Vertical DIY LED recirculating hydro... thing

[JL2G]

Awesome news! Thanks again for taking the time, guys, and understanding the electro-math better than me!

I'll be trying to slap these things together and get em over the seedlings tonight...

One last little concern- I wanna make sure the thing is grounded properly. Do I run the green wire to the frame, or...?

I'll get some pics up, hopefully sometime tonight, as I get them together...once I get the old fixture torn apart, anyway.

If the driver is attached to the frame then it will already be grounded via metal to metal connection and the driver being grounded through the cord.
If it's a remote driver and you want the frame grounded either run another wire and connect to the driver itself via a mounting screw, or yes to the green wire would work too.
For clean lines on your cord I'd just do it to the driver if you want the frame grounded.
Imho it's not really necessary though with the small amount of dc power the strips by themselves are using.
Think of 2x more than a 9 volt battery on yer tongue. Lol
I didnt ground either of my led lights frame to the remote driver, low voltage dc power, wasn't a concern of mine.
The driver however is grounded itself through the cord to the wall where 120 ac with 15 to 20 amps behind it is present so safe on that side.

 

[MacGydro]

If the driver is attached to the frame then it will already be grounded via metal to metal connection and the driver being grounded through the cord.
If it's a remote driver and you want the frame grounded either run another wire and connect to the driver itself via a mounting screw, or yes to the green wire would work too.
For clean lines on your cord I'd just do it to the driver if you want the frame grounded.
Imho it's not really necessary though with the small amount of dc power the strips by themselves are using.
Think of 2x more than a 9 volt battery on yer tongue. Lol
I didnt ground either of my led lights frame to the remote driver, low voltage dc power, wasn't a concern of mine.
The driver however is grounded itself through the cord to the wall where 120 ac with 15 to 20 amps behind it is present so safe on that side.

Thanks man!
I don’t mind a little tickle to wake me up once in a while, but I’m not trying to be permanently electro-starched raising my lights lol
I didn’t run any special grounding wires on the current lights, have touched them wet, and haven’t had any issues, but drivers and frames did touch.
These drivers will be remote on the rebuilds though.
They’ll be positioned like the diagram above, in an L shape, with the driver in the corner of the L.
I can mount the driver on wood or metal stud, if needed. Wood is the closest and more central.
I’ll try to give at least 4-6ft wire from the driver to the closest points of each light, for travel, and wire the strips as efficiently and close to the driver as I can.
If I do want a redundant ground, is the 18ga ok, or would I want larger, like 12?

I got the strips off the old light, cleaned diodes, strips, and frames, so next is wiring and mounting.
There’s a chance it could be done tonight, but it may be tomorrow.

 

[JL2G]

Thanks man!
I don’t mind a little tickle to wake me up once in a while, but I’m not trying to be permanently electro-starched raising my lights lol
I didn’t run any special grounding wires on the current lights, have touched them wet, and haven’t had any issues, but drivers and frames did touch.
These drivers will be remote on the rebuilds though.
They’ll be positioned like the diagram above, in an L shape, with the driver in the corner of the L.
I can mount the driver on wood or metal stud, if needed. Wood is the closest and more central.
I’ll try to give at least 4-6ft wire from the driver to the closest points of each light, for travel, and wire the strips as efficiently and close to the driver as I can.
If I do want a redundant ground, is the 18ga ok, or would I want larger, like 12?

I got the strips off the old light, cleaned diodes, strips, and frames, so next is wiring and mounting.
There’s a chance it could be done tonight, but it may be tomorrow.

18 is fine to use for the ground.
It helps if you ever need to move things and stuff if you do something like this, quick connect/disconnect adapter, between the light, and the frame. Can set up the light w out dragging the driver around or vice versa.
At home depot, works great.
At Amazon, fancier and waterproof

Most hardware stores or good auto shops would have something similar.

 

[JL2G]

Thanks man!
I don’t mind a little tickle to wake me up once in a while, but I’m not trying to be permanently electro-starched raising my lights lol
I didn’t run any special grounding wires on the current lights, have touched them wet, and haven’t had any issues, but drivers and frames did touch.
These drivers will be remote on the rebuilds though.
They’ll be positioned like the diagram above, in an L shape, with the driver in the corner of the L.
I can mount the driver on wood or metal stud, if needed. Wood is the closest and more central.
I’ll try to give at least 4-6ft wire from the driver to the closest points of each light, for travel, and wire the strips as efficiently and close to the driver as I can.
If I do want a redundant ground, is the 18ga ok, or would I want larger, like 12?

I got the strips off the old light, cleaned diodes, strips, and frames, so next is wiring and mounting.
There’s a chance it could be done tonight, but it may be tomorrow.

