Heat

[Stanky420]

Hey all,

Ive got my growroom set up and am having a heat issue... It's not out of hand but im getting temps in there between 82-84 degrees F with the HPS running..... So its running a little hot

Here is how the room is set up......

I have a 8x8 darkroom louver at the base of the door for a passive intake....




I have a wall mounted air circulation fan and a oceliation fan on the floor pointed at the light and hood. As well as a carbon scrubber.... I believe that all these help move the air around the room...

I also have a stanley blower mod to remove air from the grow room...

As you can see the ballast is already remove from grow area..





I want to get temp's between 75 to 77deg f....

Ive done alot of reading about using portable AC. But thoes units are way out of my budget....

Ive read about air coolers, some good things others bad. Someone stated they dont cool the air enough and are a waste of time and money..

There is a window in the room..At the moment its completly sealed off....
Its a 20x20 crank window... Opens at the bottom of window via a crank...

I havent found a window A/C unit to fit that size window...

so i seem to be out of options....

So this leave me at the mecry of others...HELP

What are some other option to cool the room to proper temp?

Has anyone had success with Air Coolers?

Whats the cheapest portiable a/c unit avail?

With an A/C unit id have to use a humidifier? Right...

So everyone pass on your great knowledge and wisdom to help a frustrated newbie out!!!!


THANKS VERY MUCH,

Stanky

Link to my grow thread!!
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=56762

 

[spensaur]

Try a heatshield between your lights and your plants, as can be seen in the Microgrow forum via Red_Greenery's Rubbermaid thread. It is a good idea to have seperate chambers with their own intake/outtake system. I think this will help.

 

[spensaur]

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=31605 There is the link to the thread.

 

[-VT-]

Portable AC's suck....
I sealed my last room (no Co2)....and got a 12K BTU window AC for half the price of my 9K BTU portable...then extracted the window AC exhaust out the window....
MY AC and dehumidifiers both ran more efficiently (fewer Kwh)...I was spinning my wheels when I extracted and exhanged the growroom air (more Kwh)
Smell is better contained in a sealed room too

 

[Stanky420]

Hey thanks guys for your info....

spensaur....thanks for the link....its was very informative!!!!

VT....So portiable A/C units are a no go huh....Well thats good to know....I didnt want to shell out 400 bucks for one....

My window is 20"x20" and i think that this ac unit would work....with a little fine tuning to make it light proof...

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4456962

So if i run an A/C window unit ill need to run a humidifyer?

 

[Guest]

You need fresh air(more than you are currently getting) coming into the grow low to get your temps down. If you don't have fresher, cooler air coming in all the time....you will never get the temps down. All you are doing is recirculating a lot of the same warm air. Your oscillating fan is just blowing around the same old hot air.

The physics of it is: your grow is a heat generator. And you need to be able to get rid of the heat constantly. Replacing the air in the grow is the only practical way to do that. Your plants should have plenty of new fresh air for many reasons... keeps humidity down which helps prevent mold, brings in new O2 and CO2.

Where is the air coming in passively through those louvers....where is that air coming from? What is it's temp? Air along my floor is markedly cooler(66floor/72 3feet up) than air 3 feet off my floor. That is due to lucky room dynamics and my carbon exhaust fan is up high. The 6 inch duct you see in my picture is blowing air in at 250cfm...cool air that is being drawn off the floor of the room my grow is built in. The balance is drawn in passively. I can get temps in the high 60's all day this time of year if i want. I try for mid 70's. Later I hope it is still cool enough to get temps at night down to mid 60's. I can get temps now at night to low 60's since grow is on an unheated wall.

You need your fresher/cooler air coming in low and be exhausting your warm, scrubbed air high. How exactly you do that is your challenge, but IMO that's what you need to do.

Good luck with it
Obly

Forced fresh air and passive air enter floor level behind plants. Expand pic to full frame

Day 14 Flower

 

[Stanky420]

Hey Oblidio49,


Thanks for stopping in and leaving me so info.....

The louver is placed at the base of the entry door...

Outside growroom --temps are 68deg F


Inside growroom - 84deg f



I also have the hotair being removed by a stanley blower, which is set up in the attic above...Blower is rated at 265cfm....

Wall mounted fan is blowing over canopy and ocelating fan is blowing up at the light and hood...








Am i not removing enough air? There is a good flow of air coming from the louver and the blower pulls like a bastard

What about attaching a fan for the louver?

This is why im so stumped......

Let me know what you think

Stanky

 

[MTF-Sandman]

This may be a stupid question, but is the fan on "high"?

You might wanna consider using a little larger ducting as well, so it doesn't restrict the airflow as much....and get rid of those kinks in the ducting!

 

[Guest]

I would follow the advice about removing kinks from ducting. That does restrict air flow. I think the problem is the door louver vent. It may not be letting enough air through. That Stanley blower should be pulling a shitload of air through that room.

If you can, remove the louver completely during a light ON cycle. See if it is cooler. Also see if you can feel a noticable difference in air going in the hole where louver goes

Gotta go to work. will chk this PM

Obly

 

[Sloppy Seconds]

Need more airflow, can you install more louvers? 2 or three more might do the trick. good luck

 

[niggan8]

Wow... your setup is almost the exact same as mine... Only I enclosed my stanley blower/remote ballast in a wooden airtight box and then added a collar starter... I'm very afraid of catching insulation on fire with my ballast and I didn't want to take any chances... I also have a smoke detector in the box in my attic. I am having similar air flow issues with my stanley blower turned all the way to 3! im thinking a duct booster fan...

 

[Stanky420]

Hey all,

Thanks everyone for stopping in!!!!

