Light cooling/ventalation question for new build?

[JamesFarmer]

Hey Everyone,

I am about to pick up my tool belt and dive into my new grow space build. I have a few details yet to work out. One of those is plumbing the air to cool my lamp hoods.

I have a number of 6" hoods that I will be reusing in the new space and would like to avoid long runs of 6" duct.

I intend to use outside air for lamp cooling so I will need an outside intake and an outside exhaust.

It occurred to me that I could "box in" ceiling joists and create 5 1/2" x 14 1/2" plenums for intake and exhaust. Two 33" wide x 10' long pieces of plywood screwed & caulked to the top & bottom of the joists. That would yield 2 plenum spaces that could be vented outside and tapped inside using 6" flanges adjacent the lights.

Does anyone see any issue with this idea?

Thanks

 

[Chunkypigs]

only issue I see is that you will have some build up of dust etc on the wood surface of the plenum.
perhaps condensation/mold as well. could line with plastic film of just go for it.

 

[Mate Dave]

Sounds like a plan, but you want to have them far enough apart, ideally at either end of the space.

Are you planning on a filter at the end of the lighting ducting?

Is the fan going to suck or blow the air through the lights, what are your thoughts?

You could stop the dust/pests issue with an old filter.

 

[JamesFarmer]

Sounds like a plan, but you want to have them far enough apart, ideally at either end of the space.

Are you planning on a filter at the end of the lighting ducting?

Is the fan going to suck or blow the air through the lights, what are your thoughts?

You could stop the dust/pests issue with an old filter.

My plan is to have vents at either side of the space. Intake on the East side and exhaust on the West side.

I was looking at exterior vent covers and considering placing Scotchbright pads under the vent cover on the intake side to filter any larger objects out.

I am thinking that the plenum spaces will be passive. I will place a fan on the intake side of the lights in each flower space and have it blowing through the lights then out the exhaust side.

Outside|vent/filter|Intake Plenum|tap|fan|Lights|tap|Exhaust Plenum|Outside.



I hope that makes sense.

 

[Jhhnn]

My plan is to have vents at either side of the space. Intake on the East side and exhaust on the West side.

I was looking at exterior vent covers and considering placing Scotchbright pads under the vent cover on the intake side to filter any larger objects out.

I am thinking that the plenum spaces will be passive. I will place a fan on the intake side of the lights in each flower space and have it blowing through the lights then out the exhaust side.

Outside|vent/filter|Intake Plenum|tap|fan|Lights|tap|Exhaust Plenum|Outside.



I hope that makes sense.

Makes sense to me. You want positive pressure through the lights for odor control. I'd put backdraft dampers on both ends for thermal stability during lights out- backwards on the intake, but it'll still help. If it gets very cold where you live, you may want to insulate the plenums. Painting them black on the inside aids in light control, and you may want staggered baffles on the exhaust side. to help with that.

1/4" hardware cloth on both ends will keep out the leaves & small critters.

You'll waste a lot of heat you might otherwise use, but such is the price of Glory, right?

 

[JamesFarmer]

Makes sense to me. You want positive pressure through the lights for odor control. I'd put backdraft dampers on both ends for thermal stability during lights out- backwards on the intake, but it'll still help. If it gets very cold where you live, you may want to insulate the plenums. Painting them black on the inside aids in light control, and you may want staggered baffles on the exhaust side. to help with that.

1/4" hardware cloth on both ends will keep out the leaves & small critters.

You'll waste a lot of heat you might otherwise use, but such is the price of Glory, right?

Good tips! Thank you.

The climate in my new location is somewhat moderate. Below freezing weather is minimal during the winter. If reach the point that I need to add heat to the space I can implement dampers to recirculate the warm air inside instead of using outside air.

Thanks again.

FJ