My lights have been that way for years w no ground from frames to driver and remote drivers, no issues. Have touched my hands and or head to them more than a few times on accident. No zaps. Lol

 

[MacGydro]

18 is fine to use for the ground.
It helps if you ever need to move things and stuff if you do something like this, quick connect/disconnect adapter, between the light, and the frame. Can set up the light w out dragging the driver around or vice versa.
At home depot, works great. View attachment 165336
At Amazon, fancier and waterproof
View attachment 165337
Most hardware stores or good auto shops would have something similar.

I Love quick disconnects, since my lowrider days...Seen em save an otherwise completely ruined cruise night more than once!
I'm just working with existing equipment though...Zero budget for anything.
It'll be solder and heat shrink tubes, if they're lucky...Or maybe it should be finger twists and electrical tape, as DIY quick releases?? ?
Once I have $$$ to build new equipment though, I'll make it as 21st century as possible. Automation, and AI assisted (including necessary security implements), so I can do anything but defoliating from anywhere.... but that's "sometime"...
Shouldn't be an issue though. These lights aren't going anywhere soon, other than a couple feet of vertical movement, for plant growth.

My lights have been that way for years w no ground from frames to driver and remote drivers, no issues. Have touched my hands and or head to them more than a few times on accident. No zaps. Lol

Yeah, no tickles here either, but I also don't grab anything with constricting muscles if it's metal, and electric, and especially moist, or just plain wet....

But, speaking of tickles and tingles, can you feel a zap from everyday electronics (that you didn't build) when touched by more sensitive skin? Like your head, or the back of your hand?
I've had instances of connecting cable to a TV, hooking speakers up, or something similar, where I'm working on something, in a tight space, in a weird position, and feel a definite zap if I touch the electronic with anything other than my fingertips. Dunno if I'm overly sensitive, or if everyone in similar situations has experienced the same.

Anyway, I got a little more progress on the lights tonight (last night), but they're not finished. I got the strips mounted on the frames, and I think I have the wiring worked out, but didn't have the concentration to commit to cutting and connecting wires yet. I'll hit that task with a fresh mind and eyes tomorrow, and hopefully get them finished, and back over the seedlings (before they get pissed)...As long as I have enough wire on hand. Estimations are real close so far.

 

[doober]

0

...Speaking of hydro...

Dunno whether it was Serendipity or Synchronicity, but I think the hydro Gods heard us, and decided to give a wink and a nudge...
Check out what I found going out to somebody's curb this morning!
No pumps or timers, but I scored a nice 4x8 table, and 4x4 50 gal rez!
I have no idea where I'll put em yet, but I'll try to figure out where they might fit after a Physan spray down.
God bless the quitters...

View attachment 165162

I also got the frames for my new veg lights built.
(Forgot to get pics yet)
The tough part is gonna be disassembling the strips from the old light, and figuring out how to rewire them back up into 2 separate lights.
Wish me luck!

Tremendous scores buddy ! I used to find a few smaller trays on “curbside trash” days that I put to use in the grow room, but never found an abandoned 4x8 tray !

 

[MacGydro]

0


Tremendous scores buddy ! I used to find a few smaller trays on “curbside trash” days that I put to use in the grow room, but never found an abandoned 4x8 tray !

Yeah, it was a great find, thanks!
I had my fingers crossed, hoping to find some more gear when I went back to pick up the trays, but they were he only thing worth taking. Other than trays, there was just some Reflectix, a few small flouro bulbs, and used soil.
I don’t even have room to set up a 4x8, so it’s just hanging around for now lol

 

[MacGydro]

It's time to bid a fond farewell to the first iteration of the 240w LED Veg light. It served me well the last few years, and only lost about 12 diodes out of ~500, at 5+ years running.
It was built to veg plants vertically, circled around it.
I brought it from storage, and hung it horizontally a couple days before the rebuild, because the latest germination round needed some light.
Below you can see the latest 2 seed pop rounds, from April 1, and April 14, under the last of the old LED and flouros. (And a revegging Chem D x Apollo 13)





The flouros did great, and all, but it's time to rejoin the 21st century again...

 

[MacGydro]

Once I had the old veg light disassembled, I was past the point of no return, and knew I needed to get the new lights built post haste, for the babies.


...Just in time, too, cuz the foreman came by to check materials inventory. I had to start looking busy...



He thinks he knows what the hell he's doing because he walks around in a suit all day...



...But, usually he just makes a mess of materials, and finds his way directly to where he shouldn't be...



I think I got all the wiring figured out. Everything but the main power from the driver is now connected...





Fingers crossed that my wires aren't !

 

[MacGydro]

After a wiring check, double check, and recheck, I fired up Veg-O-light 2.0...

