DIY How to build a flip flop

Fredfarted

OK You asked for it you got it!

You use a Flip Flop to control 2 lights from 1 ballast, The ballast stays on 24/7 and a time connected to the flip box will switch the power from one bulb to the next.

The advantages:

You get 2 lights from one ballast.
NO power spikes the power is on 24/7
You leave no 12 on 12 off power footprint.
You can have 2 bloom rooms running off on half the ballasts.
Longer ballast life as the ballast works the hardest on startup.

This will build an eight light flip, you can build any size you want the principles are the same.

This works with 220v or 110v each power configuration is exactly the same the 110 has 1 hot and one neutral and the 220 has 2 hot s and no neutral.

Head off to your favorite GROW store Home Depot.

I was doing some research on flip/flops, and decided 2 things...

1) most grow shops do not carry them because they cut into business.
2) They are fairly easy to build. (Just be careful to watch which wire goes where.)

FIRST OFF LET ME SAY THAT I KNOW I FORGOT THE GROUNDS FROM THE PLUGS. I was smoking some fine hash and realized it later. I do not have pictures of it installed the correct way. But it should be easy for ANYONE to grasp.

OK on with the build!!!!

First off we need to get some supplies...
1) square power box $25
2) (2) 2 place outlet boxes $4
3) (2) 4 place outlet boxes $7
4) 6 outlets $5 (for box of 10)
5) screws $2
6) nuts $2
7) washers $2
8) pvc 1/2 cable connectors $5 (for 5 pack)
9) metal 1/2" cable/box screw connectors $6 (for a 10 pack)
10) wire connectors $13 (box of 100) 14 gauge
11) 10' of wire 14 gauge (4 wire, red, black, white, copper) $6
12) 4' of 14 gauge (3 wire, black, white, green)
13) male plug $4
14) bag of 100 zip ties $3
15) 2 place outlet cover (2 of them) $3
16) 4 place outlet covers (2 of them) $5
17) a 12 pack
18) 2 hrs of time

Total $94 from home depot

now 4 relays from the internet $20 x 4 = $80

Attached Images

12202relay.JPG (68.2 KB, 32 views)

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

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Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

green_nobody

maybe i'm a bit too stoned right now but for what is this again and were are my sandals?

__________________
Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3

Fredfarted

Now lets get started shall we???

First we need some relays like these...
12202relay.JPG


Then we need to lay them out in the utility box.
12202relay_placement.JPG

Next comes marking the holes for the screws
12202marking_holes.JPG

Now lets drill some holes..
12202pilot_holes.JPG

Pilot holes first!
then proper size holes
12202full_size_hole.JPG

Now we need some nuts, screws, and washers...
12202screews.JPG

Ok time to place the relays back on the board and attach...
12202relays_attached.JPG

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

Fredfarted

Now it's time to make some wire!

Here is a tip, instead of buying 14 gauge wire separate, buy some 14/3 wire and strip it down. Simply pull out 2 foot sections at a time.
12202wire.JPG 12202wire_result.JPG


Time to install the boxes...
12202drill_outlet_box.JPG

punch out the metal 1/2 punch out, an insert box connector in hole. Next insert connector into already punched out hole in utility box. Attach screw and tighten.
12202metal_box_connector.JPG

Now to make it nice and strong drill through a nail hole in the plug box through to the utility box. Insert screw, nut, washers, and tighten.
12202power_in.JPG

Attached Images

12202power_out.JPG (111.0 KB, 31 views)

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

Fredfarted

Ok let’s run some wire...

First let’s hook up the power IN wires to the relays, and thread out to the IN Power plugs.
12202power_in.JPG 12202power_links.JPG

next run the wire from the out power side of the relays to the power OUT plugs. Note the red wires for one half of the plug, and the black for the OTHER half of the plugs. DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO TO KEEP THE WIRES IN ORDER.
12202power_out.JPG

Now you might be asking me what do you mean HALF a plug????

well plugs you buy in the store are connected with a jumper, so one set of wires charges all receptacles.

What we have to do is snip the jumpers because we want each plug to operate independently...
12202plug_conversion.JPG12202plug_conversion_2.JPG

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

Fredfarted

Alright, lets get wiring those boxes...

I marked the white wire side (the power in white wires) of the power out wires (red/black) So i kept the power flowing the same side of the plugs.
12202power_in.JPG12202attach_plug_in.JPG

Next make sure you are wiring up the RIGHT out plugs for in plugs. and decide which you want to be hot with power off/on.
12202wires_to_plugout.JPG

The relay has a 120volt coil in it... When you apply power it becomes a magnet and brings the connectors down to engage the second set of contacts.

That is what i mean by power on/off.

here are some wiring pictures, note the wire colors. DO NOT MIX IT UP TAKE YOUR TIME!
12202out_boxes.JPG12202plugout_done.JPG12202plugout_wires.JPG12202relay_power_installed.JPG

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

Fredfarted

now we install the power wires to the relays and connect them all together to the extension cord wire with a male plug we have installed. This is a 120v extension cord just cut off the female end and attach it to the coil screws. This is what you will plug into your timer.


Then attach the grounds.

Time to install the sockets to their boxes and attach the face plate coverings!
12202plug_in_view.JPG12202plugout_view.JPG

Finally MARK each plug (i bought white ones) so you know which is which, and attach the protective cover to the utility.
12202done.JPG

Here is a better explanation of what wire goes where 7541relaywire.jpg
To use this You will need to modify your cord coming from your ballast to a 110 male plug just cut off the plug and attach a new one.
Then you will need to modify your cord going to the bulb with another 110 male plug. Just make sure you get the good heavy plugs, Don't go cheap here.

Now Plug in as follows, Ballast need to be on 24/7 from power out of ballast to in side of flip box from out of flip to each bulb. don't forget to plug the switching cord into a timer set for 12 on 12 off

I can answer any questions.

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

Fredfarted

You use a Flip Flop to control 2 lights from 1 ballast, The ballast stays on 24/7 and a time connected to the flip box will switch the power from one bulb to the next.

The advantages:

You get 2 lights from one ballast.
NO power spikes the power is on 24/7
You leave no 12 on 12 off power footprint.
You can have 2 bloom rooms running off on half the ballasts.
Longer ballast life as the ballast works the hardest on startup.

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!

green_nobody

sounds interesting if you have commercial grows going but for my scale it would be a bit much Fred. also is my meter a old mechanical one - so no way to trail spikes of a 400W application. one of my freezer causes more spikes then that HPS firing up.

if i would run several 1000W bulbs this would be surely interesting - but you have to control your grow via PM-PC to keep it manageable, i can sit in mine and still get my daily job done - so we are anyways on to totally different scales here.

__________________
Keep the gun oiled and the thumb green!

http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp...Canada-eng.MP3

Fredfarted

Yes the are for larger grows, But if your thinking about expanding this is the way to go

__________________

For a custom cool Signature Click HERE DO NOT CLICK Unless your cool! LOL!"

http://www.greenpassion.org/photoplo...anner-1-PS.gif

Three things to remember as you age:

1. Never pass by a toilet.
2. Never waste a Hard-on.
3. Never Trust a FART!

(Disclaimer)
By the way, I am a lier and a drunk and I know not what I post! But I am good a copying pictures from other sites!