that sounds like a good plan bud. i am retired controls engineer with no mechanical ability what so ever. if you have skills, you can really save a lot of money buy “McGyver” ing things. if you look at my journal i documented how much i have spent over the 50 years of smoking as justification for growing my own now. 50 years ago i said i would smoke pot for the rest of my life and i have pretty much. it will be nice to make a big dent in how much we spend on this stuff!
That’s it, EXACTLY!! My wife and I have decided we’ve spent enough on bud since we’ve been together, 12 years, we could have bought a couple/few brand new vehicles!
The way I’m looking at it right now is everything I harvest, regardless of yield, is still money we are not spending on it
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@dbrn32, could I chat with you a little about my supplies and whatnot for a DIY light? I have an idea, would definitely appreciate your input/comments.
Thanks!
Anyone else with DIY Light experience feel free to chime in anytime!!
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Sure. What’s your idea?
@dbrn32, I have 2-45watt led panels coming tomorrow from Amazon. I want to reconstruct my light as to add them instead of replace.
Always, 48” fixture in the middle. I was thinking, since my grow space is in a corner, 2 walls I’m hanging reflective Mylar on. I have 6 standard sockets that are 3 on each side right now.
I was thinking, the panels are 12.2”sq, hang both of them inches from each end with a larger space between them, from about an inch or 2 from the 48” fixture angled slightly inward. Toward the inside/toward a reflective wall. Place one of the6 sockets in between the panels and place the other 5 sockets evenly across the other side. I also have 2 clip-on, flexible lights I can run 25watt equivalent led bulbs in, facing some reflective surface.
I’m going to line the inside of the fixture with reflective Mylar too.
In your mind,…good or poor idea?
What is the 48" fixture?
T8/T10
Standard dual fluorescent, 40watt bulb fixture
How big is your total space?
Huge! Not very limited. After a little time I’m going to separate the room into 2 growing spaces. It’s approximately 22’sq. It’s a split basement
Right now, my light is 25.5”x48” I’d like to keep it at least 24” wide as that will allow a larger grow space
SNAP!
Please keep in mind, after this harvest I’m running all autos for awhile
Hmm. Well you would be in a lot better shape if you’re fluorescent was a t5, they’re big increase over t8. Either way. I would consider putting both of your LEDs near center, then placing fluorescent fixture on one side and all 6 of your bulbs in a row on the other side.
That’d require a ballast/fixture change, no? Or just replacing bulbs?
However, I very much like your idea!! THAT is what I’m going to do.
With that said, would you say it’s better to keep all 6 sockets w/60watt equivalent(9-pull) LED Plant light bulbs on the outside,away from the reflector and keep the fluorescent fixture inside as to just add a bunch of regular light?
I can’t express the level of appreciation! If it was 100% legal I’d send you samples of everything I grow!
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Your best bet would be to wrap the whole are you’re using in something reflective, then it probably wouldn’t matter. Otherwise I would keep whichever you feel has the most light directed down on the outside
Thank you so much @Myfriendis410 , @dbrn32 and @monkman for making me feel so welcomed her and sharing valuable info!!
This is a great place!!
ILGM IS THE PLACE FORME!!
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What is your thought? Experience is KING! Lol.
6-60 watt equivalent/360watts light/54watts pull,
Or 80watts, 2-2100 lumen T12 bulbs.
Which should be outside?
So,…if I put 4’-6’ rolls of reflective Mylar clipped to the opposing light sides that’d be good too?
Combination would, basically, create a reflective box, minus 2 cracks in material.
Have a pic of the bulbs?
Do they give a ppf output on them? And, have you looked at removing the diffuser on them?