darkroom louvers/vents - do they glow?

[trademanny]

Hello,

long time lurker, even back in the OG days, first time poster.

I've done lots of searching but can't seem to get a definitive answer.. Do darkroom vents glow when used with HID lights or do they completely block the light?

Why don't more people use them? I see so many pics of cabinets where people rely on labyrinths of PVC pipe for air inlets/light traps. It seems like darkroom vents would be so much easier -- if they work as I hope they do.

Anyone? Bueller?

 

[Guest]

I have a darkroom vent that I was using in my cabinet. No light leaks at all. I just sealedit with some weatherstripping but it probably wasnt needed.

guerilla

 

[jcsmooth]

Hi! Welcome to the boards (though you probably need no introduction).

I'm happy to report that there is no glow, no leaks, no nothing.
Darkroom vents are definitely the way to go if you can incorporate them. A lot of people don't use them because they cost more money than pvc pipe "light traps". The vents look cleaner and work better, helping you to ensure that no light leaks in or out that would compromise your security and crop.

Two thumbs up in my experience.
This link is what I purchased just over a year ago:
http://www.adorama.com/DKL82.html?sid=11700794674128228

Good luck,
JC

 

[fallenangel]

i have them in both of my rooms .. they rock !!! no leaks at all .

 

[stretchpuppy]

If you take them apart to clean them (they really do get gunky in a year) and don't put them back in the correct order they will leak light.

I had to use an extra spare louver to see how exactally it was assembled.

 

[swx2]

I know of people who use them and I plan on using them on my next cab I'm going to build soon. I think they are great if you have $25 for one because they designed to do exactly what we want. I'm going to use 1 or 2 of them in a 4x2x6 ft cab with 450 cfm outtake.

 

[mrgrowmez]

hey,
ive checked that link and they come in sets of two...do you mount them parallel to each other one on either side of the wall? or do you only need one per hole.
cheers

 

[sugabear_II]

I made the mistake of gettting the three pack of round 4" ones for my cabinet and well they don't seem to leak light coming in, which is key to avoid hermies - they do leak a bit of light when the lamp is shining bright.

The square ones work much better from what I've seen.

People don't always use them because you generally must order these online - pvc pipe is available anywhere - that and the cost as someone else mentioned.

mrgrowmez - you mount them so you have the air flowing across your plants - i.e. if the exhaust is on the top left you mount the intakes on the bottom right. I think most people who use the 2 pack of square ones will mount one on each side of the cabinet, but I have seen them both mounted side by side on the back or one on top of the other on one side. Really depends on your cab styles and setup. Smaller grows (150-250 watts) only really need one of those - however a 400 would need two

 

[swx2]

@mrgrowmez: No you just need one of them, but if you need more airflow then you might need more than one. I don't think that I need two, but I might do it for good measure. You could probably find out how many cfm can pass through them somewhere.

 

[PHB]

@mrgrowmez: No you just need one of them, but if you need more airflow then you might need more than one. I don't think that I need two, but I might do it for good measure. You could probably find out how many cfm can pass through them somewhere.

This might help...

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showpost.php?p=702930&postcount=370

PHB

 

[mrgrowmez]

cheers guys..

 

[fallenangel]

as i said before ,, i love mine and they dont leak light ,,,, BUT they do leak stink!!! i have to keep my exhaust fan running 24/7 and there is no problem .. and that is in veg also. i have some stinky plants

 

[mysta177]

Oh yea they are deff worth the $