DIY I am going to build my own grow light.

[Eekman]

I just got back from home depot. Got all I need to fill me with about a day of work. IF I were better inclined manually, it would probably take me a half a day.

Do Not Laugh at Me!

I am telling you, I am REAL bad at building things with my hands. My dad created replica's of Northern Pacific Railroad Trains out of hardwood. Some how I didn't get the gene (he is also my step dad, lol).

However, being an old fart, I have at least picked up the skill to know when I CAN"T do something, and I think I can do this.

I have been running around this idea in my head for a while, and I need to get it out. basically it will be a board with lights attached to it. Moderately powered cfls, with hangers, allowing for even distribution of light. NOW, what I don't have are GROW light bulbs, but I have some 100 watt (18)cfl daylight bulbs that will suffice for the moment till I get some, and will give you the full idea of how it will work.

I will take some pics of the hardware, then we will go step by step untill it is done. Now I say a day of work. But it will be broken down in sessions over a few days, because I am also camera operatively challanged. Actually, taking the pics are a breeze, filing them on the pc, and resizing them and posting them is where I am challenged.

Okie dokie,

bfn,

Eek

 

[alley_walker]

I wish i could dig up an old lighting rig I built when I first started growing. The friggen thing had like 22 CFL bulbs. (Used less than 300 watts) .. Ended up being a good heater! Just remember less is more at first. Adapt according to need.

 

[Eekman]

Hardware List- Shrunken pictures

Okay, I managed to get these things reshrunk, or just shrunk I guess.

I got my stuff here. I got two 1/4" x 24" x 36" Peg board

4 screw eyes
Rope from the garage (not pictured)
2 power strip with tripper deals
1 roll bailing wire (not pictured)
6 5/16" x 1" hex bolts w/nuts and washers
6 female pigtails
4 drop light female plug in things
50' 14/2 romex
8 100 watt daylight CFL's (18w)
1&1/2 inch drill bit
smaller wire size drill bit probably 1/4 inch (not pictured)

I might need some 1x2 trim, to make it sturdy, but I don't think I will, I will create a harness with the eye bolts and rope that will probably hold it straight.

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Here is my inventory, work starts tomorrow AM

Eek

 

[Red eyed c]

Hey eek,nice thread mate but I'm gonna move it to the DIY section as this section is for testing lights from vendors.:thumbs:

 

[1highman]

Cool thread man

 

[The Squid]

Sweet stuff dude. I am about to make a similar one when I get the cash flow. Power strips and cfls, but instead of all that wiring I am just getting the adapters that are a socket on one end and a plug on the other. Plug those straight into the powerstrip, then get Y adapters to plug into those.

So it will be four Y connectors coming straight out of the power strip with a total of 8 bulbs in a fairly small space.

Looking forward to seeing yours, I love DIY.

 

[Eekman]

Hey eek,nice thread mate but I'm gonna move it to the DIY section as this section is for testing lights from vendors.:thumbs:

Okay, sorry fer postin in the wrong spot. I have a bit of a time finding my way on this site. So thanks for putting me in my right place.

Eek

 

[Eekman]

Cool thread man

Hey thank you 1high, glad you could come in and see my twisted idea. it is coming along well. I have an update soon.

Sweet stuff dude. I am about to make a similar one when I get the cash flow. Power strips and cfls, but instead of all that wiring I am just getting the adapters that are a socket on one end and a plug on the other. Plug those straight into the powerstrip, then get Y adapters to plug into those.

So it will be four Y connectors coming straight out of the power strip with a total of 8 bulbs in a fairly small space.

Looking forward to seeing yours, I love DIY.

You know my original idea was with the Y adapters, but I still will have the option of doing that the way this will be finished.

When it comes to the cash flow, I feel ya, really I do. But most of my cost was the bulbs, and stuff I don't, but a lot of people do have already lying around in the garge. Like nuts, bolts, and the romex (an old broken extention cord would work too, also they would have a plug on one end). the plugs were all about 3-4 bucks a piece (average), the boards were 6 bucks a piece. So it would probably cost a normal hands on kind of guy about half of what it cost me, which was about 120 bucks.

Okay so my next post will be pictures of the work I have done so far.

Eek

 

[Eekman]

Work In Progress. Could Use a Little Advice

Okay, so I need to point out a few mistakes. The board was actually 48" long not 36" and the other side of course is still 24". I cut these down to 40" x 22" so, in case I ever need to, I can use it in a 4'x2' tent.

Here is where I need some input. I plan on stablizing the back of the unit with picture wire. I will cover from corner to corner and then at both angles crossing them in the middle like an X. I believe that the physics of my brain says this will keep it from bowing. as the wieght of the bottom starts to pull on the sides and corners, it will actually have a adverse reaction on the top tightening it into place. I know nothing of physics. Some of you ol' timers may remember how they used to wire tables, chairs, and of course picture frames to keep them from falling over or coming apart.
Is this sound theorY?

Okay so I cut the boards simultaneously . I then put a 1/4" nut on the 5/16" screw eye, and a washer, and put the screw eyes face down through the holes in the board. Turns out that you can thread one of the 5/16" bolts right through the holes. This was a good thing cuz the drill bit I grabbed outa the garage was too small. Then I put on another washer and another nut. So all those srew eyes are set, and are located about two inches over and two inches down from each corner.


I still need the drill for the light sockets so I had to locate the drill. Then I had to locate the battery. Then I had to locate the battery charger. About an hour later I had the battery charging. While I was waiting for the drill to charge, I cut off four 5' lengths of Romex. and put the plugs on them on one end. I can't put the other sockets on them just yet. After it is almost done I will pop four holes just big enough for the romex to fit through and those will be the hanging lights. I put six one inch 5/16" hex bolts through the holes at scientifically specified holes in the board. Well, just at intervals that look evenly spaced. So the board, which will be henceforth known as the "unit" is ready for hardware. I had enough time before dinner to cut one of the holes for the sockets that will be permanently (not a hanger) placed into the socket holes. AND, it fit perfect. Wooohoooo. Socket holes are also scientifically placed randomly.

Okay enough chatter. Here are the pics.
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Okay more work tomorrow, I need more nuts and washer before I go on. I have to wire the harness before I go to the next step, and I have to have the nuts to keep the wire in place. Talk to ya later

bfn,

Eek

 

[Eekman]

Here is where I need some input. I plan on stablizing the back of the unit with picture wire. I will cover from corner to corner and then at both angles crossing them in the middle like an X. I believe that the physics of my brain says this will keep it from bowing. as the wieght of the bottom starts to pull on the sides and corners, it will actually have a adverse reaction on the top tightening it into place. I know nothing of physics. Some of you ol' timers may remember how they used to wire tables, chairs, and of course picture frames to keep them from falling over or coming apart.
Is this sound theorY?

Hi Everybody, I still could use some input, have a few minutes before I start (till the end of the falcons and seahawks game, lol)

Eek