You can do virtually the same thing with a 2x4 and the $3.50 sockets. The end of the socket has a 1/8" pipe-nipple thread (where the lampcord exits the socket, of a clamp-on reflector, for example). My Lowes store sells a 32" length of that threaded nipple for $3.50. I cut the necessary length with a hacksaw.

Technically speaking, you need the 1/4 NPT nuts to bolt to the opposite side of the 1x4 you drill 3/8" holes into. Ace Hardware has those nuts. But, realistically: just wrap the nipple in some tape and thread it into the 3/8" hole you drill in the 2x4. It doesn't have to be properly secured. As long as a socket won't fall out.

That would be a lightbar (like what you're thinking of buying.).

You can make a "UFO" from a 16" piece of plywood the same way. You could use hinges to make angled wings (so the "UFO" is more curved around the plant). You're limited only by your imagination. One idea can morph into another (just toss the 1x4, reuse the sockets with the plywood).

They also make floodlamp holders:


5 of those mounted into a 1x4 board. Five boards for a 4x4 tent. Light bars! You could adjust the angle; twist the housing to adjust direction.

Those lampholders can be too deep for a ordinary light bulb. Cut the housing off with a hacksaw. Or, use a socket extender sold at the hardware store:




If you get into this stuff, there's a lot of interchangeable pieces. It's like Legos. Limited to your imagination.

az2000 said:

You can do virtually the same thing with a 2x4 and the $3.50 sockets. The end of the socket has a 1/8" pipe nipped thread (where the lampcord exits the socket, of a clamp-on reflector, for example). My Lowes store sells a 32" length of that for $3.50. I cut the necessary length with a hacksaw. Then you need the 1/4 NPT nuts. Ace Hardware has those. Or, just wrap the nipple in some tape and thread it into the 3/8" hole you drill in the 2x4. It doesn't have to be properly secured. As long as a socket won't fall out.

That would be a lightbar (like what you're thinking of buying. You can make a "UFO" from a 16" piece of plywood the same way.

You could use hinges to make angled wings (so the "UFO" is more curved around the plant). You're limited by your imagination. One idea can morph into another (just toss the 2x4, reuse the sockets with the plywood).

They also make floodlamp holders:

View attachment 886959​

5 of those mounted into a 1x4 board. Five boards for a 4x4 tent. Light bars! You could adjust the angle; twist the housing to adjust direction.

Those lampholders can be too deep for a ordinary light bulb. Cut the housing off with a hacksaw. Or, use a socket extender sold at the hardware store:

View attachment 886963​

If you get into this stuff, there's a lot of interchangeable pieces. It's like Legos. Limited to your imagination.

Click to expand...

The fixture that i showed you before actually. Comes on a stand what im thinking of doing is either making use of the stand thats with it just lowering it down buy spliceing the wire to remove the threading poles or else no stand and just hanging it at the sides different angles with the leds since the shades are plastic and im removing the globe of the bulb im going to remove the shades. As they seem unsafe....my auto flowers are looking a little sad and since growth seems to be at stand still i may just sit them out side and add my 24 w 6600 HO t5 light in with the my ak47 also

Justinb19 said:

The fixture that i showed you before actually.

Click to expand...

I thought it looked good in the photo, using something to "sling" it in a way that it would be angled with the plant. Maybe a brick on the floor holding the sling which would be tied to something above the plant.

Justinb19 said:

im removing the globe of the bulb im going to remove the shades. As they seem unsafe...

Click to expand...

Speaking of removing the globe. Technically, you should power those through a GFCI outlet. Removing the globe exposes some electrical surfaces. They're small, and not easy to hit (you'd feel the burning diodes first). If you're careful to remember that, you'll be fine. (I ride a bicycle without a helmet too.). But, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use a GFCI. I made an "extension cord" by putting a junction box (like in the wall) on the end of an extension cord. Mounted a GFCI outlet in that (with a wall-outlet cover over that).

az2000 said:

I thought it looked good in the photo, using something to "sling" it in a way that it would be angled with the plant. Maybe a brick on the floor holding the sling which would be tied to something above the plant.



Speaking of removing the globe. Technically, you should power those through a GFCI outlet. Removing the globe exposes some electrical surfaces. They're small, and not easy to hit (you'd feel the burning diodes first). If you're careful to remember that, you'll be fine. (I ride a bicycle without a helmet too.). But, it wouldn't be a bad idea to use a GFCI. I made an "extension cord" by putting a junction box (like in the wall) on the end of an extension cord. Mounted a GFCI outlet in that (with a wall-outlet cover over that).

Click to expand...

Was just planing on pluging them into a power bar that i have as i really dont want to get into putting in a new electrical. Plug ?
Hopeing to have the bulbs and fixtures this evening

Justinb19 said:

Was just planing on pluging them into a power bar that i have as i really dont want to get into putting in a new electrical. Plug ?

Click to expand...

