Just checking in with my first timers...Please comment politely.

whocares100 said:

Thanks Bozo, I may order some

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you're welcome and FYI it comes in three scents i think.

btw, if you look in your local yellow pages for 'discount builders supply' or 'builders salvage' you can find some awesome deals on fixtures, for example, here's a couple pics of my first CFL light setup and you'll note that all it is is a multi-bulb bathroom vanity fixture with Y splitters in it and the 'reflector' is just a piece of wrap around ducting, ...when i made the 'reflector' it was for a cooltube with 2x 150HPS bulbs but i also use it occasionally if i use one of my CFL light bars, ...i bought 4 of them for less than $5.00 each at a discount Grossmans store.







...i'd also remind you that any time you need something, scan through the list of links in that DIY link-o-rama thread i posted and i'd bet you'll find several DIY projects by other growers dealing with the same need. (my motherboz build is on the list)



peace, bozo

Ok working on a light hood, I got 4 more bulb splitters, 8 more bulbs, 1 Piece of chimney pipe for the hood and I took apart an old 5 light hanging fixture to have the sockets and now a hanging bracket, wires, wire nuts......and a ground..Just need to attach the sockets to something....do I want them to hang vertically? or horizontally...is the idea light as much as I can get or a reflection...? sorry if that does not sound right.

whocares100 said:

Ok working on a light hood, I got 4 more bulb splitters, 8 more bulbs, 1 Piece of chimney pipe for the hood and I took apart an old 5 light hanging fixture to have the sockets and now a hanging bracket, wires, wire nuts......and a ground..Just need to attach the sockets to something....do I want them to hang vertically? or horizontally...is the idea light as much as I can get or a reflection...? sorry if that does not sound right.

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frankly, reflected CFL light isn't very useful so the reflector should only be an after thought.

...which means you want the bulbs as close to your plants as you can get them without burning them, you can tell a safe distance by holding your hand under a bulb, when you reach a point where it starts to feel hot, that's too close, if your hand can't take it your plants will cook, lol.

...if you look at those pics of my CFL light bars you'll see the sockets hang vertically, then with the addition of the splitters i get a Y formation so the top cola is surrounded by 2 bulbs, one on either side. ...but CFL light isn't very intense, nor is it very efficient for growing so whichever way you hang them should be fine as long as you keep them close.

peace, bozo

Did not like how the hood turned out last night, I need some way of attaching the sockets to the wood...I will figure that out this weekend....but I did use all the hanging fixture parts and it was perfect, 5 sockets all wired together, even reused the wire nuts...used the hanging assembly to hang her and the wire cover to cover the wirenuts and wires...grounded and working but the bulbs flop and move, I see the need for the light bar now...so I will keep looking for one, in the meantime I will keep working on the hood and finding the parts I need.

whocares100 said:

Did not like how the hood turned out last night, I need some way of attaching the sockets to the wood...I will figure that out this weekend....but I did use all the hanging fixture parts and it was perfect, 5 sockets all wired together, even reused the wire nuts...used the hanging assembly to hang her and the wire cover to cover the wirenuts and wires...grounded and working but the bulbs flop and move, I see the need for the light bar now...so I will keep looking for one, in the meantime I will keep working on the hood and finding the parts I need.

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...if you go to Lowes or Home Depot you can find single sockets in several different models, some made to screw in and some made to clip in and i'd expect you have those made to clip in. ...can you post a picture?

anyway, the sockets are less than a buck a piece i think and they wire together the same way so replacing them will be a snap and then all you'll need to do is screw them to a board, then you can just use screw eyes to hang the board from a chain.

...they also sell bathroom vanity fixtures so you COULD just get a new lightbar but they are overpriced and you don't need to spend the money.

...for real, post up some pics of the sockets you have and maybe one of us has already had to find a way to make them work and can share that with you.

peace, bozo

This is a thread with a couple good cfl fixtures
600 WATT CFL Fixture W/ Reflector

Ok here is it in progress, , I taped the wires where they went thru the hole...it does have a section on the top where they were screwed to the fixture.

if there is any threading at all then you should be able to screw them to the sheet metal, can you take a shot of that part of the socket?

peace, bozo

btw, if you go to Lowes or Home Depot and go to the electrical department you'd be surprised what you'll find, for example i'd bet dollars to donuts they have nuts that will fit those threads like they were made for the job, ...which of course they were, lol.

...take a slow walk up the 'hardware' aisles too, i can't walk through a store anymore without looking at stuff and thinking 'how could i re-purpose that', lol.

justanotherbozo said:

...take a slow walk up the 'hardware' aisles too, i can't walk through a store anymore without looking at stuff and thinking 'how could i re-purpose that......for growing'...lol.

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me tooo...!!!!!

This one is from RIU member fresnofarmerView attachment 2476633View attachment 2476634View attachment 2476635View attachment 2476636

This is one of many fixtures I have made.........I hope your able to get some better ideas off these.GL

thats exactly what I had in mine while looking for fixtures, unfortunately the nearest big box store Home Depot or Lowes is over 70 miles away, so used what I found at the thrift store, I did not think did bad for the 2.00 I spent...

Bozo I have the screws in my pocket and went through my screw cabinets on my workbench. Did find 1 or 2 2 fit, but too short. I'll think of something. and I love recycling too...

Awesome fixture, made out of duct material?

I think you need a good man around to help you with that stuff........hint hint..jk...............for real though.....no offense.peace

What makes u think I don't have one?

All in good humor girlfriend.......... for all I know you could be 16............and even if I did not smoke weed I would definatly help my girlfriend make a growlight fixture............wait a second, are you really a guy?....... or your boyfriend needs help?.............?????.......WELCOME TO RIU

I might be a Hermie, trying to figure out what I am; Thanks

Lol..............touche'.

LOL but whocares anyway...it's all in good fun.

Ok fixed the light issue and she's up and mounted, please let me know what u think.here she is all wired and grounded. Just a few alterations Now she fits on the top of my stand, perfect size. And so much more lightI added the old clamp on lights as well, Solved the bulb moving issue by using extra electrical tape to hold thw wires tighter, it gives me a little play as far as position too....