Last minute help required

[darkshadow]

I just finished setting up my grow tent and am seeking advices on a couple of things.

First of all, here's my setup :

3x3 tent (dr90)
440 cfm inline fan turned down to 220cfm (CAN-FAN HO 6inch)
326 cfm carbon filter (Mountain Air 6inch)
400w Lumatek ballast
Insulated ducting

Alright, here are my questions :

1. My ballast is sitting on a wooden floor, if i put an aluminum plate under, would it protect my floor from burns?

2. Which setup would be optimal to prevent unfiltered air from escaping the tent? See pictures below

Personally, i think the first setup(pic2.png) would be best because there's only 1 way out of the tent so the air can't bypass the filter.
But at the same time, i doubt my filter would last very long if it filtered the whole room 24/7.

 

[Graham Purwatt]

that's one heck of a fan to cool and exhaust a 3' x 3' and a 400 watter. on the ballast, i'd hang it on the wall outside the tent and go with the pic 1, you'll get better results pulling through the filter as opposed to blowing through it. as long as you have a passive intake on the tent it will keep a negative pressure and therefore all the air has to go through the filter.

 

[darkshadow]

that's one heck of a fan to cool and exhaust a 3' x 3' and a 400 watter.

I know, the "funny" thing is, i purchased this fan to dim it down to 50% and reduce the noise.

Unfortunately, the 6inch HO version is twice as loud as the non HO one and a little bit louder than a 10inch fan.

I really got fucked on this one, i should've just paid the extra 50$ and bought a Vortex.

on the ballast, i'd hang it on the wall outside the tent

I can't hang it because i don't own the place.

and go with the pic 1, you'll get better results pulling through the filter as opposed to blowing through it. as long as you have a passive intake on the tent it will keep a negative pressure and therefore all the air has to go through the filter.

Alright, i guess i will duct tape the ducting very tightly to the inline fan and filter to make sure the all the air coming out is filtered.

Thank you for replying.

 

[Friend]

Your ballast won't get hot enough to scorch the wood floor. If it does, you definitely need to replace it before you burn the house down. Every ballast i've seen has little rubber feet on the bottom that raises it a bit off the ground, so there isn't any direct metal-to-floor contact.

 

[darkshadow]

Your ballast won't get hot enough to scorch the wood floor. If it does, you definitely need to replace it before you burn the house down. Every ballast i've seen has little rubber feet on the bottom that raises it a bit off the ground, so there isn't any direct metal-to-floor contact.

Maybe you're right, maybe it won't get hot enough to burn my floor.

I've only tested it for an hour. It got warm but not extremely hot. If it's as hot after 18 hours running i guess i'll be fine.

 

[Graham Purwatt]

i'd at least ziptie the ducting after putting the tape on. as far as renting, it'd just be a few screws to hang the ballast but friend is right, it shouldn't get that hot. if you have insulated ducting you can put a length of it on the exhaust end of the fan and route it somewhere else it'll quiet that fan down. I rent too but a couple of screws and a 6" hole aren't hard to fix when you move

 

[darkshadow]

i'd at least ziptie the ducting after putting the tape on.

Good advice, i'll make sure to ziptie it.

if you have insulated ducting you can put a length of it on the exhaust end of the fan and route it somewhere else it'll quiet that fan down

The noise is not that bad now that i have insulated ducting and a speed controller. it's about as loud as my 5000 BTU AC which is alright.
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[Granger2]

Darkshadow,
#2 is WAY better. Also, that Mtn. Air and fan sped down, running 24-7, should last years, especially if you take the fan/filter outside, and put the fan so it blows back thru the filter for about an hour every 6 months or so. At the same time clean or replace the pre-filter. I just replaced the same Mtn Air filter you've got that had been running 24-7 for nearly 5 years with a 6" Vortex full blast. The filter still works fine, but changed my set up, needed to hang it, so I got a much lighter Phresh. Good luck.

Aluminum [US usage] or Aluminium is one of the best conductors so it won't mitigate the heat much. Use something like foil/foam/foil insulation or some other non flammable material under your balast. -granger

 

[darkshadow]

Darkshadow,
that Mtn. Air and fan sped down should last years, especially if you take the fan/filter outside, and put the fan so it blows back thru the filter for about an hour every 6 months or so. At the same time clean or replace the pre-filter.

I'm aware, I've read somewhere around here that soaking a 'dead' filter in water and drying it bring it back to life.

Aluminum [US usage] or Aluminium is one of the best conductors so it won't mitigate the heat much. Use something like foil/foam/foil insulation or some other non flammable material under your balast. -granger

I'm pretty sure foil is also a conductor.

I'll go ahead and use foam, good thing i have lots of it atm. Thanks

 

[RM - aquagrower]

I wouldn't recomend keeping the ballast on the floor, for fear of spilling water on the damn thing. Old rule is ALWAYS keep electrical above the "high water line".

FYI, cheap toothpaste is effective for filling small screw holes in drywall.

As for your ventilation question, go with pic #2 (filter in tent) as mentioned above. The pre-filter is on the outside so that it can catch dust before it gets to the carbon. If ya blow into the filter, then the pre-filter is just a decoration, not doing anything.

If ya insist on keeping the ballast on the floor, I would set it on a 12"x12" tile. Did that with some old mag ballasts for piece of mind.

Good luck and stay safe!

 

[darkshadow]

I wouldn't recomend keeping the ballast on the floor, for fear of spilling water on the damn thing. Old rule is ALWAYS keep electrical above the "high water line".

My ballast is located behind the tent and next to a wall corner.

There's no way I'm ever going to spill water on it. It's completely out of my reach, i would have to pull on the cord or move my tent to get to it.

If ya insist on keeping the ballast on the floor, I would set it on a 12"x12" tile. Did that with some old mag ballasts for piece of mind.

I've decided to place a thick wooden plank under it, everything is under control now.

Good luck and stay safe!

Thanks

 

[mean mr.mustard]

A 400W doesn't melt a marshmallow

 

[OldSSSCGuy]

A 400 watt will put off about the heat of a hot cup of coffee, put it in a plastic tub or big bucket - on top of a brick - to protect from water splashes. And always should suck through air an air filter, not try it use it for exhaust.

 

[Granger2]

K,
Yes, the foil is a conductor, but it will also relect heat, but the foam in the product I'm talking about [Prodex, 1/4" thick] gives it an R-14.5. This will protect your floor. Other people have suggested good alternatives. Many things will work.

I was trying to assure you that your carbon filter will last years before you need to replace it. Good luck. -granger