Just be careful with the globeless lightbulbs. (The Lowes GE "Basic" 60w-equiv is a good light. Home Depot's ecosmart in the plain brown box is a good bulb. More money doesn't translate into better. Philips is a save bet. Just their generic, "warm glow" bulb. If you don't have Lowes.).

The diodes are hot, so there's a natural aversion to touch those surfaces. It's not a great risk. But, technically, it's a good idea to replace the outlet in the wall with a GFCI, or make an extension cord the way I did.

az2000 said:

Just be careful with the globeless lightbulbs. (The Lowes GE "Basic" 60w-equiv is a good light. Home Depot's ecosmart in the plain brown box is a good bulb. More money doesn't translate into better. Philips is a save bet. Just their generic, "warm glow" bulb. If you don't have Lowes.).

The diodes are hot, so there's a natural inclination not to touch those surfaces. It's not a great risk. But, technically, it's a good idea to replace the outlet in the wall with a GFCI, or make an extension cord the way I did.

Click to expand...

Would this kind work

That's cool white. I would use one of those for every 3-4 warms.

az2000 said:

That's cool white. I would use one of those for every 3-4 warms.

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So im thinking 2 fixtures for the sides 6 bulbs total with each fixture will have 2 warms 1 cool white and then using my current led along with my 24 watt 6600k HO t5 light on the top how does this sound?

Justinb19 said:

So im thinking 2 fixtures for the sides 6 bulbs total with each fixture will have 2 warms 1 cool white and then using my current led along with my 24 watt 6600k HO t5 light on the top how does this sound?

Click to expand...

That's probably good. Your plant's probably not a 2x2' space. So, you don't need a lot. What you're noodling right now will benefit your next grow. It might not make a big difference with the time you have left in this grow. But, the next one should be substantially different. You'll have to feed more (more light driving the plant will make it hungrier.).

az2000 said:

That's probably good. Your plant's probably not a 2x2' space. So, you don't need a lot. What you're noodling right now will benefit your next grow. It might not make a big difference with the time you have left in this grow. But, the next one should be substantially different. You'll have to feed more (more light driving the plant will make it hungrier.).

Click to expand...

Ok so im not going to get much out of this plant at this point?

Justinb19 said:

Ok so im not going to get much out of this plant at this point?

Click to expand...

What were the details again? Autoflower sprouted how many weeks ago? If there's 2-4 weeks left, more light will make a difference. But, it won't be the same as starting earlier.

az2000 said:

What were the details again? Autoflower sprouted how many weeks ago? If there's 2-4 weeks left, more light will make a difference. But, it won't be the same as starting earlier.

Click to expand...

This one in particular is a ak47 photo not a auto and was planted on may 12th and is coming up on 5 weeks into flower breeder says 7 - 9 weeks flower probaly will push it another month if possible but i do see that some of the white hairs are already turning brownish on the top

Go by ur trichs not hairs if u dont have a 60× jeweler's loot I would get one

Make sure ur checking trichs on buds not trich covered sugar leaves just letting ya know

Here we go let me know what you think

az2000 said:

You can do virtually the same thing with a 2x4 and the $3.50 sockets. The end of the socket has a 1/8" pipe-nipple thread (where the lampcord exits the socket, of a clamp-on reflector, for example). My Lowes store sells a 32" length of that threaded nipple for $3.50. I cut the necessary length with a hacksaw.

Technically speaking, you need the 1/4 NPT nuts to bolt to the opposite side of the 1x4 you drill 3/8" holes into. Ace Hardware has those nuts. But, realistically: just wrap the nipple in some tape and thread it into the 3/8" hole you drill in the 2x4. It doesn't have to be properly secured. As long as a socket won't fall out.

That would be a lightbar (like what you're thinking of buying.).

You can make a "UFO" from a 16" piece of plywood the same way. You could use hinges to make angled wings (so the "UFO" is more curved around the plant). You're limited only by your imagination. One idea can morph into another (just toss the 1x4, reuse the sockets with the plywood).

They also make floodlamp holders:

View attachment 886959​

5 of those mounted into a 1x4 board. Five boards for a 4x4 tent. Light bars! You could adjust the angle; twist the housing to adjust direction.

Those lampholders can be too deep for a ordinary light bulb. Cut the housing off with a hacksaw. Or, use a socket extender sold at the hardware store:

View attachment 886963​

If you get into this stuff, there's a lot of interchangeable pieces. It's like Legos. Limited to your imagination.

Click to expand...

I was thinking of doing something simple like this for my veg tent and you just gave me more ideas lol. Thanks.

916Fisherman said:

I was thinking of doing something simple like this for my veg tent and you just gave me more ideas lol. Thanks.

Click to expand...

I actualy am already noticeing the soil drying up better unlike with the original led

916Fisherman said:

I was thinking of doing something simple like this for my veg tent and you just gave me more ideas lol. Thanks.

Click to expand...

