Awsome TECH TIPS & SAFETY Thread

Seeing the total "Shit-Storm" and Comments brought Forth on a certain thread, I felt it is time for Us "Micro-Growers", to Maybe, have our own "Sticky". For TECH and Safety Tips.
Due to the fact, We are growing in SMALL Spaces, working with electricity/water,Sometimes HID's in very close quarters, and other environmental factors, inside and outside the grow Medium/box, that in turns, Heightens the risk of something going disastrously wrong, resulting in at the very least, a broken branch, killed plant, or in the very worst of circumstances, beyond our control, or our own actions causing our own undoing, because of knowledge not being there, or guessing, using unknown tech. or Sloppy practices, wiring mistakes and such...
Or NOT reading, Asking questions, or reading "stickies"!
Your inviting the RISK of FIRE!!!!! a Growers Worst Nightmare!


I'm going to Let the Community & Experienced growers publish the Majority of TIPS and TECH..

Though My First Contribution is, something I've seen all to often is the Wiring of Computer Fans with "whatever" is available, usually taking of a part/circuit board, powering the afore mentioned Fan, in ways that are IMOP, unsafe. I've seen some crazy things used from Cell Phone Chargers to Computer boards wired into the box...
After trying many things, Including killing quite a few Cell chargers and such.. I came across this..
It's a 12 volt Floating Battery Charger...
You can run, 3, 4, or 5 fans off this guy...
They are CHEAP also! (5.99)
The best thing I like about it is this...
Automatic safety shutoff
Heres a Pic and Link too the Product...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42292

Now Fellow IC'ers Lets see what Kind of info YOU have......

I also wish to share this info also....
I DO have a SMOKE & FIRE DETECTOR very close to My grow Cab..
Discuss, Maybe We can get a sticky going...
Tech Tips and SAFETY,
Peace & Light
LD

Fire extinguisher (duh)
No loose wire connections.(wire nuts and tape people.)
Do your math on the watts/amps your using for wire size. (not a huge concern seeing how we use small lights but still do it. Some have a lot of bulbs.)
Add up what else is on the circuit you are using. (Not just in your cab, the WHOLE circuit.)
Try to use a grounded plug. If you can pull power off a GFCI.
Mount light securely.( I once mounted a light in a cab that had a plastic ceiling and when it heated up it became more pliable. IOW the weight of the light pulled the screws right out.)
Don't stick your fingers in the fan. (That shit hurts.)
Don't leave screws hanging out. (Same as above.)
Water and power don't mix.
Your pet can do more damage than you think.(Who wants pet hair stuck to the bud anyway?)
Mice WILL chew your cords if you let them.


P.S Cardboard can, but probably won't burn.

How to Solder

How to Solder

Soldering will always come into play at some point when it comes to micro grows cuz custom is our game. For all the people who have no idea how to solder now is your chance to learn.

Caution- When soldering wear goggles and gloves! and Do not breath the Fumes!

A bad soldering job




Soldering from wire to wire
Do not solder in a V form because you are putting extra tension on the wire when ever any force is applied.

-Take the 2 wires and with your hand loosen them up slightly, NOT frayed.
-If you have pliers or some type of object to grab the wires with so they don't move while soldering USE THEM.
-Next take your two loose wires. Let the center of both exposed wire touch in an X look and push both ends so they wrap around each other in flat continous wire fashion.
-Take your pre-heated soldering iron and slughtly push down on the wire with no solder to get it warm (careful not to melt the plastic/rubber housing) at the same time while the soldering iron is on the wire, take some solder and let the solder melt through wire. until you get something that looks something like this.


Let it cool Give it a slight tug to ensure soldering strength and wrap er' up.

Soldering from WIRE to FlatSurface
-Apply the same technique for melting solder into wire.
- Lay the solder covered wire on the flat surface and put the soldering iron on top and your done!

Who ever Knows about Heat shut off switches Please post information.

more on the legal side... always have a couple of big black garbage bags stashed somewhere handy.

put your ballast on a "coaster" of sorts - a piece of stone, or tile, (pieces of Hardibacker from HD are great for this)

i would be a little wary about harbour frieght products, their not exactly high end, and some of their products may as well be a hazard themselves, but i will say that the floating batt. charger doesnt seemed to be a bad idea, if it has an emergency shutooff.

easy comp fan wiring

easy comp fan wiring

hey ic magers here's a super easy way to wire thouse fans only 15 bucks plus shipping 110v to 12v adaptor I got 1 to run 3 comp fans they have some other stuff that may come in handy to check it out. http://www.coolerguys.com/cabinetcooling.html

stikik22 said:

i would be a little wary about harbour frieght products, their not exactly high end, and some of their products may as well be a hazard themselves

Click to expand...

I totally concur with this statement! I bought an 18v cordless drill from them and it was a POS. It lasted through about 10 difficult attempts to put a screw through 3/4" of plywood. Junk.

Also be aware that you can purchase AC cooling fans. Assuming they are rated correctly, you can use a simple stripped extension cord to 'em going. A common name for these fans is 120VAC which is just 120V AC.

It's the DC fans (most common for computer fans) that require some kind of conversion.

-Q

Quazi said:

Also be aware that you can purchase AC cooling fans. Assuming they are rated correctly, you can use a simple stripped extension cord to 'em going.

Click to expand...

My AC Toyo Axial Fan has been running virtually non stop for 15 years. I can't imagine bothering with the hassles of DC.

Farsinchia said:

hey ic magers here's a super easy way to wire thouse fans only 15 bucks plus shipping 110v to 12v adaptor I got 1 to run 3 comp fans they have some other stuff that may come in handy to check it out. http://www.coolerguys.com/cabinetcooling.html

Click to expand...

How did you daisy chain 3 together? Any pics?

the fans I have, have female/male molex connectors so I can just plug them on top of each other ill try and take a pic when I get home should be about a hour or 2.

good info here. Well deserved to be sticky ed.