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Step 3The Lighting Frame and Support Structure
The main purpose of the lighting frame is to suspend the fluorescent light fixtures over the plants in the nutrient reservoir. I also designed it to be adjustable in hieght so that the lights remain only a few inches above the plants at all times. Also, I can hang some chicken wire or string from the top of the frame to help support the plant if needed.
The frame is constructed completely out of 3/4 inch CPVC pipe and fittings. There is also the 1/2 inch PVC electrical conduit boxes making up two of the top corners. These boxes house the on/off switch for the lights and all the electrical connections.
The top and the bottom portions of the frame are permanantly assembled with the CPVC cement. However, the vertical sections of the frame are not glued in. This allows the frame to be easily adjusted in height by adding or subtracting lengths of vertical pipe through the use of 3/4 inch couplings. The frame can also be easliy collapsed for storage or transport. (Figure 3B).
For some weird reason the 3/4 inch pipe fits almost perfectly into the 1/2 inch conduit boxes. However, I did have to sand down the pipe a tiny bit before it fit into the conduit box.
When cutting the pipe make sure you use a mitre block and deburr the pipe with sandpaper prior to glueing. Dry fit the pipes before priming and glueing.
The support structure is ment to hold the airbars in place underneath the mesh pots and to prevent the lid of the reservoir from sagging under the weight of the plants. It straddles both airbars and holds them far enough apart so that they line up underneath both rows of mesh pots. It is just the right hieght so that it holds the reservoir lid level. (Figure 3C).
The support structure is constructed of 1/2 inch CPVC pipe and fittings. You could make it out of leftover 3/4 inch pipe and fittings from the lighting frame but in my case the 1/2 inch fittings fit around the airbar better. I did not glue this one together, it holds together just fine without glue.
The frame is constructed completely out of 3/4 inch CPVC pipe and fittings. There is also the 1/2 inch PVC electrical conduit boxes making up two of the top corners. These boxes house the on/off switch for the lights and all the electrical connections.
The top and the bottom portions of the frame are permanantly assembled with the CPVC cement. However, the vertical sections of the frame are not glued in. This allows the frame to be easily adjusted in height by adding or subtracting lengths of vertical pipe through the use of 3/4 inch couplings. The frame can also be easliy collapsed for storage or transport. (Figure 3B).
For some weird reason the 3/4 inch pipe fits almost perfectly into the 1/2 inch conduit boxes. However, I did have to sand down the pipe a tiny bit before it fit into the conduit box.
When cutting the pipe make sure you use a mitre block and deburr the pipe with sandpaper prior to glueing. Dry fit the pipes before priming and glueing.
The support structure is ment to hold the airbars in place underneath the mesh pots and to prevent the lid of the reservoir from sagging under the weight of the plants. It straddles both airbars and holds them far enough apart so that they line up underneath both rows of mesh pots. It is just the right hieght so that it holds the reservoir lid level. (Figure 3C).
The support structure is constructed of 1/2 inch CPVC pipe and fittings. You could make it out of leftover 3/4 inch pipe and fittings from the lighting frame but in my case the 1/2 inch fittings fit around the airbar better. I did not glue this one together, it holds together just fine without glue.
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