Another Attic Adventure
- Thread starter JSJ
- Start date
JSJ
Well-Known Member
I am running a 5000 btu window unit. The attic temped out at 134-135 degrees last summer. So far with 6x T-5s and 400MH the temp holds steady at 79, and the highest attic temp so far this summer has been 124. The a/c unit is on a timer and the temp setting is on 4 of 10. I think I have enough insulation and a/c to pull this off.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
Alright guys, this first run is basically just a test of my setup. I popped some bagseeds to get this going. I now have 2 in the flower room, 2 still in veg room(moving to flower today) and 4(3 different local strains) on the shelf getting reported and moved to the veg room today. And ten more seeds soaking, that will get sowed today, so it's going to be a big day up in the attic!!!
So now that I have the whole show running I will go over everything I got going on.
Clone/Seed Shelf:
2' x 3' shelf, 6x T5s, humidity dome and 1qt pots with 1pt SS, 3pt garden soil(cooked and sifted) and 3pt perlite will get us started.
Veg Room:
4' x 4' room, 400MH, 3gal pots with 50/50 SS/perlite (gal to gal n half in bottom) and the rest is 50/50 SS/garden soil mixed 50/50 with perlite, a 6" inline exhausts the room and daytime temps stay steady at 77F.
Flower Room:
4' x 4' room, 400HPS, same pots, 8" inline exhausts room through cool tube, lights on temp 70F, steadily rises, tops out at 83-84F about 1,5 - 2 hours before lights out, night time temps 65-68F.
I never realized a HPS runs hotter then a MH bulb. But side by side the MH runs 10F cooler. I could try to replace the 8" inline to keep the temps out of the 80s, but it's only for a cple hours right before lights out, and the sativa loves it. Also keep in mind I am running everything during the day, the attic has already hit the 130F mark. I would run at night but not sure how Flir would see my attic at night, at least now I have a baking hot roof hiding what's just a few feet under it!!!
So now that I have the whole show running I will go over everything I got going on.
Clone/Seed Shelf:
2' x 3' shelf, 6x T5s, humidity dome and 1qt pots with 1pt SS, 3pt garden soil(cooked and sifted) and 3pt perlite will get us started.
Veg Room:
4' x 4' room, 400MH, 3gal pots with 50/50 SS/perlite (gal to gal n half in bottom) and the rest is 50/50 SS/garden soil mixed 50/50 with perlite, a 6" inline exhausts the room and daytime temps stay steady at 77F.
Flower Room:
4' x 4' room, 400HPS, same pots, 8" inline exhausts room through cool tube, lights on temp 70F, steadily rises, tops out at 83-84F about 1,5 - 2 hours before lights out, night time temps 65-68F.
I never realized a HPS runs hotter then a MH bulb. But side by side the MH runs 10F cooler. I could try to replace the 8" inline to keep the temps out of the 80s, but it's only for a cple hours right before lights out, and the sativa loves it. Also keep in mind I am running everything during the day, the attic has already hit the 130F mark. I would run at night but not sure how Flir would see my attic at night, at least now I have a baking hot roof hiding what's just a few feet under it!!!
Warriorbuds
Well-Known Member
I flower my plants at 83-84F...they do just fine! 
Sounds like a great setup, Good luck!
Sounds like a great setup, Good luck! 
East Coast
Well-Known Member
What colour is your roof? Could you paint it white to reflect heat?
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JSJ
Well-Known Member
I have a brown asphalt shingle roof, you really think painting it white will help??? Maybe I should just paint a big white X on the roof, lol.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
So yesterday went good. The flower room is full of happy lil girls, the beautiful lil seedlings all got a big pot full of tastey organic goodness and out of the 10 soaking beans, 4 had already cracked and showing taps. All 10 got put in their peat pucks and in the humidity dome.
By the time I got done working up there the temp was 89.2F. Less than 45mins. later the room was right back down to 82-83F. Which is where it usually runs.
