The Female Growers Group

[mojavemama]

Don, a thousand thank you's!

You make it so clear and easy to understand. I appreciate your info on the bulbs--that was way too much for you to do, after all the detailed information you gave me. Shoot, do you know how much I'd have to pay to take a class to do this?

I go to Home Depot for two reasons: 1. It's the only store credit card I own. and 2. It's the only hardware store within rolling distance, and hubby uses the wheelchair van for work.

So I'm THRILLED to hear Home Depot has the bulbs--at ANY cost. It's convenient and fast for me, and just so readily accessible being only a mile from the house. I use it as an opportunity to take my in-training service dog for a field training trip, as well.

I'm a bit confused on the K of the bulbs, since I know nothing about MH lights. But I do know that in CFL's and Fluoros, you use the blue spectrums for veg and the red spectrums for flower. I noticed the MH's came in K's from 6500 down to 3000. But if they only have one type, that's what I'll get, and be glad to just get the ballast up and running.

I don't know how you can even lift the suckers! Mine is really heavy and I felt like Goliath when I was able to finally get it up onto my lap. Gonna have to grow me some BIGGGGG Amazon arms with bulging biceps to get this job done. Hah! Can you say, "Wimpy, Wimpy, Wimpy!" ?

I already have some great tools--the strippers and crimpers I have, screw drivers (all my old Snap-On tools from the body shop I used to work at) and I think they are pretty good quality. Just need the non-tool items, I think.

Nothing left on the ballast from whatever reflector used to be there. So I'll have to come up with something that will work. But for now, I'm just going to focus a few steps ahead at a time, and see what I can do about the wiring. Then I haven't a clue about how to hang the sucker that weighs as much as my washing machine...<G>

But we'll tackle those probs as they come. For now, off to the Home dePOT!

Oh, and yes, I realize about the autos that you don't 12/12 them. But for now, because I will have both autos and regular plants in January, it will really help to have the MH in the garage so I can keep the flowering plants in their grow room in the total darkness for their 12 hours of required dark.

This is really getting exciting, and I am SO enjoying the learning process!

 

[DonJones]

I surrender. I will accept your compliments and respect. I still think that all I'm doings what is right and passing it along for all of the help I have been given in the past and told to just pass it along as the way to repay my benefactors.

If anyone is interested in learning more about how I got where I am today, just read the last couple of my kind of rambling posts at the end of my Grow Room Thread. However, when you are reading about the male role models in my life be aware that without my mother's Mom, my mother and mother-in-law, my sister-in-law and especially the idiotically long suffering ex-wife who is still the better half, I would not have been in a position to learn from the mentors and teachers.

Everyone, keep and eye on Craigslist for used growing equipment and lights. You can get some killer deals and even make a little money buying and reselling. I am pretty sure that my conversion will work with HPS and will know for sure by the end of the week because I just found several cheap 400 HPS lights.

mojavemama, your comment on the weight of the commercial magnetic ballasts is what I think is an even more important reason for remoting them.

Once you get them hung up, then you don't have to mess with the heavy ballasts. That is why I strongly suggest using a long enough ballast to light cord that you can put the ballast in one corner of the room on the floor and run the cord along the ceiling to the other corner and down to within 2' of the floor. That way you can put the light anywhere you need it without messing with the ballast.

mojavemama, lets just get it running and then we can worry about the niceties of color temperature. even for flowering, a 400 MH will be so much better than what you have that you'll not believe it.

And if anyone is wondering about using 400s, I can make a double bulbed reflective hood that will out preform a single 1000 in the same place. I prefer the flexibility of two 400s in the same area that you would use one 1000.

I'm going to back out for a while and try to get the grow operation moving ahead from wher I have been spinning my wheels waiting for my crap lowryders to get done and out of the flower room.

Good smoking.

 

[tcbud]

Okay Mr Jones..........
you best watch out or someone is gonna nominate you for MVP.

Want to join the Female Growers Group?

 

[DonJones]

Well, I guess they can nominate anyone they want to, and the selection process can award it to any one but that doesn't mean the recipient will ever believe the deserved it.

