My homemade under $15 cfl 6 light fixture.

I decided to build my own cfl fixture from an idea I got off another post. I didn't want to buy a bunch of sockets and have a heavy light to deal with. So basically I got a 6 pack of 23w cfl's for about $13 at Lowe's. This first post will show how I removed the screw sockets to prepare the bulbs for soldering. I'll be using some scrap aluminum sheeting for the fixture itself, a spare cord salvaged off some old electronics, and surplus wiring I have laying around. So there will be nothing else to buy.

The first picture shows all three steps involved in how I pinch the metal socket just enough to mash the tip, cut the socket away from the wiring and ballast, and remove all the socket to expose the wiring.








Next post I'll cut and bend the aluminum for the fixture, punch the holes for the bulbs, and wire it all up.

Looks real interesting. Is this what you are using for your clones?

I'm just using brooder reflectors right now. Those clamp on types, But they are a pain in the butt. So yes I'm making this for clones. The plan is for three of them. One on each side and one overhead. On the overhead one I'm going to go with bigger cfl's though. Then I'll make a frame to be able to run them up or down as needed. Stay tuned for the rest...

Sounds good, I'll be watching!

are those daylight cfls

Those are 23watt, 27000K, soft white at $12.48 a six pack. I'll use 6 of those in a 36" hood on each side unless I can find the next 6 in a 65000K spectrum. For the overhead 6 cfl fixture I'll be using a half dozen 40watt 65000K rated at 2600 lumens each. That one will cost more due to bulbs but the design is the same. With these three fixtures I'll be able to start my clones and winter a mother or two. I'm not interested in an indoor cfl grow just doing a little cloning on the cheap.

cool idea man-good luck...

Alright today I cut the aluminum for the hood, measure twice...cut once...



Then bend the metal into a hood. This is a side light so I put a longer bend over what will be the top...




Made some holes with a holesaw spaced at 5" center to center...



Now to glue in the ballasts with some construction adhesive...




Next I'll wire it up and find the balance points to hang after the construction adhesive sets...stay tuned

what are you intending to do in the event of a bulb burning out?

Change it out. A little construction adhesive and solder. Those things are rock solid today, will be finishing that one up with pics and finish the second one. Just made the holes for it. Keep in mind this is supplemental lighting for clones and wintering a mother or two, not a full grown growing op. With 12 23 watters on the sides at 1200 lumens each and 6 40 watters at 2600 lumens each overhead it should suffice. That will be 30,000 lumens for them in a 36" by whatever spread I set them at. 12x1200=14,400 + 6x2600=15,600 is 14400+15600=30,000

why did you tear the bulb up on the end.....just to get to the wires?? I paid $1.37 ea for light receptacles at Lowes and wired them up in series and screwed the bulbs in. so easy to mount to a reflecter sheild.

Just to be a cheap bastard. That saved me another $9 per light or $27 for the project.

Wow that thing is blinding!!!! Lots of reflection off the aluminum too. Hot damn those clones are gonna be sexy little bitches with all this light surrounding them.

Still seeing spots, LOL The picture DOES NOT do it justice.



Now I gotta get the second one to set up and wired in tomorrow after the adhesive cures. A few 2x4's out of the woodpile for a frame and hot damn got my own light system for less than $30.



Yeah, I could have spent a lot more money and done it differently but the whole point was to build what I needed with what I had on hand. The bulbs set me back $12.48 so I came in under my $15 budget. To each his own, thanks for looking. slabhead

Looks good and cheep too. Keep up the good work.

show us the wiring job and how ya did it?

fenderbender1201 said:

show us the wiring job and how ya did it?

Click to expand...

Sure fender and thanks for checking it out. I just soldered them in series, and shrink wrapped the connection, my bulbs were red wire for power and black wire for nuetral.


I just soldered them to a power cord (be sure to get the polarity right, which is the narrow blade is power and the wide blade is nuetral). Here's what it looks like <my nuetral wire is the yellow, power red> The color doesn't matter as long as the right wire goes to the right wire. After I finish the second one and have the frame built I'll hang them up and seal the holes with silicone. Turned out very lightweight probably only a couple lbs. to hang.

pretty cool dude. it'd be a a lot better if they were bigger bulbs but if your on a budget that should work.

Yeah, 12 of those 200 Watt CFL Grow Lights would have blown my budget. And if I had more powerful bulbs laying around I would have used them. This little project is just to show what can be done with a minimal outlay of cash, using my own resources to meet my needs. Since I have a whole pile of that aluminum, lots of spare wire and cords I can make many more of them if needed, stack 2 or 3 on each side and still have the center fixture adjustable. Keep in mind this is only for starting clones and wintering a mother or two. I don't doubt that I could produce some smokable herb with them but I prefer the great outdoors for that.
Thanks for checking it out and come back to see how it all turns out.
slabhead

that looks good. i want to build something like that. Right now i just have my cfls hangin from a light socket and wire wrapped around my closet clothes pole.

so... i just decided how im wiring my cfls haha. you are a genuis i cant believe i didnt think of this