v2 'dream system' DIY and diary

[Crusader Rabbit]

Haha I have left a 100 watt incandescent bulb on for the last week and a half of flower once.

I have done what you are talking about too many times....that's why I always take pics at the flip... cause I would unplug the lamps, and use a lightbulb for the pics and then plug the lamps back in and forget to turn the light back off ....

I've done this enough times, that the work light in my flower room now only gets plugged in with an extension cord running out the door. There is no way to close the door behind me without first unplugging the cord.

 

[Ichabod Crane]

A light with a timer would work as well, like in the gas stations.

 

[GMax]

Well......Yas oughta know my vote`s gonna go with the plants circling the single or stacked bulbs.....and why ?......

Plant numbers dictate yield and bare bulbs blast 360 degrees sideways , so what better use of sq/cu ftg and proper watts per sq ft than a simulated Coli setup.......I will say this though......

First setup I ever saw Heath run with 2 side by side bare bulbs was with 87+/- seedplants on a breeding project with fully rooted cuts straight flipped to 12/12 to fill in the sideways canopy....and.....

The plants were on different levels up and around all 4 walls of a 4 x 6 rectangle , and outta nowhere his ass pulled lil over 4 lbs on a fukin pheno hunt with beans he`d made.....and that`s when......

I hadta re-evaluate my gameplan and goals , and once I wrapped my head around it........I never looked back......so.....

The stadium setup type thingy has potential as well cuz it`s not staggered back and away from the lights like a stadium grow , but rather like Heaths "bookshelf" type setup where all ythe smaller plants get equal lumens from the get instead of the further away plants sufferin from what I`ve seen over the yrs........that said....

Gbro.....Build 1 of each for a side by side to show the community howta rock this shit......but......Side by side overlap with bare bulbs inline and next to each other will have a hard time competin with stacked bulbs IME........and why ?.......

Cuz lumens fall off underneath a bare bulb and it loses efficiency with the quickness , but if they`re stacked at optimum distances between each bulb above and below , then.....

The tops of the bulbs take care of the lumenloss from the bottoms of the bulbs directly above em for a win win situation IME......but.....as long as proper watts per sq ft are employed the side by side bulbs can produce as well ..........as long as.....

The plants are kept in the optimum lumen penetration/plant absorption zone......IOW....Down below the bare bulbs will suffer , and that`s why I`ve preached putting reflectix on everything that ain`t green in EVERY room...or the equivalent of comparable reflective and insulative material........aight.....

Wake and bake windin down....I smell breakfast and GF`s givin me that look ....again.......so....

Get ta work G and make an old man proud.......

Peace.....Freds...........

I prefer the stacked/single bulb grows over rows of bulbs also...now it is nothing against stadium grows... but most of them I see have the plants in gym bleacher form and I always feel like the plants that are closer are gonna do better then the ones far away....also they are usually only two rows longways and not a rectangle shape to "lock in all those lumens"....

and also there is light being wasted because it is not shining towards plants... if you went with 3 bulbs in a row, the outside bulbs would only use 3 sides of light (which usually don't even have plants on the third side, so you can access the canopy) , and the inner bulbs would only use 2 sides, the other 2 would be shining towards the other bulbs... instead of 360 degrees.....

that's why I like the square WW idea, because all of the plants are the same distance from the bulb, in the "bookshelf" pattern like you say... the rows can make a complete rectangle around the light so there is minimal wasted lumens... and it can still be rolled away to work on canopy....cause on of my biggest peeves is to have a spot/plant that is hard to reach and ends up being a pita to work on or neglected


I know you preach covering everything not green in reflectix... but I am always just trying to cover everything in green....


