Simple CFL Reflector

someone sent me a message today asking how i built my reflector, so i typed out this tutorial real quick:

"i'd be more than happy to share how i built it

First, here's the supplies i used:

- Cardboard (i bought a trifold used for presentations at walmart)
- Mylar
- Duct Tape
- Light Sockets (here's the ones i got from lowes, the usually have the little metal reflector on them)

- 4 Little elbow things to help hang your light

- 8 Nuts and bolts to attach little elbow things
- Power strip with at least 6 sockets

First you are going to want to find out how large you want your reflector to be and how many plants are going to sit under it.

Take your cardboard and outline your measurements on it. Start with the top of the reflector, then get the sides. Make sure you remember to cut the side panels at a slant so light can be pushed outwards a bit and not directly down. Here's the measurements for mine:


After you have all your peices cut out, it's time to line them with mylar to help reflect light down. take you mylar sheet and lay the peice of cardboard on top of it. Fold the sides back one by one and tape them down. Try to do it as tight as possible, but not so tight that there are wrinkles in the mylar.

When your peices are all shiny, find a flat surface and lay the top of your reflector shiny part down. If you haven't already, measure where your sockets are going to be. I used six but i'm adding three more later on, the more the merrier.

Okay so you have your top shiny part down. Start taking the sides of the reflector and taping them to the top part. Do this before you tape the sides together. Once all the side panels are attached you can flip it over and start taping the sides of the side panels together. Simple as that!

Now just attach your elbows to hang the light from, add the power strip (i attached mine with velcro), install your lights and VOILA you have a simple CFL reflector!"

haha i'm sorry this is my first tutorial ever written. where are you lost at?

Very similar to my first cfl reflector. Be careful with those bolts in the cardboard, that's how my babies were devastated, from the lights falling on them because of this reason.

how much do the cfls and the sockets cost?? (this is my 1st grow)

how well is it working for ya??

looking at it looks great to me hehe

THose socket things are like $10 each... CFLs are about $10 each too... That's a cool $120 setup.

icurbyou said:

THose socket things are like $10 each... CFLs are about $10 each too... That's a cool $120 setup.

Click to expand...

a money saver instead of the sockets from clamp lights:



http://www.homedepot.com/Electrical/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xh3Zarcd/R-100170446/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


plug 'em right into power strips

screw in elbows for two bulbs in one socket

Hey man I hate to be the bearer of bad news here... but someone has to...

CFL produce light mainly to the sides. So in your setup most of the light is shining horizontal over the plants... And the lights that is shining sideways then reflecting down is going to be so small compared to its original strength O.O

you definitely need to get the lights sideways

Im currently in the process of putting together a CFL ballast/reflector as well that holds 6-8 42w. Should have it finished later on today.

Kookiemonsta said:

Hey man I hate to be the bearer of bad news here... but someone has to...

CFL produce light mainly to the sides. So in your setup most of the light is shining horizontal over the plants... And the lights that is shining sideways then reflecting down is going to be so small compared to its original strength O.O

you definitely need to get the lights sideways

Im currently in the process of putting together a CFL ballast/reflector as well that holds 6-8 42w. Should have it finished later on today.

Click to expand...

I put one together tonight based on these plans that holds up to 10 CFL and is 3' x 2'. The two for one adapters (I mistakenly called it an elbow in the first reply) that screw into the socket adapter shown in my first reply hold the bulbs at a 90 degree angle, throwing light down and in between the plant's nodes. The side shoot growth is phenomenal with the bulbs secured at that angle.

$3.27 for a power strip plus $2.09 and 2.50 for the adapters = $7.86 plus tax for a unit that holds TWO bulbs.

The least expensive clamplight at the same store was $5.67 for a unit that holds ONE bulb.

No need to take another photo. The reflector that I put together yesterday is a larger and better (thanks to the plans) version of this one (which is really just an inverted box) made to cover a 2' x 1' tray.



At 3' x 2', the new one hangs perfectly in a DIY veg tent that holds up to fifteen, one gallon containers.

Can you change the brackets so your hanging it from the edge and not the center? I ran into the same deal, had to rethink my mounting strategy.

Its all on how u mountem ill post pics of mine its just like that one but ima add more to the sides,.,gime a sec

You need to make sure you have ventilation above the bulbs. The powerbars melt pretty easy.

I can see from LBJ's pic that the bar in the background has already started to melt a bit.

canniboss said:

I can see from LBJ's pic that the bar in the background has already started to melt a bit.

Click to expand...

No, the case is loose, it's not melting though and it's been like that for years. But, I will work on venting, that's a good idea. Thanks for the tip.

I wish i could find those kind of plugs in the uk ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

I have mine the same way, only 2 tho (one pair) think this is enough for 2 plants? Might have to get another pair...

so should i mount the power strip from the top or the side of the grow box?