Cabinet/Light height problem

Problem: built a 4 foot tall grow cabinet and intended on just doing a CFL grow initially (its painted white on the inside now and yes doors will be added). Got a great deal on a 400w HPS.
Because the ballast is in the enclosure it is very heavy and seems to big for my box.

Question: Will be close to plants with no ceiling room and burn them? 6 plants in a 10 gal res will be switching up to an 18 gal res to finish this grow till I can flip my spare room.

Suggestions?

can ya cut a hole in the top of your box set the light on top?

ganjaman13 said:

can ya cut a hole in the top of your box set the light on top?

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Yeah I thought about that.

that will get rid of your ballast heat too

I agree with ganjaman. If you put that light in that box with those plants....its going to be REALLY hot. But if you cut out the top and put the light up there, both problems solved. Good luck.

itsgrowinglikeaweed said:

I agree with ganjaman. If you put that light in that box with those plants....its going to be REALLY hot. But if you cut out the top and put the light up there, both problems solved. Good luck.

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What about the odor coming out the hole? Cut a hole and sit it right on the box? Wont it be too hot and cause a fire?

odors gonna come out anyway im sure you can come up with some kind of gasket to raise the light a little bit

Yeah you gotta do what you gotta do. You can't put that IN the box. The plants will be WAY to close to it. Obviously you don't want to do anything that going to start a fire. But you want to smoke your weed when its mature, in a bowl with a lighter not while its vegging, in a box with a HID light.
Personally I think its worth making a bigger box. One that will accomodate your equipment.

Ok here is my thought.....I would rather get a ballast box off of Ebay (or wherever is cheapest) and do the CoolTube DIY or a DIY of connecting the reflector to the socket with the tempered glass attached also.






The only ballast box I could find for $17.81 + shipping. Can I use any metal type box....like this rodent trap at Harbor Freight for $16.99?

NoRegrets said:

Ok here is my thought.....I would rather get a ballast box off of Ebay (or wherever is cheapest) and do the CoolTube DIY or a DIY of connecting the reflector to the socket with the tempered glass attached also.

The only ballast box I could find for $17.81 + shipping. Can I use any metal type box....like this rodent trap at Harbor Freight for $16.99?

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I don't see why the ballast box wouldn't work, I would worry about ventilation in the rodent box. You could probably save the hood and use the tempered glass. Does the hood have flanges for connecting ducting? I couldn't tell from the pics but it looks a lot like a 250W enclosed that I have. If you hook up a 4" inline fan and push air through the hood (don't suck the hot air into the fan like I did and burn it out) then it will stay cool enough to keep right on top of the box. I still wouldn't try to put it inside tho...

Look what I found today at a local thrift shop (hit the jack pot at the first one I searched in), I almost walked out without seeing it up on a top shelf. Yeah the 2nd pick shows what I paid for it.......$2.99
Got all the other stuff to make a cool tube also.

Yeah Im gonna just order the ballast box and get rid of that heavy enclosure. Cooler is always better and Im not ready to rebuild my box or flip my xtra room

Pretty damn cool, you could probably run that in the box with proper ducting and it would be OK. Keep an eye on it tho, if they get within 6" then they will start to burn.

skunkluvr said:

Pretty damn cool, you could probably run that in the box with proper ducting and it would be OK. Keep an eye on it tho, if they get within 6" then they will start to burn.

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Cool! Thanks