Solution to mount a bunch of bulbs?
- Thread starter untitled1
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TheDankness
Well-Known Member
I have seen several journals where growers do just that, plug a bunch of those into a power strip. You just have to make sure that they stay in the plug tight, they have to be able to support the weight of a light bulb without coming unplugged.
Added: I should have said that even though that works, Y splitters are still better, if you plug one into a socket, and then one into each socket of the first splitter, you get four bulbs evenly spaced and angled downward at your plants, I'll post a pic.
Added: I should have said that even though that works, Y splitters are still better, if you plug one into a socket, and then one into each socket of the first splitter, you get four bulbs evenly spaced and angled downward at your plants, I'll post a pic.
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ImissATARI
Well-Known Member
thedankness has a nice set up, i believe thats referred to as a quattro?
Right now I have one power strip with the socket you showed and a splitter in that because I only have two small plants. Once they get bitter i will run as many socket-splitters as I can (6 total bulbs im thinking)? 4 sockets plugged into the power strip each with a splitter.
What I want to try to do is this:
3 splitters, with a splitter on a splitter on each end - 8 bulbs total and it will kinda wrap around the plant a bit. I have to experiment when i get up to 8 bulbs to see if it works.
kinda confusing, know what I mean though (upside down).
-S-S------ S-S
--Y-S S-S S-Y
---Y---Y---Y
--=========
= Power Strip
S - CFL
Y - Y Splitter
I hope that turns out like i want hahaha
Right now I have one power strip with the socket you showed and a splitter in that because I only have two small plants. Once they get bitter i will run as many socket-splitters as I can (6 total bulbs im thinking)? 4 sockets plugged into the power strip each with a splitter.
What I want to try to do is this:
3 splitters, with a splitter on a splitter on each end - 8 bulbs total and it will kinda wrap around the plant a bit. I have to experiment when i get up to 8 bulbs to see if it works.
kinda confusing, know what I mean though (upside down).
-S-S------ S-S
--Y-S S-S S-Y
---Y---Y---Y
--=========
= Power Strip
S - CFL
Y - Y Splitter
I hope that turns out like i want hahaha
sgr42o
Well-Known Member
Here's what I do: I use those plug-in adapters in conjunction with Y splitters for side lighting around plants. I use extension cords and tape them to a couple books with the Y splitter standing upright on various sides of the plant. It works pretty well if you're trying to get lighting to specific bud sites during flowering.
For the top light I took an old ceiling fan that had three bulb inputs and has a max output of 660W. I cut the ceiling fan motor wires so it just acts as a light fixture and then used three Y splitters so I can have 6 CFL's on the top of the plant. (I can even increase coverage/bulb capacity via additional Y splitters if I want in the future but I don't have enough space for it now.) Walmart sells ceiling fans that have this setup for about $30-50. You can also get some chains there too for about $5 to make the fixture adjustable.
For the top light I took an old ceiling fan that had three bulb inputs and has a max output of 660W. I cut the ceiling fan motor wires so it just acts as a light fixture and then used three Y splitters so I can have 6 CFL's on the top of the plant. (I can even increase coverage/bulb capacity via additional Y splitters if I want in the future but I don't have enough space for it now.) Walmart sells ceiling fans that have this setup for about $30-50. You can also get some chains there too for about $5 to make the fixture adjustable.
ImissATARI
Well-Known Member
good advise, and nice sig + rep 
TheDankness
Well-Known Member
Don't mean to hijack the thread, but has anyone ever seen any reflector options for the "quattro" set up? I have never seen any. I'm thinking of upgrading to a 150 watt hps soon, but I'd still be interested in something temporary, as long as its cheap.
HydroBandits
Well-Known Member
yeah man i use a set up like that, check out my grow journal. (its in my signature)
i use those adapters with the Y adapters
you can get them at home depot :]
i use those adapters with the Y adapters
you can get them at home depot :]
I don't know how to put a hole in it, but a large, cheap metal mixing bowl might work. Also I saw someone on here use posterboard and reflective mylar, like wrapping paper, and spray on glue to attach the two. The bent the posterboard like a taco and looked like it worked.
ImissATARI
Well-Known Member
your talkin about:
https://www.rollitup.org/do-yourself/109235-building-cheap-light-reflector.html
I did it and am pretty happy with it. I thought there was going to be a heat issue without a fan but non so far (but i still need a fan!).
Thats exactly what I did.
Here is https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/134501-first-grow.html my thread
Here is https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/134501-first-grow.html my thread
Do you have a picture of your fan setup by any chance?
sgr42o
Well-Known Member
Unfortunately all I've got is a blurry webcam and I can't get it to show the setup without being blurred to hell. Mine looks a lot like this though only it has three lights instead of four and uses standard light sockets for CFL's:
Then I just removed the fan blade, disconnected the fan motor, removed the glass light shields, and attached two chains and hung it in a closet with the chains holding it up via the clothes line. Then I can adjust it by using one of those metal chain clips like this on the chain to whatever height I need:
Then I took the +/- wires on the fan and cut an extension cable and use wire nuts to attach them together and finally just plugged it into a standard wall socket. Works great!
If I had more room it'd actually be pretty cool to leave the fan active to provide circulation but unfortunately the closets too small. I just use a couple portable fans instead. Hope this helps.
Then I just removed the fan blade, disconnected the fan motor, removed the glass light shields, and attached two chains and hung it in a closet with the chains holding it up via the clothes line. Then I can adjust it by using one of those metal chain clips like this on the chain to whatever height I need:
Then I took the +/- wires on the fan and cut an extension cable and use wire nuts to attach them together and finally just plugged it into a standard wall socket. Works great!
If I had more room it'd actually be pretty cool to leave the fan active to provide circulation but unfortunately the closets too small. I just use a couple portable fans instead. Hope this helps.
Unfortunately all I've got is a blurry webcam and I can't get it to show the setup without being blurred to hell. Mine looks a lot like this though only it has three lights instead of four and uses standard light sockets for CFL's:
Then I just removed the fan blade, disconnected the fan motor, removed the glass light shields, and attached two chains and hung it in a closet with the chains holding it up via the clothes line. Then I can adjust it by using one of those metal chain clips like this on the chain to whatever height I need:
Then I took the +/- wires on the fan and cut an extension cable and use wire nuts to attach them together and finally just plugged it into a standard wall socket. Works great!
If I had more room it'd actually be pretty cool to leave the fan active to provide circulation but unfortunately the closets too small. I just use a couple portable fans instead. Hope this helps.
yes it did.
thanks for taking the time to explain it
Since I am new here I don't feel comfortable posting pictures of my personal set up, just swiped web pictures. This 4 way socket can be bought at the hardware store or online at mylamparts.com (part number SL19156) for $2.90 each. Throw 4 "Y" splitters in it and have 8 bulbs. I, after some reading here, have moved up to 8- 26 watt, 800 watts equivalent in each fixture. I made a reflector right above the contraption and have 13,600 lumens available per fixture.
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%MiSTuRBoMbDiGgItty%
Well-Known Member
I started out with the power strip and Y sockets but now I just hard mount sockets to the walls of my cab and wire them up and I can run up to 660w on 1 plug which is quite helpful
I started out with the power strip and Y sockets but now I just hard mount sockets to the walls of my cab and wire them up and I can run up to 660w on 1 plug which is quite helpful
Hey how exactly did you do this? Do you have any pictures?