5 US Gallon Bucket Lid (Hydroponics)

thingiverse

IntroI initially designed my project to use the IKE MUSKOT 24cm pot. At the time, it was readily available and cheap, but unfortunately it's no longer available. A lot of people have been asking for an alternative. Some people have remix it for other pots, but most people have trouble finding an alternative. Therefore, I decided to quickly create one.I chose a 5 US Gallon bucket (i.e. Lowes or Home Depot) since I believe they'll remain available for a long time. The added bonus is the extra water capacity. Since my tower is already up and running, I won't be printing it to test it, but I'm confident that the dimensions are correct. If someone prints it, please leave a comment verifying that it works. Everything else remains unchanged: You can use the same modules, the assembly instructions are still valid and the LED arms should be mounted as before. Let me know if there are any questions!Parts needed 2x 5gal_Bucket_Lid_Petal_w_Hole.STL1x 5gal_Bucket_Lid_Petal_Plain.STL3x 5gal_Bucket_Lid_Petal.STL24x #10-32 x 1 in. machine screws & nuts (for the lid AND to attach the LED Attachment piece to the lid))Some glue or silicone to seal the jointsBucket Lid AssemblyThe lid is made out of 6 different pieces or "petals". Right now, there are three different petals design: Petal: You need three and only three. These petals have a tab where the tower meets the lids so it locks in place. To ensure the tower locks in place, these petals have to alternate with any of the other two types of petals (see picture).Plain petal: This petal type has no tab or hole. Petal with hole: This petal type has a hole for watering, electrical wires or simply access to the reservoir. Thus, you need three petals and a total of three plain petals AND/OR petals with holes. Up to you. All petals have the holes to mount the lights. Fasten everything together using the #10-32 x 1in. screws.It's been observed that sometimes water drips out of the lid. This is sometimes due to capillarity and condensation. The only way to mostly solve the issue is to add some sealant (such as silicone) between the petals when assembling the lid together. I'd also advice to put a plate under the reservoir to catch any accidental spill. Check the original project for the tower assembly instructions!STEP filesThe STEP files for this project can be found here together with the files of the original project.