I was wanting a cloning tent but they were $220 at the local and that didn't even have lights!
So I decided that I could do it better, cheaper and have it sooner so my girls
could stay warm and grow up to be big and strong.

I went to the local HD and bought a wire "backers rack" that measures 30" tall 24" wide and 14" deep.
Cost $19.
4 - T5 24" 2 bulb fixtures, 4 extension cords 3- 6' and 1- 12' about $5, a box of #8 x 5/8" screws, a box of #10 washers and 8 fender washers,
I 4'x 2" piece of Velcro, and 1 black vinyl BBQ grill.
A fairly large one cost me $49. All together it cost about $200.
I am sure it could be done for less. A 4' model could use shop lights and save like $50 just on that.
But I have limited space.

Put the bakers rack together.
Take a light fixture out of the box and take the cover off the fixture.
Find the end that has a loop for a connection where the bulb fits in.
This may be connected to red wires.
Remove this tower from the fixture, it just slides out.

Tower








There is a knockout in the end take this out and install a 3/8" wire clamp in the end.



Cut a pigtail from one of the 6' extension cords.

Pigtail


You will need 12" from the male end and 12" from the female end.
Put both through the clamp and tighten the clamp down.
Strip 1/2" off of all 4 wires that you just put into the fixture.
You will need to take one off of the male and one off the female wires
and the black wire twist them together and tighten the supplied orange wire nut in place.
Repeat with the white wire.
Turn the fixture over and locate good place to screw through the case.
We will take a a self tapping screw, a #10 washer, and a fender washer and screw it too the wire rack.




Repeat with the second fixture except this on just needs a male pigtail.
Install it on the same rack.
The 3rd one will be the same again but on the lower rack.
The last one is a bit different.
It will be made using the 12' extension cord.



Cut 12" from the female end and then wire both pieces to this fixture.
Install the fixture on the lower rack.
Now plug all the loose male ends into a female end except the real long one that will plug into a wall.
You will also have a couple place you can plug heating pads or fans in as needed.
Go ahead and plug it all in and make sure it works.



All four light should be on.
At this point you can use some wire ties and strap all the loose wires down to keep it neat.






Now we are ready to cover with the Grill cover.
You want it to be light tight so it can be on 24hrs/day in the same room as your 12/12 flowers.
So use lots of material and overlap where the opening is in the front.
I just put mine in sideways at one end of the cover. It fit perfect.
I took the self taping screws and #10 washers and screwed into the upright post of the rack to keep it in place.

I then turned it around and "draped" it to where i wanted it.
Screwed it in place so that I could trim off the excess.
Next I added 3 - 2"x 10" pieces of Velcro to keep the door closed.
I will probably have to go back and stitch the Velcro in place as I don't trust the adhesive.
I trimmed everything off except the bottom which overlapped about 3".
I figured this would help with keeping light in.
Next I tested it in a dark room with the lights inside the cabinet on.
The only place it leaked light was around the bottom.
So I made a cover for the bottom.
It is easiest to make this one inside out.
I just turned it over and used the other end of the grill cover.
Making it about 5" deep.
I used spray adhesive to make the corners and then trimmed.
Turn it right side out, slip it over the bottom and put 1 screw/washer in each corner to keep it in place.







I will be going to get some of the corrugated plastic that is used for signs to line the shelves tomorrow.
We don't any water to get in those light fixtures.
I think I can go to the nearest big intersection and take a couple of those get rich quick signs.
Posting them on the street is illegal here anyway!

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Multi Strain Coco Grow
Ganesha's Dream Grow
Flowering Room Update

nice!!!!!!!

+rep

Thanks...

I will be adding a bit of ventilation to this unit but I want to find a thermostatic controller cheap first.

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Multi Strain Coco Grow
Ganesha's Dream Grow
Flowering Room Update

Thats fuckin sweet man. I love DIY post. You always get to see the creative side of somebody. +rep good sir. keep it up.

Nice - looks great! Thanks for posting that with killer pics too - good work!

Can you post a link to the t5 light's that you used? They would work great in my clone box. Awesome diy dude, +rep

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Thanks everyone for the responses.
The lights are Lithonia strip fixtures.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...02059+10401001

__________________
Multi Strain Coco Grow
Ganesha's Dream Grow
Flowering Room Update

great thread man, keep it up...

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What shall ya sow, that shall ya reap...One love ya all...
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Great post!

One question, What type of bulbs did you get for that?

+rep for saving me some money.

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“He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice.” -Einstein

These were the standard bulbs that came with the fixture. I guess the fact that I was getting 2 bulbs and a fixture for <$20 made it so appealing. I will look into bulbs when they get a bit older but I imagine these will do just from a par stand point. It is quiet bright in there.

Thanks for reading.

I am going to be doing a ventilation post soon. I am currently rearranging the room so that it will work better and adding the componets now.

__________________
Multi Strain Coco Grow
Ganesha's Dream Grow
Flowering Room Update