But I'm not going to worry about it or change anything to either lessen or increase my chances.

Ah, I wasn't aware that there was a membership involved or that one Joined. I thought it was just kind of if you posted you were there.

See I'm not as smart as you thought.

If that is an invitation, I'm honored. I'm not really much of a joiner -- my old boss the summer I drove truck for non-office hold behind the scenes major influence in the local chapter of the Hells Angels found that out after 4 months of trying to recruit me for club membership was unsuccessful(I even turned down the gift of a hog that was offered to overcome my excuse that I didn't even ride a Harley -- I'd have accepted it without hesitation if I hadn't felt there were strings attached to it).

But this group is one that I would make an exception for. How do I join?

Has anyone heard how mojavemama's trip to Home Depot went?

Instead of getting to work on the operation, I laid down and dosed off. That has been the hardest part of retiring --trying to establish some kind of routine after 30 plus years of eating and sleeping when ever I got a chance with no routine at all.

 

[mojavemama]

Hi Don!

Sorry I'm late in responding. Yes, made the Home Depot run, and got a nice dinner out of it with hubby. Yummm!

I picked up everything to do with the wiring, and also got the bulb. The only thing I didn't address was some kind of reflector, or how to make one.

Don, is the round flat bottom part in the picture below the part you spoke of in your previous post, when you asked if my light had : "....pieces of reflector that hook into those slots around your socket."???

Is that piece what you meant? And would that piece be what I'd attach some type of reflector to?

I looked at all the tin stuff in Home Depot for duct work, as well as flat pieces of aluminum. I just can't visualize what it is I need. Like an umbrella shape? Or a cone shape?

And doesn't the ballast and the bulb all hang together? I'm confused about the 2 separate cords.

I know, I know---what's OBVIOUS to everyone else is rendering me clueless.

But yes, Don, I think I have everything now except for a reflector, and tomorrow I'll be able to start following your excellent step-by-step directions on doing that wiring.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU---until you're better paid!

 

[DonJones]

mojavemama,

Have you read through my thread Converting commercial HID lights to remote ballasts http://www.marijuanapassion.com/foru...ad.php?t=45696?

If not please read it and see if that clarifies the question about the 2 cords.

Basically there are 2 steps that I highly recommend in making the commercial HID lights practical for use in growing. The first one is mandatory -- installing a power cord and setting the wiring to match the voltage that you have available in your grow room. That is what you're working on now.

The other one is optional, but where you do not have any reflector and with your wheelchair status it is practically mandatory too, separating the ballast assembly from the reflector/socket assembly which allows you to hang or otherwise secure the ballast near the power source and mount the socket/reflector assembly remotely any where in the room we must do something.

This is called a remote ballast type and is almost universal in modern magnetic/digital HID lights.

In your case we will have to build or buy a reflector/hood and while we are doing that, it is just easier to separate the two parts. Does that make sense yet? If not what did I fail to explain properly?

My main reason for wanting to use the remote set up for you is, once you decide where to put the ballast and put it there, you can just leave it there and not have to mess with it to change your lighting arrangement. Nor will you have to fight the weight to adjust the height from the plants of your reflector/hood assembly.

Also please read How to build your own6" air cooled hood http://www.marijuanapassion.com/foru...ad.php?t=29666 to see what one type of reflective hood can be made simply, especially with your auto body shop experience. In fact that is the one I usually make for others when I convert their lights because it removes a lot of height issues and provides a way to provide air cooling to the hood assembly if you want to in addition to the normal ventilation for the room.

I'll bet you didn't realize how much work there can be in getting ready for a ghetto grow operation did you? But I'll guarantee that you will appreciate your crops more than the rich kid who just spends money for a "turn the key and go" set up. You will also understand your system better and be able to tell when something is not quite right before it causes obvious damage that may be irreversible at that point.

