cfl question kinda feeling really nooby

newb weed grower

Active Member
ok today i made a light fixture out of a dual ended lightbulb socketand a pringles can
anyways
i was wondering if 2 14 watt cfls with all of its 700lumens would produce enough heat to damage the pringle can
they dont seem to get very hot but im planning on a 24 hour vegg station
 

Mad Hatter

Well-Known Member
All depends, I wouldn't do it. Instead of a cardboard pringles can you could try cutting a coffee can (all metal) with some tin snips and making a hood out of that. Im assuming your making a hood. Just a thought, good luck bro.
 

socaliboy

Well-Known Member
i was wondering if 2 14 watt cfls with all of its 700lumens would produce enough heat to damage the pringle can
Unlikely concidering I stick mine in a cardboard box when seeding. But your gonna need a hell of a lot more than 28watts to veg.
 

newb weed grower

Active Member
i wish i could get a bad ass bulb but i cant right nows
and yah its a hood for it i thing a coffee can is a wonderfull idea

also i planned on having 4 cfls in all and its for a mother plant
so i figure it should be fine
two up top two on the sides
my recent grow got pretty big with the cfls
but in the end i had to kill them because i was growing them at a friends and he attracted alot of attension to them cause he couldnt shut up
but thats ok he was stupid
im just gonna enjoy the hell out of spring
yays
 

darkdestruction420

Well-Known Member
heres something interesting i found back when i started. They work out pretty good imo.
HOW DO I MAKE A SIMPLE REFLECTOR FOR YOUR COMPACT FLUORESCENT?

To build this reflector you will need a regular soda can, any brand will do, which you will need to rinse thoroughly until no residue is left inside. You will also need a good pair or scissor and a robust kitchen knife to cut the metal accordingly. An alternate method to remove the lid, would be to use a can opener. The lip of the lid can be used, and it will cut it cleanly. These tools should be chosen carefully as they will determine over failure or success of this construction. A lack of caution and a sharp metal edge can be fatal to your fingertips so think twice if your tools are capable of doing the job.



How and where to cut:
Firstly, draw a plan of your cutting path on the outside of the can using a permanent marker or a wax crayon. This will aid you to get a better overview of you plan and to avoid silly mistakes on the way.

Cutting the top part of the can out needs to be done first, adjusting the opening according to the size of your bulb. You do not have to cut it exactly to shape as glue (super or high-temp hot glue) can be used to stick the reflector to the bulb ballast later on. A can opener is the preffered tool for this job. The reflector is purposely not covering the ballast to ensure good aeration and to avoid damage to the ballast components, resulting in a short circuit.

Next, you will need to cut the main part of your soda can in half using your scissors. A hole may need to be drilled first using your kitchen knife to get a good starting point for the scissors.

The inside of the can is coated with a thin plastic layer that should not cause any trouble cutting through the sheet metal. The bottom side of the can does not have to remain in place but leaving it will add stability to the reflector and enhance the reflectivity. An extra hole can be cut into the bottom as well to improve ventilation along the bulb or to connect a 50mm pc-fan to the end.

Lastly, two more cuts have to be made into the sides of the semi-circle reflector to ensure that the sides do not reflect the light back to its origin but rather focus it to where it is needed. The reflector can now be bent according to your light requirements thus making it possible to focus it directly on your plants. If your reflector does not quite fit the bulb yet you can now use glue to stick it to the ballast.
 

newb weed grower

Active Member
hmm well dam i dont love being told i cant
hmm that sucks
well it looks like im gonna have to get a better bulb
today i made a hydro system out of a coffee can
i got off youtube
and well im very happy with my results
took two hours to make it look good
but in the end its a funlly awsome hydro system nows
i wish i had some roch wool or something
all i got is some aquarium pebbles
can anyone tell me a alternative to hydro mediums
just need someway to rig this
till i get some cash
u know what i learned today
making a net pot is freaking hard especially with kitchen knife
i have a slightly betetr cfl but i only got one of them
i forget its watt
im gonna buy like two 150 watt bulbs i saw for 5 bucks on internet so that will probably be alot of fun lolz
 

bradderskush

Well-Known Member
Just get some 23watters in there, 4 of them should be sufficient for a mother plant :)

Also, try making dimples on the can's surface, to kinda replicate Diamond Mylar. It sure as hell reduces chances of heat spots so no harming your baby. Just a tip:)
 
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