Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've been electrocuted a few times .... four I think... from mains power and it really sucks.

My first job was cutting disks out of asbestos with a jig saw in one hand, and a garden hose in the other (to kill the dust). That was always going to end poorly

I'm counting, and I think it's actually been 6 times.

Are some people (garden hose/jig sawing stuff aside) more prone to being electrocuted or is it really just a function (or lack thereof) of my brain?

I almost never wear shoes. Perhaps it's a shoe thing.

No you haven't, you have had 4 electric shocks

Yeah, whatever

It's still ouchy

And I just remembered another time! But that time was really really stupid. It involved making a two into one extension cord to run some heavy machinery that wouldn't work because it was too far away from the outlets on my house.

But I haven't been struck by lightning yet.... so.... I've got that going for me.

I think I'll shut up now. I'm sounding really stupid here

I have been hit a few times just briefly. Once though I picked up a lead with a melted plug on it (was using a non heat proof IEC lead on my still) it was in the centre of my hand and my hand contracted around it and grabbed it tight. My whole right side was contracted up !
I had to grab the lead with my left hand and rip the lead out of my right hand. Probably a few seconds all up.
That was a bit scary

Mental note - Excuse myself to make a beer run whenever SuperVeg or Bullwinklell are doing electrical work.

I learn from my mistakes...well usually. What sort of beer you getting ?

Bit suss on the above post Mods

I spent a fair bit of time thinking about that post before I approved it Rupe.

I have given the poster the benefit of the doubt and am hoping they are just wanting to join the forum and participate in the discussions.

I will be keeping an eye on things.

Rupe is correct- see my report to mods.

Just got smooth moderated...

So the test LED unit is built. Here's what the room looks like @ 75% +/-. Total of 27 LEDs @ 3w ea. 2:1 Red/blue ratio. All controlled by a single dimmer pot. May spring for a controller to simulate sunrise/sunset as opposed to having the lights just whack on/off. Better results from the plants that way too from what I've read. Fluo tubes to the right are completely off.

So how did this work out Fishbits ?

Overall room design works well SV. I'm a little disappointed in the LEDs as growth seems to be slower but plants all appear super healthy. Think it's just more of a wattage/PAR/penetration issue than anything else. I did end up throwing a programmable simmer in as well. Nice 20 min sunrises/sunsets so the plants transition nicely as opposed to the on/off shock. And now that I've got the parts, I can source them cheaper. Can probably build the same unit now for about $150 US. Of course, now I'm looking at some sexy 100w single LED units I recently found....

Looks great.
Those LEDs will get pretty hot

They do get a lil' toasty. Enough so that they'll eventually dry out any leaves that come in contact but it's really a neat little design. Lights are mounted on1 1/4" aluminum tube which doubles as a heat sink. The black box on the right end is actually a fan which blows through the full length of the tube. Unit, on the whole, stays cool enough to rest your hand on w/o any trouble.

If nothing else, I think this design would be good for a deep/far reds sunrise/sunset set up. May need a little more power for significant growth, though.