New stealth cab , need help with heat :{

Jonn Smith · Apr 26, 2011

Hello everyone, I'm new to growing and this is my first attempt at makeing a stealth cab.The dimensions of the grow area are 52"x20"x28" which is the bottom portion of the cab. It has a compartment on the top that is 16"x28"x20" .

I have a 600w that i have made a cooltube out of a lantern chimney to cover the light, which seems to be doing its job.(Meaning basically i can put my hand on the glass and it just feels only slightly warm.) I have a 4" inline fan 170 CFM with carbon scrubber combo. (most of my stuff is from HTG since there is a local chain here...) The fan has been installed in the upper cabinet pulling air out of the cabinet via the cooltube and then pushing the air through some small 4" duct into the scrubber. The scrubber is also located in the upper compartment. Inside the bottom i have a row of 3 sockets probably about 18" from the bottom on each side wall and about 16" above that is a row of 4 sockets on each side for CFLs.( These have all yet to be used by the way -.- ) These are intended for boosting the light in there and for new plants starting from seed so i wouldnt have to run the 600w for the first few weeks of growth. Behind each row i have drilled holes and put a computer fan blowing in fresh air and i have 2 double computer fans( kinda just basically 2 side by side fans in one plug.) in the middle intended to blow on the 600w. they all seem to be pushing quite a bit of air.

Ok so my only problem seems to be that the lowest i have managed to get the temp is 95!

I cant quite figure it out. I drilled a few holes in the top of the cab for new air coming from the scrubber to escape. I have the ballast mounted on the top outside of the box also. I'm sure its probably something simple i have overlooked since this is my first build but um... if anyone knows what it sounds like im doing wrong i'd really love to know... I will try to post pics if i figure out how...

Jonn Smith · Apr 26, 2011

here are some pictures..
1.cab
2.cab
3.CFL sockets
4. Exhaust pre-duct
5. few pc fans and right side sockets.
6.dual pc fan
7.light with cool tube just turned off
8.bottom row of lights on with 600w
9. switch bow
10.open cab with lights on
11. DIY cooltube

malicifice · Apr 26, 2011

I'm running about the same dimensions. But with a 250 watt mh. Damn right its hot in there I have the same issue. What are you using to seal your corners for escaping light?

Jonn Smith · Apr 26, 2011

malicifice said:
I'm running about the same dimensions. But with a 250 watt mh. Damn right its hot in there I have the same issue. What are you using to seal your corners for escaping light?

As i was putting the cabinet together i lined all the edges that were going to meet with wheather stripping. Thats mainly for air/smell. I have mylar also...

Jonn Smith · Apr 26, 2011

Hmmm. No replies yet? My girls are dieing

Need one of those DIY pros in here... I still cant get temps under the mid 90's

rocknratm · Apr 26, 2011

Jonn Smith said:
Hmmm. No replies yet? My girls are dieing Need one of those DIY pros in here... I still cant get temps under the mid 90's

To be honest, 1 you need a bigger exaust fan that moves more cfm. 2. you need a hood with glass under it to pull more of the heat directly out from the bulb, a wing reflector (which is what I think you have) will not work well in this setup. If not, you need a fan blowing from directly under the bulb on the side (angled nearly right at or under the bulb) blowing into the exaust opening to try and make the airflow go directly out. And I cant tell what you have for intake, but the bigger intake fan near the bottom the better. Heat is a big problem, I have a 400watthps anda 175 hps and the entire room as a grow space and it feels like about 75-80 in there.
Back to your origional question, you need MORE AIR FLOW from the bottom to the top and a rotating fan inside pointed at the bulb. Or just experiment but they will not survive in 90 degrees

Jonn Smith · Apr 27, 2011

Hmmm shouldnt a 4" inline fan be enough exhaust for this size box, i'm not positive but i believe 170 CFM should be more then enough for the space. i went to the store and got a 4" fan ( http://www.air-n-water.com/product/hv-4-red.htm ) and it is currently pointing at the light bulb's rear. It doesnt seem to be helping much... I'm not sure but my current hypothesis is that i dont have enough exhaust for the exhaust if you know what i mean. I think i will try to buy another 4" fan and drill out a hole in where my exhaust/carbon scrubber is and point it out the top middle.. Anyone think this might help?

Jonn Smith · Apr 27, 2011

um... guys i still need help, anyone out there?

colem8 · Apr 27, 2011

Hey. Just took a look at your pics. Computer fans are not recommended, they don't pump enough air into the grow space no mater what size. You are better off cutting a hole approx 300mm diameter minimum in the bottom/lower half of the grow space and get a house hold fan taped to the outside to circulate fresh air as well as pumping in new air, and get a small version centrifugal fan with a carbon filter fixed to the underside of the grow space ceiling with the duct reticulating out through the ceiling or side (i.e. extract). Not sure what you have previously done but I can guarantee this is how you should be setting up your grow room or grow closet. Cheers.

