Hey folks
I was wondering if anyone can help me out with fluorescent tubes, Iv decided there probably my best option for my new seedling/veg box, but havn't seen any threads showing how to go about setting them up.
I basically want to have about 3 tubes (4 foot) fixed side by side and supported on some sort of frame which i can adjust the height of.
What items should I be picking up from b&q apart from the tubes themself?
Will i need to do wiring and connect up a cable and plug myself? Will I need 3 separate plugs?
Please help

I'm a yank so not so good with the products you folks have in the UK.

Basically you want to hang your lamp fixtures with chains to make for easy height adjustment. You will need to buy a fixture (or three) for the tubes to be in. Usually you have to wire it yourself (one reason why they are so cheap) but it's easy and the fixtures usually come with instructions.

Do buy extra tubes and make a note somewhere of the date you start using them. You want to replace the tubes after a certain period of time (one year max on a continous 20/4 cycle).

Haver a multiple outlet power strip (I have no idea what you blokes call them) to plug your lights into. You'll also want to plug in a fan or two so the strip will come in very handy.

Here is a couple of pictures. The 2nd picture you can see the lights hanging from chains. I use "S" hooks to adjust height.

search google for a product called nurturelites (nlites) they are a good product.
The ballast is already contained within them and they can be all daisy chained up together so you only need 1 plug for up to 8 units.

you need a choke (ballast) to power the tubes.

the ordinary ones (non-electronic) require individual chokes for each tube, where as electronic ones can power multiple bulbs... i dont know much about the electronic ones though.

you can do this,

buy 3 x 40w chokes, these are £7.70 each @ tlc direct

and 3 x 36w or 40w tubes

all you need then is those lampholders, cable and plugs

the control gear (choke) is already wired up, including wires going to lampholders, so all you do is fit the lamp holders (

i know this, cause i done the 2ft ones myself.

holla if need any help

You'll need starters too - cheaper to buy the units ready-made and strip them down - even better to just leave them complete.

I've got a dozen of the wretched things from 1995.

why?

I started out growing with a cupboard split half way with 4 vertical 4 footers in each.

I've done vertical and have a 2 foot vertical in me mum room.

No, but why do you still have them?

Hey ~G~! Here is a better picture of my 4 footers hanging on chains. Note my cuttings machines shelf. It hangs as well. You can also see my BB mum and the side cfls I use on this side.

yeah those good-t0-go units from tlc already come with starters dont they


@op, not built in (intergrated) mind you in case your wondering , as in they are easily replacable, just twist and pull

8 x £8 was a lot of money in 1985 - somehow acquired a few more along the way ...

I suppose I need to find someone who wants to light their garage.

Cheers for the quick replies , think I understand how this works
So basically you have a fluorescent tube that fits into a "fitting" then the fitting is wired up to a ballast/choke that supplies one or more bulbs with the required current/voltage then thats wired to a plug and connected to the mains?
Is this type of stuff available in b&q and the likes or will I need to order online?

Are you so short of space you can't fit in the extra inch or two of the fitting ?

It's just that you can get a complete, ready to wire lamp with tube in B&Q for 8 quid - or at least you could ...

I'm not sure if you can get 4 foot doubles that share one ballast ...

Why bother with all that wiring etc when you can buy them already done...here's a link...http://www.nlites.co.uk/growgood/eco-light.htm

Mate your a legend, you have just given me some ideas to get my cuttings/mom space on the go, nice setup you got there man

Ah that sounds good, I'll have a look and let yous know

Very kind of you. Glad to have been of some help m8.

Alrighty then, I'v been down to B&Q and picked up a 2 x 4 foot bulb fitting.
It comes with the batten fitting, 2 x 36W fluorescent tubes, 2 starters and a diffuser (i imagine thats the plastic case thing that covers the bulbs)
The instructions seem fairly straight forward, just put the starters in the correct position, wire up the coloured wires etc etc.
It says...

"This product is designed for permanent fixed wiring: this should be either a suitable lighting circuit (protected with a 5 or 6 Amp MCB or fuse) or a fused spur (with a 3 Amp fuse) via a fused connection unit. We reccomend that the supply incorporates a switch for ease of operation."

So I need to wire the fitting to a fused switch then wire that to a connection unit then that gets connected to a plug?

Nope - The fuse is in the plug, so you just wire up a plug to the unit and walla

Sweet, these fluorescents are working nicely
One last question, are the standard 36W white fluorescents suitable for veg?
I think the whites are 3500K, should i get the 6500K 'daylight' bulbs outa b&q?
Or maybe one of each?

I've heard that 50/50 of Cool White + Warm White is the best to use

Or just Cool White alone will also do the trick.

I'm no expert though