The best stealth lighting system? ... PL FTW!

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by Version 2

Has anyone found a source for the sockets online yet? Or is phoning in the order still the only option available?

Check aquarium supply houses. They should have waterproof sockets. They're not the el-cheapo's but I hear they also have the plastic clips for the other end of the lamps.

[Version 2]

Lol, I feel retarded now. I just googled "gx24q-4 socket" and got a ton of results. That's what I get for not sleeping in 24 hours!

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by Version 2

Lol, I feel retarded now. I just googled "gx24q-4 socket" and got a ton of results. That's what I get for not sleeping in 24 hours!

Those don't look like TG11 sockets. Unless you're working with different lamps than the 55w PL-L lamps, those are the wrong sockets.

[Version 2]

Actually I was looking at the 42watt t5s. Again, I hadn't slept in a while lol :P

But I think I'm going to go a different route anyway, I was only interested for space reasons, I'm going to try to setup a grow tent to hold a mother and 6 plants, with a few clones. I'm running into space issues so I was considering building a rack and stacking them, but I think I found a solution in a longer width wise but shorter hiegth wise grow tent. It's just going to be a vegging box, so I don't really need the head room the flowering tent will need.

But, if you know what the name is off the sockets for the 55w PL's is, could you post it? You never know when those little bits of info can become useful!

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by Version 2

But, if you know what the name is off the sockets for the 55w PL's is, could you post it?

No name, it's just a socket for lamps that have a 2G11 base. I'm still looking for higher quality sockets from an online source. Haven't found anything yet.

[NotExploded]

These are the most common lighting systems now in much of Asia, where I am. I have a 3x3 room, with 4 PL 55watters. Came in a housing made for 3 lights, but they are spaced a little too much, so added a 4th, and have room for one more in the housing. It's really really bright.

Strangely, I am having big problems finding soil/ferts that won't kills my germinated sprouts. Once I sort that out, I'll let the board know. I can't read the local language, and it's making things hard, it's just trial and error for the soil, but I'm experimenting on tomatoes and other plants to test the soil, and I only have a few worthwhile beaners left.

Anyone know which plants take the most similar soil/nutes to mj?

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by NotExploded

These are the most common lighting systems now in much of Asia, where I am. I have a 3x3 room, with 4 PL 55watters. Came in a housing made for 3 lights, but they are spaced a little too much, so added a 4th, and have room for one more in the housing. It's really really bright.

Strangely, I am having big problems finding soil/ferts that won't kills my germinated sprouts. Once I sort that out, I'll let the board know. I can't read the local language, and it's making things hard, it's just trial and error for the soil, but I'm experimenting on tomatoes and other plants to test the soil, and I only have a few worthwhile beaners left.

Anyone know which plants take the most similar soil/nutes to mj?

Any plant known as a 'Light Feeder' will probably be a great canary for the soils there.

[NotExploded]

Google was my friend, light feeders = beans, peas. I'll get those tomorrow, see how they sprout. Everything goes OK with the soil, I'll make a journal of this PL system grow. Thanks.

[D.I.trY]

I have just registered for two reasons. Firstly what a great post and thanks for all the time you put into it.

secondly, i can contribute something. About the difficult to find TG11 sockets, they are not necessary and can easily be improvised with some plastic connector strip.

Take a look here http://www.petfrd.com/forum/articles...ticle&artid=28.

or google diy pl lights. That will cost you practically nothing and its more sturdy especially as you can mount the plastic strip to the reflector or wall with a screw or nut and bolt.

please take care...

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by D.I.trY

I have just registered for two reasons. Firstly what a great post and thanks for all the time you put into it.

secondly, i can contribute something. About the difficult to find 2G11 sockets, they are not necessary and can easily be improvised with some plastic connector strip.

Take a look here http://www.petfrd.com/forum/articles...ticle&artid=28.

or google diy pl lights. That will cost you practically nothing and its more sturdy especially as you can mount the plastic strip to the reflector or wall with a screw or nut and bolt.

please take care...

Try googling 2G11 sockets. I've been copying a typo of mine for months.

Next thing you know I'll be typing alot all the time instead of alittle.

[lifelessheap]

Just a tiny warning. These mofos can get pretty hot. I nearly vaporized my plants when I had them 2" above. It is my first grow, and I wanted the light as close as possible.

I have a fan running between the plants and the light now, and moved the light 6" or so above.

[RooRTokeage]

GREAT FUCKN POST DUDE. I actually was one that sat down and read ALLLLLLL that!!! becuz I am one who will be doing a first time PL lighting Cabinet grow!!

Thank you for that great CFL HID, Pl LIGHTING class while I did my thing.

Rep+ I THINK WE HAVE A STICKY???

[cynik]

I am very blow away-ed by this thread. It is very awesome.

About ten years ago, I was Mr Know Everything about grow rooms. I was a consultant among my peers. Then, about five years ago, I stopped, because I moved to Europe. When I stopped, Envirolites were like ultra top secret new technology. Folks had heard of them, but nobody could get them.

So now, I don't know anything about lighting! But this thread is a very cool way to get up to speed. I guess I know enough about the fundamentals of lumens, heat and spectrum to understand that the author of this thread knows his stuff.

Well, I have a real small flat in Switzerland, and I think I had better give these new fluros a go. I had always believed that nothing would ever replace the 600W son-t, but I guess you can't argue with progress.

Man, I feel old.

[HydroGanic]

Originally Posted by lifelessheap

Just a tiny warning. These mofos can get pretty hot. I nearly vaporized my plants when I had them 2" above. It is my first grow, and I wanted the light as close as possible.

I have a fan running between the plants and the light now, and moved the light 6" or so above.

Run your fan/ventilation flow across the lamps from the tip to the base. The base is the hottest part of the lamp so you don't want that air flowing past the plants.

Once you have a good flow of air, you can drop the lamps down to within a half inch, just be careful during veg and stretch as they grow fast and will hit the lights quickly.

[RooRTokeage]

Originally Posted by HydroGanic

Run your fan/ventilation flow across the lamps from the tip to the base. The base is the hottest part of the lamp so you don't want that air flowing past the plants.

Once you have a good flow of air, you can drop the lamps down to within a half inch, just be careful during veg and stretch as they grow fast and will hit the lights quickly.

Where can I purchase these bulbs in the US??

Also I am going to use these inside a cabitnet. the Dimensions: 31 1/2" H x 24" W x 12" D

I was guessing 2 55watt 2700k for 1 stage and then 2 55 watt 6500k for the 2nd stage. I think that should be plenty of light. I am only going to do autoflowering lowryder2. If you think I should use more or less please let me know.

I am new to growing, and was doing a speaker box cfl system, but after waitin for seeds and been reading every night, and now this!!!! changed my whole setup and think I am a little smarter with the light part of the grow. Please let me know If I am correct thank you