Two Cabs, 1 Carbon Filter + Fan?

[b8man]

Hey Everyone - light one up and ponder this...


So I'm designing a new room, which consists of one veg cab and two flowering cabs. I'm wondering if it's possible/advisable to pull the air through both flowering cabs using a single 5" inline fan and a single, dual layer carbon filter? Ok, it's easier to show you, so this is the kind of thing I mean:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=784183&ppuser=23355

http://www.icmag.com/ic/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=784184&ppuser=23355

http://www.icmag.com/ic/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=784188&ppuser=23355


I figured with this kind of setup, converting some office drawers into two panel filters might be the most flexible option. Then I can adjust the amount of carbon depending on how the strain is and I can adjust the fan speed with a speed controller to get it running optimally.

What do you guys think? Would this work?


B8

 

[b8man]

Dang.... photos don't appear in the thread anymore?

 

[good drown]

im not sure your setup but you can use 1 fan to do lots of cabs depending on the equipment. i would say a huge fan like a vortex 8 or bigger and use splitters.
i would say get a big filter also, a can 100 or something that can handle the cfms being pushed through rather than sucked

 

[b8man]

Really? An 8" vortex to cope with 2 x 250W HPS? These are pretty small cabinets - don't have measurements handy, but that might make things too noisy and bulky to work in my situation.

You think 5" wouldn't be enough?


http://www.icmag.com/ic/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=784185&ppuser=23355

 

[b8man]

Bump?

 

[good drown]

get a 6 and a speed controller. the filter is going to knock away some cfms. so if the 6 is 400, it is most likely 350 or less with the filter on it.
its better going bigger and having a speed controller to quite it down then getting a small one running at 100% and having heat issues.

 

[good drown]

i recommend 2 speed controllers. 1 dial kind, then a temp controlled one. that way you set the dial to your full speed, lets say 70%. then the temp one will knock it down to a lower setting of your choice, once the temps drop below the temp you set.
that way, when lights go off, you can have you fan go down from 70% to 30% automatic, every day.

 

[hoosierdaddy]

b8man, I am so digging your concept.

OK, start with the filter....great move. There is an outfit that you can probably find thick carbon filters that will fit perfectly.
http://www.filters-now.com/products/ffo4.html#products
I recommend the 4" models, but have never used any of them.

I would highly recommend more fan. You are going to have noise with that setup, and it may as well be sufficient for the task. A 5" would be plenty for a single cab, but pulling for two through a Y is asking too much of it.
Use 6" ducting from the cabs to your Y, and put an 8" fan with a speed control.
Make certain that you have around twice the intake as you have exhaust for each cab. (One 6" out= two 6" in)
Also, don't choke down the flow too much at the Y...us a 6"x6"x8" Y.

The beauty of your concept is the versatility. You can change fans without it requiring ductwork changes. You also have the ability to increase filter with little out of pocket.
If you build this, do it right and stealth it out real well.

Nice work.

 

[b8man]

Excellent stuff - Thanks Good Drown and Hoosierdaddy!

I'll try and get things built in the next week and will post pics.


B8

 

[good drown]

no no no, 2 6" holes is not bigger than a 8". i think it may take 3 or maybe 4 6" holes too equal a 8". a 10" hole or bigger is perfect.
thats why its key to use a bigger size ducting. 2" extra means double the airflow!

 

[hoosierdaddy]

no no no, 2 6" holes is not bigger than a 8". i think it may take 3 or maybe 4 6" holes too equal a 8". a 10" hole or bigger is perfect.
thats why its key to use a bigger size ducting. 2" extra means double the airflow!

If we get the concept down to a place where we aren't speculating, we often find we don't have to use the terms "I think" and "maybe". Hard for people to buy a "no no no" unless their is some confirming info to go along with it. Not maybe's.....

An 8" hole provides 50.26 square inches of open area.
A 6" hole provides 28.27 square inches of open area.
No maybe's about the above.
radius x radius x Pi (3.141)= area of circle.

So, yes yes yes, two 6" holes does indeed equal a bit more than one 8" hole.
And we will never find anything other than a 6x6x8 Y. No 6x6x10's available unless you make it...but there is no need.

 

[good drown]

im sorry teacher, ill speak better in the future...maybe

 

[good drown]

i think 1 hole is easier to cut and filter.
make sure you put a filter on the intake. i used a 12x20" a/c intake. i threw a 1700 micron air filter in it and bam, huge intake, and no pressure issues inside the room.
i think if i had a 10" fan, there would be way to much pressure in my room, there is alot when the 8" vortex is up high. i also put a filter on my air cooled lights, its a must have

hoosier, im surprised you didnt quote me and edit all of my mistakes in red marker. did i get a frowny face sticker??

 

[hoosierdaddy]

I simply corrected mistaken information that you provided. Nothing more, nothing less.
It was presented with a bit of condescending from you to begin with, and now I see you continue that theme. Best to not be giving information out until you yourself have at least a partial grasp of the topic.

 

[good drown]

im not sure how i was being condescending at all. i like to joke around if anything, and lots of members on here are too uptight, especially for what this is.
i was also talking about ducting sizes. most people cant run 2 6"s instead of just 1 8. much less space being used for almost double the airflow. i would have said double, but you taught me this is wrong.