using cfl - how do you make a set up with these?

J

jacksonthree

Active Member
my biggest problem at this point is trying to find a good, but cheap lighting source - i will be going to the home supply stores tomorrow hoping to find some t5 or t8 florescent systems, but i was wondering how to use cfls

like how do you put in fixtures down near your plants and make more outlets for them?
 
smkpt

smkpt

Well-Known Member
well you can just get a old lamp and just take te cord from it with everything besides the glass or what ever it is, then you can get things that screw into the socket so you can put 2 bulbs in one socket and hang them above your plants. just get a couple cheap lamps or wire them your self if you know how. Good luck
 
patch0i

patch0i

Well-Known Member
yeah, i started my plants under a set of 6 lights. i used two of these things where its straight plug to socket with y-connectors in them. and a desklamp with another y-connector. so six 28W CFL's with plugs into a surge and into a light timer and then into the wall.
 
VictorVIcious

VictorVIcious

Well-Known Member
Welcome to the forum. You can buy multi-light fixture that are normally used over the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. The six light fixture is under $20.00. Add a cord and timer, your good to go. You would be wise to check out some cfl grow journals posted in this forum. There are several very good ones and you will see lots of ideas on how to accomplish this. VV
 
J

jacksonthree

Active Member
VictorVIcious said:
Welcome to the forum. You can buy multi-light fixture that are normally used over the medicine cabinet in the bathroom. The six light fixture is under $20.00. Add a cord and timer, your good to go. You would be wise to check out some cfl grow journals posted in this forum. There are several very good ones and you will see lots of ideas on how to accomplish this. VV
Click to expand...
thanks for the info on the bathroom fixture i have seen them before and it sounds like a cheap yet effective system
 
pauliojr

pauliojr

Well-Known Member
Here is an example of an old set up that I had. Some lights hung from a closet pole where the coat hangers go, while others were laid and clipped near the sides of the plant. Hope this picture helps.
 

Attachments

T

tmpsanity

Well-Known Member
You can find those same bathroom fixtures at building surplus or thrift stores also if you wanna save a few bucks.
 
killertomatoes

killertomatoes

Well-Known Member
hey, not to knock the bathroom light design, but...

with the way they bulbs face straight down like that (in one of the pictures up there) you lose a lot of light exposure/radiance to the sides. using a nice reflector would help a little, but adjusting the bulbs sideways instead of up and down would help much more.

the method I used was the lamp splitters with two heavy duty 45w cfls, this way the lights are side by side, and the cheap beer can reflectors I made shoot more light down than up and around.

if you want to go with splitters, the mart of wal has them, and a nice lamp with than can handle 250w for about 11 bucks.

with those larger CFLs you should do nicely though for two plants. I have 8 plants under two seperate 2 45w cfls and they are coming along.

just a thot to help with the question.
 
F

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
Brokenhope420 said:
did you have to wire the triple fixture set? or does it come with an outlet plug?
Click to expand...

i had to wire it. it was as easy as drilling a hole thru the board for 2 wires. then i just cut the end off an extension cord and wired it to that. 2 splices and a couple of wire nuts.:mrgreen:
 
B

Brokenhope420

Well-Known Member


I have 6 cfls. the lamps I found at lowes for $12 ea, they are by far the eaisest to use since its got a snake thing, and I think there were some suitable $8 lamps at lowes too.


fbb: awesome I saw some 6 set lamps for like $25 I may get that and wire it to a extention cord.
 
midgradeindasouth

midgradeindasouth

Well-Known Member
I would think that you would have to put a plug on the end of the wire that came with fixture.
Think about it your bathroom light is wired to a light switch.
I just took some old lamps apart myself and got the y socket connectors.

Lowes has a t8 that is listed on their web site as a grow light. It is 21" self contained. It is only 15w though. I think they are 12.00 a piece.
I used 3 of the 21" and 3 42w cfl's for 6 plant veg and they did very well.
With those low watts you can really get the bulbs close to the plant.
I would like to get a 400w hps for flower.
Right now I am stuck with what I have. I will prob have to just get a few more red cfl's and be satisfied with that for this grow.
Cash flow is slow now adays
 
F

fdd2blk

Well-Known Member
killertomatoes said:
hey, not to knock the bathroom light design, but...

with the way they bulbs face straight down like that (in one of the pictures up there) you lose a lot of light exposure/radiance to the sides. using a nice reflector would help a little, but adjusting the bulbs sideways instead of up and down would help much more.

the method I used was the lamp splitters with two heavy duty 45w cfls, this way the lights are side by side, and the cheap beer can reflectors I made shoot more light down than up and around.

if you want to go with splitters, the mart of wal has them, and a nice lamp with than can handle 250w for about 11 bucks.

with those larger CFLs you should do nicely though for two plants. I have 8 plants under two seperate 2 45w cfls and they are coming along.

just a thot to help with the question.
Click to expand...


are you clowning my board????????? j/k i'm about ready to swap it out with a 250w MH. i do have mylar around all the sides. i have a light meter and CFL's put out the most intense light directly out the top of the bulbs. i think the side lighting from them is as much but it's more spread out. i feel any more than 6 CFL's and you might as well go HID. the watts add up quick. with the flor's i have now i could replace it all with a MH and use less wattage and get better growth.:mrgreen:
 
Roseman

Roseman

Elite Rolling Society
At Lowes and Home Depot, they have Reflector Clamps that are made for the CFL bulbs.
You can go to Stealth hydro.com to see pics of them, look for Dual Spectrum ii Lights there and you will see the reflector clamps.
 
000420

000420

terpenophenolic
Here is one i made with crap from walmart, 1 plastic security light, 2 Y socket adapters, 1 lamp cord, 2 wire nuts, 1 disposible aluminum roasting pan,duck tape and white trash bags.Total cost $25 including the cfl bulbs
 
000420

000420

terpenophenolic
Here is one i made with crap from walmart, 1 plastic security light, 2 Y socket adapters, 1 lamp cord, 2 wire nuts, 1 disposible aluminum roasting pan,duck tape and white trash bags.Total cost $25 including the cfl bulbs.....:joint:
 

Attachments

J

jacksonthree

Active Member
000420 said:
Here is one i made with crap from walmart, 1 plastic security light, 2 Y socket adapters, 1 lamp cord, 2 wire nuts, 1 disposible aluminum roasting pan,duck tape and white trash bags.Total cost $25 including the cfl bulbs.....:joint:
Click to expand...
very nice!

is wiring the security light difficult?
 
000420

000420

terpenophenolic
jacksonthree said:
very nice!

is wiring the security light difficult?
Click to expand...
It's as simple as twisting on two wire nuts, 1 on the lamp cord and light nuetrals(white wire in light and rough side of lamp cord) and 1 on the lamp cord and light hots(black wire in light and smooth side of lamp cord), takes 5 seconds very easy, I built the whole thing and hung it in less than 10 minutes.....:joint:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top