To build Tater's reflective hood, the only thing you might need to have done is to have the bends made by someone with a brake, but that is true of me too. My attempts to do it without a brake have been less than satisfactory and I've been using the ghetto method of bending metal for years and years. They were usable but not very pretty. But part of the problem there was I was trying to use roofing flashing that had been tightly coiled instead of clean flat STRAIGHT metal. Tomorrow I'll try to get you some good photos of both the converted ballast and the reflective hood in use instead of just a picture of the completed system using the factory reflector, which you can't do because you don't have one, sitting on the floor like in my thread.

If I try to go too fast for you, just tell me to slow down. I just get overly excited sometimes when I feel like I'm helping someone do things for themself.

Did you have any problem finding the stuff you needed at Home Depot?

When you get a chance remove the bolts through the U bracket that is fastened between the socket and ballast and the 2 short legged L brackets and separate the flat round plate with the slots/hole in it. After you get it apart, try to get me some pictures showing how that U bracket and socket are fastened to the ballast assembly. Since we have to build some kind of reflector to use, why not make it one that makes it as easy to use the light as possible?

I'm proud of you. Tell your husband that I said he has a very special woman in you and that I apologize if my enthusiasm gets in the way of your time management. Your home and marriage should always be the priority --not working on our project!

Good smoking!Go girl!

 

[mojavemama]

Hey Don, you sure know how to keep a student motivated!

Okay, I admit I did NOT read all of your conversion post. It was just way over my head. But today, I think I'm ready to delve into it, and once I am able to visualize what the final light should look like, it will be easier for me.

I am a visual learner. When I read something, I translate it in my mind into pictures. If things get too technical, and I am not able to see those pictures in my head, then I am lost.

What has excited me so much about this project is not just that I'll be getting the much needed light--and that's exciting, yes! But it's that I'm finding it so easy to follow your directions, doing something I never believed I could do.
I mean, for the most part, it's not PRETTY. So my motivation has to be not only the end use, but the process of learning. If it ain't pretty, it's gotta be FUN! I suspect I have an overdose of estrogen and junior high school...

Anyway, you're making it FUN for me, and that's what's setting me up for success. And after today's post, I SEE the PICTURE in my mind of what the final light is going to look like, and with that clarity, I am enthused and excited about the next step.

Little steps will get me through the testosterone delight of working with things that aren't pretty. <G> And you're doing SUCH a good job. I was not kidding when I said if you could teach me to do this on my own, you can teach anyone to do ANYTHING!

Yep, I think I have everything I need now except for the reflector stuff. But first things first. Today, I focus on the wiring. And I'm gonna get it, too!

My rep is on the line here now to do this right and make Big Daddy Don proud of me!

So last night, the Math Dude sees all the parts spread out on his homework table, chuffs a bit, then says, "Well, I could have done that for you." I throw my arms protectively around the ballast, and hiss, "DON'T YOU FRICKEN' TOUCH IT!" Think Maria at the end of West Side Story, hunkering over her dead lover's body.

This is MY baby all the way. The Math Dude can go play with his numbers. Big Daddy Don is gonna get me through this!

And I will also read everything about building Tater's hood that you recommended, too, Don. Today. Promise!

THANK YOU!!!

 

[tcbud]

I think working on this project is teaching us all something......

Again, I understood most of what you typed. Bravo!

Well, I guess they can nominate anyone they want to, and the selection process can award it to any one but that doesn't mean the recipient will ever believe the deserved it.

I agree, I been nominated and NEVER thot I deserved it, as my knolledge is limited to what I have learned here. So lets get HUMBLE together if we ever get nominated. I think you are doing a great job here.

Ah, I wasn't aware that there was a membership involved or that one Joined. I thought it was just kind of if you posted you were there.

Your right, you can post here anytime, I was just kidding around bout joining. Join tho, if you like.....is cool.

I laid down and dosed off. That has been the hardest part of retiring --trying to establish some kind of routine after 30 plus years of eating and sleeping when ever I got a chance with no routine at all.

I be "retired" for a long time, I love my routine. It includes certain things at certain times, otherwise it is kinda open. Now, if I can just get the husband into the retired mode.........he "retires" every winter, then he gets back at it...two more seasons and he is done.