The boss had to have the final say...Something about standards and practices, or some shit. I'm pretty sure he's just trying to take credit...




After the successful test fire, without actual fire, I got the new lights into their new homes, and shining down on the greenery...



Thanks again to all who helped me not blow anything up!
Can't wait to see how the plants like these lights in the next few weeks.

??

Oh, If the light frames look oddly familiar, it may be because they're repurposed ceiling grid frame pieces. 3, 4ft sections, and about 2ft of main angle to hold the 4 footers together, per fixture.
No screws or hardware holding the lights together, other than the push/snap tabs it's built with.

 

[JL2G]

After a wiring check, double check, and recheck, I fired up Veg-O-light 2.0...

The boss had to have the final say...Something about standards and practices, or some shit. I'm pretty sure he's just trying to take credit...

View attachment 165501


After the successful test fire, without actual fire, I got the new lights into their new homes, and shining down on the greenery...

View attachment 165504 View attachment 165505

Thanks again to all who helped me not blow anything up!
Can't wait to see how the plants like these lights in the next few weeks.

??

Oh, If the light frames look oddly familiar, it may be because they're repurposed ceiling grid frame pieces. 3, 4ft sections, and about 2ft of main angle to hold the 4 footers together, per fixture.
No screws or hardware holding the lights together, other than the push/snap tabs it's built with.

Good shit mang. ???

 

[MacGydro]

Here's a recap of the Afghan crosses I ran recently, alongside the Colombian Blacks.
I started 4 "Afghaan 90 x Black Afghan", courtesy of Deebs, made by Kanzeon, I think?
Also started 4 "Gwniver" (Blueberry x Tashkurgan) made by Jim Dandy.

Here they are in their first week. The Gwnivers were a little nute sensitive from day 1, and grumpy the whole time through. Next time I run them, I'll go easier on the nutes.


Afghan crosses at about 25 days


And 1 month


40ish days


Day 8 of Flower


Day 27 Flower


Day 43 Flower



Day 62 Flower and beyond, coming up....

 

[MacGydro]

Afghan crosses update continued, as pic quota allows...

Day 62 Flower

AF1:


AF2:


...To Be Continued...

 

[MacGydro]

Afghan Crosses continued...

AF4 at 62 days


I don't think I got any pics of Gwniver before chop, so here's some harvest day pics...
I took the Gwnivers and the tops of AF 1 & 2 @ 64 days. I left the bottoms of AF 1 & 2, and AF 4 a few days longer, maybe a week. Have to see if I have records of when exactly.

Gwniver #1 and #2 here. They had a rough battle from day 1. From too much food, to becoming food for mites and mildew.
They still ended up being the frostiest looking plants in the round, even if their buds were tiny. They also held a nice purple/blue tint in the buds, and a spicy berry smell and flavor. Not really blueberry, but more of a grape-to-blackberry.


AF #1 (green pheno) and #2 (short black pheno) tops, after 64 days of bloom. Group shot with GW #1 & #2


I didn't get any shots of AF 4 before chop, but she was the taller black pheno.
Of the 3 girls I got, 2 went black in the leaves, and just #1 stayed green.
Numbers 1 and 2 were taken just after 9 weeks, while I think #4 went to 10, possibly a couple longer.

AF1 was a creamy lemon smell and taste, while the darker ones were a mix of berries and spice. AF2 was the most interesting, smell wise, with a funky, savory meaty spice with the berry.

Next grow to update will be the round featuring Chem D x Apollo 13, Dawn of the Dead, and my Pillow Book x Spring Training cross...

 

[MacGydro]

Alright, these next few posts will feature seeds that started November 1st. They span a few flowering rounds, with the first round consisting of:
Chem D x Apollo 13 (CDA)
Dawn of the Dead (DoD)
Pillow Book x Spring Training (PBST)
These started flower Dec 26

The rest include the strains below, and will be covered as I can get em out, til they finish.
Grape Marmalade x Garlic Breath testers (GMB)
Sour Banana x Garlic Breath testers (SBGB)
Greases Pieces testers (GP, GPS1)
SFV OG x Long Bottom Fighter (SFF)
Wedding Cake x Orange Julius (WCOJ)

Here's some pics...

Pretty much Day 1 above ground here, probably soaked a week or two earlier. These pics are a rerun, but the "Oct 2" date in corner is wrong. Digital date is 11/1.


Day 11 Veg


Day 27 Veg



...Continued next @ Day 29 Veg...

 

[MacGydro]

Day 29, and beyond....

Veg plants day 29


Veg Day 32


Veg Day 44


As you can see, the veggers are nice and cozy, rubbing elbows, moving right along.
They're happy for the most part, but the PM is creeping in, inevitably.
Time to fight with a little liquid weaponry, and give em a dip.
Gotta keep em happy and healthy before they head to flower, right?

