Working on a setup, help appreciated...

[Echoes]

As of right now, I'm working inside of a closet that is 1'11"x4'8"x7'11"(h)

For several reasons, I am unable to use the actual room as the grow space so I am planning on purchasing one of those wardrobe closets to fit inside of my closet. The wardrobe I was thinking of can be found here http://www.mileskimball.com/mileski...rage+&+Organization&ProductID=66830&SiteNum=0
Any feedback on this particular design? I'd love a Homebox but it's so pricey. I was thinking of modding this cab to imitate the functionality of one. Might have to line/cover it with something though? Maybe some black/white poly 6mil or something on the inside? I have some mylar but I don't know how smoothly I could get it to lay.


At 35 1/2"(w)x61 1/2"(h)x19 1/2"(d) [4.8 sq ft; 24.63 cubic ft], this wardrobe should fit in my closet. I'm hoping to run a duct from inside the cab, up and through the ceiling (using the smallest possible ducting without compromising airflow) of the closet and into the attic space above (closet is in my bedroom on the second floor.) For my intake, I can't decide if I should use a fan or not. If it stays passive, I'd have to put the ducting coming out of the lower-front of the cab so that it could possibly suck some air in from the gap under my door or leave the closet door cracked a little. I'm hoping to rig up some type of DIY carbon filter and have it sitting up in the attic or in the closet, either way I'll probably want one.

As of right now, I have a 250w HPS bulb but I only have a 400w ballast/reflector kit/bulb. 250w should put this grow at 50w/sq ft. which would be optimum but I don't want to have to purchase a 250w ballast system. I know running a lower watt bulb in a higher watt system isn't very safe/efficient, so I won't be doing that. The 400w puts my light at somewhere like 80w/sq ft. Is this doable or will I need a crap load more ventilation. I was hoping to stay cheap and not have to buy a $100 fan. Maybe a high-end (80+CFM) case fan or two or even a muffin fan. Should I ditch the 400w and use the 250w? I hope to sustain 6 plants max since I realize there's the chance for males so I'd like at least 2-3 females if possible.

Sorry if this is all too sporradic, I just have a lot of information streaming through my mind and I'm trying to keep it all straight. Ideas are welcome.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

It's definitely doable with a 400 in that space, but your are gonna need a decent fan. Have you checked out Dopest's thread on DIY stanley blowers? One of those should be about perfect for cooling that area with a scrubber. Wanna say they run about $40 at WM...

 

[Echoes]

Thanks for the reply, Sandman. Yeah, I read over the Stanley blower mod and I'm thinking I could probably maneuver it in there and vent through it. I'm only worried about the noise (anyone have a quoted dB level for this thing?), the diameter of the duct I should use (6" I'm guessing?) and how many watts/amps this thing uses. Also, how big of a DIY charcoal filter would I have to make to filter this thing properly? Sorry if I sound too noobish. I'm trying to learn as much as I can so that I can get this grow right.

 

[MTF-Sandman]

I saw Dopest's closet in person with it and it is indeed very quiet. If you weren't looking for the noise, you wouldn't find it. I was very impressed with it for how much air it moves as well...

I wanna say his was hooked up to 5" ducting...my rule of thumb for DIY scrubbers is 1lb of TIGHTLY packed carbon for every 10cfm - that is probably overkill, but it definitely works. Check out the Can Filters on ebay for specs....you can use those same specs on a DIY to get equal or at least nearly the same performance.

 

[Echoes]

Thanks a lot for the advice. With this sounding like such a good idea, I think I'll plan on using the Stanley to exhaust my cab and I'll do a little looking around to see exactly how much carbon I'll need.

 

[EZB581]

Echoes, I run 2 Stanley's in my room. One cooling lights the other venting a separate cab. They are quiet while 6 " ducting fits best.

 

[Echoes]

Nice setup. Glad to know they're working well for you. 6", you say? I'll remember that. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[Guest]

is 6 inch that much more quiet then 4 inch ehxaust?

 

[Echoes]

Allllright, I'm starting to think that the Stanley isn't the way to go. The bottom of it says it's total current is 10A which translates to 1200w. I can not afford to run a 1200w fan 24/7 by any means. That would be like an extra $100 a month ($0.1107 kw/h) on top of what I'll already pay for living + the light/ballast. So I'll just have to return the Stanley. This really bums me out because I was really surprised at how quiet and powerful this blower is. If you can afford it, get it. It's worth it. Though you should make sure you know what the load of your circuit breaker is. Another reason I can't use it is because my breaker is only 15A and I'm trying to avoid having to buy another one. The Stanley + my lamp would put it over the 80% load rule, and I don't want to do that.

If I sell my lamp/ballast and get a 250w setup, does anyone think I could get away with using a muffin fan or something in the same space? Or would that still be too much heat? Otherwise I'm going to have to get a much smaller cab of some sort. Enough for at least 4 plants. Anyone have any suggestions or ideas?

 

[MTF-Sandman]

lol...that fan does NOT use 10a...that's probably just the rating of the plugs on the side of the blower.

 

[Berry_Coughin']

yes, you could get away with a very small fan on a 250, I ran a 400 in my closet with no fan in the winter....

 

[hogwild]

the fan probably pulls a little over an amp at most. I was looking into getting one of these but ended up buying a 6 inch elicent, I think when I build my friends small 250 watt box ill use one of the stanleys... show us some construction pics!

 

[Echoes]

@Sandman - Yeah, that passed through my mind a minute ago when I was looking at it. I don't know what I was thinking. I just saw "10A" and I immediately went "damn, I'm going to have to take it back and start over with a new cab." I guess it does make sense, my computer doesn't even use 10A. It says the motor uses .75A so that sounds way more accurate. Thanks for clearing it up. This definitely makes me happy again. Especially since now I don't have to get rid of my wardrobe and 400w setup.

@Berry - Lol, nice. I sort of wish that I'd started this round a little earlier so I wouldn't have to worry about spring/summer making everything so hot. Thanks for the input, though. I might set up a 250w cab at some point for veg alone or something.

@hogwild - Yeah, I recommend the Stanley. It's ridiculous how silent it is. They had one on display at Walmart and it was easily the most powerful thing they had there for the price and size. I'm thinking about posting some pics, actually. I'm just so paranoid about forums and what-not. I guess I could just use a proxy and a few other anon. tools.

Thanks for all the help, everyone. This is what forums are really about. Mature, informative conversation instead of just saying "LOL NOOB UR WRONG AND STUPID."