Don....Post in the FGG anytime, if you really want to join, hit memberships when you bring up your Subscriptions, it is kinda self expanitory there. NOT required tho to post in here. I am sure enjoying/learning from your helping Mojave tho. Thank you.

 

[ozzydiodude]

Ozzy :heart::heart::heart: the FGG

 

[Hick]

can I bring up an issue.. a problem I have with these "club" threads..
I see some very good and helpful informatioon being posted by the Don here.
But now how do you suppose anyone else will ever benefit from it?
The question was asked in a thread w/ over 700 posts, as is the answer(along with other quality information)
Now.... any new member or even a senior member useing the search feature to research the same question is "probably" NOT going to sift through 35 pages of posts to find the information.
That is unfortunate.. IMO.
If the question was asked and the information provided, were posted in the respective area, EVERYONE would be more likely to "benefit", and it would be much more easily found by members and by the search engine.
THAT is what we have the various, yet specific areas for.Lighting for lighing questions, indoor growing for indoor questions, ect.
These "social" threads are detrimental to the smooth operation of the search and they allow information (often good and needed information) to be buried in a pile of useless banter.

 

[OldHippieChick]

I agree with Hick.

 

[DonJones]

ozzydiodude,

I think you just love any thing that is female whether it is MJ plants or human ladies. I can get away with saying that because I am the same way only add my 2 Pomeranian females, especially the first one Precious Fox, a miniature slick haired Sable that we lost on my daughter's birthday, August 17, 2009 at age 7 and probably hit me harder than any other death, and the current one, Snow Fox, an Italian Champagne normal sized one that is just a little over a year old. Both of them were my ex-wife's pups but quickly became my dogs.

Get back on track Don -- anyway some of us are blessed with an appreciation of females, especially human ladies and actually find htey make better friends without crossing the line into lovers, than most males make friends.

Most of my real close friends, the kind that are there crying with you when you are crushed and there laughing with you when you are happy and even better the people that are there laughing with you when you are laughing at yourself, have been women.

Anyway I agree ozzy, this group rocks! Primarily because from what little I have seen they accept you unconditionally and without feeling the need to compete over every thing.

I'm pretty sure that all of you understand what is coming out all scrambled up -- because it is one of those things that are felt and sensed but nearly unexplainable.

Good Smoking every one.

 

[ozzydiodude]

I have copied all the post and posted in Converting commercial HID lights to remote ballasts http://www.marijuanapassion.com/foru...ad.php?t=45696

Hope that it will help others. Hick it would have been easier for you to do

 

[mojavemama]

Hick, I don't see the FGG as a social banter club. It's very different from the Bong Hitters Club or the Vape Hitters Club--FGG is a harmonious, helpful place where I learn valuable growing information and feel comfortable with the kind responses I receive. It's a FEMALE GROWERS group, not a social chat group. Males and females often DO respond with a different tone and focus. Even the males who post here often do so in a different tone then they post on other forums.

While I agree that lighting discussions are suited for the lighting threads, I just feel much more comfortable asking my initial questions on any growing topic here, in my kind and gentle FGG "safehouse."

Here, I also don't have to slog through posts from members who too often can't seem to keep their hate politics out of their posts, and make comments that I find very hurtful.

Here, in FGG, we have liberals, conservatives, libertarans and who knows what else. We don't talk politics. We all get along. We are here to discuss growing, not push our own political agendas. And we stick to that. No one here wants to make any other FGG member feel bad.

This is MY safe house for asking growing questions. One day I may well feel confident enough to head out into the "big boy forums" and post there. I originally registered on MP just because I found the female grower's group on my first visit as a guest, and felt so comfortable reading the posts here.

So Hick, in answer your question of "how do you expect anyone else to benefit from it if it's hidden here in the FGG with all the useless banter"--is this: Don and I were planning to share the "lessons", once edited, with the lighting forum. Sort of like trimming the buds a bit so only the good buds show, and not all the fan leaves and stems.

