Dyi 3,200 Watt Cfl Light Bar

[mibrains]

so i decided to build my own veg light.

 

i have been using a combination of CFL 100watt equiv (23watt) daylight color mixed in with my veg room for a couple years and the plants really enjoy the light.

 

so in my recent expansion i had to decide whether or not to buy new T5 light fixtures or build my own out of parts i already have... well financially that was a no brainer so i built a light bar.

 

its actually the second one i have built recently.

 

on this new one i simply put 32 single bulb fixtures ($under a dollar each) on a frame of wood i built from left over project materials.

 

the bulbs are $2.50 each... plus the fixtures i have under 4 dollars per fixture..

 

include the wire (which i already had left over)

and wood( also left over)

approximation cost for me is $112.00  if you have to buy the wood and wire add appropriate amount.

 

i drilled holes for the lights centered on the overall size.

 

i pivoted the light bar to the wall using some metal brackets i found in my tool room... that allows me to raise the light on one end and allow for plenty of work space then lower the light back down to the perfect height above the clones without very much effort.

 

the fixture itself is 40 inches wide by 85 inches long (so it fits very well over a full sheet shelf. (4foot by 8 foot)

 

not sure on operating cost just yet or operational efficiency but i am so very excited about the method and i hope this light provides plenty of light for early stage vegetative plant growth.

 

[t-pain]

is the rabbit fence to keep you out of the bulbs then?

 

i picked up 4x 48" fluro fixtures free from someone off craigslist. just had to clean them off (they were pretty filthy, setup as garage lighting).

 

so its reduce, reuse , recycle for me.

[mibrains]

thats awesome T

 

yep...

 

nearly took out 3 bulbs with my forehead the first day so i stapled up that plastic to remind me to keep my head and hands outside of the vehicle

 

great deal on those garage lights..

 

i searched the lists before i bought / built this one.. and there was nothing close for me.. so i built..

[zachw]

Just keep in mind that CFLs are omnidirectional, and this may not be the most efficient use of 736 watts.

 

But the great thing about the setup is that you'll be able to substitute LEDs as they come down in price & can mix & match. GE  announced that they are going to stop making CFLs this year!

Edited February 2, 2016 by zachw

[Kingdiamond]

Thing with the twisty bulbs is one or two dont put off much heat   that many might cause you some heat issues check your temps.

[t-pain]

i've seen people put splitters in those single bulb holes and then run two lights off every socket.

 

for cfl anyway.

 

and yeah, i dont see many lights on craigslist for free. got lucky! haha

[mibrains]

thanks KD.. monitoring temps closely (i usually do) but whenever i make changes i monitor closely... frikkin flower room is at 84 this morning... no clue why.. something i moved yesterday.. gotta go put it back and get that temp back down to 79... not critical yet but over whats comfortable.

 

i have seen splitters also... i watched a whole series on you tube where they flowered their plants and everything under CFL. 

 

i just needed to use them to get me through in veg until i can afford something better...unless of course they blow my mind away.

 

its my last choice for lights... however i can afford them right now and they do work.

 

i thought it was an excellent opportunity to showcase them in the event someone else is trying to decide on using them so i figure why not show and tell...

 

i actually thought about hanging a reflective curtain around my table space to reflect the light back in because they are omnidirectional zach however i have not got the materials... so i decided the gain of using them would not be enough to offset the purchase price..i only use 736 actual watts but i get 3,200 supposed watts

i know without a PAR meter there's no way i could gauge the effectiveness other than to watch the plants and see....

 

so thats where i am... watch and see mode

[trichcycler]

I've seen beautiful flowers grown under cfl's. Awesome for photo's.  A quick refractometer check shows the same as the leds, not enough par to make "it" happen, a full expression. smells ok, grows ok, but does not efficiently burn carbs the way a sun or hid lit plant does, resulting in less of everything, except pests and molds, which need those unburned carbs.  Newbies are fascinated with the flowers, but ole timers will shuck the scraps grown under a cfl.  led's are improving, just not as fast as their price is increasing. imo

 

vegging I've seen no issue with carb' burning/expressions, but in flower cfl's could be a let down for the experienced user. 

[garyfisher]

very nice mibrains.

[mibrains]

thank you

[imiubu]

Gotta dig the DIY'ers... peeps getting things done.

 

Nice job for sure.

 

I recently saw a DIY LED build that is turning out some stellar plants.

 

I hope this works very well for you.

 

Non grow related but... I bought a couple of the LED lamps that look

like regular bulbs for my bathroom a few months ago as I didn't care for

the time it takes for the CFL's to warm up.  Oh man, I love the lighting.

They are costly for sure.  I wrote the date on the end just to see how long

they last lol.  I will be replacing my home lighting with these if they prove

cost effective.

[Hydraulic Jack]

thanks KD.. monitoring temps closely (i usually do) but whenever i make changes i monitor closely... frikkin flower room is at 84 this morning... no clue why.. something i moved yesterday.. gotta go put it back and get that temp back down to 79... not critical yet but over whats comfortable.

 

i have seen splitters also... i watched a whole series on you tube where they flowered their plants and everything under CFL. 

 

i just needed to use them to get me through in veg until i can afford something better...unless of course they blow my mind away.

 

its my last choice for lights... however i can afford them right now and they do work.

 

i thought it was an excellent opportunity to showcase them in the event someone else is trying to decide on using them so i figure why not show and tell...

 

i actually thought about hanging a reflective curtain around my table space to reflect the light back in because they are omnidirectional zach however i have not got the materials... so i decided the gain of using them would not be enough to offset the purchase price..i only use 736 actual watts but i get 3,200 supposed watts

i know without a PAR meter there's no way i could gauge the effectiveness other than to watch the plants and see....

 

so thats where i am... watch and see mode

You can download apps for your smart phone to check your light output....HJ

[trichcycler]

a decent free one here, but no par reading on stand alone apps unfortunately. par meters are cheap on amazon.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/galactica-luxmeter/id666846635?mt=8

Edited February 6, 2016 by grassmatch