Lighting Question regarding Power

I am starting a grow room in a closet (about 2x5). I think I am ready. I have all of the supplies ready but I have one question.

I am hanging fluorescent lights, but how do I get them lit? And/or how do I get power to them? I want to hang them by chains so that I can raise and lower them as the plants grow. Thank you so much!

Billybob NewGrower said:

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I am hanging fluorescent lights, but how do I get them lit? And/or how do I get power to them?

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As in, they're not wired to their ballasts? Or you literally have no electrical experience whatsoever? Perhaps it'd be easier if you described what you have and then we can help you out.

Is there a light in the closet or any oulets on the outside wall of the closet?

I haven't begun building yet...and no I have no electrical experience whatsoever. I just imagined that I would hang them from the ceiling, but then I thought. How would I get power to them. And yes I have an outlet right outside of the closet but I have no light fixtures.

Well with th lack of electrical expierence maybe its not the best thing for you to attemp doing, but if you have an outlet on the outsude wall of the closet you could install an outlet inside the closet and run the wire into this outlet on the outside wall. With Floros you would need much amperage so it should'nt be an issue tapping into the existing outlet.

HAve any friends you can trust with electrical know-how that you get to install this outlet you need?

and when you say you have no fixtures are saying you just have bulbs?

This is the biggest technical issue when trying to grow high quality weed; how the fuck do you plug your lamp in?

I have the same issue dude. I'm sitting on like 4k of grow gear but I'm not sure what to do with those black things with the three metal prongs on them. Furthermore, some of these things have two flat prongs and some have two flat prongs and a round one? WTF.

I'm subbing to wait for the answer to this one.

Is there nothing out these that I can just plug into a surge protector running from the outlet outside of my closet? I am imagining an apparatus that looks something like a pool table light except with the long fluorescent lights in them.

OK, you could go to lowes or HD or whateve and buy a floro light fixture with how ever many tubes in it you want. They are generally setup to run wireing into them. You would need to get you own piece of wire attach it to the wires in the lights ballast then put a 3 prong plug on the other end of that wire. That would allow you to just plug it into a surge protector or whatever you want to use.

I think though without any wiring exp at all you may not understand how to do this, but to answer your question yes it is possible to do what you are thinking.

Some floro light fixture come with a regualr cord on them that you can just plug right in, if you buy a light fixture meant to be used for growing it probably will have a cord on it. Much cheaper though probably to just buy a basic light fixture and make your own cord.

Drill a 1" hole in the box, & install a power bar (look behind your computer.. one of those things with 6 outlests) Get the flouro fixtures that have a plug already on it ($15, big box store) & plug them into the strip. Thats what I did. Worked

When I upgraded & bought a couple 150 watt HPS I just wired them as plug in's (6' wire & male plug end. $5-7 big box store) & they were plugged into the power bar as well. I plug the power bar into the timer. Controls everything from the one timer.

I have a small grow so this works for me. IF your looking at 4-1000 watt lights & 100 flouro tubes you will have to get another design

OK, thanks for your help!

I would suggest something like hydrofarm t5 set up, about$150. Comes with 12ft cord you could just plug in, plus an on off switch and an outlet for other accessories, like a fan, and provides plenty of light for a small grow. Keeps heat at bay as well. Hang the fixture with eye hooks and chain in the ceiling, but make sure the eyehooks are attached to solid backing (rafter stud). Also, as far is electricity is concerned, you should know what circuit breaker controls your grow space, and know the amperage of that circuit. Add up all the amps of the equipment that you are running, and that sum should be less than the circuit breaker's rated capacity. In other words, once you know your circuit breaker capacity, don't exceed the breakers capacity, our it will break, causing you to reset the breaker (not cool when on a strict lighting regime!) with flouros, and a small fan and maybe a little heater, you should be ok. You might want to think about ventilation next. Good luck and I hope this helps.

Can I just create a hole in the side of the box for ventilation?

That will help & work with t-8s Dont know abuot t-5s Even something as simple as a cheap bathroom exhaust fan would work.