The Super Simple Stacker XL - 500w cfl rubbermaid
- Thread starter maryjohn
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Awesome brobro 
pf = power factor, a figure from 0.1 to 1.0 indicating the efficiency of your cfl. Most regular CFLs are around 0.6 meaning 60% efficient. That 40% is wasted as heat in the process of bringing you the 60%. It's a big part of the reason why pll runs cooler than cfl. (pll pf = >.98 on most ballasts). If you took an old incandescent light globe, it would have a pf of 1.0 - perfect efficiency because 100% of the power it's drawing is going straight to the filament and lighting up. No power conversion has happened as happens in a CFL, PLL, or HPS ballast.
pf = power factor, a figure from 0.1 to 1.0 indicating the efficiency of your cfl. Most regular CFLs are around 0.6 meaning 60% efficient. That 40% is wasted as heat in the process of bringing you the 60%. It's a big part of the reason why pll runs cooler than cfl. (pll pf = >.98 on most ballasts). If you took an old incandescent light globe, it would have a pf of 1.0 - perfect efficiency because 100% of the power it's drawing is going straight to the filament and lighting up. No power conversion has happened as happens in a CFL, PLL, or HPS ballast.
thanks scrub I'll check. You know I could redesign this with pll's. I would need help though.
and thanks anti.
and thanks anti.
Any assistance you need, just ask 
Most CFLs don't list the pf on the bulb itself, and most don't list it at all. But if the bulb lists the amps, it's easy to work out for yourself how many is being burned. I have a 48w cfl that I used to grow with. It's details are:
48w <- the supposedly "real" wattage, as most refer to it, not the equivalent
220 to 240v
0.33 amps
0.6 pf
There is a law regarding electricity, that watts = amps x volts. Now, I'm unsure exactly what voltage my AC supply is but lets say 240v.
0.33 amps x 240 volts = 79.2 watts, not the 48w the manufacturer said it was. 48w is 60% of the really real wattage, 79.2w.
Most CFLs don't list the pf on the bulb itself, and most don't list it at all. But if the bulb lists the amps, it's easy to work out for yourself how many is being burned. I have a 48w cfl that I used to grow with. It's details are:
48w <- the supposedly "real" wattage, as most refer to it, not the equivalent
220 to 240v
0.33 amps
0.6 pf
There is a law regarding electricity, that watts = amps x volts. Now, I'm unsure exactly what voltage my AC supply is but lets say 240v.
0.33 amps x 240 volts = 79.2 watts, not the 48w the manufacturer said it was. 48w is 60% of the really real wattage, 79.2w.
reposted from my scrog thread. I got pics of the next generation coming: 4 menage a trois seedlings, one some pacific mix from fritillary, and of course good ole blue burmese again.
Looking fat and frosty!!
Really nice pics there MJ!
Really nice pics there MJ!
TY pedro!
I am planning on growing more bud in these containers without mixing anything into the soil, just topdressing bokashi, castings, and some granular amendments. And worms of course. That will sit until the roots are mostly gone (finger test), and I will pop in a clone.
I got a container of soil treated the same way ready to go for more of this bud, But it may wind up getting less light, as it will be the other rubbermaid. Even I am nervous about it, now that I have to show pics!
I am planning on growing more bud in these containers without mixing anything into the soil, just topdressing bokashi, castings, and some granular amendments. And worms of course. That will sit until the roots are mostly gone (finger test), and I will pop in a clone.
I got a container of soil treated the same way ready to go for more of this bud, But it may wind up getting less light, as it will be the other rubbermaid. Even I am nervous about it, now that I have to show pics!
oh boy!
I just chopped most of the more mature plant. Time to sit down with a nice big bowl of bud, some shears, and the dog whisperer.
woof!
I just chopped most of the more mature plant. Time to sit down with a nice big bowl of bud, some shears, and the dog whisperer.
woof!
Scissor hash time Looks delightful, mate.
Looks delightful, mate.
weee hooo ur plants r looking super dooper great.
Hey guy it's the first
Harvest time
of the Super Stacker XL!
Thanks to all the folks who helped design it. Scrub especially.
Harvest time
of the Super Stacker XL!
Thanks to all the folks who helped design it. Scrub especially.
So first I harvested this one in two stages. The pic is from a few days before.
It was ripening top to bottom, so I snipped off the ripe tops.
This plant did not yield as big, but the ripening of the popcorn for an extra week after snipping the tops at least gave some extra smoke.
Here is the stem network
Now the other plant I harvested all at once - the one in the larger container. It was more ripe beneath than above :shrug: these are clones. The biggest difference is pot size and i guess the amendments a bit.
Here she is before harvest
This one gave off way more buds, and very little popcorn. but to be fair, the buds right of the multitool are from the first plant.
That's it for this scrog. For the next round I will get those bulbs higher, since every inch counts.
here is my seedlings and clones praying to be released from the holding bin: menage a trois, pacific mix, my bagseed, and mazar reveg I want to breed.
wow wow wow. they both look like a great harvest.
so how did they weigh?
cant wate for the smoke report.
so how did they weigh?
cant wate for the smoke report.
I kinda don't have a scale. And the second batch is still drying.
Saw a cool simple one at ikea of all places, but it was out of stock when i went back to get bigger jars.
The one with the extra gallon or so of soil is the clear and total winner. Brutally trounced the other plant in yield.
But the other plant has its charms. The popcorn will be great for J's as it is tasty.
Saw a cool simple one at ikea of all places, but it was out of stock when i went back to get bigger jars.
The one with the extra gallon or so of soil is the clear and total winner. Brutally trounced the other plant in yield.
But the other plant has its charms. The popcorn will be great for J's as it is tasty.
Pretty epic lookin' buds there bro. Ya got the pale leaves happening. Very nice. Happy to be along for the ride and looking forward to the next. Bravo
Thanks scrub!
I'm pretty stoked.
Although it may be time to think about a pl-l conversion
I'm pretty stoked.
Although it may be time to think about a pl-l conversion
They're definitely worth consideration. I forget the dimensions of your box but one thing that comes to mind is that you might have trouble physically fitting that many watts of pl-l into it on the roof, although they would also fit well vertically in the corners; so maybe it could be done. And technically you wouldn't need as much wattage anyway because they're more efficient bulbs. As far as design, they're the perfect fluoro bulb for scrogs. I should get a damn commission from the manufacturers, haha! 
yeah that's what I'm thinking. fewer watts, same or similar results.
Now the caveat is I only have the walls and the floor to work with. The lid needs to be free. I am open to vert. Scrog is not a religion.
Now the caveat is I only have the walls and the floor to work with. The lid needs to be free. I am open to vert. Scrog is not a religion.
You need to access it through the top I suppose? If so, I envision the lights across the top, but on a rack, hinged at one end, so you could just fold it up to get in there. I guess it's a bit of work/extra complication though.
