Tent Cooling Options

Hey peeps.

I'd like some input into how best to spend my hard earned moneys.

I need to keep temperatures under control in my grow tent. Its an 80x80x160cm tent, with a 400w hps and a 4" extract fan and filter combination. Temperatures are currently humming just under 30c with lights on, but this is with a jury rigged input fan and leaving the tent door slightly ajar most of the time. Not ideal, even worse when they start to stank, gonna be even more difficult come summer.

So, what I've been thinking is that I have three good options to cool my tent.

1) COOL TUBE/AIR COOLED REFLECTOR

The cheapest option, at between £20-£40 for a budget reflector, although I know they're not hugely popular, loss of lumens bla bla. I could get the light closer going air cooled, and I also have the option to upgrade to a higher wattage hps. It will also last pretty much forever.

2) LED LIGHTING

Now, I know next to nothing about LED, except that I've switched all my bulbs at home to LEDs to save money! Its hard to find unbiased led/hps comparisons I find. However, I could possibly pick up a MarsHydro 300 for maybe £60, or a second hand higher wattage model, but will that be worth it? How do they grow/yield comparitively? I've heard that I may have the other extreme of temperature problems, and it being cold in there. I have an oil heater handy if need be though.

3) UPGRADED EXTRACTION

I was thinking a 6" or maybe even 8" fan, with a speed controller to turn it down. I would also have to buy a new carbon filter to match the cfm rating of the fan, so this could push it to the highest cost of these three options. I have obvious negative pressure in the tent with the door closed and two intake vents closed, but its far too hot. Would a bigger extract rectify without sounding like a jet engine?

Long story short, if you were in my shoes how would you sort this temp issue? Air cool? Upgrade extraction? Go to LED?

Thanks guys and girls. Much love.

Sick.

A watt of hps is equal to a watt of LED as far as heat is concerned. The savings is the equivalent part. My 1000 watt LEDs draw 730 watts at the wall. They kick out a lot more heat than a 600 hps.

This is probably the cheapest option to purchase and run. Hook it to a fan and set your temps. It should work as long as the outdoor temps are low

Big smo said:

View attachment 3647573 This is probably the cheapest option to purchase and run. Hook it to a fan and set your temps. It should work as long as the outdoor temps are low

Click to expand...

That's cool man, definitely worth an investment to further automate the tent. However, day time temps are currently a bit too high for efficient flowering (high 29c's, room that tent is in around 25c, venting out window) so I'd ideally have to get the controller along with a larger fan, and that would mean a larger carbon filter too. Costs soon mount up.

With regards to led, I was under the impression that a 300w led unit would emit less heat at the canopy than 300w of hps? Growers are saying they need to invest in an oil heater, or they're overwatering due to the plant not taking up as much water and water not evaporating as fast, I assumed this would be (albeit, anecdotal) due to lower heat? Hmm.

I think the cheapest option, being an air cooled reflector, may be the right option for right now, possibly with upgraded fan and filter in a month (next payday).

Also considering either venting into the loft, and drawing cold air in from outside OR venting out the window still, and drawing cool air from the hallway through a door louvre. Both of this would piss off my girlfriend no end, cutting holes in doors and ceilings, so I could probably wave bye to my balls! Would be cheap though!!

Any input, greatly appreciated.

Cheeeeeeers, Sick

Depending on the LED brand actual watts are always lower than stated watts. The eBay Mars hydro 600 watt panels only draw 280+- watts. That's the savings 320 less watts to cool than a 600 watt Hps. Air cooled reflectors are great but they still give off a lot of heat too. The light itself is heat, the housing, ballast all add up. One thing I do on my grow is set my off time to start at 11am and come back on at 5pm avoiding the warmest times of the day while having my lights on.


I was home today building a new grow room so I could monitor my Ac a little more. It ran almost non stop. It's a medium sized window unit in a smaller grow room 6x12.


Nothing is perfect just have to maximize with minimal energy. Good luck to you

Big smo said:

Depending on the LED brand actual watts are always lower than stated watts. The eBay Mars hydro 600 watt panels only draw 280+- watts. That's the savings 320 less watts to cool than a 600 watt Hps. Air cooled reflectors are great but they still give off a lot of heat too. The light itself is heat, the housing, ballast all add up. One thing I do on my grow is set my off time to start at 11am and come back on at 5pm avoiding the warmest times of the day while having my lights on.


I was home today building a new grow room so I could monitor my Ac a little more. It ran almost non stop. It's a medium sized window unit in a smaller grow room 6x12.


Nothing is perfect just have to maximize with minimal energy. Good luck to you

Click to expand...

Thankyou. You too man.

Peace