My first home built (pics)

bbqchip

Well-Known Member
nice, im planning to built one after my first grow is finish. how do you power the pc fan? thinking about using 4-6 fans.
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
nice, im planning to built one after my first grow is finish. how do you power the pc fan? thinking about using 4-6 fans.
I used a 12v plug to power the PC fan, What you have to do is first strip down the plug's wire's you cut the end of the plug that would of went into the appliance off. then exposes about 5mm of the wires using wire strippers. i have a switch in my circuit so one of the adaptor wires goes in there. But for the sake of me telling you there is no switch in this description. secondly you expose the wires for the fan. You now need to see which of the fan's wires are capable to carry power. Be safe!! it's usually the black and red one, but depoending on manufacturer there's a few.. Try alsorts of different combination's untill it spins. it's now just a simple task of cutting the use-less wires off and leaving the powered wires. (just issolate the wires with electricians tape don't cut them off completely or ripp them out of the fan! it could break it. Now simply join the fan to the circuit, so it would go.

Plug wire to fan wire red: fan wire Black to the second wire of the plug.

im guessing u wont be using HPs ither hu :P
No I know man discovered fire but we don't need to brag about it.
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
I did a light test. there are a few areas of interest. where light peaks through take a look i highlighted them lol cause the photo is pretty shit.

I only used a house lamp like but still look at the leakage, i understand there will be loads through my Fan hole lol. but how could it be stopped? i am not all about the stealth as i live in a place were neighbours etc keep themselves to themselves plus the light leakage is minimal i just though to try and use as much light as possible. Any ideas?

Here's a pic... Let me know, if you've got any ideas.
 

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E=MC420

Well-Known Member
You can use weatherstriping to help seal up the leaks. On my recent box build I bought a few cheap silver car windshield reflectors (like 3 bucks apiece) to line the inside joints and walls. It has a thin foam backing so it can be doubled over to fill in any large gaps.
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
I ve found a simple solution, here is a before (highlighted) solution and after, it works quite well, what would you reckon??

It's cheap and effective, well in fact the black stuff was free. lol but it's usually only £1.50 a 1m roll
 

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E=MC420

Well-Known Member
If it gets the job done that is all that matters..and of course free is always a beautiful thing. What are planning to use for light?
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
125w CFL for veg and well 125w CFL for flowering, just going to change the bulb when the light cycle's ready to change to the correct spectrum, well when i want to start flowering them. i was just going to top them if they were going to like grow through the box, lol. but the guy at my local shop reckons i can "bend them", whats this about??

i can bearly spray the soil of my seedlings without taking time to aim and that i don't blow the leaves off my plant with a massive squeeze of the sprayer, never mind getting a hold of them and bending them over double!
 

E=MC420

Well-Known Member
You should consider running a a piece of 1X2 on the back and sides of the box. My understanding of CFL's (I am currently using them) is that it is better to have more bulbs of a lower wattage than one big bulb. In my flower cabinet I have two 42w CFL as the two main overheards. They each have three 26w bulbs clustered around them. I have a 4' dual tube fluorescent running vertical on the back wall, 40 watt bulbs. I then have four to five 26w bulbs mounted around the plants for side lighting. Those are on clamp fixtures so I can adjust placement. I think this is an easier way to get some good lighting on the girls and not risk light burn.
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
It's hard in the UK to aquire those kinnda bulbs, plus it's quite a cheap set-up for a first time grower! the 125w CFL about £40 with reflector. i am just a noob to growing but if you ask me to build anything i just spring into action lol, got a few ideas first then just plodded on.
 

E=MC420

Well-Known Member
I just got a 4 pack of 26 wat cfl's at home depot for like $12.00. My two 42watt CFLs cost me $9.95 each. Those are the most expensive lights in my box.
 

ToKeRtHeMoNkEy

Active Member
I just got a 4 pack of 26 wat cfl's at home depot for like $12.00. My two 42watt CFLs cost me $9.95 each. Those are the most expensive lights in my box.

I've looked high and low for 42watt bulbs and honestly the easiest thing is for me to buy the growlight, my grow shop is pretty local plus it used to be like a bong/hydro shop so the guy is like a proper green thumb and is loaded with tips. lol. i ve tryed diy shops, home depot shops jesus i even tryed charity shops nothing. if there is any UK people that know a chain of shops that sell these 42watt bulbs i would love to know. lol i am not taking the piss E=, it's just i have looked all over for them lol
 
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evanridesmx450

Active Member
how many fans do you have cause i dont think that one pc fan is going to cut it expecialy on hotter days... let me know.. thanks
 

potlike

Well-Known Member
use white elastomeric roofing paint 90% reflectivity... much more effective than windshield reflectors.

To power multiple case fans you can use a cheap AT PSU from ebay... about $5 + SHIPPING or... you can go with something like a stanley blower fan and mod it to exhaust heat and smell and at low power it is still powerful as hell.

Relatively quiet as well... I can shut my closet door and not hear a thing.

Don't use CFL's use T5's... they are next most effective thing other than HPS and MH. T5 outperform t5ho in lumens per watt as well.

-potlike
 

BigBudBalls

Well-Known Member
use white elastomeric roofing paint 90% reflectivity... much more effective than windshield reflectors.

To power multiple case fans you can use a cheap AT PSU from ebay... about $5 + SHIPPING or... you can go with something like a stanley blower fan and mod it to exhaust heat and smell and at low power it is still powerful as hell.

Relatively quiet as well... I can shut my closet door and not hear a thing.

Don't use CFL's use T5's... they are next most effective thing other than HPS and MH. T5 outperform t5ho in lumens per watt as well.

-potlike

But T5's cost close enough to HPS/MH, better to get the real stuff.
Great stuff otherwise.
 

potlike

Well-Known Member
But T5's cost close enough to HPS/MH, better to get the real stuff.
Great stuff otherwise.
Not necessarily...I don't consider this to be all that expensive. That will drive 2x24inch t5 lamps at 14 watts each(Note f14t5 signifying watts and t5 type and the 2 lamps of that type). Bulbs and everything two t5's will cost you about $25-30 total shipped. Add three of those and package the shipping together you're probably talking about $60. Not bad for lighting that can touch your plants.

You can also get them at ebay for deals every now and then... I picked mine up for $75 including all built and ready 2.. 2 footers with 4 lamps and 1 2 footer with 4 lamps. Then again I have got more than one Electronic HPS ballasts for $30 shipped also :)


-potlike
 
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