~Light Movers~Light Rail 3.5 with multiple lamps on one track.

[Blazaholic]

Hi good people of BreedBay.
I started this thread to show how I use my Light Rail 3.5 to move multiple lamps on one track.
I have 2 x 600 watt HPS and 1 x 4 bulb, 112 watt T-5 fixture sandwiched in between the 600's.
Total of 1312 watts.

When I started working with the light rail, the hydro shop I went to, didn't give me any directions and I was very confused by all the extra parts they gave me. It would've been nice to have some guidance, as this was many years ago before I had internet.

The hydro shop sells these movers on the idea that a person can cover a 4 x 8 area with one lamp and one of the movers. It will work, but you'll have less yield, because one end is always in the dark.

Here's a nice diagram I found online, that would've been very helpful, had I seen it way back then.


Now here's what you need from the :
hydro store.

1 - Light Rail 3.5 kit. (This is the standard set, that comes with 6 foot, motor and some hardware.)
1- Auxiliary Trolley (also known as the dummy trolley. That's what my hydro guy called it.)

They can keep that "add a lamp" and the dang "robo stick". Don't need that stuff.
This trip will cost you anywhere from $250-$300.

Here's what you need from :
Home Depot.
(Depending on what tools you already have, Big Boy's Toy Store, you know.)
1 - 8 foot, 2 x 4 pine stud.
1 - 6 inch long, 1/4 inch thick carriage bolt.
1 - 4 inch long, 1/4 inch thickness carriage bolt.
2 - 1/4 inch nuts
8 - or more flat, beefy washers that fit the 1/4 inch bolts.
Less than $ 10.00 at Home Depot.

Let's take a look at the motor that drives this train.
Here's a few more shots I found online.

Notice how in the picture with the blue background, the motor has black tabs sticking out on either side. That is the sliding switch, that taps the "stop switch bolts". It moves at the slightest touch.
What's a stop switch bolt?
I found a nice clear picture of the hardware to illustrate.


The stop switch bolts are the threaded bolts with the flat edge on them. They go together with the flat, rectangular washers. These are what catches the motor's sliding tab and makes the motor stop on the track.
This next pic shows how it looks as the sliding tab, makes contact with the stop switch bolt.

Supposed to be able to finger tighten these on the rail. But, I found myself using two sets of pliers. One to hold the rectangle washer in place, and the other to help get a grip and put some force on the bolt, to tighten it just enough so it's straight up and down. This is so it can catch the motor switch, properly.

This next pic shows how I used a piece of wood scrap, measuring about 1.5 inches high, to help bring this all together. Notice how it looks chewed out in the middle of the wood. This is because there is wires that connect the 2 halves of the motor. Must be careful when taking out the eyebolt that this comes with, as this thing literally falls apart, and we don't want to damage the wires. I wanted to create a little channel for the wires, so I drilled a few holes, side by side, right in the middle of scrap piece of 2 x 4 first, then cut the piece to the length I needed.


In this garden, the mover only travels about 10". Just enough to take care of the shadows.
Side note: the Light Rail 3.5 motor runs on only 5.5 watts.


There is a 4" bolt going right through that 2 x 4 scrap and that 2 x 4 stud. That 2 x 4 stud, connects to the other "dummy" trolley, on the other end. The dummy trolley needs a 6" bolt, because for some reason, they made each piece, the trolley and the motor, different heights. I wanted it to be as level as possible.


I used 2 washers just under the head of the bolt and bottom of the carriage bolts, before the nut. That is where alot of the weight will be. The main reason for me to use the stud, was so I can easily adjust my lamp's position, which I adjusted several times before I was done.
I also wanted to distribute the weight, how I wanted to distribute it. I'm not a fan of having the lights swingin.

Here's another picture I found of what the "Auxiliary trolley" looks like when you get it from the hydro store.

Here's a shot of one of the two 600 watt lamps in this garden.
It's a P.L. Lamp, with old fashioned ballast and aircooled hood. I don't like cleaning the glass on these, as they are tapped into place, after the glass slides in. Otherwise it will rattle.
I like the newer Magnum hoods, with the rubber gasket seal and the flip down glass. Very nice and is on my wish list.


The reflector is the "wide" version and it throws a footprint of 3 x 5 feet, according to specs.
So one lamp, will hit both walls with light, either side of 4 feet.
Here's a shot, all the way down.


I have to crawl on hands and knees to get under that T-5 lamp, to water those ladies you see back there.

I figured you danksters might be getting bored, so let's mix it up and throw a little more dank in here.
Here's a closer shot of plants you see in the last picture. It's 2 plants in 3.5 gallon buckets.
Both of them JC II. Pheno on the left is a good mix of Cherry and Lemon and the pheno on the right is all Lemon.


Taking a quick chronic break.


Next post, back to the light mover.....


~Blazaholic