CFL Clamp Fixtures are Costing Me Big

Gamberro

Gamberro

Well-Known Member
My CFL grow is based around maintaining a few dozen plants of very young ages until I deem them ready to be transplanted outside. I've been getting 40W CFL's from Canadian Tire for $12 a piece, which isn't cheap, but isn't all that bad, however, their fixtures (a clamp-lamp fixture with a shader, which I just screw off when I install it) cost $14 a piece. That makes my investment per bulb about $30, which is way, way more than I had bargained for. I'm checking the Net, but a cheaper alternative remains elusive. Help me out here!
 
eyewtkas

eyewtkas

Active Member
Gamberro said:
My CFL grow is based around maintaining a few dozen plants of very young ages until I deem them ready to be transplanted outside. I've been getting 40W CFL's from Canadian Tire for $12 a piece, which isn't cheap, but isn't all that bad, however, their fixtures (a clamp-lamp fixture with a shader, which I just screw off when I install it) cost $14 a piece. That makes my investment per bulb about $30, which is way, way more than I had bargained for. I'm checking the Net, but a cheaper alternative remains elusive. Help me out here!
Click to expand...
I would get 6 outlet power strips and connect "Y" converters on them to plug in your CFLs. You can use 3 spots (only because of the bulbs bulkiness) and 3 y's for 6 sockets on 1 power strip.

This would save you in the long run, you could get 2 power strips and 6 Y's for a total of 12 sockets to put CFL's in.

Here is my gheto setup but it shows what I'm talking about. I'm using one 6 outlet power strip with 2 Y converters for 4 cfls. This makes only 1 thing to plug in (the power strip) and it's very convenient.



Next step would just be making some type of hood or bolting the power strips into your growspace.

The power strips are quite cheap , proly around $5 and the Y converters are something like $2 each.

Hope this helps
 
Gamberro

Gamberro

Well-Known Member
That's genius! Thanks a lot, bud. The picture really helped, the text on its own left me with that crooked-headed puppy dog look.

What did you use to shape the main fixture, and keep it solid? Chicken wire or something?
 
armadaskier161

armadaskier161

Active Member
wow thats a really good idea, the only Y-sockets i can find are the ones that go into another socket. Do the ones that you have go directally into a outlet?
 
daisy2687

daisy2687

Well-Known Member
Yeah at home depot they have those adapters all right next to eachother.

They have ones that go straight from plug to socket so you plug those in to the power strip, then you can screw in the Y adapters (found on the same aisle) and voila, you have a 6 blubs arraingment.

Now thing about it you can make 3 of these sets and put one on top and 2 on the sides vertically
 
daisy2687

daisy2687

Well-Known Member
Hey Mitsu I was reading your journal the other day and was just wondering where you got those fixtures. Thanks for the info :)
 
Mitsu racerX

Mitsu racerX

Well-Known Member
lowes for 9.98 a piece...Lights came from walmart, whole cost about 125.00 for all lights,fans, mulan, and spiltters..
 
eyewtkas

eyewtkas

Active Member
jackonthebox said:
you can get adapters at home depot to screw the y sockets into and then plug that into the power strip.
Click to expand...
Yes sorry I forgot to mention that part. There's an adapter you have to buy in between the Y socket, but they are extremely cheap as well.

Power Strip ---> Plug to Socket ---> Y ---> CFL

You can find all of this at home depot or lowes :)

Enjoy:)
 
daisy2687

daisy2687

Well-Known Member
Thanks Mitsu!

Sorry I didnt read your post right above mine and made you repeat yourself again haha

I might make a couple of those fixtures for side lighting with some 42Ws when I get my HPS
 
Mitsu racerX

Mitsu racerX

Well-Known Member
Use the 26 watt the 42 watts are good but a lil to big for side growth...From experience believe me the heat off the 42 watt is a alot more than the 26 watt..
 
tiiiimmmy

tiiiimmmy

Active Member
Could someone post a link to where I can buy those lamp Y Converters? I've googled everything and I am coming up empty. i'm an idiot.
 
eyewtkas

eyewtkas

Active Member
tiiiimmmy said:
Could someone post a link to where I can buy those lamp Y Converters? I've googled everything and I am coming up empty. i'm an idiot.
Click to expand...
they are available at home depot or lowes. they are in a section with a bunch of adapters and converters that look similar.
 
C

Chaotic

Well-Known Member
try the fucking vanity light guys ... heres what i did

lowes i bought a 4 socket vanity, a 16 gauge wire and plug, and 4 y sockets.

connect wires from vanity to the plug and slap in some clfs and plug it in..

There you can have 8 43 watt clfs in and it only costs 50 bucks.
20 for vanity 5 for wire with plug, 2 bucks for 4 y sockets, and 20 bucks for clfs


btw those y connectors i would never pay more then 50 cents for them thats crazy if wal-mart charges a few bucks for them
 
daisy2687

daisy2687

Well-Known Member
Wait so the 3 socket vanity just has 3 places to screw in the cfl's?


Can you have a Y socket and then put more Y sockets onto it? I mean obvoiusly no in excess... I don't wanna burn the mother down..haha..
 
Mitsu racerX

Mitsu racerX

Well-Known Member
here isa the 3 socket vanity from Lowes with the spiltters and lights. ALL 3 are wired together for one plug.


the 2 light setup with spiltters for Veg


Hope this helps. Need any info just holla.
 
Gamberro

Gamberro

Well-Known Member
daisy2687 said:
Yeah at home depot they have those adapters all right next to eachother.

They have ones that go straight from plug to socket so you plug those in to the power strip, then you can screw in the Y adapters (found on the same aisle) and voila, you have a 6 blubs arraingment.

Now thing about it you can make 3 of these sets and put one on top and 2 on the sides vertically
Click to expand...
Or 3, or...
Sweet, I'll try to obtain this stuff ASAP. I just hope they have it at Canadian Tire or Canadian Whatever, Wal-Mart or whatnot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top