New lights for seedlings.

[Worth1]

Good that makes me feel better, thanks.

Worth

[Zenbaas]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

You're looking at the "watt equivalent" number. My 65 is the actual watts consumed. I thought it was a 300 watt equivalent, but the Menard's link lists an "incandescent equivalent" number of 260 watts:
http://www.menards.com/main/electric...4431924759.htm

So we are both fairly equal in regard to our fondness for overkill.

Yes I have three 120 watt (consumed) bulbs for my seedlings. They are huge to the point where they take the e40 connector instead of the e27. Nice and bright

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Zenbaas

Yes I have three 120 watt (consumed) bulbs for my seedlings. They are huge to the point where they take the e40 connector instead of the e27. Nice and bright

When I asked about watts I always mean output not consumption.
That is 1000 watts output if I am not mistaking.
And uses the mogul adapter.

Worth

[Zenbaas]

Worth that's interesting. I always mean consumption and not output when referring to watts.

If I had more space I would do a similar setup to yours. Looking forward to seeing your results.

[Cole_Robbie]

If I get into trying my hand at breeding next summer, I think I am going to want an indoor space for next winter. It seems like that would make everything go a lot faster when growing out successive generations to make selections.

[rudylr]

I just built a couple of grow lights that I saw on utube. They have 4 sockets each built into a 8" heating duct thats spread open. I have splitters in each socket for a total of 8 bulbs. Im using 23 watt 6500k bulbs. I put a thermometer under a light in the basement and the temp went from 61 to 90 degrees. They should work good to help germination. Plan to start my seeds the first of March.

[rudylr]

I just built a couple of grow lights that I saw on utube. They have 4 sockets each built into a 8" heating duct thats spread open. I have splitters in each socket for a total of 8 bulbs. Im using 23 watt 6500k bulbs. I put a thermometer under a light in the basement and the temp went from 61 to 90 degrees. They should work good to help germination. Plan to start my seeds the first of March.

[Worth1]

Can someone tell me how long it takes for baby seedlings to start stretching in weak light?
Worth

[bjbebs]

Worth
In looking at your setup, the only stretching you might have would be on the outside row or two of the trays. You would then spin and swap the trays to a different position. You've got plenty of light, just not familiar with how CFL's distribute light down and out. 4 ft. tubes, due to their tight spacing, distribute light evenly.
Seedlings are a snap. What are you going to do with nearly 300 plants after pot up. Will you wheel them in and out as weather cooperates or add more lights?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by bjbebs

Worth
In looking at your setup, the only stretching you might have would be on the outside row or two of the trays. You would then spin and swap the trays to a different position. You've got plenty of light, just not familiar with how CFL's distribute light down and out. 4 ft. tubes, due to their tight spacing, distribute light evenly.
Seedlings are a snap. What are you going to do with nearly 300 plants after pot up. Will you wheel them in and out as weather cooperates or add more lights?

I am going to fertilize and grow the plants in the cells as long as I can get away with it.

I only planted one seed in each cell.
Then when the time comes I have a really nice wire rack shelf that has 4 shelves that are 24 inches wide by 18 1/2 inches deep.
This just about doubles the amount of space I am taking up now so I think I can squeeze all of the plants I want on it.
The shelf will go on the back porch that faces more or less to the southeast.
It will be up against the wall of the house and protected from any cold north wind and there is an outside wall outlet and water near by.
I have a nice dolly that collapses and you can roll it around on 4 wheels and the rack will fit in this.
If the weather is really cold or bad I will move the whole rack and dolly into the living room and park it next to the french doors.

This year I plan on using the square 3 inch by 3 inch jiffy peat pots.
The rack will hold 198 plants using these, way more than I need.
I have used similar sized pots and put two plants in each pot and they did just fine you just have to feed and water them more.
By selecting the variety you can get away with it and I could fit all of them on the rack.
Or I could put a 48 inch by 48 inch sheet of plywood on the table and place every one of them on it under the lights I can easily modify to hole more lights.
It would hold 256 of those 3 inch peat pots.
Worth

[BigVanVader]

Nice setup Worth, similar to what I have seen online for pot grow rooms. I did toy with the idea of making something but with 100 projects going I decided to take the easy way out and just bought more lights.

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by BigVanVader

Nice setup Worth, similar to what I have seen online for pot grow rooms. I did toy with the idea of making something but with 100 projects going I decided to take the easy way out and just bought more lights.

Thanks.
I already had the frame from my old lights and lumber in the garage.
All I had to do was modify the frame and add the fixtures.
The tedious part was wiring everything up.
If I had it to do over again I would Have used fork connectors and THHN stranded 14 gauge wire with 1/2 EMT conduit but I was in a hurry.
This was a prototype to see if it worked.

Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

Do they make ceramic sockets with two sets of screws for wiring them in a series? Or am I just supposed to cram two wires on each screw?

[Worth1]

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Do they make ceramic sockets with two sets of screws for wiring them in a series? Or am I just supposed to cram two wires on each screw?

That is why I went to 14 Gauge wire 12 can be a nightmare plus with the currant I was drawing I didn't need it.

I have spent years wiring these things and it takes a technique to be for sure.

In Fire alarm you cant do this but with lights you can.

Take one wire coming from the fixture and wire nut it to the wires coming into and out of the box to the next fixture.
This way you only have one wire under the screw and three in the wire nut.
Each fixture will have two wire nuts.

I didn't do this because I was thinking fire alarm and everything has to be supervised in other words if a wire breaks the panel goes into trouble.

Does this make since?
Worth

[Cole_Robbie]

I just checked the wire I used, and it's 14 guage. A lot of electrical work seems to be about patience, doing tedious little things like making sure a wire sets well on a screw.