this question. Ok, I am going to attempt to attach some pics of the box as of right now. I have the all panels cut but I'm waiting until I get the mylar tomorrow to attach all of them so that's why the frame looks really bare. I really think mounting a power strip on every side (minus the door) for the CFL's I intend to use, will be quite easy as I don't think i'll have much problem running a cord to the outside of the box. It's the HID lights that I'm really going to have trouble with and it's what is picking at my brain. Like I said, I know NOTHING about "wiring" or "fixtures" so if possible, dumb it down a little for me as I think this is my first and HOPEFULLY last major hurdle. I plan on having the two HID lights in the top chamber with a piece of glass seperating the main chamber. I got this layout from someone else who had excellent results but he didn't go too much into detail about the lighting and such as I'm sure most know what they are doing in this area. I noticed in his setup he didn't have any ballasts of any kind for his HID lights but IF i HAVE to go that route I will indeed.

I am having a hard time finding the right words to ask what I need to know but I'm hoping someone understands my problem. I've never dealt with light fixtures(new homeowner) or anything of the sort. There is a small light near where my grow box will be if that helps. Would I just take that light off the wall and use the wiring to wire, or attempt to wire(lol), a new fixture that will go inside my box? Again, thanks for any and all help!

You need to have multiple 2x4's going across the top of that box shortways. Then you can hang your light from that.

 

[QuickStrike84]

You need to have multiple 2x4's going across the top of that box shortways. Then you can hang your light from that.

Thanks for the advice! I will keep that in mind when I get more of an idea of what I actually need to do. While I appreciate your quick and helpful advice, I think you might be missing the root of my question or it might be my fault for not asking it right....

Lets say I have the HID lights hanging the top chamber....How in the world do I get them to work? Meaning, if I were to get a ballast of some sort, will that just plug into an outlet or what am I missing about this process...

Like I said, I am completely clueless about this portion of my project.

 

[Tronica]

Nice looking box. And yes, use some 2x4's to create some panels to bolt into. You can use something like eyescrews with nuts and hang it from chain. You can buy enough chain and the screws + nuts at home depot for less than 5$.

Check this easy to make A-Wing + Cool Tube out too. I have been doing alot of reflecor research and the parabolic and a-wing refs are the best for light dispersion. I just put this together the other day in under 30 minutes and I'm not handy at all. It saved me over 150$ to make my own, and it will work better than anything I could have bought. It hasn't had mylar coating layed down in the pictures yet, but it will soon.
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/161300-batwing-reflector-cool-tube-40-a.html

 

[Tronica]

Thanks for the advice! I will keep that in mind when I get more of an idea of what I actually need to do. While I appreciate your quick and helpful advice, I think you might be missing the root of my question or it might be my fault for not asking it right....

Lets say I have the HID lights hanging the top chamber....How in the world do I get them to work? Meaning, if I were to get a ballast of some sort, will that just plug into an outlet or what am I missing about this process...

Like I said, I am completely clueless about this portion of my project.

You will need to run the HID bulbs in a specially designed mogul. The mogul will have it's own cord that runs to your ballast (if its remote) and your ballast itself will plug in. Most ballast are remote these days. If it's not a remote ballast, the ballast will be housed right up with the bulb.

You can buy complete cord-sets from your local hydro shop.

 

[lampshade]

Ok i think i got ya. Yeah if you get a ballast then it will usually have a standard 120v plug. Some cheap ballasts dont include this so make sure to check. Also most ballast already have the reflector and base to screw in the bulb.

 

[lampshade]

Ah you beat me to it.

 

[QuickStrike84]

THANKS! I think my problem is solved and once the ol' Home Depot opens, I will drive my happy ass on over there and pick up a ballast

So just so I am clear about this, if I go and pick up a ballast, it should be kind of a "plug and play" type deal meaning I can just drop that bad boy in my box, scew the bulb in to the ballast, and plug it into a nearby socket? I hope its that simple lol....also..

would I need to buy 2 seperate ballasts for the MH and HPS bulbs and just hang them side by side?


I can't tell you guys how much I appreciate the responses I'm getting and after beating myself up over this all day I realize I should have just sucked it up and asked for help in the beginning.

 

[QuickStrike84]

Nice looking box. And yes, use some 2x4's to create some panels to bolt into. You can use something like eyescrews with nuts and hang it from chain. You can buy enough chain and the screws + nuts at home depot for less than 5$.