I also know that many have to go with stadiums because the room they want to grow in is a narrow rectangle, or plant #s etc....and i still think stadiums are better and more efficient than horizontal...this is just my ideas to help make it more efficient ...how Gmax would do a stadium.....

maybe it will help someone or maybe i get the ball rolling for them on a better idea, who knows



but the first system I am very interested in.. I have two 400w bulbs and ballast and I would probably stack them barebulb and try to make the pipes go 3 wyes high

I have been imagining it in my head and I cant seem to find issues with it.. this is how it started with the WW, I would just see it in my head and imagine what it would be like using it, until I finally just built it... and I didn't build the WW exactly the way I had imagined it, and once I had it built, I had to make adjustments to it to make it work...

but so far I cant see anything wrong with this system yet... so I may just end up building this too....


if anyone has any questions comments opinions or issues you think I might run into, please feel free to chime in

and the best part is... with both of these systems and the WW, they can be customized for your situation.... you can build it with as many or as little plants/wyes as you want.... one person can build the stadium style system with a couple 400 bulbs and make it 3 rows long and 2 wyes high... another person can have a longer room with five 1000w lights and make it as many as 10 rows long and 2-4 wyes high... same thing with the single bulb system... you can have only 4 rows, 6 rows, 8 rows....2 wyes high, 3 wyes high... and with the WW, mine is 6 wyes high but you can make it only 3 or 4 or go more like 7-8.. i divided mine into two systems (the minimum needed for canopy access) but you can easily split it into 4 or even 8....if you think the WW is cool but you don't want to dive all in, build yourself a little mini WW... 2 rows wide and 3 wyes high or something and get your feet wet

thanks freds

I've done this enough times, that the work light in my flower room now only gets plugged in with an extension cord running out the door. There is no way to close the door behind me without first unplugging the cord.

A light with a timer would work as well, like in the gas stations.

I have had enough light cycle accidents also to learn my lesson... now I don't even mess with any extra lights in my grow other than my grow bulbs and green light

since I cant find a clapper, I saw a motion detecting lamp that I could add a greenlight to and it would just come on automatically when I entered the room... that would be sweet

 

[Ichabod Crane]

If you have a motion sensor make sure your fans don't set it off by moving the plants around.

 

[DHF]

If you have a motion sensor make sure your fans don't set it off by moving the plants around.

No motion detectors in a grow area.......Get the headlamp or the tasklights and keep risk away from reward........Hell....I like the extension cord idea hooked to the greenlight source and plugged in "outside" the grow area so the door won`t shut without unplugging it....

Many waysta skin a mule......work smarter not harder......

Peace.....Freds.............

 

[silver hawaiian]

This is very "me" of you, GMax. When a $15 solution is available, completely portable and taking up no space, .. ..we're still beating it to death.

Edit: I'm pretty sure bobble will attest to this quality of mine.

 

[DHF]

This is very "me" of you, GMax. When a $15 solution is available, completely portable and taking up no space, .. ..we're still beating it to death.

Edit: I'm pretty sure bobble will attest to this quality of mine.

You`ve got a motion detector with a green light in your grow area SH ?.........

Major air exchange twice per minute as well as wall fans above and below the plants creating a vortex of air circling but never on the plants would most assuredly keep that light on instead of off in every setup I ever ran......or....

Did I miss something and you`re talkin bout something else.......Scratchin my old ass head over here.........

Peace.....Freds.........

 

[silver hawaiian]

You`ve got a motion detector with a green light in your grow area SH ?.........

No - but I did recommend a green LED headlamp for $15.

Did I miss something and you`re talkin bout something else.......Scratchin my old ass head over here.........

Peace.....Freds.........

Yes

 

[DHF]

No - but I did recommend a green LED headlamp for $15.




Yes

Hell......I recommended the damn headlamp too......DOH............

Peace.....Freds..............

