Another option is to make a "panel", not sure if that's appropriate for your planned use. I built a couple of these for about $35, if you're in the US it'll probably cost you $25-$30 and can hold up to 6 bulbs per "panel". Here's a link to an explanation of what I did and pics in the DIY thread. I originally built them for supplemental CFL's but now I mainly use LED bulbs or mix LED and CFL bulbs for heat, the supplemental lighting is a bonus.
I used HD brand (from Home Depot) 75w 5-1/2" clamp-on reflectors. Lowes sells Bayco brand which look identical. Walmart sells clamp-on reflectors but not sure if they have them in this smaller size.
Captainmorgan did something similar, making a UFO (<<link). Whenever I do top lighting I think I'll use the gooseneck flexible extensions. I'd prefer to position each light to the contour of the canopy, close as possible, direction.
This is tempting. I may incorporate this information into my project. I'll let you know how it goes if I take that route. That board design looks decent
AZ -
Here's an example of one I'm using right now in a 2x2 breeding tent. Needed my temps higher and reduced humidity when I moved the tent to the basement for this run. I run a 200w LED in there + I hung the DIY panel on an angle and close to the tops, initially put all CFL's in it, but too warm, so I took out 3 CFL's and replaced them with 3 LED bulbs, temps were then perfect. Running 270W in a 2x2x4' tent and that little panel so close to the tops, I inadvertently got a bunch more yield than the last seed run. BonusThis is tempting. I may incorporate this information into my project. I'll let you know how it goes if I take that route. That board design looks decent
Thinking about it now, if I used the design plan from GroErr, I'd be more inclined to use the A19's in a cluster.
That's 2 plants, one Pure Power Plant (left) and one Jack The Ripper. They went in at about 14" but wide/deep, I had them LST'd and FIM'd thinking I was going to flower them but ended up with too many plants, so I did a seed run instead. They stretched like crazy and filled the tent. This is the first time I've used this combo in the tent, with the yield I'm looking at, I'll be running this setup again in there. Crazy what adding some different spectrum can do. Those are 2700k CFL's and 4000k LED bulbs.I can now like on this forum!
GroErr, how many plants are included in that pic of yours? I see massive colas
You could try a bunch of bulbs and do sort of what like CaptainMorgan shows in his journal/thread (Link above on AZ's reply). Then again, he had so many periodical, oddball additions throughout the process that it's hard to know how many would suffice and how many would bring above average results for your situation.
I'd hope so. Never grew with CFLs. Just looks corny and non legit imo lol but people do it and make it work so there must be magic behind it
I'd used them for seedlings and clones in the past, makes no sense now though, LED's are so much more efficient and cost is now reasonable.I'd hope so. Never grew with CFLs. Just looks corny and non legit imo lol but people do it and make it work so there must be magic behind it
I wouldn't recommend swapping out your CFLs for Cree bulbs for a few reasons.
It looks like your looking to jump onto the LED bandwagon soon and that's a good thing for all of us. It's almost the year 2015 and LED lighting for indoor growers has progressively gotten better over the years, with thousands of recorded grows using all different types of systems.
I'm loving it, this specific Philips Elite Agro bulb rocks for flowering, never seen anything like it. Great yield and shorter flowering time in the first run. I'm 3 weeks into the second run with a full 3x3 and it's going at the same pace as the first go, crazy flower growth/speed. Running that 3x3 thread in my sig, looking to see what this 315W can pull out, looking good so far