I think it's fun stuff. Those floodlamp holders will thread into PVC fittings that have 1/2" pipe thread. For example, "T" fittings commonly have a 1/2" threaded "outlet" (the side outlet). You could create a pole with one of those floodlamp holders every 4". (You don't have to glue the PVC together. Just cut a slot in the end of the pipe so it will collapse as it goes into the fitting. Then use a sheet metal screw to "pin" the pieces together. I.e., it's not something you have to make perfect and commit to, or throw it all away.).

You could make a square "fixture" to hang from the ceiling. They're not as easily to find (you might have to buy from an online pvc fitting place), but there is a 90-degree elbow fitting with a 1/2" pipe thread "side outlet". Use T's between the corners too.

You can get some other ideas here. (<<link). The 2nd and 3rd articles would be the ones to see.

What I like about the phoenelic sockets (the ones that come with clamp-on reflectors) is that they're threaded on the socket end. A reflector can be used. That's a big deal with omnidirectional lights. But, with LED lightbulbs having that "base" at the bottom, with LED chips flush mounted, pointing in the same direction, a reflector won't do much.

There seems to be a trend for LED lightbulbs to have a plastic or glass "bulb" like the old incandescents (going down to the male thread; no "base" going halfway up). The LEDs are hung in the center of the round part like a "filament." That's a step backwards for growing. If that proves to be the new normal for lightbulbs, then the PAR38, 30, 20 (BR30, etc.) floodlights will be the thing to use. Their LEDs are flush mounted. And, they come with a reflector. You just have to cut/pry off the outer lens. And then, there's an inner lens covering the diodes:


You definitely want the LEDs mounted like that. That's the real strength of household LED lightbulbs. That directionality out of the box is a very big deal (compared to reflecting omni light, like a CFL or the new LED lightbulbs).

That one had no inner lens. (It's part of the outer lens.). This is an example showing the lens over the LED:


I just started looking at these recently. Cree makes one. The lens looks like it clips into slots in the side of the reflector. I haven't gotten into it yet. I want to experiment using it as a concentrated flood light


That outer lens pried off (I didn't have to cut it off). I drilled holes around the outer edge hoping that might make the focused light less focused/concentrated. But, not so broad as no lenses at all. I think no lenses would be better because they cause some absorption loss. Having nothing between the light and plant should be more efficient, more light reaching the plant. But, I used to use the original glass Cree LED floodlight and had good results. So, I want to give this one a shot. I think using something like this as top lighting (penetrating into the plant) and the unfocused (lenseless) light around the sides. Even if there is some loss due to the lenses, it would be easier to manage the lights (mounting, aiming fewer of them. It's a tradeoff that way. If you'e managing a dozen lightbulbs, that can be tedious. You might not mind some lens loss for the sake of simplicity.).

Anyway, my point was: if LED lightbulbs go retro back to "flimanets" (made of LEDs), then these flood lights be the only choice (from the local hardware store. I'm sure there are other E27 grow-light "bulb" choices. I saw @BigCube using something with an E27 screw base and LEDs flush mounted so they point 90 degrees straight to the plant.). If that happened, the phoenelic sockets (that come with the clamp-on reflector) won't be as desirable (for the option using a reflector) because these flood lights already come with them. The only downside if things go this way is that the bulbs cost more (with the built-in reflector). LEDs have lumen deprecation. The bulbs should probably be replaced after 2000 hours. Particularly lights used in flower. Veg doesn't matter as much. Rotate the flower lights to veg.

I wouldn't discount using these in flower either. Even as sidelight to a "real" grow light, they make a difference. I've used them to flower at 18-22w/sq ft with good results. (<<link). It would have been better at 30w/sq ft. That's still low compared to how many LED grow-light fixtures are used (50w/sq ft). But, using them to sidelight a traditional fixture would make a big difference. I think the value is getting light *close* to the plant for less inverse-square loss. Adding 40w around the side of a plant (four 10w 60w-equiv bulbs) would be like adding 80w to the top light. I might be exagerating. But, it's much better than adding light to the top. It makes better use of the watts.

Justinb19 said:

I actualy am already noticeing the soil drying up better unlike with the original led

Click to expand...

It's probably the plant being driven to live more (eat more, transpire more). Before the added light, it was like "but, I don't wanna go to school." Now the plant's like "places to go, people to see!"

I should mention to others that I would have the lights a little closer to the plant. But, I instructed the OP to start with more distance. Like, when someone moves a plant outside they have to "harden" it. I don't think this is the same thing. But, since the plant was accustomed to being driven softly, driving it with more light might cause nutrient deficiencies to arise, or symptoms of stress. See how it goes for a couple days.

az2000 said:

It's probably the plant being driven to live more (eat more, transpire more). Before the added light, it was like "but, I don't wanna go to school." Now the plant's like "places to go, people to see!"

I should mention to others that I would have the lights a little closer to the plant. But, I instructed the OP to start with more distance. Like, when someone moves a plant outside they have to "harden" it. I don't think this is the same thing. But, since the plant was accustomed to being driven softly, driving it with more light might cause nutrient deficiencies to arise, or symptoms of stress. See how it goes for a couple days.

Click to expand...

I will update pics in a couple days