More binge reading for this weekend thanks @ReikoX…
Found some round and square stock in aluminum, I know I have some .125 1x1 angle alum around here somewhere. Anyone have any specs on some cheap strips? What type ballast/controller?
Finished one up and put 4 clones in it with my weather station receiver on top of one of the pots to monitor from the lazy-boy.
I was looking at Bridgelux BXEB-L1190U-50E3000-C-C3 at Digikey,
700mA, 38.2V, 26.8W, 200 lm/W. running $14.81USD ea.
https://www.bridgelux.com/sites/default/files/resource_media/DS171%20Bridgelux%20EB%20Series%20Slim%20Gen3%20Data%20Sheet%2020190620%20Rev%20A.PDF
So that’s 0.5" x 47"
the ‘almost 2 footers’ might be better. and I was going for 5,000K for veg.
Drivers are easy to pick. and @Mr.Sparkle is the best technical guy I know of.
I’ll bet he will have good input on this project! 
Cheers
G
Well I do have spacebucket experience, but also not one to say much when people are having fun building…
I’ll share in my experience with bucket growing and things that worked for me.
Side lighting for me was a waste for the most part and really only the top 1/3rd is where having light was best for me as once plants grew into the light they blocked anything behind them, even though your thinking center column light for growing you would probably only want top 2/3rds, and strips would be good for that.
Fan wise exhaust was only needed for me, I did side intakes that swirled the air coming in, and that work really well.
Pot size I over estimated, and likewise say your 4
1 gal pots, with automated watering I bet only one would be needed, but 2 or three will speed things up for sure.
So big issue I had with bucket growing was when pruning was needed it has hard to access what was needed so consider how your gonna get to the back or front side of your cylinder, your probably gonna have to lift it out periodically.
Also the 26sqft in 4sqft footprint is partially flawed not that vertical growing doesn’t add surface area it’s just cause as the plants grow inward that sqft is reduced especially when leaves and buds block those behind them.
Thanks for the info @Mr.Sparkle , @Gpaw and @ReikoX. All advise I will heed to avoid duplicating missteps. I’m thinking 24” light will be perfect as I was assuming the bottom third will still be fluffy stuff for the press.
Its what id be looking into if going down a similar route, that being 2 foot strips, my obvious current fave the Eb2’s are currently waiting for a restock at digikey but that was suppose to happen on the 1st so overdue, but that light you have will work as a top light for now which btw what wattage is it ?, Also line the garbage can with some mylar, aluminum foil shiny side out, or a survival blanket just to maximize the light you’ll have, spray glue will be your friend but expect crinkles especially in a reducing cylinder.
As for what you would need light wise just cause of closeness and such maybe 3-4 of the eb2 strips just for 360degree coverage and I’d just probably mount them with say 3 pieces of say 2" square tubing only a couple inches long as it’s enough to attach them all together into a square but keep the separated were air can flow around and through them and just hang them from the top piece, as if anything having solid square tubing the whole length as a heatsink will actually be worse for cooling cause your eliminating one side completely to air contact, and they run cool anyways… But ideas
Overnight static test with just 6” exhaust booster to the end of my rooftop power vent pulling air through gave me average 6 degree below ambient temp in veg room 86 degree with 90 outside.
Think I will do just the two tall plants as the MP does not stretch and is very compact.
I Have some GG4 rooting that will check all the boxes to SCROG and yield for the MARK II.
Now to get a light built!!
Don’t really know what week and what month little lone what day. Getting all cleaned up for triple genetics Chocolate Thai run so you all don’t see what a mess I make!
Got my cheap little HD LED back up and running with a new converter for 15 bucks. Never knew how much I used it in light training until I started the mini DWC. Can pull it tight and close nodes without burning tips.
Jungle is on Cruise with the chop of the 3 big plants Friday, love perpetual, new strains in the cupboards every month and learning a ton about plants and strains. Have completely switched to one part veg one part Bloom compatible for live soil coco mix and Hydro. Makes life so much simpler and with the twice a week dry watering I mix exactly what I need every time no amendment nutes every other watering and it is concentrated at 256:1 for 40.00 US each. KISS is the final goal…
I’ll be laying porcelain counters in the kitchen so forgive me if I get pics mixed in.,.off to set up wet saw…peek of what’s to come
You should run some during vintage Mexican grow this winter. Keep those Gene’s in the family so to speak. Starting( roughly) around Christmas.
What light is this? I heard LEDs help keep plants compact.
Ohhh I have a few hidden treasures for the Mexican run, are we counting Central America too??
It’s one of those 12 x 24 Black Forest panels and yes it keeps nodes close in veg, didn’t realize I missed it til it went out a week ago.
Central America would be fine! I’m giving my vintage Mexican from GLG to @Guitarzan for the run, and that is an open pollination of old Mexican and South American genetics. Can’t wait to see what you pull out of the Hat.
How many watts is that, how many square feet can it cover, and what was the price tag? Currently I have one of those fluorescent 8 bulb deals for veg. T8’s maybe? 32 watts a bulb. That works very well, and does keep the nodes rather stacked, but if I could cut down on the electric that would be great.
Wanna say it was on close out for 60.00
I was running T-5 and they veg great . I use this just for the plants that want to stretch in veg.
T5 yes. T12 is the old one with 40 watt and t5 is newer, less watts and more lumens right? It is a good light for starting. Being that I want to grow some long flowering Indian sativas, it might be a good investment to get the LED to keep down the stretch a bit
NICE!! I would love to see the Zacatecas tribute especially. Supposed to be a wonderful High. They all sound wonderful though and I cant wait to see them grown. I have an Indian sativa that is supposed to look a lot like Acapulco Gold in flowers and growth pattern.
The T5 HO tubes are rather interesting, they are 54 watts & 6500 Kelvin.
Cheers
G
Had problems with t-5 blowing ballast when I used the HO bulbs. Lot easier to keep the heat down, HPS in veg is killing me. Want to break down and make an LED for veg room.
Ok this was the rest of my day before I could play with plants…just have marble edges to do on the new soapstone counters.
few clones of the triple Durban trying to see how small a cut will take. New sprouts to check germination before the Chocolate Thai Drop. Received first batch yesterday other two should be here this week.Went to knock living soil off three 3- gallon pots and this is all the loose soil that came off perfect hair ball mold of the pots with no rootbound conditions plants were between 4-6’ tall.
