az2000
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I was thinking of doing something simple like this for my veg tent and you just gave me more ideas lol. Thanks.
Something else about those floodlamp holders (and their 1/2" pipe thread, which fits nicely into a PVC threaded "side-outlet"), if you look in the gardening department's sprinkler section, you'll find sprinkler head "risers." These are 1/2" pipe thread. And, come in various lengths. (My Lowes has one that's 3 feet long).
If you looked at those PDF articles, the 3rd article (<<link) shows how I make these tent-leg mounts:
Those are 3/4" PVC "coupling" fittings ("slip fit" on each end) with a piece of rubber hose inside to protect the tent legs from the thumb screw tightening down on the leg. I use the hardware from a clamp-on reflector, an aim the lights the way you can with a clamp-on.
Now, consider the 3/4" T "reducing" fitting (with a 1/2" side outlet"):
You could make the same tent-leg mount (with the thumbscrew and rubber insert. But, instead of the clamp-on pivot, you could thread a floodlight holder directly into that. And, have some adjustability (the lampholder has some up/down ajustability. And, you can rotate it a little in the threaded hole.).
However! What if you wanted to extend the light? Maybe you have a small plant an want the light to be closer?
Use the "risers" I mentioned. (Sometimes they're called "nipples"):
Use 1", or 4" or 6" or 12". Thread one end of the nipple into that tent-leg mount, and then use a 1/2" pipe thread coupler (female to female) to mount the floodlamp holder onto the other end end of the nipple:
If you get into this stuff, you should google for online pvc fittings. There's many, many more that aren't typically sold at the local store. Furniture PVC fittings. You can do a lot.
In this example, you need the lampcord to exit the side of "T" fitting so you can remove the floodlamp holder, and use it at a longer distance (with the nipple extender). You can cut a notch in the side of the threaded outlet. That will let the threads expand, giving you more turning adjustment to aim the light. (You'd do the same thing with the coupler at the end of the nipple extender).
I made a PVC top-light fixture (<<link) which shows that kind of exit. I cut a slot just to let the PVC threads open and allow more twist adjustment to the lamp position. But, you could cut that slot wider to allow the lamp cord to come out with the lampholder.
The possibilities of what you can do with this stuff is endless.
For example, to extend the light, you can nest 1/2" PVC pipe inside 3/4" PVC (like a telescoping device). I saw some 3/8" CPVC pipe at Lowes which nested inside 1/2" PVC pipe. Rigid steel conduit nests (1/2" inside 3/4").
I made a "flexible fixture" with folding arms. (<<link) I'm thinking about making those kind of arms to attach to the tent legs (for extension into the tent, when a plant is smaller).
If you get into this, the possibilities are endless. It truly is like Lego parts. Many of the traditional (phenolic) sockets have 1/8" pipe thread in their base. You can adapt that to many things. Lowes sells 3' lengths of that "nipple" in their lamp department. (Maybe it's 32". I don't recall.). If you drill the hole right, you can self-tap thread that into PVC or wood.