Standard Tabletop SunLite Garden Assembly Instructions

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1 Standard Tabletop SunLite Garden Assembly Instructions Parts List Qty. Frame: Side Frames 2 A2 Bars 2 A3 Bars 1 A4 Side Base Frames 2 Poly Tray 1 Lights : Light Fixture Hood 1 Ballasts 2 T-5 Light Tubes 2 6' Light Cord 1 Link Cord 1 Hardware: Ball s 2 Connectors 4 Large Split Rings 2 Small Split Rings 2 Grips 2 s 8 End Plugs 6 Figure 1. With the help of one other person, you can assemble the Tabletop Light Garden in less than an hour. The only tools you ll need are a Phillips screwdriver, a hammer or rubber mallet, and pliers. Frame Assembly Figure 2. Step 1. Lay out all Frame Parts on a flat, clean surface. Step 2. Connect an A4 Side Base Frame to the end of each A2 Bar using two Phillips-head bolts (Fig 2). Repeat this step to connect the second A4 Side Base Frame to the other end of the A2 Bars. Do not fully tighten the bolts on the frame until Step 4. Step 3. Connect the Side Frames to the A4 Side Base Frames by placing a Phillips-head bolt up through the hole in the underside of each A4 Frame. Make sure the pre-drilled guide hole in the Side Frame is positioned near the top. (Fig. 2). A2 A2 A4 # S

2 Step 4. Insert a Phillips-head bolt through the top bolt hole of the Side Frame into the end of the A3 Bar (Fig. 3). Do this on both ends of the Bar. Now fully tighten all the bolts on the frame. Step 5. Insert the six End Plugs into the square ends of the Frames and use a hammer to tap them into place. Step 6. Rest the Light Garden on a table and place the Poly Tray on the table between the A2 Bars. You are now finished assembling the frame. Figure 3. Spacer A3 Guide Hole Ball Side Frame Installing and Adjusting the Light Tubes Step 1. Place a Light Fixture Hood upside down on a level surface. This will reveal the Ballast Clips inside (Fig.4). IMPORTANT! Follow Figure 5 in reverse to remove the T-5 Light Tubes from the Ballasts and set the Tubes aside. The Light Tubes are fragile and may break if left inside the ballasts during installation. Figure 4. Ballast Step 2. Push a Ballast into each set of Clips, making sure to center the Ballasts in place (Fig.4). IMPORTANT! Each end of the Ballast has an open pin ( female ) and closed pin ( male ) socket. Place the Ballasts with alternate male and female sockets at each end of the Light Fixture. To replace the Light Tubes, slide the pins on the Light Tube into the Ballast sockets, then rotate the Tube 90 degrees until it locks into place (Figs. 2 and 2a). Installing the Tubes correctly will ensure they produce the optimum amount of light. Do not force the Tubes into place. Repeat this step to install all Light Tubes, then turn the Light Fixtures upright on a Poly Tray at each level of the Frame. Figure 5. closed pin socket Clip open pin socket Slide pins into sockets Figure 5a. Rotate 90 degrees until Tube "locks" into place. Light Tube -2-

3 Ball Assembly Step 1. Attach a Connector to both Split Rings (Fig. 6). If necessary, use pliers to pry open the Split Rings. (Needle nose pliers work best.) Step 2. Connect one end of each Ball to the Connectors on the Split Rings. The last ball of each chain will snap onto the connector (Fig. 6). Step 3. Take the loose end of one Ball and thread it through the Grip (Fig. 6a) then through the Guide Hole in the top A3 Bar (Fig. 7). Direct the loose end of the chain over the spacer in side the A3 Bar (Fig. 7). If this proves difficult, attach a twist-tie to the end of the chain to help lead the chain over the spacer. Repeat this step to install the Ball s on both sides and at each tier of the Frame Figure 6. Large Split Ring Connector Figure 6a. Ball Grip Step 4. Attach a Connector and Small Split Ring to the end of each Ball (Fig. 7). Figure 7. Spacer A3 Guide Hole Adjusting the Fixtures Step 1. Check the Ball s to make sure they are correctly positioned and move freely through the Grips when pinched. Ball Side Frame Step 2. The height of the Light Fixture is adjusted one side at a time. Pull the chain out of the Grip to adjust the height of the Fixture with the least amount of resistance and protect the Grip from abrasion (Fig. 9). Connector Step 3. Plug a power cord into the end of one Ballast. Orient all power cords to one end of the Light Garden. Small Split Ring Figure 9. Grip Figure 8. Hook the Split Rings around the T - shaped tabs to hang the fixtures. Side Frame Pull chain in a horizontal direction. Guide Hole -3-

