Ozone Generator Plans

This is a work originally started by green man, it has been added to, and will continue to be updated as necessary. Additional information has come from other people kind enough to share their experiences.

This is a very simple set up that most people can put together in five minutes after getting the parts. It works as well as the expensive units costing $600 or more but it costs only about $30 to $70 to put one together yourself. Most of the cost is for the transformer.

The ones I make cost next to nothing, it just depends on how good you are at finding the transformer. A good source for the transformer is a shop that repairs or installs neon signs. You can usually pick up a used one for under $50. If you can't get one locally, ebay is a good source, but because of the weight, shipping can be as expensive as the transformer itself.

You should have some familiarity with working with electricity before trying this. If you have no understanding of electronic circuitry and would rather buy a commercial unit there are several models listed on ebay.

First you need a neon sign or similar transformer at about 3,000v to 15,000v. Transformers are sometimes rated in kv (kilovolts), a 5K or 5KV transformer is another way of saying a 5,000 volt transformer. I have one 4KV and one 7KV transformer, the 4KV is used in a grow room and the 7KV is used in a smoking room. Both do a good job.

The smoking room is about 20 feet by 20 feet and about 30 minutes after smoking the room smells clean. Another benefit of using an ozone generator is for cigarette smokers.

Next, you need a small glass jar and a larger jar that will hold the smaller one. The larger jar can be glass or plastic, I have successfully used a plastic cup for the larger jar but the smaller one has to be glass.

Lastly you need a small amount of aluminum foil and you may need a few short pieces of wire. Use thick wire rated for voltage applications higher than the output of your transformer only.

The transformer can be as small as 3,000v but a larger voltage transformer will put out more ozone, up to a point. My 7,000v is plenty but you can use up to 15,000v.

Franceformer transformers built by the France company are the most reliable. A Franceformer will probably last longer and its voltage output will be more stable than most other brands. Franceformers will probably cost more than other brands, but I strongly recommend paying the extra money and getting one.

Put a piece of aluminum foil inside the small jar at the bottom. Cover the outside bottom of the small jar with foil so that it covers the same area as the foil inside. You can cover the whole inside and outside of the jar, that may work better but just make sure the inner and outer foil layers do not touch or come too close.

Put the smaller jar inside the larger one. Connect one high voltage lead to the foil inside and the other to the foil outside. You can use metal screen instead of foil. The larger jar just insulates the whole thing.

I would put the whole set up on a piece of wood or other insulator. Try not to cross the wires. The bare part of the wire must touch the foil. If the insulation on the wire makes it difficult or if the wires are too short, you may use some other wire to extend them. Be sure to keep the wires as short as possible, you don't want to touch them they will give you a jolt.

If you are going to extend the length of the wire, use wire with a thick insulator. Similar to the stuff that the neon sign transformer uses. Thinner stuff tends to breakdown faster increasing the possibility of a short. Make sure to include a fuse in your setup.

Turn it on, you'll hear a crackling noise and if its dark you'll see a blue glow. If there's a short you may see an arc (usually white or yellow), just turn it off and separate the conductors so that they don't short out.

The ozone will come out the top so don't plug it up. Ozone is a very powerful deodorizer it also tends to kill mold and bacteria but will not harm your plants.

For increasing and decreasing output, try increasing the area the aluminum foil covers. The more area it covers, the greater the output.

I've also tried using an old humidifier to not only house the unit, but also to disperse the ozone better. The adjustable fan inside the old humidifier is just right. I gutted everything inside the old unit, except the fan. It works great and looks much better.

I try not to breath a lot of it though its not supposed to be dangerous in small amounts.

Maintaining An Ozone Generator

Do a check of the wires and glass at least once a month. Turn off any room or plant light and turn the ozone generator on and watch, any white or yellow light, probably means a short. A blue or purple glow is fine.

The glass in one of my units eventually started showing small holes where the arcing was concentrated for an extended period and the thing was shorting. That's a potential source for a fire, so be careful.

Replace the aluminum foil every month or two. As time goes by, the aluminum foil will break down and lose its efficiency. If you notice that your generator doesn't put out as much ozone as it did when you first stated using it, old aluminum might be the cause. Another cause is low quality transformers. Get a Franceformer transformer if you want the most reliable unit you can get.

How To Use Ozone For Marijuana Plants

While some growers place ozone generators outside the growing area in fear that ozone may damage plants, most choose to destroy the odor at the source.

In contrast to popular belief, ozone actually benefits the overall health of the plant, and the human, by removing pollutants such as bacteria, fungus and mold from the air.

Another benefit to marijuana is the creation of CO² (along with water and oxygen), when ozone comes into contact with formaldehyde (HCHO) Because ozone generation is a very potent method of odor removal, constant treatment is not necessary.

I run my ozone generator (4000v) on the same timer with my nutrient pump. Out of every 40 minute period, the timer is on for 10 to 20 minutes.

Grow Great Marijuana:
An Uncomplicated Guide to
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If you find instructions and books about growing hydroponic marijuana overly technical and hard to follow, this book is a very good choice for simple and accurate instructions. It does not cover advanced techniques so if you already know how to grow, this book would be of little value. But if you are a first time grower with no experience, this is the first book to look at.

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Marijuana Horticulture:
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The Cannabis Grow Bible:
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