Any electricians in da house

[9fingerleafs]

So i just finished building my first 50x50cm light with 10 bulbs. But when I turn it on it flickers and the big bulbs won't go on. Here some pics and the video

http://sendvid.com/qnexsdul

[D-TrainCA]

Looks like you have the sockets wired in series? Need to be in parallel if so.

[9fingerleafs]

Each one?? I did 2 series of 3 bulbs. One on each side and another 2 series of 2 bulbs. Then paralleled all of them

[D-TrainCA]

Yes. Both poles of each socket should have a direct path back to their respective sides of the source power. When you run things in series you drop the voltage. CFLs are designed to run at full line voltage.

[9fingerleafs]

Thanks d-train. I'll change the wiring. Really appreciate your input. Imagine I've been building this all day and just when I thought I finished

[D-TrainCA]

Like this... Hope it makes sense - I'm no artist.

[9fingerleafs]

Thanks man. Was a little tricky and a little more complicated but essentially yeah I did just what u said. Positive and negative from each socket all together

[William and Sue Ashley]

Looks like trouble....sorry to say that....

[kingfish]

I suggest you get rid of that contraption before you burn your house down and get a T5.

[9fingerleafs]

I have some news. I paralleled each bulb separately and works great. I just have to add the fans and will be ready. 350watt light for about 50 bucks. I spend 100 but I'm building two lights custom size to fit my closet

[DW2]

To be safe, make sure that the current load of the lamps does not over load the circuit breakers in your house. I am not familiar with the CFLs that you are using, but you can figure the current load by the formula Amperes = total watts divided by the voltage, so if the 10 lamps are 35 watts each then 350 watts / 110 volts = 3.1818 amperes. Most house hold circuits use 10 ampere breakers, so well within safe limits.
Looks good, keep us posted on how it works out.

[9fingerleafs]

Watts = volts • amperes

[DW2]

"Badges! We don't need no stinking badges!"

[9fingerleafs]

Yep I calculated all that from beginning. I have. 110volt circuit with 10 amp breakers just like you said. It can manage up to 1100whatts momentarily but for longer than 3 hours the safe point is 80% so i am safe using two 350 wattts lights plus the fans. Also I already got some 20 amp breakers just in case

[Flockshot]

15 amp breakers requires that your house wire going through the walls in size 14
20 amp breakers number 12 wire
Do NOT exceed these limits.

[9fingerleafs]

Thanks I'll keep in mind

[South Sierra Dude]

Clark W Grizwald! Nice job.