4 Step 4. Connect the Light Tubes together by plugging in the Link Cord provided with the T-5 Lights (Figure 10). (The Link Cord is specifically molded to fit only one way on the end of each Ballast. If is does not fit, make sure the Ballasts are positioned with alternate male and female sockets at each end of the Light fixture.) The toggle switch on the Link Cord provides you with the power-saving option to operate one T-5 Light Tube per Fixture at a time. Figure 11. Fixture Hood Link Cord Fixture Use and Safety Always turn off the power to the Light Fixtures when inserting, adjusting or removing Light Tubes. If you insert a Light Tube when the power is on, it may trigger an auto safety mechanism, resulting in the light shutting off. If this happens, turn off the Fixture; make sure the Light Tubes are fully seated in the tube sockets; wait for thirty (30) seconds, then turn the Fixture on again. This will reset the Light Fixture so the lights operate normally. Use the power cord only with a properly grounded electrical outlet or power strip. Do not use with a two-plug outlet or extension cord unless the adapter you use is properly grounded. If water is spilled near the power source, unplug the unit before you wipe up the water. Do not put objects on top of the Frame or on Light Fixture. For best results, attach a timer to your lights to control the length of time the lights are on and to be sure your plants get adequate light. For on/off manual control of your lights, use the switch located on the power cord. Care Instructions To clean the Light Fixture Hood and Frame, unplug the unit first, then gently wipe the frame with a damp cloth. Clean the fluorescent tubes monthly with a soft dry cloth. An accumulation of dust and dirt can dramatically reduce the amount of light your plants receive. -4-

5 Growing With Your Light Garden By controlling the intensity and duration of light, you can grow healthier and more beautiful plants than ever before. The proximity of the light fixtures to your plants is very important because it affects light intensity. The closer the light, the greater the intensity. Plants that normally grow outdoors in full sun require the highest light intensity. This includes most flower and vegetable plants, orchids, gardenias and citrus. For these plants, light tubes should be very close no more than 3 inches away from the foliage. This need for intense light holds true for seedlings too (your vegetable and flower seedlings will grow tall and spindly if they are too far away from the lights). Most common flowering houseplants do not require as much light intensity. African violets and begonias will be quite happy 10 to 12 inches away from the light tubes. Nonflowering tropical plants such as philodendrons and ivies can be placed between 20 and 36 inches from the light. If you re growing different types of plants under one light fixture, you may need to vary the height of the pots. Place light-loving plants on an upside down flower pot or other platform to get them closer to the light. Your plants will also receive the best light intensity if they are placed under the middle section of the light fixtures, rather than the ends. As your plants grow, raise the light fixture to maintain the appropriate distance between the top of the plant and the light tubes. T-5 lights are quite hot and can burn seedlings and sensitive plants if there is direct contact. Leaving the Lights On No matter what types of plants you are growing indoors, you should always give them time to sleep. When it s dark, plants respirate, which is an important part of their growth process. The balance of rest time to active growth time affects many biological processes, including growth rate and the setting of buds and fruit. Like people, plants differ in the amount of rest they require. They are categorized according to their preferred day length: short-day, long-day, or dayneutral. Short-day plants, such as chrysanthemums, kalanchoe, azaleas and begonias will thrive on 12 hours per day. In fact, these plants usually require a series of even shorter days (less than 12 hours) before they will set buds and flower. Long-day plants (vegetables and most flowers) require at least 14 to 18 hours of light each day. Dayneutral plants, which include non-flowering foliage plants, as well as geraniums, coleus, and African violets are usually satisfied with 8 to 12 hours of light all year-round. Using automatic timers is the best way to ensure your plants receive the right duration of light each day. Group your plants under each light fixture according to what day length they prefer and your indoor gardening adventures will be easier and much more rewarding. Water and Humidity Seedlings and other plants that are placed close to warm fluorescent lights will require watering daily or every other day to keep the soil from drying out. Your houseplants may require less water if they are placed further away from the light fixtures (room temperatures can also affect how frequently you have to water). Generally, water houseplants once or twice a week, allowing the soil to dry between waterings. Many plants, including most orchids, require high humidity as well as adequate water. You ll need to pay more attention to this when they re growing under lights. To create a humid environment, fill a shallow tray with gravel or marbles, set the orchid pot on top and then cover the gravel with water. The water will evaporate around the pots to create a more humid environment. You may need to experiment for the first few weeks to determine a good watering schedule. -5-

