CFL hood

[otto321]

Don't remember any of the exact dimensions or measurements....pretty sure I just started wingin it and eventually came out with this. Kinda cool I guess

 

[anon0988]

I built one similar to this that I'm using right now, works great. What I did was take a 3 bulb light bar for like above a bathroom vanity, they're ~$15 at a home improvement store. From there I stripped off all the fancy outer stuff so it's just a metal back piece with sockets and wiring. Then I screwed it onto the inside of a mid-sized plastic storage tub which I had spray painted white. Next I took 3 2-way light socket splitters and screwed them in turning 3 sockets into 6. I also cut a fan slot and put an 80mm computer case fan on there. After looking at yours, how did you power it? I was in a hurry and ended up using what I had on hand (computer power supply plugged up to a tester to turn it on with a 5v rail running to the fan. I know it's possible to do it without a power supply, but it's what I had on hand.

Props on the cool setup, I like how it lets the side fold up to view inside.

 

[otto321]

Very cool...yeah it works great and looks cool. Like, if a storm trooper grew cfl he'd have this hood

 

[FunkBomb]

That is a nice DIY cfl reflector you've got there.

-Funk

 

[Bad7887]

Nice hood I have to make one its just what I was looking for

 

[anon0988]

I built one similar to this that I'm using right now, works great. What I did was take a 3 bulb light bar for like above a bathroom vanity, they're ~$15 at a home improvement store. From there I stripped off all the fancy outer stuff so it's just a metal back piece with sockets and wiring. Then I screwed it onto the inside of a mid-sized plastic storage tub which I had spray painted white. Next I took 3 2-way light socket splitters and screwed them in turning 3 sockets into 6. I also cut a fan slot and put an 80mm computer case fan on there. After looking at yours, how did you power it? I was in a hurry and ended up using what I had on hand (computer power supply plugged up to a tester to turn it on with a 5v rail running to the fan. I know it's possible to do it without a power supply, but it's what I had on hand.

Props on the cool setup, I like how it lets the side fold up to view inside.

So I saw your post and read mine again today and decided to take some pictures to show what I mean. Enjoy, ask if you have questions, I'll try to include details I think might be relevant. Maybe if we're lucky we can get others to post and get this to turn into a DIY guide on CFL hoods.


This is the view of it in action. Read my quoted post above for a description of it, this is just for looks.


This is it a bit closer. Note the shadow in the middle, that's the deconstructed vanity light back plate, the wires run out a hole in the top of the tub and splice into a wall plug. The fan on the left side is the only one in use, I found after constructing it that 1 was more than enough. Notice the power cord runs up out of the shot, that goes to the computer power supply.


Picture of the fan on the left side.


This is a shot of the power supply hanging down with the tester unit plugged in. This is done because it turns the power supply on, which powers the PC case fan that the hood uses as it's exhaust fan.


These are the timers, the one in the middle is for the lights, I don't know if you can tell but it's set to 18/6. From that unit one port goes to the lights, one goes to the timer that has the power supply and fan attached. I set it for on/off in 30m intervals which seems to work well since the CFL's don't get too hot.


Again, I like how your side folds up so you can see inside.

 

[anon0988]

Also, probably should mention I only use this to start seeds and do the first part of Veg. The actual grow area is elsewhere. I guess it might be possible to finish a plant with 6 CFL's, but I chose HID.

 

[noyd666]

good idea, like to make my own.