Encased reflector DIY, foil, and heat issue

[mediocre45]

I have a batwing reflector and used a DIY from the DIY collection sticky (can't seem to find it now). For the ends of the reflector the DIY used Al metal, but I just used cardboard coated with scrunched-up foil (dull side).

My box is pretty hot with the MH conversion bulb in now, how much of the heat issue is due to the foil?

Thanks

med

 

[NiteTiger]

You didn't mention how you were exhausting your enclosed hood. If you're not exhausting the heat out of the hood, it's no different from having a standard batwing reflector.

The foil is not causing the heat issue. Although, you really need to do it right in this area, and not scrimp. I cringe to think of cardboard inches from my extremely hot lamp.

You can get metal sheets at Home Depot that can easily be cut to shape for about $5. Swing by the paint aisle on your way out, and grab a .99 cent can of white spray paint. Use your cardboard cutouts as a template, cut the metal to shape, then spray paint it white on the interior side.

 

[mediocre45]

sorry, slipped my mind. On one end I have an opening leading to a scrubber, being bulled out the other end by a stanley blower. The cardboard is completely encased by foil, so I'm not really worried about a fire. Would panda plastic be a better choice than the foil and why?

Thanks for the help

Med

 

[organick]

SHEET MEATAL AND A 10 $ PAIR OF TIN SNIPS. #8 bolts, washers, and lock nuts.
Cardboard has no place in even a CFL grow in my opinion. But a lot of my friends are employed in the aerospace industry, tight standards as far as fire goes.
Painted my ultraflect-covered grow room with flat white paint. Around a 6-8 decrease in temp.
Flat white engine enamel? after the cardboard is replaced.
Peace out and learn how not to burn. (reminds me to get that third fire-extinguisher Ive had my eye on)

 

[NiteTiger]

Good deal, sounds like you've got exhaust under control.

So, next place to look will be at the intake. What do you have for intake, what is the ambient temperature of the incoming air, and where are you exhausting to?

And no, panda poly would be a horrible choice, worse than the cardboard. And the cardboard NEEDS TO GO. If your fan craps out, it WILL get hot enough to ignite the cardboard, and next thing you know you've got the Fire Dept standing in your grow.

Why in the world would you take that risk when you can do it safely for ~$6? That's silly bro.

 

[mediocre45]

Valid point about the fan crapping out. I will get some sheet metal tonight. I have 5 1.25" passive intakes. Ambient air coming in is about 65 degrees, will be hotter in a few months (not as worried though cuz I'll be using the HPS and only at night then). My only exhausting option is right out the top of the box, which is in a large walk in closet.

Organick, did you paint your entire reflector white? I think I know what paint works best but it's on the top of my tongue...I'll do a search but I think the tubes with titanium oxide, probably the engine stuff you are talking about.

 

[organick]

Only painted walls of grow-room white, an example of "opaquing" the heat reflected by the bulb, thereby decreasing the amount of heat in the grow-room.

My reflector was purchased (large expenditures of cash for fire safety over-kill, also after DIY-ing my grow-room I had no time or patience for DIY-ing my reflector hood, my apologies to the DIY-deities). The outside body is baked enamel white, inside diffuser/reflector is modeled metal. Tempered glass covers the bulb area, 6' inflow and out-flow.

Updated original thread: 600w too hot?
Thanks for getting the sheet metal, that stuff worries me. Fires are not good for any body's public image, health issues arise as well.

 

[mediocre45]

Maybe you misunderstood or just didn't read my first thread all the way through. My grow cab is completely surrounded by panda plastic, the light had foil. I have the sheet metal all cut and everything, and I am painting those two pieces with regular flat white paint, will post a few pics when finished.

Thanks guys,

Med

 

[NiteTiger]

That's what we're here for bro, get a grow log going, and grow some killer weed

 

[mediocre45]

Yeah, ? about that...I want to start a journal, but include my entire grow cab build, do you think I should include it here or in another forum?

 

[mediocre45]

Great news...I used the flat white sheet metal, and slightly reduced the reflector volume I was exchanging, and increased the angles slightly, and temps are down. Now, with the blower on low AND the doors all the way shut, its staying at a solid 78 with the MH conversion bulb. Thanks!!!

 

[NiteTiger]

A pleasure bro.

I normally put my build out thread in Growroom Design and Equipment, then put the Grow Log in the appropriate sub-forum in the Grower's Forum.