Home Made Grow Lights

[redser]

I wonder could you just put higher watt bulbs in?

[RedThorn]

Or higher lumen led

[Urban]

Just resurrecting this thread as L!dl have a light fitting on offer that looks as if it might be OK for this. Can anyone tell me if its suitable or not. I've read right through this thread and still don't know
Our Offers - Monday, 24.06. - Energy-Saving Ceiling Light - Lidl UK

i picked up a couple of these today, nice tidy little units, the best thing is the tubes they come with are cool white, so I presume they will be ideal for getting an early start on my plants next year

Look pretty easy to wire up and mount aswell, thanks for the heads up

[veggiechicken]

Thanks for reminding me - I forgot
Maybe tomorrow

[veggiechicken]

I bought the last 2 in the store The instructions mean nothing to me but here's a photo of the wiring bit for info!

[Urban]

Should be easy to wire up, bit of three core wire with a plug on the end with something like a 3 amp fuse in there should do it

[Bill HH]

I have spent all evening reading through this thread, very interesting indeed. But this was way back, so how did you all get on in the end, are you still doing it or intending to do it, were the plants started this way happy to face the great outdoors?

[veggiechicken]

Thanks for reminding me why I have 2 of those light fittings from l!dl
Now just need to get myself organised for next winter

[vikkib]

I have spent all evening reading through this thread, very interesting indeed. But this was way back, so how did you all get on in the end, are you still doing it or intending to do it, were the plants started this way happy to face the great outdoors?

With the cr*ppy spring we had I was soooooooooo pleased to have had mine set up! I think they really helped with the plants that need a good, long, fruiting season like aubergines and chillies.

I only used them to get plants started early so didn't run them the rest of the year and will be doing the same again!

[redser]

Worked great. I only use mine for a few weeks to give them a strong early start. Only problem was that the tomatoes were too advanced too early so it was a pain keeping them in the house so long till that cold spring finally broke. I Have a greenhouse now so hopefully I'll get the balance right this year and rely on the lights less. But the strong light makes a great difference to the seedlings, making strong healthy plants later on.

[Bill HH]

Does any one use lights to get plants to maturity in the winter? I have quite a few lettuces in the green house and they seem very lacklustre with the reduced hours of daylight. I feel they would benefit from two periods of supplemted light in the morning and evening to extend their growing time.
A green house is often dripping with water, what steps do people take to avoid problems or does the warmth of the lights evaporate any damp? maybe it all needs running in conduit!
If for safety reasons i went for a 12v systen (transformer indoors, with wires running to GH, what suitable 12v lights would do the job? Is there such a thing as a 12 volt timer like there is for 240v?

[RedThorn]

You get 12vdc timers, however cost is usually loads more....

What about putting the 240v timer before the transformer?

[redser]

I think rather than go to that hassle and expense you could look at sowing your winter leaves earlier next year. And try different types, many grow perfectly well in winter light conditions.

[Bill HH]

Redthorn "Put the timer BEFORE the transformer". Here in a nutshell we have a clear indication that I am on the threshold of senile dementia.

Redser. It appears that today I dont do obvious.

[Penellype]

Probably not saved much money making this, but it does have the advantage of being rather smaller to store than the grow light garden. I'm hopeless at DIY so I am very pleased with this effort, which uses my clothes hanging rack, 2 pieces of 2ft6in timber (which originated as loose slats in my airing cupboard) and 2 1m lengths of plug chain fastened to the top of one of the slats with the sort of eyes you get with net curtain wire and chain repair links. The lights are 2 2ft kitchen under lights available from B&Q along with a 6-way connector block which comes with a 3 pin plug already wired. All the connectors come ready to plug straight in, and I've added a cheap timer. The whole thing is surrounded by pieces of cardboard boxes with 2nd side A4 paper sellotaped on.



Now I just have to find somewhere else to hang my clothes...