 

[GMax]

it not that I still beating it to death I just want something more permanent and hands free and automatic ... I really like the diy idea with the flashlight.. but I know myself, I would misplace it within a week or two and lose it .... I also really like the headlamp idea but I also feel like I would also lose it and other things like limiting my vision to only where I am facing etc...

like I said, I didn't even start doing the whole green lamp thing or seen my plants during lights off until about a year ago... and it has changed my life !!! allowing me to work on my plants any time of the day and free up my schedule way more... so it not really something I am gonna skimp on..and this is the first time I have seen any negative effects from it...so it needs to be addressed

the motion sensor is good...depending on the quality of the sensor, I don't think "wind" will set it off, but the oscilatting movement of the fans would....but I could keep the sensor outside the tent so it turned on when I walked through...but that may become more expensive than necessary

i just wish i had a light switch and socket in the room, my life would be much easier... so i just need something similar or better that can replace that...i also need to keep the WWs properly wrapped in reflectix because if i had, even if the green light was on 24/7, nothing would have happened...my green light was on all the time during my last crop and nothing happened, but it was wrapped up with reflectix and blocking the light

 

[5th]

That should fix your wagon. Can even hang it off of the screen while your working. Handsfree, headfree, troublefree.

Can leave it in your room and plug it in from the outside to turn it on if you want...or turn it on n' drag it in with you.

 

[bobblehead]

G have you ever used a motion sensor? I just put one in my bathroom. Anything will set it off. Look at it too hard from the other room and the light comes on. Take Freds advice on this one, skip the motion sensor.

Bro lamps with a clamp are like $5 at home depot, screw in the green cfl, done. It's cheap and it works. The LED headlamp would be a safer bet, but I prefer the lamp method. You don't need a green pop bottle lens or anything else.

Anyway... Just trying to interject some reason.

edit:
$9 at home depot

if you're feeling ambitious, you could wire your own socket super cheap.

 

[GMax]

thanks 5th...i be looking into that..i am guessing lowes/hd ..?

speaking of fucked up light schedules, i just messed up mine...

i was cleaning out one of the systems and i had drained most of the water so i grabbed my little mini shop vac to suck out the rest... i have an extension cord that i usually have it plugged into, but this system in particular was the farthest away from it.... so i had an open spot on a power strip nearby so i plugged it into there... i vacuumed out all of the water and then when i pressed the off button on the vac, the lights went out...

so i assumed that i flipped a breaker and when i was walking to the breaker box, i noticed the WW room lights were now on.. so i quickly unplugged the lights from their timer... i then walked over to the breaker box and flipped all the bottom rows which were already marked "basement"... then instead of fucking with the actual timer to the flipbox, i just swapped the ballasts spots from there plug (plugged the "lights off" plugs into "lights on")

i had lights on in the proper room now but the plug that had flipped was still not working so i went back to the breaker box and noticed that there was still one that was obviously flipped.. duh.. so i turned that breaker back on and then walked back to the tent and now the lights were on in the WW again..! so i swapped the plugs to the ballast again and got the lights back correct again


so my lights came on in the WW room twice, for about a minute maximum, ten min or so apart during the dark cycle...they are technically ready for harvest but i am in no hurry so i was gonna let them go another week or so... i don't think that is enough to do any serious damage but i am gonna keep my eye out for hermies and possibly harvest sooner.. i am too busy today, but it looks like i may have to come back around midnight to make sure the lights still flip properly for piece of mind...this is the first issue i have had with the flipbox and it not the flip box fault


edit: snuck in there on me bobble i be stopping into HD soon and looking at all my options.. i should have wired a socket from the very beginning, but now i would have to work around the tent

double edit: there should be the technology for some sorta wireless socket and switch... like a plug that i could plug my lamp into that comes with a sort of Staples button to turn it on...that was easy

 

[5th]

there should be the technology for some sorta wireless socket and switch...

I call 'em flashlights.

You can get "trouble lights" at any home improvement store...hell dollar store sells 'em too.

 

[GMax]

I call 'em flashlights.

