Blackthumb Light Box revisited

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
I used the shell of an 8" X 12" Plastic Organizer Drawer (Picture #1)

Trim the long sides so that they are just a little deeper than the width of the bulbs that you are using (Picture #2)
Mark off the circles for the fans and the socket adapters (also Picture #2)

[NOTE] This version has only 3 lights instead of 4 (my original design flaw was not to leave enough room to spread the reflectors properly. SO the bulbs are still alternated as well as the fans) the placement of the fans and bulbs are as follows.

Side 1 = 1 bulb in center, one fan (blowing out) on each side of the bulb see Picture #3 The larger holes are for the fans

Side 2 = 2 bulbs one on each end and 2 fans (next to each other in the center, blowing in) [see Picture #3] The larger holes are for the fans
 

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
Carefully cover the entire inside with silver foil (dull side out) (Picture #1)

Insert and secure the 3 light sockets (Picture #2)

Secure the fans (Picture #2)

Wire the 3 lights to 1 plug using a lamp cord by twisting the 3 negative wires together, then twist the 3 positive wires together.

Connect to 3 negative wires to the negative wire on the lamp cord
Connect to 3 positive wires to the positive wire on the lamp cord
Isolate and cover the connections with wire caps or electrical tape making sure not to allow the exposed (+) and (-) wires to touch after you plug them in.

Twist the 4 (-) Fan Wires Together (Picture #3)
Twist the 4 (+) Fan Wires Together (Picture #3)

Cut the end of the laptop charger off that plus into the computer

Wire the (+) wire of the Laptop Charger to the 4 fan (+) wires you twisted together (Picture #3)
Wire the (-) wire of the Laptop Charger to the 4 fan (-) wires you twisted together (Picture #3)

Isolate and cover the connections with wire caps or electrical tape making sure not to allow the exposed (+) and (-) wires to touch after you plug them in.
 

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
I used 4 Pieces of string and screws to hang the box over my grow (picture Frankenstein coming down from the lightning tower on the bed with the 4 chains, this also allows for strange angles if you adjust properly)

In adition I paid $10.00 each for clip on lights with goose neck (the twisty stuff) to which I neglected to assemble the reflector that came with it and added another 4 40 Watt CFLS one on each quaeter of the grow angled down but sitting verticle reflecting light around the sides of the plant from a down angle. See Diagram

All bulbs employ the tin can Reflector method
 

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
I also found for about $20.00 at Lowes a Inductive, and Resistive Timer 15 Amp/500 WAtt Tungsten, 1/3 H.P., 120VAC, 60 Hz AND it's Digital to boot. Handles all 5 Cfls with a 3 Outlet adapter (3 Wired to one for the box + 2 gooseneck lamps) The 2 timers are set to leave the fans on for 1 hour after the lights go out but the fans come on at the same time the lights do.
 

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
5 X 40 Watt Spiral Florescent bulbs at $9.99 each (Lowes)
Single 8" Plastic organizer Draw $5.99 (Wal-Mart)
Aluminum Foil (OR you can buy the MYLAR wrapping paper the shiny silver stuff but the foil was $2.99 (Wal-mart)
3 X Mogul Base Screw on mount light sockets $1.99 Each (Lowes)
2 X Goose Neck Clip-on lights $10.00 Each (Lowes)
4 PC Fans (Had) but they were like $2.50 Each (Pricewatch.com)
Laptop (Notebook) PC charger (had) But free if you know someone disposing of one, or you can try (thrift stores) $1.00 - $5.00
2 X Resistive/Inductive, Digital Timers at $20.00 Each But you can get away with one. (Lowes)

Include Electrical Stuff (Lowes, Home Depot)

Electrical Tape $1.00
Surge Protector $8.99
Power cord for light box $2.99
12" Desk Fan $12.99
8' Dryer Duct $5.99
Duct Tape $2.99

Include Soil and Etc.

8" Plastic Pot with drainage pan $2.99
Miracle Grow Potting Soil $8.99
Perlite $2.99

It took ME about 3 hours to assemble. About $120.00
 

cyphercrash

Well-Known Member
So a recap...

3 X 40 Watt Spiral Cfls hanging directly over the planter. Wired to 1 single lamp plug. Included are 4 CPU Fans 2 blowing IN to the box, and 2 blowing OUT.

4 X 40 Watt Spiral Cfls Mounted to a 15" Planter VIA 4 goose neck clip on lights (I screwed into the clip and secured them to the planter)

2 Resistive/Inductive Digital timers, only because I did not feel like wiring the 4 additional lights to one plug so I used 2 timers and staggered them by 5 min to allow for a natural sunset (Sort of)

A 12" 3 Speed Fan with a custom reduction to 6" venting out the back of the closet in to the laundry room beyond which has a door and a window in the door
 
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