Mid July, attic in 130F, and I am running lights on all day long and pulling this off, SO WHERE ARE ALL THE HATERS AT NOW?????
By the time I got done working up there the temp was 89.2F. Less than 45mins. later the room was right back down to 82-83F. Which is where it usually runs.
Mid July, attic in 130F, and I am running lights on all day long and pulling this off, SO WHERE ARE ALL THE HATERS AT NOW?????
East Coast
Well-Known Member
Do some research - black and dark colours attract heat, light colours reflect. Many Architects are now painting roofs white, and making concrete whiter in domestic and city areas, in a bid to reduce temperature created by too much concrete, and also, reflect heat back into space to help curve climate control.
I don't think painting your roof white will attract the police! Being a little paranoid brotha.
I don't think painting your roof white will attract the police! Being a little paranoid brotha.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
That's not research, it's 6th grade art class. Any color that you see means the surface is absorbing all the color spectrum except for the color you see, which is getting reflected. Black absorbs all color and white reflects all color. Hence absorbing all light and heat and reflecting all light and heat.
Not being paranoid, just sarcastic. The last thing I would ever do is paint my 30year shingles white. I would stop growing before painting the roof!! Besides, READ THIS ENTIRE POST, NO NEED TO FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN, ya know??
SpaaaceCowboy
Well-Known Member
Hey JSJ....Give it up already, ok ? An attic grow can't be done...Maybe you can try a different hobby.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
I thinking about needle point
Red1966
Well-Known Member
Most, if not all, air conditioners won't function at temps above 105. Some won't work above 95. I suggest you pull air up from your living area and vent directly into the attic, or back into the living area. Heavily insulate the grow area and use LEDs to keep your heat load down. I use a giant, homemade catch basin to capture any water leaks, made from 1x6s and pond liner. You can grow plants in outer space if you don't mind spending a bundle. I'm subbed, I may try this in the future, once I see if you can make a go of this. Good luck to you, you're going to need good luck AND some ingenuity to pull this off.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
I wonder what kind of ac units people have that live in dessert climates, with temps above 110-115 degrees? Might need to get one of those units.
So far the highest temp this summer has been 128F. Today it is 118F. So far the unit has worked great. It us still set on 8, out of 10 on the cold setting, and the thermo hanging in the flower room runs from mid 60s at lights off and steadily climbs to 83-84F about 1 1/2hrs before lights out, then drops back to mid 70s while veg light is still on, and then back to mid 60s at lights out again. The ac unit runs the entire 18hrs of veg time, timer synced with veg timer.
So far no ill effect on ac. I have a bucket and towels underneath it just in case, but to date, even with humidity being 80-90% outside, no water leaking.
Red1966
Well-Known Member
No condensate? Must be one of those "slinger" types that sling the condensate on to the condenser. Which is probably the only reason it's still working at those temps. Can you hear what sounds like splashing coming from it? Kind of a "shhhhh" noise? Most newer units have this feature. Makes them much more efficient.
JSJ
Well-Known Member
Yes, I went to check on it the first hot day with high humidity, heard what sounds like water coming off the unit, no wetness anywhere. I have been checking the towels at least once a week, still dry as a bone, as is the casing of the unit, but can definitely hear it in there.
Soil and Sun
Active Member
Hey JSJ, looks like the attic's coming along nicely! I'm planning a small setup that will be a lot like the one you have. I live in a very hot and humid place ( think southeast ) and I may need AC during the night cycle also to get my temps right. I've been looking for a portable unit that can have two separate setting, say 70* lights out and 80* lights on but so far I haven't found one. I was wondering if you knew of any that have this feature or a timer that can raise and lower the temp setting?? Anyway, great looking setup and good luck!
Red1966
Well-Known Member
Sears Kenmore 5,200 BTU window unit has a day/nite setting. Duct it to a grow box like in the pic attached.
