Homemade light mover ideas?

Sommersby

Member
OK-- there has to be a simple way to build a light mover. I've read using a garage door, but that sounds loud and overkill. There has to be some kind of motor that I can re-adapt and franken-rig into a light mover.

Any thoughts?
 

Sommersby

Member
Yes. eBay would be a good start. However, what other appliances have a motor that moves as slow. I'm sure I can make a reverse switch to go back and forth-- but how do I get a motor to crank so slow??
 

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
check out my scrog off thread. converted a single mover to move three (or four if I wanted to) using garage door track.

I did quite allot of research on how to make my own motor but it is not really worth it when you factor in the cost of the parts and time to make it. The delay circuit is a little tough to source out.
 

lowerarchy

Active Member
I know a pretty simple way. Get two lights. Turn one on for six hours, bbbzzzzzt. Then turn it off and turn the other one on, bzzzzzzzt. Then darkness for twelve hours, long cold lonely darkness, in space nobody can hear you grow... but wait! Sunrize! Bzzzzzt! Except the sun rises in the west this morning, it wasn't that light that started the day yesterday! The sun alternates to even out the growth between areas. BZZT

Voila, light mover with no moving parts.
 

Luger187

Well-Known Member
I know a pretty simple way. Get two lights. Turn one on for six hours, bbbzzzzzt. Then turn it off and turn the other one on, bzzzzzzzt. Then darkness for twelve hours, long cold lonely darkness, in space nobody can hear you grow... but wait! Sunrize! Bzzzzzt! Except the sun rises in the west this morning, it wasn't that light that started the day yesterday! The sun alternates to even out the growth between areas. BZZT

Voila, light mover with no moving parts.
but then half the plants wouldnt get much light for 6 hours of daytime
 

phyzix

Well-Known Member
I know a pretty simple way. Get two lights. Turn one on for six hours, bbbzzzzzt. Then turn it off and turn the other one on, bzzzzzzzt. Then darkness for twelve hours, long cold lonely darkness, in space nobody can hear you grow... but wait! Sunrize! Bzzzzzt! Except the sun rises in the west this morning, it wasn't that light that started the day yesterday! The sun alternates to even out the growth between areas. BZZT

Voila, light mover with no moving parts.
Why not leave two lights on all the time?
 

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
The big feature is having an adjustable delay at each end before the polarity switches and the motor goes the other direction. Trust me. I googled the shit out of it, made a parts list and then decided for $50 more I would just buy one. Avoid the chain driven hydrofarm model
 

Sommersby

Member
The big feature is having an adjustable delay at each end before the polarity switches and the motor goes the other direction. Trust me. I googled the shit out of it, made a parts list and then decided for $50 more I would just buy one. Avoid the chain driven hydrofarm model
Thanks legallyflying. That info really helps me!
 

T.H.Cammo

Well-Known Member
Yes. eBay would be a good start. However, what other appliances have a motor that moves as slow. I'm sure I can make a reverse switch to go back and forth-- but how do I get a motor to crank so slow??
Get yourself a Barbecue Rotissarie motor. The "drive shaft" turns at about 3 r.p.m. (one revolution every 20 seconds). These units have lots of torque because the speed is geared down so low.

For example:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XUCS3Y/ref=asc_df_B000XUCS3Y1407749?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=nextagus0019667-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B000XUCS3Y
 

Sommersby

Member
if you have room for a light mover, you have room for more lights....i don't understand.
I've got a grow cabinet, and the temperatures are regulated via my airmover and room temperatures that are sucked in- so a second light will knock my temps up where I don't want them. I've got a 150W HPS is in the middle of a 48" wide area. I have to rotate the plants to the center every day. A simple home-made lightmover would not affect temps but allow for more light distribution on the ends.
 

legallyflying

Well-Known Member
if you have room for a light mover, you have room for more lights....i don't understand.

OK, give me a proper light layout for this situation... 12 plants in a 5' wide by 8' long SCROG Screen.... I have several 600 watt air cooled hoods to work with.
 

phyzix

Well-Known Member
OK, give me a proper light layout for this situation... 12 plants in a 5' wide by 8' long SCROG Screen.... I have several 600 watt air cooled hoods to work with.
Something like this. I know it's vague and sloppy, but it would work and yield well.

 

the plumber

Active Member
there is a post somewhere on here of a guy who connected his light to his oscillating fan with a couple of rods, worked for him.
 
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