Hey kids, old kungPOW!!! here.

I was bored today so off i went to my favorite GROW store Home Depot.

I was doing some research on flip/flops, and desided 2 things...

1) most grow shops do not carry them because they cut into business.
2) they are fairly easy to build. (just be carfull to watch which wire goes where.)

FIRST OFF LET ME SAY THAT I KNOW I FORGOT THE GROUNDS FROM THE PLUGS. I was smoking some fine kali mist hash and realized it later. Unfortunally my batteries died on my digi camera and i do not have pictures of it installed the correct way. But it should be easy for ANYONE to grasp.

OK on with the build!!!! (puff, puff) lol

First off we need to get some supplies...
1) square power box $25
2) (2) 2 place outlet boxes $4
3) (2) 4 place outlet boxes $7
4) 6 outlets $5 (for box of 10)
5) screews $2
6) nuts $2
7) washers $2
8) pvc 1/2 cable connectors $5 (for 5 pack)
9) metal 1/2" cable/box screew connectors $6 (for a 10 pack)
10) wire connectors $13 (box of 100) 14 gauge
11) 10' of wire 14 gauge (4 wire, red,black,white, copper) $6
12) 4' of 14 guage (3 wire, black, white, green)
13) male plug $4
14) bag of 100 zip ties $3
15) 2 place outlet cover (2 of them) $3
16) 4 place outlet covers (2 of them) $5
17) couple tall boys beer $4
18) pipe full of cali mist hash FREE!!! (wink)
19) 2 hours of time.

total $94 from home depot

now 4 relays from the intenet $20 x 4 = $80

GRAND TOTAL .....$174 (for a 8 light flip/flop)

Now lets get started shall we???

POW!!!!!!!!!!!

First we need some relays like these...




Then we need to lay them out in the utility box.



Next comes marking the holes for the screews






Now lets drill some holes..

Pilot holes first!



Then proper size holes




now we need some nuts, screews, and washers...



Ok time to place the relays back on the board and attach...

Now it's time to make some wire!

Here is a tip, instead of buying 14 guage wire seperate, buy a some 4 wires wire and strip it down. Simply pull out 2 foot sections at a time.









Time to install the boxes...

punch out the metal 1/2 punch out, an insert box connector in hole. Next insert conecter into already punched out hole in utility box. Attach screew and tighten.



Now to make it nice and strong drill through a nail hole in the plug box through to the utility box. Insert screew, nut, washers, and tighten.







Ok lets run some wire...

First lets hook up the power IN wires to the relays, and thread out to the IN Power plugs.


next run the wire from the out power side of the relays to the power OUT plugs. Note the red wires for one half of the plug, and the black for the OTHER half of the plugs. DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO TO KEEP THE WIRES IN ORDER.




Now you might be asking me what do you mean HALF a plug????

well plugs you buy in the store are connected with a jumper, so one set of wires charges all recepticles.

What we have to do is snip the jumpers because we want each plug to operate independently...

Alright, lets get wiring those boxes...

i marked the white wire sides (the power in white wires) of the power out wires (red/black) So i kept the power flowing the same side of the plugs.

Next make sure you are wiring up the RIGHT out plugs for in plugs. and deside which you want to be hot with power off/on.

The relay has a 120volt coil in it... When you apply power it becomes a magnet and brings the connectors down to engauge the second set of contactors.

That is what i mean by power on/off.

here are some wiring pictures, note the wire colors. DO NOT MIX IT UP TAKE YOUR TIME!















Ok we are mostly done... time for another pipe full. LOL

now we install the power wires to the relays and connect them all together to the extension cord wire with a male plug we have installed. Then attach the grounds.



Time to install the sockets to their boxes and attach the face plate coverings!







Finally MARK each plug (i bought white ones) so you know which is which, and attach the protective cover to the utility.

Yell out FUCK YOU GROW SHOP, and crack open a cold one and go buy some bulbs, sockets, and wire!

Final thoughts......

If i was to do this all over again, i would...

A) not smoke so much kali mist... lol (forgot the ground wires to the plugs!) lol

B) i would install all the wires to each relay BEFORE iinstalled them in the box, then i would just feed them through to the outlet boxes and cut to size.

C) give myself at least a inch of wire sticking outside the outlet boxes, so i have more room to manuver while attaching wires.

D) i would buy FORKED connectors instead of donut shaped ones... Pulling the screews right off was a pain in the ass.

I quite enjoyed doing this and i hope it helps some people out there.

Let me know what ya all think.

best wishes

POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[sirharrynuggz]

This is EXACTLY what I've been looking for!! Thanks, kung pow. I almost bought one similar to this from the hydro shop for $320!

[BlindDate]

That is a nice project, good work. Those are the same type of relays that I have been using on my flip box for 2 years without any problems.

[fuzygrowth]

dude... mr. pow, you are a life saver. we need more posts like this, digi cams are cheap c'mon folks.

[The Dopest]

nice job!

Thanks guys, I love learning new things all the time, and i really enjoyed this project. Once you think it through it really is a simple device.

Keeping busy keeps the mind young.


Maybe i will take a shot or two of my contactor board...

(if your running multiple timers for the same crop, you REALLY should upgrade.)

I have seen the plug on those timers melt with a power surge... kinda scary.

Contactor board......=......bullet proof.........= PRICELESS

POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!