Tune in next time to see how our lovely ladies (and a few gents) feel after their baths....

 

[spyralout]

I Love quick disconnects, since my lowrider days...Seen em save an otherwise completely ruined cruise night more than once!
I'm just working with existing equipment though...Zero budget for anything.
It'll be solder and heat shrink tubes, if they're lucky...Or maybe it should be finger twists and electrical tape, as DIY quick releases?? ?
Once I have $$$ to build new equipment though, I'll make it as 21st century as possible. Automation, and AI assisted (including necessary security implements), so I can do anything but defoliating from anywhere.... but that's "sometime"...
Shouldn't be an issue though. These lights aren't going anywhere soon, other than a couple feet of vertical movement, for plant growth.




Yeah, no tickles here either, but I also don't grab anything with constricting muscles if it's metal, and electric, and especially moist, or just plain wet....

But, speaking of tickles and tingles, can you feel a zap from everyday electronics (that you didn't build) when touched by more sensitive skin? Like your head, or the back of your hand?
I've had instances of connecting cable to a TV, hooking speakers up, or something similar, where I'm working on something, in a tight space, in a weird position, and feel a definite zap if I touch the electronic with anything other than my fingertips. Dunno if I'm overly sensitive, or if everyone in similar situations has experienced the same.

Anyway, I got a little more progress on the lights tonight (last night), but they're not finished. I got the strips mounted on the frames, and I think I have the wiring worked out, but didn't have the concentration to commit to cutting and connecting wires yet. I'll hit that task with a fresh mind and eyes tomorrow, and hopefully get them finished, and back over the seedlings (before they get pissed)...As long as I have enough wire on hand. Estimations are real close so far.

Ya man this shit happens to me all the time. Not only zaps and flashes but like a weird fuzziness like the electricity is flowing through me. I’ve always had this experience w electricity. One time I had 3 PCs on a table in AZ and I was moving the power strips around. The entire floor had this fuzzy blanket of electricity hovering over the floor. I didn’t get zapped that time. It was the heaviest fuzzy feeling I’ve ever had.

 

[MacGydro]

Ya man this shit happens to me all the time. Not only zaps and flashes but like a weird fuzziness like the electricity is flowing through me. I’ve always had this experience w electricity. One time I had 3 PCs on a table in AZ and I was moving the power strips around. The entire floor had this fuzzy blanket of electricity hovering over the floor. I didn’t get zapped that time. It was the heaviest fuzzy feeling I’ve ever had.

I think I'm glad I'm not quite that sensitive!

The biggest full body buzz I can remember wasn't from electricity, though...
It was when I thought I could pick up skating again at 35, and bounced my skull off a curb, trying to step the board up from street to sidewalk...
After grinding and sliding Hart Plaza just fine minutes earlier lol
That shit was full body pins n needles for a minute or two!

(Not me, just Hart Plaza...and someone who can actually skate. I was skating down below, in the background area, for the story above.)

 

[MacGydro]

I know, I know, I still need to fill in everything since like March, but here's some current pics of the flower tent, since they're handy...

The rack on the left of the light are the oldest strains in bloom.
The bottom 3 are 1 Jungle Party, and 2 Spring training. They're GG4, and Florida OG crossed to an unintentionally reversed Golden Tiger, and are just shy of 9 weeks in these pics. They're actually really surprising me because they're looking done real early for the Golden Tiger dominance they show. They'll be coming down by 70 at the latest, I think.
The next row up are 2 Sunshine 4s, and the top are 2 Stardawg x Runaway Brides. These 4 are at about 7 weeks.

The rack to the right side of the light has 3 Pigs in a Blanket, and 2 Tropical Zombies, all around 5 weeks.

The rack in back has 4 Headband bagseed plants, 3 Sour Banana x Garlic Breath, and 1 Grape Marmalade x Garlic Breath. They're about 3 weeks in now.
I switched them around to where they are now recently, so I'm not sure which are which atm.




Below are some slightly closer shots of the oldest rack in the tent, and top bud shots of the 1 Jungle Party, and the 2 Spring Training plants.
Top right pic is the Jungle Party top. Bottom left is the tall Spring Training, and the bottom right is the short ST.
They all seem to lean more to the father's Golden Tiger side, and should be some motivational sativa goodness.
Smells are currently an interesting mix of licorice, onions, and a sweet, almost bubblegum thing starting too. Not sure how they'll end up when dry though.
Can't wait to test these out soon!

 

[sandman83]

omg I love it, feels like a space ship with everything circulating around the round bulb in the middle . Similar to old school hanging the bare bulbs but more scrogging vertical? Looks cool!