Light Safety Question

[Mr. Reefer]

Hey guys, I've been researching pc grows on here and have a question about some of the equipment being used.

Some pc growers use the type of cfl sockets that plug directly into a powerstrip. How safe is this type of setup as opposed to wiring them up in a more conventional style? Im worried that the power strip isn't made to handle this type of setup with like 3-4 bulbs plugged directly into it running 12/12.

I would rather go the powerstrip route due to ease of setup (never wired a damn thing in my life), but if it's unsafe I'll bite the bullet and go the conventional route.

Mr. Reefer

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

hi, cfl "sockets" have a bit of electronics in em for the light to work most get a bit warm in the socket area due to their design(electronics)
most cheap power strips r just that "cheap" they aren't built very well (cheap) and their use adds to the risk factor on the grower(user)

if u r inexperienced w/ wiring and such thats no shame on you and kudos for askin for help.

i would recomend u check out the micro grow, flouro grow sections formore infoand examples of successful setups that may work for you!!

good luck
BUZZ!

 

[someotherguy]

hey man, here is a better alternative, easy to find,
cheap to buy and simple to wire.



if you have any trouble with the wiring i'd be glad to
help and i'm sure there are many others who would
help as well, really, it's simple as shit.

peace, SOG

 

[Mr. Reefer]

Buzz, thanks for the info. I think you're right, cheap powerstrips + socket that heats up doesn't sound too good. Better safe than sorry, esp in an apt building.

SOG, lookin good man. That doesn't look too difficult at all. From the pic it looks like there's one black and one white wire daisy chained across all the sockets, then two more black and white wires (one of each) coming in from the back of the board and attaching to one of the sockets. I take it these are the power wires?

I guess my main question is where the power wires come from, and where/what are they plugged into? Is there any way to power these from a power strip that could be hooked up to a timer? If not, how do you set them up on a timer?

Thanks

 

[SmilinBob]

It is 100% safe to use plug in sockets with a power strip and CFLs, as long as the socket and the power strip is rated for more watts than you are using.

If you are planning to wire yours up like in the pictures SOG posted it's really simple. Chop the female end off of an extension cord. Hook the power and ground to your first socket. From there just hook power and ground from the first to the second, then the second to the third, etc.

Just remember to use cords that are rated for more watts than what you will be using.

 

[someotherguy]

like SmilinBob said, the easy way to wire this puppy
is to use an extension cord.

personally, i like to use the heavy duty 3 pronged
extension cords, like a workman would use,

and wiring it is even easier that SmilinBob suggests
in that the sockets are already wired up so all you
have to do is cut the female end off the cord, screw
the ground wire to the fixture itself and then just
splice the white wire to the white wire and the black
to the black, easy peasy, lemon squeasy! lol

if you need more details let me know and i can point
you where you need to go.

peace, SOG

(btw, once you wire it up to an extension cord, then
you can just plug it into a timer plugged into a power
strip, which gives you a circuit breaker in the line.)

 

[aasin527]

on the power strip end, i found a heavy duty shop strip with a 20 amp fuse right on the strip. plus the on/ off switch

 

[Strapped]

This dude has an awesome series of videos on how to build grow boxes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/rjcw2#p/u/26/VGAPqzVwwVg

That video describes what SOG is talking about doing. From 1:36 to the end he wires the light fixture. Easy as pie. This guy only uses a 2 lead wire so SOGs way is much safer IMO.

Check out the dude's website www.buyagrowbox.com. He's got some nice PC boxes ready to go if you don't feel like doing it all yourself lol. I have a lot of respect for the guy because his prices are respectable (especially for the bubblers), and he has instructions for how to build all his stuff on the site. I'll probably end up buying something from him purely out of respect.

 

[SmilinBob]

Only thing on that site I see that is reasonably priced is the tubs and tub/light combos, and that is only reasonable if you have money to spare or you don't want to save money by buying things separately.

$799 for a dresser grow cab..
$599 for a grow tent..

 

[someotherguy]

This dude has an awesome series of videos on how to build grow boxes.

http://www.youtube.com/user/rjcw2#p/u/26/VGAPqzVwwVg

That video describes what SOG is talking about doing. From 1:36 to the end he wires the light fixture. Easy as pie. This guy only uses a 2 lead wire so SOGs way is much safer IMO.

Check out the dude's website www.buyagrowbox.com. He's got some nice PC boxes ready to go if you don't feel like doing it all yourself lol. I have a lot of respect for the guy because his prices are respectable (especially for the bubblers), and he has instructions for how to build all his stuff on the site. I'll probably end up buying something from him purely out of respect.

high man, when you say 'bubbler' i assume you mean
a cloner?

if so than you should read this thread here as this
is the simplest, cheapest, most reliable cloning method
i've found, especially for the micro-grower.
(i retired my bubble cloner after a years successful operation
after i found this method and now i am able to do 3 times
as many cuts in the same space as my bubbler fit into)

another advantage is that, because it is a passive
wick-style cloner, there are no pumps or anything
else to fail.

peace, SOG

 

[someotherguy]

Only thing on that site I see that is reasonably priced is the tubs and tub/light combos, and that is only reasonable if you have money to spare or you don't want to save money by buying things separately.

$799 for a dresser grow cab..
$599 for a grow tent..

lol, i'm with you Bob, i like building my own shit!

peace, SOG

MY dresser cab.

 

[Mr. Reefer]

Nice, a lot of informative info in this thread...thanks.

Strapped, great find on that vid. If I can't do it after all the replies here and watching the vid then I probably don't have any business in micro growing. Have no fear though, I am confident I can make it all work

 

[Strapped]

Only thing on that site I see that is reasonably priced is the tubs and tub/light combos, and that is only reasonable if you have money to spare or you don't want to save money by buying things separately.

$799 for a dresser grow cab..
$599 for a grow tent..

haha, look at other grow cabs on the market and tell me his crap isn't reasonably priced by comparison. I'll be building my own too, but I don't see any other companies selling blueprints to their cabs. Not everyone is smart like us Some people need to buy their stuff pre-made, so it's nice to have someone out there who isn't completely ripping every customer they come in contact with. I would be doing what he is doing if I was smart enough to think of it myself.

SOG your cab looks like the shit dude. It's so funny you posted the link to that thread about cloning.

About 2 weeks ago, my wife came up to me and was like, "I hear there are these things you can use to make ice cubes to fit in a bottle of water, can we get one because we're drinking so much water lately?"

I was like, "Yeah I heard about them too, let's get 4."

Strapped