Bananas.org - View Single Post - Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?

nealnick5 · 02-26-2018, 09:46 PM

Also, in regards to this thread, I found the best grow light solution. It was $50 for the power supply and $50 for the light bar, but I jerry-rigged a 30K lumen 300 watt 10-30V DC light bar to 120Volt AC (wall socket in any USA house) via 350 watt power supply and was not disappointed. Neither were the plants.. haha. The light bar draws slightly over 21 amps @ 13.8v DC and the power supply can handle a continuous load for a 300 watt appliance at slightly over 24 amps @ 13.8v DC. And it's safe if anyone wants tips on how... I did a lot of research and some math to come to that conclusion. The power supply does not even get remotely hot after 8 hours. I would have made a nice stand for the light but there is not room in my college apartment room.. here it is.. bright as you know what. I feel this is a good solution because it you build a wooden stand that places the bar above the plants shining down, you can cover a LOT of area with it. Or you could always just place the bar horizontally if your plants are extremely tall.

For anyone interested.. to find out the amperage, you just divide watts by DC voltage. A=W/V. The most important thing is making sure the CONTINUOUS amperage from the power supply is GREATER THAN the amperage drawn from the light bar. Also, make sure your wires can handle that load; I used either 10 or 8 guage wire (I forget) just to be safe, which handles up to 30 amps I believe.

Also I'm making a rollable stand for the light this summer (when the plants no longer need it) so I can bring the light outside at night just for fun or if I am working late in the yard. I will of course make sure the power supply is protected from any water such as rain. Hope this was helpful to some!

Also, the pictures do not do it justice; it's insanely bright in person

02-26-2018, 09:46 PM	#36 (permalink)
nealnick5 Nick Location: Weems, VA Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: Nick Join Date: Oct 2017 Posts: 161 BananaBucks : 67,707 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 336 Times Was Thanked 372 Times in 107 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ? Also, in regards to this thread, I found the best grow light solution. It was $50 for the power supply and $50 for the light bar, but I jerry-rigged a 30K lumen 300 watt 10-30V DC light bar to 120Volt AC (wall socket in any USA house) via 350 watt power supply and was not disappointed. Neither were the plants.. haha. The light bar draws slightly over 21 amps @ 13.8v DC and the power supply can handle a continuous load for a 300 watt appliance at slightly over 24 amps @ 13.8v DC. And it's safe if anyone wants tips on how... I did a lot of research and some math to come to that conclusion. The power supply does not even get remotely hot after 8 hours. I would have made a nice stand for the light but there is not room in my college apartment room.. here it is.. bright as you know what. I feel this is a good solution because it you build a wooden stand that places the bar above the plants shining down, you can cover a LOT of area with it. Or you could always just place the bar horizontally if your plants are extremely tall. For anyone interested.. to find out the amperage, you just divide watts by DC voltage. A=W/V. The most important thing is making sure the CONTINUOUS amperage from the power supply is GREATER THAN the amperage drawn from the light bar. Also, make sure your wires can handle that load; I used either 10 or 8 guage wire (I forget) just to be safe, which handles up to 30 amps I believe. Also I'm making a rollable stand for the light this summer (when the plants no longer need it) so I can bring the light outside at night just for fun or if I am working late in the yard. I will of course make sure the power supply is protected from any water such as rain. Hope this was helpful to some! Also, the pictures do not do it justice; it's insanely bright in person __________________ Growing: Ensete ventricosum 'maurelli', Musa balbisiana 'Thai Black', bordelon, basjoo, Dwarf Cavendish, Dwarf Orinoco, itinerans var. itinerans, lasiocarpa, orinoco (tall), saba, sikkimensis 'Red Tiger', TaNee, zebrina, VDN (green), 1000 fingers, praying hands, ornata purple, veluntina, french red, super dwarf cavendish, dwarf iholena, red iholena, balbisiana (yellow), kru, mananzo, zebrina var. gran nain. Last edited by nealnick5 : 02-27-2018 at 12:48 PM.