I Want to Solicit Some Opinions
- Thread starter AssDan
- Start date
watchhowIdoit
New Member
Turbocharge your T-8s(DIY if even a bit handy)and up there output to aprox 1.7 times original output. Example:6500k 4ft tube rated 2850 lumens(yes I know lumens do not matter to the plant, but helps us humans understand light)Turbocharged=4845 lumens. Couple that with the fact you can keep them within inches of the canopy and you have a light that compares to a 400 watt HID. I just love mine for vegging.........
AssDan
Member
I have T5s one is HO the other is one I got from home depot. Am I able to somehow convert the non HO fixture to one that's HO? I would love to know how. I consider myself very handy (lots of home and car repairs, even fixed my furnace once). You have my attention.
AssDan
Member
I'm glad that this is normal. I thought that I caused the plant some undo stress with my high expectations and emotional needyness. Also I thought the plant might be getting back at me for nutrient burn this summer.That's not that unusual - typically its genetics.
Just makes for pretty bud.
Thanks.
watchhowIdoit
New Member
Sure the T-5 can be up graded, and it actuall pretty simple. The T-5 of course has a electronic ballast as do most T-8s and many T-12s. You must use electronic ballasts when turbocharging. The principle is simple and safe. You take a ballast that is designed to fire 2 bulbs and make it fire just one bulb. 4 bulb ballast to fire 2 bulbs. The wiring varies a bit from ballast too ballast. But basically with a 2 bulb ballast you would run the red wires from 2 bulb sockets to a single socket. The blue wires the same. Then combine the yellow wires from the other 2 end sockets into just one. Google it, lots of detailed info. Folks have been doing it for years, just somehow often gets overlooked. I will get some pics of my DIY light in a bit......
watchhowIdoit
New Member
Take the evolution of tube floros. T-12 to T-8 to T-5. Whats the difference. Each tube size got progressively smaller while being fired by increasing wattages in comparison to gas volume.. Lighting a smaller concentration of gas with more power. How simple can it be...gotta love it.....
edit. and in the electronic ballast world the T-8s and T-12s have become pretty much inter changeable, bulbs and ballasts.....
edit. and in the electronic ballast world the T-8s and T-12s have become pretty much inter changeable, bulbs and ballasts.....
AssDan
Member
Thanks for the info. I'm gonna be lookin into this.
snew
Well-Known Member
I look forward to seeing it. What is it called, would help to know? Turbo charge ballasts yielded nothing.
watchhowIdoit
New Member
Check this out for a starter, basic floro lighting stuff with diagrams.......not TBing the ballast, just pushing extra voltage through the tube using what the ballasts has to offer...
http://www.repairfaq.org/sam/flamp.htm#wd
watchhowIdoit
New Member
AssDan if your current stock T-5 from HD is a single bulb then no you cannot TB it, already been done. Pretty much where your T-5 HO originates, all the very same basic principles. More volts/watts per volume of gas...
wyteboi
Well-Known Member
i'd like to know more about this "TB" shit too. i didnt find anything in your link but the basics ?
thanks
soil
AssDan
Member
Ok. So I had some time to look at this tonight. I now understand the basics of this mod. In my standard setup, one ballast powers two lights in a series circuit. Now you may be asking yourself; what did that last sentece say? I'm here to break it down. A series circuit is like Christmas tree lights; one bulb goes out and they all do. In this configuration, the voltage or potential of the power source is split among the two lamps. By rewiring the ballast to power one light, the one lamp sees the full voltage potential of the power source. So comparing a high output to a stanard bulb, I have these stats (measured in watts and lumens because I don't have any other metrics).
Standard = 13 watts, 1350 lumens, 104 lumens/watt
High Output = 24 watts, 2000 lumens, 83 lumens/watt
Numbers for 21 in T5.
Seems slighly less efficient using this method, though I think luminosity varies between bulb manufacturers. I think the big advantage is the space savings.
Here's my plan going forward; I have 2 identical fixtures. I'm putting both ballasts in one fixture to make it a HO two lamp fixture. The other fixture will be a pile of metal. I'm going to put the supercharged fixture in my flower room. Since I will need new bulbs, I'm going to get some aquarium lights I mentioned previously in this thread.
Here are a few pics I took to document the light upgrade.