MTF- Yes of course the fan is on high!! Im also restricted to 4" ducting because i cant cut any holes in the ceiling..I rent so cant damage property. The hole im using now was already there. I just rewired the box to a socket and ran it in the attic!! But i need to get thoes kinks out the ducting for sure. I didnt even notice that when i was up there. I saw it in the picture.



Oblidio49- The air flow from the blower is awesome, that thing pulls alot of air. But you right about the louver it doesnt allow enough air through. I still have to try taking the louver out and test sir flow without it installed. Ill let you know how it goes!!

Sloppy- Thanks for the tip!! I may try a larger dimention louver....


Niggan-- Thats pretty cool that we have a similar set up! Do you have any pics or a thread? Id love to see it!! I thought about fire safety all day today. Today was the first day I ran my HPS while i wasnt home. It all I thought about. Pretty scary. I tested temp's in the attic next to the ballast and the outtake really helps cool it alot, so fingers crossed..i think ill be ok... the hps runs 18/6 now but in 3 weeks or so it will be 12/12 on at night off during the day

Well I think I have come up with 2 solutions for my problem. Here they are, and let me know what you all think!!

1. I have a 20"x20" window in the growroom that is completely sealed off. Also as I mentioned before its a crank window.

I had a look around and saw the thread for the $96 window AC unit at WallyWorld.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4456962

Product in Inches (L x W x H):

12.0 x 17.28 x 11.15

So its fairly small and i think id be able to remove actual window and build a solid wood frame for unit and light seal it. No harm to foul.

Or

I also looked into a bigger louver. If I go to a 12x12 louver thats 50% larger than the one I have know(8x8)
The louver I found has a fan attached to move air from outside the room in faster

http://www.adorama.com/DKF1212.html

They say the fan is rated at 400cfm but im not a 100% sure.

I like the louver fan idea cause i dont have to stick a ac unit in that window. But i also dont know if it will bring in enough air to cool from a steady 86 to a nice cool 77.

Let me know what you all think!!!

Thanks again,
Stanky

 

[Stanky420]

Oh yeah i forgot this.

The louver/fan wont use electric anywhere near the A/C unit... So lower utility bill.

If i run a A/C unit id have to run a humidifier too right?

 

[niggan8]

I actually started that thread and it is VERY small just be careful about running your light and a/c on different circuits... Ii kept blowing my breaker.

I do have some pics... although not of it in my attic... i hate going up there (i have to shower every time) lol anyway ill pm them to ya

 

[Stanky420]

Hey again,

Niggan-- I realized that you posted that after I posted!!! Haha so thoes props go out to you brother!!!

So what does anyone else think about my issue... Id like to hear your thoughts on the 12x12 louver!!!

Later,
Stanky

 

[EZB581]

Hey Stanky, I feel your growing pain! 1st try removing the louver from the door and see if it helps with the air flow. The hole in the door where the louver is mounted should be plenty big for intake. 2nd I see that hole where the light fixture wasn't as big as you thought. 4 inches right? Look at the black reducers at the fan. They are 4 to 6" right? Take the entire intake section reducer ,flex duct & all) off the blower & turn it around. The 4 " end sticks thru the hole in the ceiling, the 6" side is pointing up. replace the 4" duct with 6 " to the fan. The 4 " at the ceiling will still restrict the airflow but running 6" flex duct will help improve air flow.
In this pict, for example, your 4 to 6 reducer, would go thru the ceiling 6" 90 to the fan.

One question, how big is the intake on the carbon scrubber? 4 " I bet.
Your setup is coming together. You will end up making changes & improvements on your original design . It's inevitable !

 

[Stanky420]

Hey EZB,

Nice to hear from ya again! WOW that is the smartest idea, I cant believe I didnt think of that!!! Thanks brother.

I'm gunna get on that right away. Im testing the temps tonight by removing the louver. I think im going to upgrade the louver to the 12x12 with the fan. Thats a 50% increase in current air flow with a 400cfm fan(so they advertise) Ill besure to give a report if it works or not. But even if it blow's half that Im sure it will help the flow.

Ill post pics of the mod to the stanley as soon as its finished!

Thanks again for the helpful hints!!!

Later all,
Stanky

 

[Guest]

That dark room fan looked interesting to me. I would do it if you can afford the cash for it. That thing will bring in a LOT of fresh air for you. Since you are exhausting air through the attic, the specs saay you can remove a louver and get up to 800 cfm. That sounds a bit high to me. I wonder how much noise it makes?

Forcing air in low through the door louver, especially if the volume coming in is slightly greater than the exhausting system can exhaust it, will force the warmer air upwards to be picked up by your exhaust fan. Temps should go down.

 

[minds_I]

Hello all,

I agree EZB. If yoru temps dont come down then you are restricting you inflow and not getting the cooling you need.

If after you remove the louver and the temps go down...you will know that it is at the louver and you will need to add more.

I my case with my DIY louvers had issues with dust clogging the louver and further restricting the airflow.

I also discovered the screen acroos the exhasut fan was clogged with builtup dust.

Now my temps are back to normal again.

I did however discover that the DIY louvers are restricting a lot of air flow and is reducing my cooling. I can overcome with brute force of the fan but would rather have more adjustability and more efficiency.

minds_I

 

[Stanky420]

It worked!! The temps dropped from 86 to 82!! 4 deg. but they went down. I think the 12x12 louver/fan well for another 5 degree drop. Lets hope for $124 bucks it will.

Oblidio- Good question about the noise of the fan. Im going to contact them and ask how many sones before i purchace. Thanks

Minds- Thanks for stopping in. As you saw from above the louver was restricting lots of air. Thanks for the advice!!!

This process has been so much easier thanks to all of you... Muchos Gracias - I know i spelled it wrong-- HaHa

Speak to you all soon,
Stanky