You can get "trouble lights" at any home improvement store...hell dollar store sells 'em too.

lol... I have a few flashlights around the grow right now but I cant find any of them...that's just kinda how I am, really disorganized sometimes... I have probably 10 screwdrivers, but whenever I need one, I cant find one

I like the flashlight idea, I really do.. but this is exactly what would happen: I would use the flashlight to gain entry to the tent a few minutes before lights on... I would put the flashlight down to snap some pics..the lights would come on and be so bright that I don't even notice the green flashlight still on... I would leave the tent and forget the flashlight, and then the next time I need it, it will already be in the tent which is of no help to me (I will literally do this at least once a week)


this green light issue will be addressed, I just have been busy with the move, girlfriend, school and still looking for new growhouse and a WW harvest whenever I get the chance (not looking forward to, need that bonsai hero asap)..and I could find a new grow tomorrow that may not even need any adjustments to the green light situation

you have to understand that I already have a lamp with a decently long cord.. but the area around the tents is dark as well .. and fumbling around for a light switch or plugging into a socket in pitch black is a pita...obviously enough of a pita that I am willing to spend money to do something else..and effected plants from 24/7 green light is unacceptable

was at the grow yesterday and everything was looking good...all I did yesterday was clean a system and transplant the clones that were leftover still.. so now my old room is half full.. 3 crops that were all transplanted on the same day, and 1 more that is about a week behind them

I didn't get a chance to snap any pics but I am gonna do that asap.. I may stop by again today after class..cause I have a few things that I could do and my grow can use a good cleaning

I had the issue with my flipbox but I stuck around to make sure it flipped at the proper time and it did... now I just keep my fingers crossed that nothing happens from the messed up dark cycle in the next few days, because only the WW room was affected and it can be harvested anytime

 

[5th]

Yean man, you mentioned that sometimes things (flashlights etc) disappear in the grow spot.

So ya hang this right by the entrance way right...
Take it where you wanna go right...
Leave it behind right...
Yank the cord n' this sonsabitch comes flying back at ya with the quickness..

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-Industrial-Retractable-Cord-Reel/dp/B0000ERMVK

Personally I'd only get it as a "pimp my growroom" type item...but if your constantly leaving shit in there...hell this is starting to get ridiculous.

 

[drcelticgreen]

This is amazing ! Great job !!! I have been reading and re reading this thread in my spare time for a few days now . I have been looking for someone to run a diy system like this since i saw something very similar in the july 2011 issue of hightimes . I truley respect the amount of setup work , elbow grease and r and d - dialing in this project must have taken . In that system in high times they run everything in a circle in what they describe as a 5' by 5' footprint . there system used 3 or 4 1k wat lights and they claim to get 12 p 's i think . i havent read the ht article in a while . My question to you good sir is what would u say is the dimensions of your circle around the lights and your dimension s that you are growing in ? how many watts per light and number of lights are used in your circles ? what is your average yield ? do u think a similar system to yours would work well in a 6'x4'x 6' high room ? And since you found your silent - passive water leak what do you estimate your water intake to be now on a weekly - monthly basis ? thanks for your time and again props on an amazing set up

 

[GMax]

ok super busy today and don't have much time but here some pics











I will add words and address you 5th and drceltic here in a bit

 

[GMax]

didn't really get to do anything at the grow today.... the WW has been dwindling for flush this time and it seems to be working well and involved less work (actually no work really since last rez change over 2wks ago).. the green light issue has caused a decent problem however... the left side of the canopy, closest to light, is the most affected... about 15% of the total canopy is severely green light stressed, with tinier buds that looks like they are a week or over behind the rest... and then about another 10% minimally affected with just smaller buds... the unaffected side looks great however.. the top buds this time around are bigger than the last run which is a good sign.. shows how much better they can do without the silent leaks

I still have 2 crops that are well beyond ready for harvest in my old room so I am gonna give the WW another week without any green light to make up for it... I used the green light before for piece of mind, but now I am comfortable with the WW, and most of the mechanical work is done outside the tent so it all good

this crop wasn't prefect to begin with.. but there is always that one little minor thing that has a major effect on the crop so far.. the first run had the silent water leak and resulting nute issues.. and the second had no issues whatsoever but green light stress... lets hope 3rd times a charm


I have been so busy I am extremely grateful everything has been going so well

Yean man, you mentioned that sometimes things (flashlights etc) disappear in the grow spot.
[URL=https://www.icmag.com/ic/picture.php?albumid=17544&pictureid=1004110&thumb=1]View Image[/url]
So ya hang this right by the entrance way right...
Take it where you wanna go right...
Leave it behind right...
Yank the cord n' this sonsabitch comes flying back at ya with the quickness..

http://www.amazon.com/Northern-Industrial-Retractable-Cord-Reel/dp/B0000ERMVK

Personally I'd only get it as a "pimp my growroom" type item...but if your constantly leaving shit in there...hell this is starting to get ridiculous.