This is the light fixture I'm starting with.
Here it is turned on.
This is the original wiring configuration. 2 blue wires connected to one socket and 2 red connected to the other.
I have room for a second ballast.
The wiring diagram was right on the ballast.
A red and a blue wire on each socket. Unfortunately, I don't have the wire to attach the other socket. I'm getting wire on Sunday and ordering bulbs now. Will update when there is more news.
Thanks for reading.
Standard = 13 watts, 1350 lumens, 104 lumens/watt
High Output = 24 watts, 2000 lumens, 83 lumens/watt
Numbers for 21 in T5.
Seems slighly less efficient using this method, though I think luminosity varies between bulb manufacturers. I think the big advantage is the space savings.
Here's my plan going forward; I have 2 identical fixtures. I'm putting both ballasts in one fixture to make it a HO two lamp fixture. The other fixture will be a pile of metal. I'm going to put the supercharged fixture in my flower room. Since I will need new bulbs, I'm going to get some aquarium lights I mentioned previously in this thread.
Here are a few pics I took to document the light upgrade.
This is the light fixture I'm starting with.
Here it is turned on.
This is the original wiring configuration. 2 blue wires connected to one socket and 2 red connected to the other.
I have room for a second ballast.
The wiring diagram was right on the ballast.
A red and a blue wire on each socket. Unfortunately, I don't have the wire to attach the other socket. I'm getting wire on Sunday and ordering bulbs now. Will update when there is more news.
Thanks for reading.
wyteboi
Well-Known Member
i just dont believe this "HO" shit. there is no way you can just run the 2 legs to one bulb an get it to work proper or efficient. i think you would be wastin a lot of lumens by putting 2 ballast in one fixture , but that is just my opinion.
i would like to see this ...... hell i might wire up one tomorrow an see.
soil
i would like to see this ...... hell i might wire up one tomorrow an see.
soil
wyteboi
Well-Known Member
why ? are your plants alive ? they must eat a bottle of food a day......... along with a tank of co2. (no reflectors , maybe?)
soil
watchhowIdoit
New Member
AssDan
Member
I don't know what I was thinking last night. If I'm upgrading now, I should buy a new ballast and convert the fixture that is unused into a HO fixture. I could put 4 aquarium lights in the 2 modified fixtures and 2 more lights in my current HO fixture for a total of 6 aquarium lights. I'm glad I didn't order anything yet. Sometimes reflection on the problem is what's really needed. Now I'm going to be impulsive and spend a bunch of money on light.
Wyteboi, I'm justifying this HO shit on the fact that it's an increase in power to push light out. It seems as though it might not be as efficient, but I'm trying to get more light in one area. Under my original idea, I would have gained 1300 lumens in my grow side and lost 2700 lumens in my veg side. I think these numbers would have been better if I would have found better bulbs. The key thing for me under my new plan is an increase in power and lights in my grow side. I will have to compensate by probably buying more fixtures in my veg side (currently I only have T12s). I'm not thinking in lumens with these new lights. I'm going to see how trying to optimize my wavelength output works where plant growth is concerned. Anyway, I will not be doing anything this weekend. Going out of town.
Wyteboi, I'm justifying this HO shit on the fact that it's an increase in power to push light out. It seems as though it might not be as efficient, but I'm trying to get more light in one area. Under my original idea, I would have gained 1300 lumens in my grow side and lost 2700 lumens in my veg side. I think these numbers would have been better if I would have found better bulbs. The key thing for me under my new plan is an increase in power and lights in my grow side. I will have to compensate by probably buying more fixtures in my veg side (currently I only have T12s). I'm not thinking in lumens with these new lights. I'm going to see how trying to optimize my wavelength output works where plant growth is concerned. Anyway, I will not be doing anything this weekend. Going out of town.
wyteboi
Well-Known Member
wyteboi
Well-Known Member
you are very excessive. i like that. lets see what you come up with !
i got 4 extra shop lights that i will see what the HO does to them .....
soil
malignant
Well-Known Member
im using a growzilla with a vortex 6in on each side. i brew guano tea, and have to feed every other day, a kalichakra and a chocolope in 12 gal pots yeah its a lot of light for 2 plants.. i had 4 chocolopes turn out male.