Jonn Smith · Apr 27, 2011

colem8 said:
Hey. Just took a look at your pics. Computer fans are not recommended, they don't pump enough air into the grow space no mater what size. You are better off cutting a hole approx 300mm diameter minimum in the bottom/lower half of the grow space and get a house hold fan taped to the outside to circulate fresh air as well as pumping in new air, and get a small version centrifugal fan with a carbon filter fixed to the underside of the grow space ceiling with the duct reticulating out through the ceiling or side (i.e. extract). Not sure what you have previously done but I can guarantee this is how you should be setting up your grow room or grow closet. Cheers.

well, thank you for the input. I was just running over things and started to notice they weren't very strong. You think if i replaced my computer fans all with these at this link http://www.air-n-water.com/product/hv-4-red.htm it would work? I have 6 holes for computer fans already...

colem8 · Apr 27, 2011

It would definitely help as they seem to be a lot more powerful than the average computer fan. However, you will still have the problem being the in-take air being pumped in the top of the grow room. In take should preferably be pumped at the bottom of the grow room with extract at the top. Heat rises, therefore all the smells and hot air will need to be extracted, the most efficient way of doing this is as I said "extract top, in-take lower half of growroom". Hope this has helped. Air circulation is just as important as nutrients and watering, in some instances more important, without it plants suffocate and temps rise causing dehydration, leaf/plant burns and insect/disease problems. Cheers ps. Also forgot to mention, too much heat will also cause growth stunting and will force your plants to become males, which we dont often want. I personally would forget about the glass that 'rocknatm' mentioned as this will not solve any of the problems and will only cost you $$. Get the air circulation right as I've mentioned and you will have a successful grow op. Cheers

Jonn Smith · Apr 28, 2011

So last night i was messing around with stuff and ended up takeing the 2 middle fans i have on the back of the cab for intake off. Just from takeing those off i was able to get the temp to stay at 89 with the doors closed and a box fan sitting behind the cab to blow air through the little computer fan holes...

It appears i definitely need more intake, but does this mean i need a bigger exhaust fan as well, and if i get a bigger exhaust fan would i need to get a bigger carbon scrubber ?!??

( currenly have a in-line 4" 170 cfm fan with a carbon scrubber from HTG http://www.htgsupply.com/Product-GrowBright-4in-Inline-Fan-&-Carbon-Filter-Combo.asp )

theoldmerchant · Apr 28, 2011

I would use the inline as your exhaust since that is your most powerful fan, it's going to take alot more to pull air out of that box than it is to push it in. I'd line the bottom with the PC fans pushing cold air from the floor into the box, and use the inline at the top pushing all the heat rising to the top of the box out. How many computer fans do you have? What CFM are they? Does the air circulate before it leaves the box or is it going straight from your intake to your exhaust?

Jonn Smith · Apr 28, 2011

the inline fan is the exhaust. It is attached to a DIY cooltube and works wonderfully. I'm not sure on the CFM of the computer fans but im pretty positive that they are part of the problem and will be considered wasted money...

Jonn Smith · Apr 28, 2011

Any second opinions on the exhaust, its a pretty decent amount of $$ between the 4" and the 6" inline fans

colem8 · Apr 29, 2011

There is nothing wrong with the size of your extract/exhaust. Its the way you have your grow room set up. I mentioned how you should be setting it up with the exhaust at the top of your grow room and normal household fans pumping fresh air in the lower half/bottom. If you dont have this set up then these things will continue to happen, heat will stay high or continue to rise causing poor stunted growth, burnt leaves etc and overall a shit grow if it grows at all. Just remember heat rises buddy, simple really

stelthy · Apr 29, 2011

1570792d1303846641-new-stealth-cab-need-help-stuff-40-.jpg

Hi....You still need help?? ..... I have a few suggestions on how to gain control over your temps

POSSIBLE IDEAS:

* Connect the Carbon filter straight on the top of the In-Line Fan (getting rid of bends + kinks etc in the ducting - will speed up exhaust

* Make sure the top section has decent ventilation for the exhaust to exscape out of

* You could run a seperate In-Line fan as well.. One purely for the lamp one purely for smell etc..

* You could change your small DIY Cool-tube for a 6 or 8" badboy one which will allow more cool air to pass over the bulb

* You could fit a perspex screen under the cooltube to separate the heat from the grow..The cooltube will remove the main heat from the bulb..and by fitting a
perspex screen will allow the top section to be further air-cooled

* You could run a 400 instead of a 600 but use an air-cooled reflector to gain superb light coverage and peneteration

* You could do a Vertical Light Setup

* Try n EXHAUST to a seperate room, and INTAKE from a vent/chimney etc to bring in outside cool air

Also make sure both your IN and OUT-TAKES are filtered, I may have a few more ideas I'll add some more shortly

- STELTHY

Ps/ Here's a LINK to my thread:

https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/320402-stelthys-600w-hps-project-new.html

I too had heat problems but worked them out in the end...parts of my thread could defo help you

- STELTHY

colem8 · May 1, 2011

This guy has the idea

TheDude0007 · May 1, 2011

What is your ambient temp???

That is a a very important bit of info. I would say you need another bigger extracter fan for the cab. Your cooltube is cool but it is still causing your temps to be to high, so get another extracter for the cab and more fans in there. The problem I think is the size of your light, 600w makes alot of heat.

Get a portable aircon hooked up to the thing :-)

New stealth cab , need help with heat :{

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