Mini-Fridge Grow-Box (currently building and I need help and advice)

[history101]

I'll have pictures up tomorrow.

Anyway, I am in the process of converting my working mini-fridge into a stealth grow-box. I figured that this would be ideal since it already has a removable tray which would be ideal for LSTing. I haven't yet decided which sort of light set-up that would work best and I was hoping I could get some help.

*Be gentle with me, this is my first attempt and I am not very knowledgeable in various fields.

The interior dimensions: 16.5'' height; 14.25'' width; 12.25'' length.

What I've done already:
-Removed back plate exposing a circuit board directly connected to the NEMA-5 plug.
-I cut and removed the heating/cooling element from the circuit board and then rewrapped wires with electric tape.

I kept everything else intact because I feel that it should simplify the fan-setup process (two fans already attached). There are a few devices still connected to the circuit board, but they are in such tight places that I didn't see the need to disconnect them; that won't affect anything will it, power-wise?


There is an exhaust fan (76mm) in the center of the unit; which I left in place. Also connected is an 88mm fan. I plan on acquiring another 88mm fan and placing both fans on either bottom corner of the same wall the exhaust fan is located.
*Will this be an okay set-up for ventilation?
*ELECTRICAL How do I connect the third fan up?
--can I connect the third fan 88mm to the second fan 88mm in series?
--if I can connect in series, what would be the limit of fans hooked up since the unit has a NEMA-5 outlet?
*I also need to create light traps for all three fans


Light Ideas?

The very wide interior space looks like it could hold about five CFLs; one in each corner and another in the very middle.
How many small HPS lights could I fix before heat becomes an issue?
Would a single CFM also work?


Any advice or help that I could get would be absolutely amazing! Thanks guys! Pictures tomorrow.

 

[history101]

Okay, I have pictures!

Picture 1: Fridge (16.5"; 14.25"; 12.25")
Picture 2: Cut out interior plastic shelving on door
Picture 3: Used box-cutter to open a small hole in corner
--I need a dremel to finish cutting holes
Picture 4: Exposed circuit board; taped wires went to cooling element
Picture 5: 88mm fan that needs to be attached to the bottom of the back.

If any more pictures need to be taken of specific things just let me know

Would a single CFM be too hot to stick in this unit?
What should the wattage be on the bulb?

 

[history101]

I don't photoshop very well. I remembered today that I got a really crappy laptop cooler for $10, anywho I figured since I'll be needing fans to go ahead and pop those out. I did; albeit with some problems. I'm sure some superglue can put the missing blades back with the body... The end product is a pair of 76mm fans that have no attachment system or circular guard.

If I hot glue some plastic onto the back of them I can stick both of them onto the interior door and have a nice big breeze blowing in the box.


This next picture is where I want to have my proposed fan system. Since I am taking a dremel to the actual fridge I have a lot of options with fan placement, but I don't want to overdo it either.



Green- 88mm/120/mm exhaust fan.
-this will stack onto the current 76mm, and give a lot more directed path to the exhausting air.
Red- 76mm fans to gently stir the ladies
Blue- 88mm intakes. (though I'm wondering if I should open up more space and have even more intake?)


I need some electrical help here. The mini-fridge is a three-prong plug. I intend on having 6 computer fans run through this, can I keep on running more fans through the original circuit board or is there a smarter/safer way to do this?

 

[history101]

Alrighty, so round two of the mini-fridge epic.

After thinking about the complexities of it I removed the fridge's motherboard and power cord. So to run my fans now I have a 1.5A/12v dc cord. I'm running my wires in parallel, which blows.

I couldn't sleep last night so I just stayed up working and putting everything into place. Unfortunately I couldn't quite get the connections to hold. I was working with an 18guage wired and the wire is too brittle and won't bend well. I'll pick up a frayed-wire variety to make all the connections better. It was so frustrating watching only 3 fans turn on at a time, and I felt like a caveman since I don't have a multimeter or anything. Anyway, tomorrow more wire.

The intake fans are now nestled into cuts I made into the fridge with a rotary tool. I also cut a large section of the floor out. I'll use that extra inch and three quarters to nestle in a large flat growing tray.
--I'm a little worried about that insulation? I covered other sections with fabric to separate it, but I feel that's not particularly safe?

Tomorrow I'm picking up a small pvc pipe, I'll make another cut into the fridge to fit a pvc-pipe corresponding size for drainage. Then more wire to get the fans working. And reflective stuff for the walls (emergency blanket kind).

 

[DaBigDiggidy]

Cool concept bro... stealthy grow cab. I'm not a pro nor pretend to be one, but your definitely gonna want to go CFL in this concept i believe. Is pretty tight in there and heat will most definitely be an issue in a converted... insulated fridge.

