CFL rigging?

It's been about 25 or 30 years since I grew anything indoors, gonna give it a try again. Used to do good with fluorescents, want to give these CFL's a go. Bear with me, I am not too computer literate.

I got a 32" by about 56" space I am gonna build an insulated closet downstairs. I sized it for fluorescents, but figure I could load it with CFL's. I figure I would start with a piece of 1/2" plywood that fits in this space with hooks on each corner so I could use chain to control daily height, just like I used to do with flourescents.

What sort of stuff do I need to buy to mount the CFL's and how would I do that on a piece of plywood about 30X52? I mean, I see you folks using these two bulb angled bulb holders, but what are they screwing into?

I already got a power lead running into this space I put in years ago with this idea in my head. I plan on building the space this weekend.

Thanks for any ideas, suggestions, etc. on that actual light fixutre rigging.

JQPublic

Anykind of bulb socket. I bought a outdoor foglight type of light and cut the weather guard off it so my y-socket could fit. I rigged up a old light also that has two bulb outlets so with 2 y-sockets in it i can have 4 CFLs in it. But the hang the bulb most of the time so it's easy to adjust the height. My foglight is a hanging one so you just hook it to something so it can hang over the plant.
Let me know if you want more detail. (I'll send you pics of my box if you wanna see a exampal.)
I hope this helped.

D.

John Public said:

It's been about 25 or 30 years since I grew anything indoors, gonna give it a try again. Used to do good with fluorescents, want to give these CFL's a go. Bear with me, I am not too computer literate.

I got a 32" by about 56" space I am gonna build an insulated closet downstairs. I sized it for fluorescents, but figure I could load it with CFL's. I figure I would start with a piece of 1/2" plywood that fits in this space with hooks on each corner so I could use chain to control daily height, just like I used to do with flourescents.

What sort of stuff do I need to buy to mount the CFL's and how would I do that on a piece of plywood about 30X52? I mean, I see you folks using these two bulb angled bulb holders, but what are they screwing into?

Click to expand...

Usually just an extension cord with a socket. They sell them pre-made for ~$6. You can make your own for half of that.

John Public said:

I already got a power lead running into this space I put in years ago with this idea in my head. I plan on building the space this weekend.

Thanks for any ideas, suggestions, etc. on that actual light fixutre rigging.

JQPublic

Click to expand...

A 4-6"(10-15cm) wide piece of 3/8"(1 cm) thick plywood. Covered with aluminum foil(shiny side out) glued to the plywood(use a soft cloth to make it smooth). Ideally ~45 degree flanges around the same width can create a wider dispersion while maintaining higher intensity than diffusion methods.

Drill holes into the plywood, 3/8" or 1 cm diameter, put dowel rods into the holes, glue them to secure. Or leave them be with mechanical fasteners(so you can adjust the lights individually as well).

You want the lights parallel to the main piece of plywood. Done efficiently you can mount two sockets to a dowel rod(drill another hole for the wires). The fixture itself can easily be adjusted with 4 O-ring screws in the four corners of the plywood. Attached to chain/rope.

It's basically like a regular floro reflector/fixture except with multiple CFL bulbs(26w bulbs are about 2.5' long cylinders by 3/8" diameter spiraled into a much smaller space).

See attachment for reference(around 6"x4', for reference, 12" from flange tip to flange tip).

Since you said you're going to load it with cfl's I assume you mean the small household ones. If you're going to use any large (125w) ones you'll need the larger mogul sockets.

i personally would reccomend going up to the larger CFLs if your going to stick with them. ifyour jsut experimenting then the househod ones will do.

D., I'd love to see some pics of your set-up man. How do we do this? Can you put them here?

Gotta head out for work, can't check this stuff out on my work computer, have to wait till I get home later tonight.

JQ

Can I buy bigger cfl's local, or do you gotta order them? I looked at Lowe's yesterday, not much there that seemed like it would work, but I didn't bring any reference along with me.

I want to do this such that I don't waste much $, cause there ain't much to waste. So I'd rather pay now and just let it be.

JQ

Here's a pic or two of my current box. I'm going to buy a bigger one and switch sometime soon. The current light I have in it is a old light I fixed up. It's long but skinny so it works perfect. I only have 3 lights in there too.
I adjust the height by two shoe strings that are holding the light up.
Hope this helps you get an idea.