Holding up 42 watt CFLs in a cardboard box

Iquios

Well-Known Member
42 watt CFLs are heavy. Cardboard boxes aren't especially strong. I need a way to hold them up horizontally in the box. Attached image is the top view of my proposed setup. They're plugged into power strips and will be electrical-taped to the sides of the box, but I need some way to hold up the bulbs, since they're huge and heavy. Would any kind of string or thread work? Is it ok if it touches the bulb? Thanks.
 

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unforgiven1420

Well-Known Member
I read once that candles have the reddest light spectrum out of any light. This got me to thinking about growing with candles. My question is this: Since 1 lumen = 1 candle, do you guys think I could pull off a grow if I put 10,000 candles in a 2 square foot area?
this is a previous post from you....please don't experiment with this one in a cardboard box.
 

Iquios

Well-Known Member
buy a rubbermaid container dude get some instructions off this site and use zip ties.
Rubbermaids are expensive, and I'd still have the same problem. I need to find a way to attach them to the walls of the box without screwing them in, which I don't think would be possible with any kind of box since they're power strips.
 

unforgiven1420

Well-Known Member
Rubbermaids are expensive, and I'd still have the same problem. I need to find a way to attach them to the walls of the box without screwing them in, which I don't think would be possible with any kind of box since they're power strips.
its been done before man. a cardboard box with power strips and light bulbs attached to it is a bad idea. what happened to the cupboard you were building last week?
 

Iquios

Well-Known Member
its been done before man. a cardboard box with power strips and light bulbs attached to it is a bad idea. what happened to the cupboard you were building last week?
I don't remember ever saying I was building a cupboard. Unless Home Depot sells cheap, undecorated wooden boxes, I don't have many other options.
 

stankaaron

Active Member
Look in the home storage section in a big box store like Target or Wal-Mart. They sell plastic cabinets for outdoor/garage storage. They even have pictures on the front of the box that show how the shelves are sturdy enough to hold up terracotta pots. Mount the CFLs in the top and then you can raise or lower the shelf inside to get your plants the correct distance away. You'll spend 40-50 bucks tops. If you're not willing to spend even that much then you may want to reconsider growing. It takes some commitment to be successful.
 

Bubbuh Kush

Well-Known Member
Igolos wats going on. As far as the cardboard goes, I mean It's possible cause I've seen it done before. Using fishing line or something like that isnt a good idea though lol I saw someone mention zip ties, I was going to say the same thing but they beat me to the punch. Just use the power strips, buy you some of those plug in sockets to screw ur 42 watters in a ziptie the power stips to the side of the walls and top. Just make sure you have a sturdy box but that really shouldnt be a problem. AND LASTLY...if you DO decide to use cardboard, put you some type of ventilation in there. 42 watters give off a lil more heat than the normal 23 or 26 watt CFL. And you should be fine, I do want to ask how big is this cardboard box you're talkin about working with?

Someone else mentioned rubbermaids and they work good too, a lil more sturdier. You can go snag 2 big 29 gal or above for about $4-7 dollars a piece and stack em. Get one for the bottom half to sit your plants in and the top half to build your lights into but you'd have to follow the same principal with the power strips....OR.....You can go buy a 2-4 light fixture depending on the size of ur rubbermaid or cardboard box. It's all up to you man, use ur imagination sir.

Here's a couple pics of my set up
 

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Iquios

Well-Known Member
Igolos wats going on. As far as the cardboard goes, I mean It's possible cause I've seen it done before. Using fishing line or something like that isnt a good idea though lol I saw someone mention zip ties, I was going to say the same thing but they beat me to the punch. Just use the power strips, buy you some of those plug in sockets to screw ur 42 watters in a ziptie the power stips to the side of the walls and top. Just make sure you have a sturdy box but that really shouldnt be a problem. AND LASTLY...if you DO decide to use cardboard, put you some type of ventilation in there. 42 watters give off a lil more heat than the normal 23 or 26 watt CFL. And you should be fine, I do want to ask how big is this cardboard box you're talkin about working with?

Someone else mentioned rubbermaids and they work good too, a lil more sturdier. You can go snag 2 big 29 gal or above for about $4-7 dollars a piece and stack em. Get one for the bottom half to sit your plants in and the top half to build your lights into but you'd have to follow the same principal with the power strips....OR.....You can go buy a 2-4 light fixture depending on the size of ur rubbermaid or cardboard box. It's all up to you man, use ur imagination sir.

Here's a couple pics of my set up
Thanks for the suggestions. The box is 32x22x40-something, don't remember exactly. I'm not too worried about spontaneous combustion; I know from a book title that paper burns at 451 degrees, and CFLs don't come close to that.

I'm gonna buy the zipties and use those. Other suggestions are welcome, though.
 

FeRiZaJLI

Well-Known Member
y dont u try what im doing i got 4 cfls im getting 6 more tho check it out get what i have then get 4 socket adapters and hang them on the sides of the plants like if the extenstion cord has two outlets on both sides then u out them back to back long ways and u should be good good luck bro
 

ThatGuyOverThere

Well-Known Member
Rubbermaids are expensive, and I'd still have the same problem. I need to find a way to attach them to the walls of the box without screwing them in, which I don't think would be possible with any kind of box since they're power strips.
Expensive? I got me two 20 gallons for 8 bux!
 

greenweed

Active Member
well i have cfls in my setup in a cardboard box and i have porcelain sockets that i punch through the cardboard and it supports it.....maybe for you too. good luck
 

greenweed

Active Member
oh and to punch it through i just made an X with scissors and wiggled it in. the sockets i got from fred meyer which is like wall mart
 
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