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new project t8 ballasts and ballast factors

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TommyTwoTokes

Member
Hello IC, is been a long time since my last thread but I have some time on my hands now.

I have been looking into dubphiends success with t8s (his t8 rack was a thing of wonder way back on OverGrow) Im putting away the 1000 watter for a while. It needs a new bulb and im tired of the heat batle in my tent.
Ill be using a 4x4x7 tent with approx 90000 lumens of mixed spectrum tubes at 60watts/sq ft

So I have tons of 4 foot t8 bulbs, and im looking to go grab ballasts for 30 tubes :)
My question is which ballasts have the best ballast factor? I have read the 4 tube ballasts having a factor of .88 giving me only 844.8 actual watts. Could I squeeze a few more watts in using a series of 3 tube ballasts if they are more efficient?
Anyone have have any experience with this sort of thing?
This is a xmas holidays project, just waiting on this info to go buy ballasts.
 
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TommyTwoTokes

Member
Well Ive discovered the ballast factor on 3 bulb ballast is .92 This means @ 960 watts ill actually utilize an extra 40 watts of power (840 compared to 883 actual watts after ballasts)
Tomorrow I'll be going to buy 10 ballasts, and start a build on this t8 rack.
Stay Tuned!

Merry Xmas IC
 
ZZTops

ZZTops

Active member
Veteran
Sounds interesting TTT...

What's your floor plan for the lights, Ver, Hor or both...?
 
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TommyTwoTokes

Member
ZZTops Thanks for showing some interest, I appreciate it.
I basically have a 7x4.5x4.5 (actually 52 inches instead of 56) with aluminum square stock I tig welded into a more rigid frame than the stock one it comes with. Im taking my 1000 watter out and throwing in a rack made from white particle board with 30 t8 tubes horizontally spaced approx 1/2-5/8 inch apart. Chains, and my 430 cfm exhaust scrubber setup will be in place.
Flat Canopy manipulation (scrog/sog) will be key, I want to see if I can hit .6 g per watt. This is my goal. I have 60 watts/square foot and nearly 90000 lumens. I think its possible.
As ive said before its hard on my eyes and the heat is easy for cops to spot so Im retiring my 1000sodium for now.

Currently have autoAKs and Blueberry (joeyweed) to deal with. The autos are for an outside project, so im basically making seed with them. Then making room for BB or other genetics.
Im looking into sweetestcindy beans asap. Any recommendations for this type of application (heavy yielding good response to training) feel free anyone.

What do you think?
At least stick around for the ride. Im going to grab the ballasts and fittings tomorrow. Then lights on!
 
growsjoe1

growsjoe1

Well-known member
Premium user
Veteran
TommyTwoTokes said:
Hello IC, is been a long time since my last thread but I have some time on my hands now.

I have been looking into dubphiends success with t8s (his t8 rack was a thing of wonder way back on OverGrow) .
Click to expand...

I remember that grow and the debate....lots of mud slinging going on. That rack sure made people look at the feasibilty of flouros though.

.6 GPW is a high goal, happy growing

billbo
 
ZZTops

ZZTops

Active member
Veteran
Locked and Loaded my Friend...

So if I'm reading right, your going to have a 4'x4' (appx) hor light panel and doing a SOG type grow...?

How many Amps is the panel pulling...?
 
river rat01

river rat01

Member
yes it was:)

it was 64 t8's for a total of 2048 watts, yeah, i kinda went overboard.
but if you have any ques. i'll try to help ya with your project TTT.
 
river rat01

river rat01

Member
crap, i'd post some pics of some fat ass buds grown in this system, but IC wont let me upload them.
it says its too big , so how do you resize pics?
 
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TommyTwoTokes

Member
Sorry Ive been away visting family for the holidays coupled with some shitty weather and im glad to be home!
ZZ- using the formula : Watts/volts = Amps
960 watts/120 volts = 8amps
No problem 12 amp breakers here...
Tommorrow is assembly day.
I have 10 3 bulb ballasts and 60 t8 tubes (30 6500k, 30 3000k)
total = 212 dollars.
RiverRat glad to have you stop by man. Good to see someone with the same kind of t8 idea. That setup looks straight ignorant!
I co uld use your experience so be ready to check your inbox bro
Stay Tuned everyone.
 
growsjoe1

growsjoe1

Well-known member
Premium user
Veteran
Tommy

Whats up? You ran in to a snag or something. I was looking forward to seeing to flouro plants. Hope all is well

billbo
 
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TommyTwoTokes

Member
UPDATE

UPDATE

First off Id like to say sorry to the people who have been waiting around for me to get my shit together. The day has come.
I have some build pics, and due to money issues currently im running half the tubes I will eventually have. 16 t8s
Next pay hopefully (fingers crossed) Ill be able to squeeze it in.
For now the bulbs are about 1.75 inches appart lots of room for another tube to squeeze into between each.
6500 k bulbs and its quite bright and the kids are loving it.

So for now I have a couple projects im trying to get started. Up first and as we speak is a group of AutoAk47. ill be doing a seeds run for to get ready for summer and a perpetual harvest all summer :)

Out of 10 seeds, 9 sprouted. As of today which is day 15 I have spotted 3 females and 4 males (BOGUS) and 2 that have yet to show but are runts anyways.

I ran into problems with sodium because the water I was getting from (spring bottling company) has shit tons of sodium bicarbonate in it for taste and ITS NOT on the label anywhere.
Anyways I flushed them 2 days ago and they're bouncing back.
10 DJ short BB F2s are cracking open as I type.
Not worried I got lots of room.

Sorry Billbo and others, had run into some troubles.
regular updates now. Come on back people!:tiphat:
 
Trev

Trev

Active member
nice work, im a big fan of the oldschool monster tubes!
used many 4ft shop lights around these parts ;]

keep up the good work!
 
muddywaters

muddywaters

Member
ya, props. for doing it a different way then the norm. it must be nice to have some killa floro bud and be like ya i grew it under a shop light and it's better then yours.
 
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TommyTwoTokes

Member
Thanks fellas for the kind words of inspiration
Ive just added 8 BlueBerry seedlings in ProMix BX, and 8 bag seed in hempy style containers with perlite. Just gonna wing it and try it out with bagseed.
Stay tuned
 
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