DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
OK, so I trimmed the sides a wee bit ;) I cut the side plates to where they are only 1.5 inches off the edge of the folded shroud. They look more like boomerangs now, but it runs a lot cooler. Doesn't matter anyway because the side pieces are just there to keep the shroud piece from slowly unfolding or bending out of shape... The good people at GE told me these bulbs ran so cool I could safely run as many of them as close together as I wanted. Yeah Right. Anyway, I'm going to add some 3 or 4 inch computer fans to blow air across the bulbs and across the topside, and post back. Will have more pictures soon too...
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
I did this awhile back. I set my lamps alternating across from each other. great idea. Very nice job.
I just wish you had taken piks of entire process, then I would want to post this in the growfaqs? As it stands...Too many people will have a hard time figuring out how you assembled the unit. I know, I Know...great job, but not everyone can decipher instructions without piks...
Let me know if you can show assembly piks...I have a trick that I believe will work to merge the piks into your tutorial. Peace
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
I know... it's way too wordy... Do you think it's safe? It runs a little hot but I'm going to put some holes in the plastic casings of the bulbs for ventillation. I'm also planning on mounting two 3" fans on either side of the top to blow air across the outside of the shroud. There will be a third fan on one side of the inside part (where the bulbs are) top blow air across the bulbs. On the other side is where I'm going to mount an exhaust fan (this is supposed to go into a rubermaid box) so there will basically be two computer fans blowing air across the top, and on the bottom one computer fan blowing air towards a bigger exhaust fan which will be drawing air currents off the three fans. I'm going to set it up and run it empty for a couple of days. I'm hoping it won't burn my house down ;)
I'm sorry for the lack of pics... I made the tutorial after I made the project. I was pretty excited to share it with everyone... I can probably get some more junk sheet metal and take some pictures of me re-making the parts... I'll post the pics here if I can do that and let you know... It would be great for this one to get immortalized. The way I see it, if you buy one of those hydrosun cfl units or whatever, it costs like $150, and once the bulb goes, thats like $60-$80 to fix... This bad boy cost me less than 1/4 of all that and I can replace the bulbs as needed for a fraction of the cost, plus mix and match to get more light frequencies...
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
A word to the wise: this whole thing is probably more trouble than it's worth. I spent hours with a protractor and other drafting tools making the prints to build the first prototype, and after substantial re-design, came up with the (second) model shown here. Even now, the final project is MUCH different from even the most recent pictures in this thread. I've had to cut trapezoid shaped pieces off from the side panels to where there's only about a centimeter of sheet metal left. That way air gets through there. I've also added PC case cooling fans to the top and bottom of the side panels, all blowing in the same direction to promote air flow. I even drilled holes into the plastic shell housings of the CFL bulbs to try to get air flow across the ballasts. For all the pain it was to design and make this thing, if it doesn't run cooler now (haven't had time to test it yet) I'd say it's best to just buy one. Building this thing was easy for me, but probably too much of a pain in the ass for the average newbie. At least if you buy one it's tested by UL laboratories and stuff. Nothing would suck worse than having to explain yourself to and insurance adjuster, the fire department, or even worse the LAW. Although that third one will never happen to me because I'm using mine exclusively for the purpose of growing indoor organic tomatoes :)
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
How many lumens in that setup? It takes two 65 watt CFL's right? Do you use the same lights in veg and flower with those bulbs or does the 65 watt come in different colors?
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
Quote:
Originally Posted by deadhead65
How many lumens in that setup? It takes two 65 watt CFL's right? Do you use the same lights in veg and flower with those bulbs or does the 65 watt come in different colors?
Designers Edge L-765
Mogul Base
White Color 6300' K
4900 Lumens
Didn't change anything and ran 18/6 for 9 weeks. I plan on buying up to 5 more of these lights here in the next couple months and put them on some wire racks to use. I like it alot where I live its about 110 + outside and inside in the closet I run about 78-82 degrees.
S_a_H
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
Listen to good advice everyone: buy this thing instead. Although technically mine has about 2K more lumens, it also took me several re-designs and almost a year to finish. If it weren't for my die hard commitment to finish everything I start, I would have given up on this one a long time ago. I'll probably end up buying one soon myself and forget all about this bad dream. Good luck and thanks to all for bearing with me.
-Mark
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
I'm gonna post pic or two of my DIY fixture. You'll see it takes much less time and expense.
First-off you don't need to get sockets for each bulb. CFL's come with a 120V ballast built-in. That means that you can just take off the metal screw-cap and get the 2 wires out that way.
That means that my fixture can go from the 10,200 Lumens it is now to almost anything.
Also I used heat conscious materials. If any on wants instructions just say so and I'll start a thread.
This fixture dissipates heat and is mylar reflected. 2 plugs for this fixture to distribute wattage and serve the dual purpose of being one plug for veg, both for flower.
This fixture took about 2 days to complete the first model(which used tinfoil for reflection) and 1 more to replace the old reflection material to the new.
Visit my log to see this setups progress.
DIY- compact fluorescent fixture
Hey there SaH. I'm thinking about buying this setup you posted. But I wanted to know the link you posted. Is that just for the fixture? I have all my bulbs already. also, I wanted to know would that setup use 2 23w cfl in a Y socket. From the looks of your grow, it looks like the fixture has two sockets to connect lights. I could be wrong. Thanks for your time
