Easy's CFL Grow Box journal

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

I know I must have had a tiny bit of light coming in and didn't seem to have a problem.. I tried to keep it as dark as possible though..

What do you plan on using to mount the lights? A surge protector would work well with the fittings you can plug right into the outlet that the cfl screws into. That way it sits horizontal and its easy to mount and cheap..

 

[gumball]

The amount of light is really hard to gauge. I think as long as the plants aren't stressed badly, a very small amount would be ok. Just don't put em in the sun 6 hours into the dark cycle!! J/K'ing think about outdoor plants. They all experience some type of break in dark, but it is almost all "gradual" change which doesn't stress them badly. That is the key, LOW stress.

 

[Easy420forme]

I know I must have had a tiny bit of light coming in and didn't seem to have a problem.. I tried to keep it as dark as possible though..

What do you plan on using to mount the lights? A surge protector would work well with the fittings you can plug right into the outlet that the cfl screws into. That way it sits horizontal and its easy to mount and cheap..

I hard wired four standard light sockets with two on each side on the top. What do you mean surge protector with fittings.... you lost me, sorry.

The amount of light is really hard to gauge. I think as long as the plants aren't stressed badly, a very small amount would be ok. Just don't put em in the sun 6 hours into the dark cycle!! J/K'ing think about outdoor plants. They all experience some type of break in dark, but it is almost all "gradual" change which doesn't stress them badly. That is the key, LOW stress.

yea, outdoor plants get moonlight and such, so as long as you don't shock the beautiful plant with bright light, they should be fine.

 

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

I hard wired four standard light sockets with two on each side on the top. What do you mean surge protector with fittings.... you lost me, sorry.

My bad, maybe I can explain it a little better lol.. You know the thing you plug into the wall "a Power Strip" that has multiple sockets for your computer, tv, etc etc... You can mount that in your box and then get a couple of these>>>Outlet To light Socket<<<

That was just a simple suggestion though, if you already have something wired up then perfect!

 

[Easy420forme]

ok... my bad... in the picture below you can see what I wired in.


I have two on each side. They are not mogul sockets. just standard.

 

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

Looks good, how many watts do you plan on using? Are you mixing 6500k and 2700k cfl's?

 

[Easy420forme]

I ask myself that question daily. Thoughts?


Right now I have 4 x 26watt CFL lamps running continually. I think I have to break down and but the $50 variety 150 watt cfl lamp but I only need one for the one plant I plan on growing.

Suggestions???

 

[gumball]

no, just pick up a couple y adapters, and when you go to flower, just ADD your flower cfls you currently have along with the veg cfls your using now. this will give you very good coverage and a good mixed spectrum. my .02

go cheap this round bro, you have enough into it now, money and labor, and its a good job. just flow now.

 

[Easy420forme]

Ok thanks for that peace of mind. When should I expect the seedling to peek it's head through the dirt? Just planted it last night.

 

[gumball]

a couple days. if you dont see it in 5 days GENTLY (cannot be stressted enough) move the soil and see if you can find it. it took my lemon skunk about 5-6 days to sprout and i thought it wasnt. tossed the soil a bit and it was right there.

 

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

I've had good results with using a mixed spectrum so far! I've also read from more than one legit source that they have compared the difference's, and using a mixed spectrum is the way to go!

 

[Easy420forme]

Thanks. No telling what kind of seed this is. My attitude seed shipped today. I guess I should have it soon. I'm going to play with this bag seed for a bit before I start using the paid for autoflowering seeds.

 

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

You'd be supprised at what you will get out of regular bag seed! Some of the first plants I grew and topped for practice I gave to a friend with a 1k hps and they both turned female and smell great and look great!! I am shocked honestly, I can't wait to smoke it!!

I'm interested to see how that ak does, the grapefruit sounds good too!! You gonna do one at a time?

 

[Easy420forme]

Yeah. One at a time. I'm more interested in quality than quantity. Since I can't clone with autos, I'll likely start another grow once I harvest. Not the most cost efficient grow method but with a family (three kids) and a day job that should work. One day I hope to buy some property where I can grow more volume with a larger grow area.

I'm sure my mind will change along with about 1,000 more adjustments to my grow plan.

 

[Easy420forme]

Update on Grow Box Mod and seedling planting....

Mistro, the video please!

[video=youtube;p1CT1Y-sTEE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1CT1Y-sTEE[/video]

anyone know if it will get substantially hotter with one (1) 125watt or 150watt CFL instead of using the four I currently have in here?

the math says yes, but I am not sure if there is another factor.

 

[SmeLLyTreeZ]

Even if it gets a few degrees hotter it would be worth the extra light IMO.. Box looks really good bro, time to get something going!!

 

[gumball]

some people say the smaller CFLs do get hotter. i have never ran a comparison when i did cfl. i had a 26 like yours, a 30, and a 42 watt. they were ALL hot!!! that is when i started to realize a watt is a watt and its a matter of energy that generates heat. so 1 100 watt bulb couldnt generate much more than 4 26 watts. and it wasnt, only about 5-7 degrees. i think if you stay small and cheap, you can do some side lighting, like use the Y adapters to push a bulb down the side wall and one straightout like they currently are. if you go to big bulbs you limit your space and how much more light you can add.

 

[Easy420forme]

some people say the smaller CFLs do get hotter. i have never ran a comparison when i did cfl. i had a 26 like yours, a 30, and a 42 watt. they were ALL hot!!! that is when i started to realize a watt is a watt and its a matter of energy that generates heat. so 1 100 watt bulb couldnt generate much more than 4 26 watts. and it wasnt, only about 5-7 degrees. i think if you stay small and cheap, you can do some side lighting, like use the Y adapters to push a bulb down the side wall and one straightout like they currently are. if you go to big bulbs you limit your space and how much more light you can add.

I'll take that advice. We will just see how it works. Thanks Gumball!

I will say the 2 degree differential between the outside ambient and the inside temp makes me very happy about my modification.

 

[carl.burnette]

subscribed

 

[Easy420forme]

Update from the Intro specs (first post on this thread):
Grow Box area: 22.5" X 19.25" X 28"
Exhaust Fans: 111 CFM, 111 CFM and 54 CFM
Intake: passive opening 8" x 3"
Lighting: 4 sockets (hard wired)
Veg: 4 x 23 Watt 6,500K CFLs
Flwr: 2 X 40 Watt 2,700K CFLs (likely some supplemental lighting using Y adapter and some other CFL options for more lighting options and some side plant lighting)

Thank you for all the great advice Smelly and Gum!

peace