12-volt lights ???

[the image reaper]

this is an odd question, I'm sure ... whats the feasibility for growing indoors under 12-volt lights ... possibly car headlights ?? ... this is for a stealth grow with no available AC electricity ... I'm curious which sort of 12-volt light would be best ... conventional, halogen, etc. ... ??? :stoned:

[DreamnBiGbud]

LED

[justaseed]

you're gonna grow with batteries for power?

[Crispyfried]

I'd look for lights that support solar panels.

[mountainman]

Here's an idea, just buy a power inverter from an auto store and it will convert your 12V source to 120V AC power. Then you can use whatever lighting you want, rather than dinking around with LED lights. LED's aren't very good for growing, they're quite uneconomical to get started with.

Just make sure that you get a power inverter that is rated for the wattage you intend to use.

[the image reaper]

nope, I wasnt even considering LED lights... strictly auto headlight=type 12-volt lamps ... any thoughts there, as to wavelengths, etc .... ?

[the image reaper]

guess I should explain ... this is a stealth-grow cabinet in a motorhome ... electrical hookups are not possible, and inverters not practical (inverters drain batteries FAST) ... would be powered by solar-panel recharged deep-cycle batteries ...

[BigBlock]

... would be powered by solar-panel recharged deep-cycle batteries ...

This is what is not possible nor practical. Do you have any idea how much solar panels cost, and how many you would need for this? Thousands, and thousands, and thousands of dollars worth. No, you cannot use a car headlight to grow marijuana. They are halogen, and you'd need thousands of watts to grow anything useful, and the heat would be MASSIVE. It would also not be possible to run this much from batteries. If this was possible everybody would be growing their weed in an old trailer out in the woods. They aren't.

[mrabrego]

I may be smoking too much, but i believe i have come across some 12v cfl's on ebay. I seriously doubt they are viable for growing though.

[BigBlock]

I may be smoking too much, but i believe i have come across some 12v cfl's on ebay. I seriously doubt they are viable for growing though.

They'd work the same for growing as any other CFL, but since they cost way, way more, it would be better just to use an inverter and normal CFLs. Even so, the wattage needed would be way more than is practical with solar panels.

[kingkewl]

look to NASA... if you're going 12 volt... you go led... now if yop don't give the plants, the fulll spectrum.. they turn blue... from what i hear.(They learned this growing letus in space..).lol... neat idea... truely blue bud...lol

[Winks]

LED's aren't very good for growing, they're quite uneconomical to get started with.

I really don't know where you are getting your information, it is true that for the first grow it is not as cheap as CFL however if you want to escape detection from thermal output and powerspikes, nothing else compares to LED except maybe finding a nice hillside with no populace and hauling water and supplies to a pocket garden so mr. sun can do his work.

http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/472669

here is just one place that explains the benefits of led lights. You should get on the NASA website or just type in LED lights for plants or LED grow lights and start reading. I hope you keep an open mind mountainman.

Winks

[the image reaper]

thanks for the lead on the L.E.D. grow light ... thats the kind of info I was asking for ... ( NOT wild exaggerations about the expense of solar panels, etc ... I already have 160 watts of solar panels, and they cost me about $750, not thousands :stoned: ... smoking too much, I guess ) ... anyway, the L.E.D. setup is what I needed, 12v, etc ) ...thanks again :smokin:

[harmonicminor]

look here ........
http://www.keelynet.com/biology/darklife.htm

I dont know if it works or not but its worth a try

otherwize cut the roof off your motorhome off or bounce the sunlight in somehow.

[kingkewl]

http://www.ledgrowlights.com ... Look at the L E D 's here....looks like the led's could be powered from less then 120 watts and be even cheepes to run/buy... looks like each bulb here has it's own transformer..

[BigBlock]

if you want to escape detection from thermal output and powerspikes, nothing else compares to LED
This could not be further from the truth. LEDs are less efficient than CFLs, and MUCH less efficient than HID. For every watt that goes in, more heat and less light comes out. Any website that says different is pure marketing bullshit.


NOT wild exaggerations about the expense of solar panels, etc ... I already have 160 watts of solar panels, and they cost me about $750, not thousands
You clearly don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about here. My post was not an exaggeration in any way. Guess what? 160 watts of solar panels will grow NOTHING. If you used 300 watts of CFLs, which might grow you 2 ounces, you'd need at least 5.4kwh per day. (300 watts x 18 hours) Solar panels only produce around 80% of their output on GOOD days for an average of 5 hours per day. This means you'll need about 1,500 watts of solar panels in order to store up enough energy in that 5 hour period that your panels will be producing useable power. These panels would cost around $6,000 if you get a good deal...not counting all the batteries, charge controllers, and inverters you'd need. These solar panels would also be HUGE compared to a motor home. This is also assuming every day of the year is bright and sunny - it's not.