 

[history101]

I definitely agree. I'll pick up 4 bulbs at the home depot tomorrow, and I can pick up the flowering bulbs a little later. I don't know how I want to position them, any ideas?

I was just going to run light bulb adapters through extension cords, better suggestions?

http://www.sylvania.com/ConsumerProducts/New+Products/Micro-Mini+Twist/

 

[DaBigDiggidy]

Hehe, well i am no certified electrician but me myself would find the lowest profile flush mount wall sockets, hardwire and flushmount them inside, i think you would be ok parallel wiring them to a single heavy gauge power chord. I have 5, 2 tube old style tube " 4' " ballasts in my veg box paralleled and on a single heavy gauge chord ( i soldered and wrapped connections with heat shrink ) and have absolutely no issues.
I say again tho i am no certified electrician. Just been doing low voltage installation for 15 yrs.

 

[DaBigDiggidy]

I was also thinking bout the reflective scenario... just a thought, the white surface is actually a pretty reflective scenario, thousand times better than Tin foil Not suggesting you would use tin foil to line your build

 

[Danielsgb]

I wouldn't bother with the emergency blanket to cover the white inside. It's almost no better for all the work. You mention the power supply is 1.5A. What are the fans A? If they are combined A higher than 1.2 that won't last too long. (continuous load should be 120% for safety) So two .6A would be fine but three .6A for 1.8A would overwork it. I have got that part down, but I'm sure others will explain it better.
Daniels

 

[history101]

I scavenged the the fans from appliances around the house, so I'm not sure about their individual mA. Is there a way to check this?

 

[Danielsgb]

Each might have it on the fan motor. Maybe on the appliance itself. If the power supply feels hot it's overworked. That's what fails. There's a meter/gauge/thing that you can use to measure it, but I'm not the guy to help that far. I'm pretty sure they aren't expensive. The power supplies: Thrift stores often have them, like Goodwill or Rescue Mission. I get them for $2 or less. More are better than over working them. Check out my Fridge for Ideas.
Daniels

 

[Xiphos]

Lol dude my first grow was in a minifridge just like that! I had 4 cfls "x"-shaped lighting arrangement with y connectors. You NEED ventilation for sure my first batch of plants got fried so i added a 4" inline fan it worked well.

And dont be fooled by the airtight-ness it will smell the shit outta your house if u dont take care of it

 

[history101]

Each might have it on the fan motor. Maybe on the appliance itself. If the power supply feels hot it's overworked. That's what fails. There's a meter/gauge/thing that you can use to measure it, but I'm not the guy to help that far. I'm pretty sure they aren't expensive. The power supplies: Thrift stores often have them, like Goodwill or Rescue Mission. I get them for $2 or less. More are better than over working them. Check out my Fridge for Ideas.
Daniels

I feel like a fool now. I thought I was going for convenience buying the 1.5A so I could hook up all my devices to one cord, but I should totally have thrifted a couple 12v chargers instead. Still haven't wired it up, so should I see if it'll work fine like this? So the 12v charger itself should be warm if too many devices are hooked up?

+rep for that fridge. I've been following that thread and it is really cool. I wish I had more space to get a bigger grow area.

Lol dude my first grow was in a minifridge just like that! I had 4 cfls "x"-shaped lighting arrangement with y connectors. You NEED ventilation for sure my first batch of plants got fried so i added a 4" inline fan it worked well.

And dont be fooled by the airtight-ness it will smell the shit outta your house if u dont take care of it

I'd love to see some photos on the mini-fridge if you have them laying around. I'm going with micro-mini CFLs so there shouldn't be too much heat I don't think. I'll test my lights tonight hopefully and if I need to I'll replace a few of my older fans with 120mm fans instead.

 

[Danielsgb]

2 of the 120mm I use would work , they are .6A (that's why I picked .6 instead of .5 or .4 ) I had a 1.25A and thought it was a good match for 2 and found out the 120% load to follow. They are always warm, but hot is bad. As I was told they might work hours/days/months. You never know. I would return it if you can. Separate power supplies also lets you run different timers to each fan.
Daniels

 

[history101]

Round 3

I bought two y-splitters, two bulb-to-outlet adapters, CFL bulbs, PVC pipe pieces, aqua globe pack, digital surge protector with built-in timer, and a roll of foil tape.
I dremeled a hole for a PVC drain, which will connect to both growing trays. I also hot-glued the y-splitters and adapters to the movable tray.


Next I used the cardboard box that the aqua globes came in and set to fashion the pots for my ladies. Using a PVC pipe connector, and many layers of the common household garbage bag I made them water-proof.


Now I have a pair of beautiful plant pots, which makes more sense with the two intakes I have set up.
Should I let them grow straight and LST through the fridge tray or try a mini-vertical grow? (I just can't seem to work it out in my head how the latter would look)

 

[Xiphos]

Turn the lights sideways