How To Build A Super Charged Fluorescent Grow Light By Overdriving

[MrPlytiger]

Would it be cheaper to buy tomatos than burning that much electricity?

[SleestaksRule]

@MrPlytiger Last winter when I did strictly tomatoes it came out about even. They tasted better than the store bought ones too and didn't come from Mexico. This year I only have 2 tomato plants going and it's not cost effective but I do have other veggies going. Tomatoes are worth more money than the rest.

[kemiah]

Nice vid! Any updates on your light vs. t5? Also wondering if this works on older fixtures? Would this work on t12 and t5? thx

[kemiah]

@kemiah sorry you already answered the last part of my?

[unionboy84]

this is one of the best diy videos i have seen on lighting... thanks so much for being so clear and mentioning prices, part numbers, even alternatives! greatly appreciated. i'll be using this in an aquaponics system as supplemental lighting for veggies. going to go check out your other videos now. thanks again!

[CHEESEYMACK123]

"Tomatoes" def for weed

[Febeleh]

@CHEESEYMACK123 Yeah, because everyone loves growing that sense numbing drug that is not worth the time, especially because of it's illegality. Some people like to have nice fresh produce without having to worry about working in the sun, bothering with bugs, and other pests ruining their crops.

[unionboy84]

seriously... "derrrrppp pot fahkin growing mad buds ked" grow up and respect what he says he's growing, even if it is weed. you should all be growing your own veggies since you're being poisoned by the ones, if any, you're consuming from the supermarket.

[PancakeCollapseMap]

Well Done Sir. Your videos are interesting and well put-together. Cheers

[AzBirdDog]

Freaking thing went X-RAY! lol

[thatguy1252]

he hesitated at first, when he said tomatoes...hes growing weed, or at least has or will, either way, hells ya

[obbe69]

grow weed

[vinchenzo714]

can u do that with a at12?

[rhart1964]

Great video. So, I'm new to this indoor growing, can I bring plants all the way through bloom stage with lights like this?

[SleestaksRule]

@rhart1964 I haven't grown anything with it yet but will soon. I would think so with a few of these.

[upnorthtoker]

@SleestaksRule Can this be done this with cfls?

[SleestaksRule]

@upnorthtoker It probably could but not worth the effort. The most expensive part of a CFL is the ballast. You'd need to find an expensive ballast to drive a cheaper CFL bulb I suppose thus ruining the money saving part of it all.

[upnorthtoker]

@SleestaksRule Yeah i figured that much but i've thrown away lots of broken cfls with perfectly good ballasts, btw after seeing this video i started playing around and discovered that by wiring the two positive sockets together the bulbs ran overdriven, it only worked with one of my flouros though.

[XmasLightsGuy]

Nothing wrong with overdriving :) ...but i'd stay away from that lights of america crap LOL

[llshamelessll]

thanks, my aquarium plants love it!

[petersenjason]

Great video! Very detaled and to the point.

[dikyviking1]

will it work on magnetic?

[XmasLightsGuy]

@dikyviking1 do not attempt it with a magnetic ballast, it will not work & you'll very likely damage/destroy the ballast and/or bulbs. 

[windoes98se]

does this shorten the lifespan of the bulbs?

[SleestaksRule]

@windoes98se Yes it does. You should replace after a year.

[LethalResistanz]

Just wanted say thanks alot for this video. I already had 2 sets of these lights on my 2 55 gallon tanks. I was looking to add some more light but didn't really have the money to buy one of the fancy t5 aquarium fixtures that can cost over $100.

Anyway It worked for me without a hitch. Going to pick up another 2 sets and do it for my other 55 tomorrow.

[K3RCA]

Just got the fixtures today...

That Is one BRIGHT light!

Thought I was going to need my Sunglasses!

[HappyJackProduction1]

what about the neutral ? all i saw was you hooking up the hot side. I tried your experiment with mine and it didnt work, floros wont even light up now. Glad i dont use these anymore cause i trashed 2 units to make one bright ass one. Doesnt work on an older ballast as far is i can tell.

[SleestaksRule]

@HappyJackProduction1 The neutral for both ballasts connected to the casing where it was originally connected. On the side that didn't have a ballast originally, I connected it in a small hole in the casing. I don't know if it works on older magnetic ballasts. It does work on this model from Lights Of America.

[thejuggernautgloves]

great post i just did it to my t8 and the light is brighter im leaving it on for a couple of hours inmy kitchen to see how hot it got and to make sure i don't just put this in my grow room and burn it down. thanks again rep

[evilcanofdrpepper]

This seems like a good way to burn down a house... how hot does that get?

[smiley3169]

hello could I just get the 2700k bulb or do I have to get a whole different fixture? Also this fixture is now putting out around 10,000 lumens??? I need a 2700k that i wanted to do this with

[SleestaksRule]

@smiley3169 Each bulb was originally 2850 lumens. I would say each is now about 5000 lumens. It would just be 2 bulbs producing 5,000 each....not 10,000.

[smiley3169]

hello could I just get the 2700k bulb or do I have to get a whole different fixture?

[1feez]

can this b done with a t5 light also?

[SleestaksRule]

@1feez Yes you can.

[1feez]

@SleestaksRule cool thanks

[1feez]

@SleestaksRule does doin this make change in the amount of life hours of the bulbs?

[SleestaksRule]

@1feez Yes, it'll shorten the life greatly. It's recommended you change them once a year. The more times you overdrive, the faster it'll degrade the bulb. T8's are cheap though.

[1feez]

@SleestaksRule right on

[grower912]

Thanks for the step-by-step process on how to enhance the light efficiency of Fluorescent lights. The tips you shared would also do so much for any average hydroponic grower such as myself. I really find your technique very interesting and efficient. Please keep on posting informative videos!

[budmonkies]

Where did you learn about this? Is it applying more voltage or more current per lamp? Thanks, cool vid!

[SleestaksRule]

@budmonkies If you google "overdrive fluorescent" you'll find a few old forum posts on it at various sites. I just had to try it and it worked out nicely. You can add more ballasts and overdrive 3x or 4x but it makes more heat each time you step it up.

[nappytedd]

cool vid I didn't know you could do that.

[Jksax914]

Great idea. This is on my list of builds now. Thanks for the great videos.

[rwkleinman]

Great video! I get T5's wholesale - but this will be even cheaper. Thanks for this valuable info!

[SleestaksRule]

@rwkleinman Thanks, just be sure to get the same model fixture and it'll go exactly the same. I'm not sure about other brands but this works for sure. Try the light before and after the mod and you'll see a huge difference.

[colenutz]

You just saved me hella money, thanks man.

[maplewoodsp]

Back in the day not too long ago, I was a medical photographer using daylight 6500 Kelvin bulbs. I recall these were expensive. My wife received a grow garden last Christmas, and we had success with lettuce, but none with tomatoes. Thanks for posting your veggie growing experiments.