Build Your Own Fluorescent Light

The replacement ballasts for a 4 lamp is about 99 the good lock in sockets are about 5 so just for the sockets and ballast you are looking at 140 the regular 4 foot fixtures dont have reflectors i highly recommend them for the t5 you dont want any up light for growing you want only down light with out the reflector you ll be losing some serious lumins plus a ac power cord plus wire nuts.

Build your own fluorescent light.

Rather than making a strobe version though we re going to use a circline fluorescent bulb which means this constant source can not only be used for still photography but for video recording too. So why not save a few bucks and build your own ring light. Just attach the bulb ballasts plug it in. I hope this guide will give you the motivation to build your own pcb exposure box or at least to make you play with those little gems.

The best spectrum is about 6500k with a natural balance of red and blue. The usual types of fluorescent light sources used for growing plants are in the range of 6000k. Those lamps are suitable for photochemical procedures and can usually be used in insect killing. I want to use bulbs that are 2 4 feet long or what ever is easiest.

Here s how to build my faux flo ring light. 4 x 15w black light uva fluorescent lamps with a peak of radiation at 350nm. Of course there is still the option to simply build your own reflectors. Well this is all about it.

From scratch without buying light fixtures and taking them apart.