Check this easy to make A-Wing + Cool Tube out too. I have been doing alot of reflecor research and the parabolic and a-wing refs are the best for light dispersion. I just put this together the other day in under 30 minutes and I'm not handy at all. It saved me over 150$ to make my own, and it will work better than anything I could have bought. It hasn't had mylar coating layed down in the pictures yet, but it will soon.
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/161300-batwing-reflector-cool-tube-40-a.html

Nice tube! Honestly, as simple and plain as you have laid it out...I still would manage to screw it up

Awesome work!

 

[lampshade]

I wouldnt get my light and ballast from home depot. They do have a good 100w HPS buy i think you want something bigger than that. If you dont have a hydro shop in your area i would go online and order a good system. I can help you out with a good one if you give me a budget and what you want.

 

[Tronica]

yes, you will need two different ballast for mh and hps lights.

all cord sets are not the same. the cord going from your ballast to the mogul (bulb socket) could have a few different adapters on the ballast end. Suns system has a different one than some other ballasts. I think the most common is 3 prong similar to a dryer plug-in.

what are you trying to stick in there, what particular light did you have in mind from home depot.

 

[Tronica]

yes, i'm bored, give us your budget and expectations.

 

[QuickStrike84]

I wouldnt get my light and ballast from home depot. They do have a good 100w HPS buy i think you want something bigger than that. If you dont have a hydro shop in your area i would go online and order a good system. I can help you out with a good one if you give me a budget and what you want.

Well, considering I wouldn't even know what the price range would be for such things, I'm going to shoot for the cheapest but most effective way. I live in Alaska and I haven't really checked to see if there are any hydro shops around and it takes forever for stuff to get shipped so I guess that's why I decided I would just go with the depot. I saw a 400w MH bulb I was planning on picking up and I really didin't pay much attention to them I just wanted to see if they were there and then I quickly moved to the lumber section for my box.

If you could, maybe post a couple links to whatever it is you are talking about with a range in prices and I can tell how much I'll have to pay for express shipping if I decide to go that route. Like I said, shipping here is horrible and even when I pay overnight shipping its like 3 or 4 days before it gets here

 

[lampshade]

Well, considering I wouldn't even know what the price range would be for such things, I'm going to shoot for the cheapest but most effective way. I live in Alaska and I haven't really checked to see if there are any hydro shops around and it takes forever for stuff to get shipped so I guess that's why I decided I would just go with the depot. I saw a 400w MH bulb I was planning on picking up and I really didin't pay much attention to them I just wanted to see if they were there and then I quickly moved to the lumber section for my box.

If you could, maybe post a couple links to whatever it is you are talking about with a range in prices and I can tell how much I'll have to pay for express shipping if I decide to go that route. Like I said, shipping here is horrible and even when I pay overnight shipping its like 3 or 4 days before it gets here

Yeah home depot has the bulbs but not the systems. I would assume you would need a 400watt system, and i would go HPS all the way through to keep it cheap, lots of people skip the MH. As seedlings though youll be using the CFLs anyway.

A 400watt hps is usually about 200$. Ill try and find you a link for a good system.

 

[Tronica]

The problem with just picking up a bulb like that is you will need a ballast. A hid ballast is a large, heavy, metal box. Home depot doesn't sell anything like this as far as made for horticulture equipment. The best you can do at home depot is buy 150w hps security lights and convert the ballast on those. Which I'm guessing, will require more handywork than you want to get into.

The other way to get around this is by going with CFL's to start with, and ordering a hps system. this will let you get started now, vegging plants, which is better to do under flouros anyways. and by the time you're ready to flower, your hps light will arrive - you wont have to pay for fast shipping.

you can buy 10 26w cfls and some "Y" sockets and get yourself started nicely

 

[QuickStrike84]

I got this layout from another forum and the poster is "Stratlogic" here is a pic of his design and its basically what i was attempting to do as far his lighting sysem b/c it looked fairly simple until i got down to actually thinking about it lol

i'm probably still going to go the ballast route but I figured i'd post this as kind of an idea of what I was originally going for...

Credit to Stratlogic for the idea and pics

 

[lampshade]

http://www.specialty-lights.com/plantgrow-hpslights.html check out those 400 watt systems