I like the way you worded that "pimp my growroom item".. it is something that I am gonna get eventually and I probably gonna go with that retractable light u mentioned.. cause I can hang it anywhere and then hand hold it if needed and never lose it !!!

right now I just got the green light off.. I don't use it that much anymore because I used to have it on all the time since it was first run with the WW, in case anything went wrong at any time of the day/night I can have easy access and visbilty.. the first run had minimal issues and the second one has had none (system mechanical-wise), even without many visits

so for now, it will still be a pita, just not as often...thanks for the tip bro

This is amazing ! Great job !!! I have been reading and re reading this thread in my spare time for a few days now . I have been looking for someone to run a diy system like this since i saw something very similar in the july 2011 issue of hightimes . I truley respect the amount of setup work , elbow grease and r and d - dialing in this project must have taken . In that system in high times they run everything in a circle in what they describe as a 5' by 5' footprint . there system used 3 or 4 1k wat lights and they claim to get 12 p 's i think . i havent read the ht article in a while . My question to you good sir is what would u say is the dimensions of your circle around the lights and your dimension s that you are growing in ? how many watts per light and number of lights are used in your circles ? what is your average yield ? do u think a similar system to yours would work well in a 6'x4'x 6' high room ? And since you found your silent - passive water leak what do you estimate your water intake to be now on a weekly - monthly basis ? thanks for your time and again props on an amazing set up

glad you are enjoying the show !!!! I want to have a look at that issue now... I used to have a subscription but I haven't looked at one in a few years

anyways I am using 600ws for lighting (x3) I have actually been thinking of updating to 1000s for the exact reason you are asking about.... this particular version of the WW cannot be adjusted in dimensions, meaning you put the wyes elbows and tees as close together as possible and when it is finished, that is the shape it makes..kinda like out-of-the box system...you can use 3'' PVC and possibly have a smaller circumference but less root space

the screen is a little under 2ft from the bulbs, which I wish it was closer, a reason why I wanna switch to 1000s to make up for the distance....but on the bright side, it gives me a comfortable amount of room to work between the light and canopy (even though I could roll it farther if I wanted).. the WW was really just a fun test.. but I have fallen in love with it !!!!! so I have no problem adjusting things to be able to grow with it better

my actual tent is roughly 10x10x7ft high only because I like to have lots of room to move around.. but it could probably be done in an 8x8.. if you have a 6x4x6.. you could check out other options.. like the hand drawings I just posted on the previous page.. like I said it can be literally customized to almost any situation... and you can build anything with PVC... if you have any questions or need help just let me know

as far as average yields.. I have only had one harvested run under my belt with it and wasn't really a good enough judge.. but it got 26oz with a very low yielding strain (from only 1/2 the room..and in only 52 days).. with the right strain this would be killer though I am sure of it .. I am about to get one and prove it

I have no idea about the water intake anymore.. the rez is attached to a float which is attached to a main water rez and there is no way for me to track it anymore

hope that answers ur questions good luck my friend...start a thread if u do something

 

[DHF]

Been thinkin bout this fer a minute and......The netting can have holes cut out where the wye`s are and ziptied to each tube where it can be behind the plants for a much more easily managed sideways canopy to prevent holes and such for optimum lumen penetration/plant absorption.......

That is if yas do it before plants are put in the setup...anyways......I just can`t help but bitch about that orange shit blockin light like a checkerboard even if it does keep em from fallin over.....but......Hell.....

BST`s got a vert sog hoonin with bigger heavier plants that`re fallin over sideways and completely at horizontal levels with the bare bulbs with no netting , so thoughts and things to ponder.........

Good luck Bro....DHF............