This really is ALL my fault--I read Ozzy's response about Don's ballast thread, and I PM'd Don to ask if he could take a peek at my question here in FGG and give me his opinion. He did, and his incredible responses blew me away--and a lot of other people, too!

Neither Don nor I ever intended to let this info get "lost" here on FGG. We did plan to edit it and share it. I just was planning to do it once I'd COMPLETED the project, so people could print out the thread in its entirety, without all the superfluous chat that won't be needed or of interest to others trying to learn.

Please be patient, and understand that the FGG is a very comfortable and special place to its members. And that eventually, good threads do end up in more easily searchable forums, as this ballast thread was intended, once completed.

 

[Hick]

ah.. mojave .. I guess I uderstand. The female group was "IMO" started for the ladies, as "their" own li'l sanctuary. A place for them to do ..girly things, I guess.
I think it's strayed from that. I'm sorry, but it IS/has become pretty much nothing BUT a social thread.
My point is, the "growing" knowledge, information is readily available in the designated areas. I don't see the problem in going 'there' for the answers.
"One day I may well feel confident enough to head out into the "big boy forums" and post there."
... I can't help but feel that this is simply ridiculous mojave.... there's absolutely no reason for you to NOT feel just as "at home"in the "big boys forum".. COMON' NOW!! :rofl:..
You're respected and loved wherever you go.

I'm not looking to "blame" anyone. That wasn't even the point.
The 'shareing the info', where it can be readily found' was. It is really good stuff...

 

[DonJones]

mojavemama, both Hick and OldHippieChick have a point. IF someone can tell me how to copy entire posts, I would like to start a thread under either DIY or Lights, move our posts to there and finish out there so that more of the membership will have access to it. Would that be okay with you?

If it is okay, then hopefully some one will figure out how we can do it, Otherwise we will just stumble along her or maybe in a PM thread.

Good smoking.

 

[mojavemama]

Okay, Don, if you want to take this to another forum now, rather than wait until we finish the thread and edit out the chat--I guess I can handle that.
I just feel more "free to be me" here, and that's why I bumped the thread so I could get a discussion started here. But I guess it's time for me to take the plunge into other forums.

Hick, I do see your point, I really do. But even though the past couple of months the forum has become less active, and a bit more chatty, we still have addressed some very interesting topics, such as lights, poor germination, autos, nute evaporation, water temps, air-pots, switchable HID ballasts, dedicated circuits, differences in F2 strain individual plants, micro grows and what we learn from them, and getting rid of pollen in grow rooms. It's not all useless banter! There's just banter in between the useful stuff.

I just don't want to see the FGG die. I find it a very warm and hospitable place. I'm willing to branch out---okay, you guys have convinced me---but I still love my FGG and want to help it thrive.

 

[ozzydiodude]

Hey don I copied and pasted every thing over at your other thread if you or MM want anything changed let me know and I will change or delete what you all want.

 

[ozzydiodude]

Ozzy :heart: the FGG too

 

[The Hemp Goddess]

Hick, I do see your point, I really do. But even though the past couple of months the forum has become less active, and a bit more chatty, we still have addressed some very interesting topics, such as lights, poor germination, autos, nute evaporation, water temps, air-pots, switchable HID ballasts, dedicated circuits, differences in F2 strain individual plants, micro grows and what we learn from them, and getting rid of pollen in grow rooms. It's not all useless banter! There's just banter in between the useful stuff.

The point really is that these things ("lights, poor germination, autos, nute evaporation, water temps, air-pots, switchable HID ballasts, dedicated circuits, differences in F2 strain individual plants, micro grows") should be addressed in the correct forums so that everyone has a chance to benefit from them. I had to chuckle when you called it "the big boy's forum". It is only that if you let it be that. Men and women do not grow differently and no one should feel like they need to be segregated. I have never seen any of the guys here get down on any female grower.

And I remember when Smokinmom started this thread. And it was intended as a place for the women to talk about things they didn't want to discuss around the men or things the men would generally have little interest in--things like PMS (I'm remembering Thorn inspired Smokinmom to open this :giggle. IMO, it was meant to be a social thread.