If you wanted to use your 160 watt panel to grow you wouldn't be able to use anything larger than a 35 watt bulb.

Like I said, if it worked everybody would be growing their weed out in the woods in an old trailer. They're not. Guess why?

[karmaxul]

Xenon headlamps are a pure blue light. The most effecient xenon pulse at 120 times a second. Using xenon you will need to also use LPS or low pressure sodium lamps. they are a pure yellow light with 15% red do to the ir coating phillips in the netherlands puts on the end of the bulb to insulate them. lps is the most effecient lamp at 200 lumens per watt. 63 % lps lumens 36 % xenon lumens 1 % luck. Hope this helps

One love
c

[the image reaper]

This could not be further from the truth. LEDs are less efficient than CFLs, and MUCH less efficient than HID. For every watt that goes in, more heat and less light comes out. Any website that says different is pure marketing bullshit.


You clearly don't have the slightest idea what you're talking about here. My post was not an exaggeration in any way. Guess what? 160 watts of solar panels will grow NOTHING. If you used 300 watts of CFLs, which might grow you 2 ounces, you'd need at least 5.4kwh per day. (300 watts x 18 hours) Solar panels only produce around 80% of their output on GOOD days for an average of 5 hours per day. This means you'll need about 1,500 watts of solar panels in order to store up enough energy in that 5 hour period that your panels will be producing useable power. These panels would cost around $6,000 if you get a good deal...not counting all the batteries, charge controllers, and inverters you'd need. These solar panels would also be HUGE compared to a motor home. This is also assuming every day of the year is bright and sunny - it's not.

If you wanted to use your 160 watt panel to grow you wouldn't be able to use anything larger than a 35 watt bulb.

Like I said, if it worked everybody would be growing their weed out in the woods in an old trailer. They're not. Guess why?


First, I never said I was going to use my present 160 watts panels for growing, only that I am quite aware of their prices (my best friend is an electrical engineer and solar-Power Contractor, whose entire home is on a mountain with 100% solar setup) ... also, my original question was about any 12-volt lights that WOULD be usable ... replies telling me what WON'T work, are useless .... I'm surprised no one wrote to tell me a fucking CANDLE wont work, either .... point is, I was curious what sort of light spectrum is produced by auto headlights, etc ....

[BigBlock]

only that I am quite aware of their prices
So you have at least $10,000 laying around for this project? I find that hard to believe...


also, my original question was about any 12-volt lights that WOULD be usable ... replies telling me what WON'T work, are useless

That's because there are no 12 volt lights that ARE useable. :rolleyes: Your only option would be to use an inverter and normal 120v lights, but I know you'll never get that far.

[MASTER BLASTER]

First, I never said I was going to use my present 160 watts panels for growing, only that I am quite aware of their prices (my best friend is an electrical engineer and solar-Power Contractor, whose entire home is on a mountain with 100% solar setup) ... also, my original question was about any 12-volt lights that WOULD be usable ... replies telling me what WON'T work, are useless .... I'm surprised no one wrote to tell me a fucking CANDLE wont work, either .... point is, I was curious what sort of light spectrum is produced by auto headlights, etc ....that's what happens when people don't understand what they read,auto headlights are the same as an everyday household light bulb incadesente seen a thread on marijuana.com about led's they work as you can get the exact spectrum for vedge or flower very little heat and less power to run them

[the image reaper]

thanks Blaster, that answered my question ... have a great grow ! ... :smokin:

[MASTER BLASTER]

No prob reaper,but you did bring an interesting idea to my mind how about trying filters in front of a spot lamp and pointing the beam into a deflector to spread the light back onto the plant as a flood light,i think i'll try this out,got a bunch of seedlings i'm trying to give away so what better time .I'll keep you posted

[MASTER BLASTER]

that's what happens when people don't understand what they read,auto headlights are the same as an everyday household light bulb incadesente seen a thread on marijuana.com about led's they work as you can get the exact spectrum for vedge or flower very little heat and less power to run themjust did a search on led's could be very $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[MASTER BLASTER]

reaper if you plan on growing in a closet while on a trip ,you could look into a light tube you see them on homes

[the image reaper]

actually, Im a 'survivor' type, meaning I always seems to be spending too much time thinking 'what if[' ... like "what if: I go broke and have to live in my motorhome, away from city electricity ? ... do I have a method for a small 12-volt booth in there ?" ... anyway, after some responses, seems like it's not a viable idea, so 'never mind' .. :D .................................................. ...................... :stoned:

[Moose101]

I'd hate to state an obvious idea but you gotta sun roof on that motor home? How high is the roof? It maybe in plain sight but I some how doubt anyone will see it if it's still inside but under the roof. Unless you're parked under a neighbors window. Is there any particular glass that would let you get the full effect of sunlight?