6 Getting the Most From Your Lights An accumulation of dust and dirt can dramatically reduce the amount of light your plants receive. Be sure to clean your fluorescent tubes monthly with a soft dry cloth. When the ends of a fluorescent tube darken, it means that the light is aging. Light output from an old tube can be less than half that of a new tube. Replace the light tubes when this occurs. When it comes time to dispose of light tubes, please do so responsibly. Dispose of light tubes at your nearest hazardous waste recycling center. Guaranteed Easy-to-Grow Plants You can grow almost any plant under lights if temperature and humidity are right! Garden newcomers will have good success with easy-to-grow seeds like zinnias, marigolds, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Easy-care plants include: begonias, ferns, geraniums, oxalis, jade, philodendrons, and all types of succulents. If you like the cactus members of the succulent family, they re some of the easiest of all! T-5, fluorescent tubes can provide many years of use. They provide the full lighting spectrum to start your seedlings, to initiate faster rooting time on cuttings, and can be used as supplemental lighting for your flowering plants. SunLite T-5 Fluorescent Bulbs Important Safety Information Hg LAMP CONTAINS MERCURY Manage in Accordance with Disposal Laws See or call for information T-5 bulbs can only be used in light fixtures that are specifically designed for T-5 bulbs. They will not fit in fixtures designed for T-8 or T-12 bulbs. The light intensity of fluorescent bulbs diminishes over time. For optimum results, we recommend replacing bulbs after about 10,000 hours of use. When it s time to replace your bulbs, please dispose of them safely at your recycling center. Did you know? The number after the T refers to the x/8" diameter of the fluorescent bulb. So, a T-5 bulb is 5/8" in diameter; a T-8 bulb is 1" in diameter; and a T-12 is 11/2" in diameter. -6-

7 Combining the Tabletop and Floor Model Light Gardens You get double the growing space and greater mobility when you combine the Tabletop Light Garden with the Floor Model Light Garden (sold separately). If you have previously purchased a Floor Model Light Garden, combining the two models is easy. Step 1. Assemble both units first, using the instructions provided. Step 2. Remove the Poly Tray from the top of the Floor Model structure. Step 3. Remove the rubber Corner Guards from the top four corners of the Floor Model Light Garden. Step 4. Place the tabletop directly on top of the Floor Model, making sure the power on cord on each unit are hanging off the same end, then replace the Tray. That s all there is to it! The Tabletop Light Garden rests directly on top of the Floor Model. Ordering Information SunLite Gardens Accessories # Standard Floor Stand SunLite Garden # Fast Start Seed Starter # Standard Tabletop SunLite Garden # Power Strip and Timer # Standard 2-Tier SunLite Garden # Heat Mat, Medium # Standard 3-Tier SunLite Garden # Thermostat for Heat Mat Replacement Lighting # T5 Light Fixture To place an order, please call us or visit our web site for current prices. 128 Intervale Road, Burlington, Vermont phone orders: customer service: info@gardeners.com web: