A Medicinal Refrigerator

Well I'm back at it again. I am going to try building a grow box out of a refrigerator. I tried one many years ago when I did my first couple grows ops. Ran out of time,$ and space, then moved.
I'm starting this for ideas and comments for the build. I'll start a Grow journal or add it into my current journal ([FONT=&quot]https://www.rollitup.org/grow-journal...here-goes.html) [/FONT]when I get it finished. I have a girl that needs adopting.

I found a 150W Security Light that I bought many years ago for a grow light some day. It was in a top cabinet I forgot about. I made a remote ballast with a timer like the dual 150W timer/ballast in my main grow room. I planned on using a Cool Tube with the combo. I figured I have the light, timer, time, plants, dirt and legality so I might as well. I'm doing everything as cheaply as possible and DIY ideas are my bread and butter. I'll try to credit ideas I've picked up in the last few weeks to the right people, but when you smoke and forget it's tough.
I'm planning for
A 150W HPS or maybe a CMH (definately one after some harvest $$)
Remote Ballast/Timer with a comp fan
A Cool Tube with its own air system with a comp fan
A exhaust through a carbon filter (maybe 2 or 3 comp fans)
Soil at first (already have my girl in dirt), then SCROG either with soil or maybe go to DWC or bubble-ponics.
So here we go.
I posted on craigs list for a free fridge or upright freezer. I said I was making a smoker for my grandpa (to smoke fish). I got one from a remodel where the renters had hammered the kitchen. I got it home and started a bleach cleaning. After a couple passes it was ready to work on. I bled the freon (sp?), removed the compressor, wiring etc from the back. I replaced the clamps on the back to use later.
I started removing layers planning to jigsaw my way to combine the freezer/fridge. I got the light, temp control and got the piece of thin aluminum out to discover a foam layer. I got the freezer plastic bottom out to discover the same piece of foam. A smooth inside shell all the way. I thought it would be SO much harder to get this far.
So I'm thinking a exhaust fan with carbon filter where the compressor was in the bottom of the back. I'm thinking a 3 1/2 PVC from the top of freezer to pull hot air from the top down and behind the "fridge"
I have to cut the shelves off the doors, but I want the seal to stay good. Any Ideas? I was thinking the shears I use for ventilation tin.
Anyone that has tried this before I'd love some pointers. I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone with this set up. I'm worried about temps, but I'm thinking the Cool Tube with a remote ballast should make this possible. Here's a bunch of pics.
Daniels

This looks like it has a lot of potential man. I plan on making something similar with one of those horizontal freezers soon, so I'm gonna subscribe. Good luck!

alright this may b a dumb question but hey im newb i can do that....ha
but were those holes u have your fans on already there or did u install those?

I love the idea I had the same one about a month ago,as spring has sprung and the heat is coming my idea was to use the same type top and bottom style you have used.Cut out the freezer floor as you have done,replace the floor with a piece of glass and then attempt to use a cool tube and the freezer itself as a cooling device on a timer.Cool tube would keep condensation from building up on the HOT bulb.You are way ahead of me, far as i was able to get was looking at fridges at the store!Also looked a wine cabinets.Now thinking about using the wine cabinet as a dryer, temp and humidity controlled keep up the great DIY!

Do you mean the holes in the fridge? The fan is the old one I removed. It wasn't powerful enough, plus I ditched it's wiring already. It's not a dumb ? cause I should have ordered the pics correct. I plan on the Cool Tube where that fan was, but I'm thinking the fan outside the fridge.
Daniels

Nice I love a fridge grow, cool! lol

Dan,

I also grow out of a fridge and have a had 2 grows in it already, I have a current thread going on another board and also visit RUI

Check it out and let me know if you have any questions

http://www.thcfarmer.com/forums/f54/growing-old-kemoore-fridge-19558/

Thanks

T

Gixxerboy said:

I love the idea I had the same one about a month ago,as spring has sprung and the heat is coming my idea was to use the same type top and bottom style you have used.Cut out the freezer floor as you have done,replace the floor with a piece of glass and then attempt to use a cool tube and the freezer itself as a cooling device on a timer.Cool tube would keep condensation from building up on the HOT bulb.You are way ahead of me, far as i was able to get was looking at fridges at the store!Also looked a wine cabinets.Now thinking about using the wine cabinet as a dryer, temp and humidity controlled keep up the great DIY!

Click to expand...

I don't know how it'd work keeping the cooling equipment running. I thought about it, but decided I don't know nearly enough about how they work. I think a thermostat instead of timer would be needed. I was so stoked that it didn't need cut in between the freezer/fridge. I wanted a clean back to work from too.
I want to punch a 4" hole where the old fan was.
Daniels

TCurtiss said:

Dan,

I also grow out of a fridge and have a had 2 grows in it already, I have a current thread going on another board and also visit RUI

Check it out and let me know if you have any questions

http://www.thcfarmer.com/forums/f54/growing-old-kemoore-fridge-19558/

Thanks

T

Click to expand...

That looks cool. That's what I'm going for.
Daniels

Here's the Remote Ballast/timer pics. It should look incognito next to a locked fridge.
Daniels

I got the inside shelves removed from the doors. I'm gonna replace it with white plastic of some type (haven't figured it out yet) to gain space. Any recommendations on if I should take that insulation under that black felt out? I'm not sure on that yet. If it would leak heat, cool but if it makes a mess/pain in the ass I'll leave it. The rubber seal on the doors survived pretty well. The door shelves were plastic, so a pair of shears and patience did it.
Daniels

So I'm thinking a piece of remnant linoleum for the door (should be cheap). But I'd have to find white. Got enough to think of that one. White linoleum sound good? I also thought about that insulation layer on the doors. A bare metal vs. metal with insulation won't matter.
Daniels

Here's an update of what I got done today. I got the remote ballast with timer and 120 mm comp fan tested and the wires organized. It'll work great. Tons of air flow. I used a weird connector to the bulb to the keep confusion down.
I got the stuff I needed for the air system for the Cool Tube from Home Depot. I used aluminum foil tape and clamps after coating both ends with the foil. I made a bracket out of a coat hanger for the bulb.
I have a 4" sewer pipe for the main exhaust. I'm going down from the top where I'll make a carbon filter. It'll 90 at the bottom then out to where the compressor was. The another 90 then a fan. How's that sound?

Danielsgb said:

Here's an update of what I got done today. I got the remote ballast with timer and 120 mm comp fan tested and the wires organized. It'll work great. Tons of air flow. I used a weird connector to the bulb to the keep confusion down.
I got the stuff I needed for the air system for the Cool Tube from Home Depot. I used aluminum foil tape and clamps after coating both ends with the foil. I made a bracket out of a coat hanger for the bulb.
I have a 4" sewer pipe for the main exhaust. I'm going down from the top where I'll make a carbon filter. It'll 90 at the bottom then out to where the compressor was. The another 90 then a fan. How's that sound?

Click to expand...

Sounds great dude! Don't stop! I wanna see more.

Well here's a build update Here's the fan I ordered to exhaust my Cool Tube. Thx jsgamber for the clue on that powerful little bastard. I got a spare to put somewhere. ($9.99 )
I'm planning passive intake but maybe add a 80mm fan. I got some stuff to get the holes drilled and PVC for Intake/Exhaust. I have the stuff to build the DIY Carbon scrubber and a 90 to head down. I have to cut the Main Exhaust hole also. I'll throw an update and new pics as I have the place in the garage where it'll go cleared out.
Later Daniels

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185054

So I didn't get to much further on this project this afternoon and evening. I did get a ton of the garage cleaned and organized. I got a call on a bedroom set we had on Craigslist. Got $100 for it & it was a "get rid of on there or donate to Salvation Army". I got 2 more things for $60 to get rid of tomorrow. I get to buy meds & stuff for this project for the motivation on the garage.
The Fridge is in it's new home. The wall of tubs behind was spread out over 2/3's of the floor and needed some consolidation. I can get to some serious work on this project now. I got 1/4 of Blue Dream for $80 and spent $20 on two 120 mm fans that are 134 cfm.
I'm thinking about cutting the 4" PVC exhaust hole and two 3" PVC holes for tomorrow. I want them to be clean but didn't want to shell out $60 to $70 for two saw bits and they're for wood not metal and the plastic inside shell isn't worth that. I'll get it. I got a couple good jigsaw blades so we'll see how it goes.
I have an idea that I'm gonna try to get incorporated into this. I want to put a red and green light into the outside of the freezer door. Then use a light sensor to switch between R&G making it obvious if the plant is sleeping. I've got a rough plan but I need to go to Radio Shack to check out some things. I also thought about a small LED brake light from a wrecked car for the red. Any advice?
I'm also thinking of a buzzer-siren that would activate when either door opens in the dark time. That shouldn't be too hard. I want to get these in before the two door panels. I'm also thinking of a green bulb maybe under the Carbon filter. Any recommendations on a cheap lower power bulb?
I'll get on this as I want to try Pepe in a SCROG. I've never done it so it'll be fun. Here's an old pic of her on the right.
Daniels

I got the socket mounted into the fridge. It will be under the carbon scrubber.

So will either of these bulbs be fine in the Dark period.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LWMSDY/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B000COZ91Y&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0FEDNDZ8A5YR09T7B7CJ

http://www.amazon.com/Watt-A19-Green-Light-Bulb/dp/B000COZ91Y

I figure the Compact flo. b/c it's so close to that wall.
Any advice?
Daniels

Danielsgb said:

Well here's a build update Here's the fan I ordered to exhaust my Cool Tube. Thx jsgamber for the clue on that powerful little bastard. I got a spare to put somewhere. ($9.99 )
I'm planning passive intake but maybe add a 80mm fan. I got some stuff to get the holes drilled and PVC for Intake/Exhaust. I have the stuff to build the DIY Carbon scrubber and a 90 to head down. I have to cut the Main Exhaust hole also. I'll throw an update and new pics as I have the place in the garage where it'll go cleared out.
Later Daniels

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835185054

Click to expand...

Don't you just love Newegg? I ordered 3 more of these fans last Friday. Between you and me, they are going to run out!!!

Danielsgb said:

So I didn't get to much further on this project this afternoon and evening. I did get a ton of the garage cleaned and organized. I got a call on a bedroom set we had on Craigslist. Got $100 for it & it was a "get rid of on there or donate to Salvation Army". I got 2 more things for $60 to get rid of tomorrow. I get to buy meds & stuff for this project for the motivation on the garage.
The Fridge is in it's new home. The wall of tubs behind was spread out over 2/3's of the floor and needed some consolidation. I can get to some serious work on this project now. I got 1/4 of Blue Dream for $80 and spent $20 on two 120 mm fans that are 134 cfm.
I'm thinking about cutting the 4" PVC exhaust hole and two 3" PVC holes for tomorrow. I want them to be clean but didn't want to shell out $60 to $70 for two saw bits and they're for wood not metal and the plastic inside shell isn't worth that. I'll get it. I got a couple good jigsaw blades so we'll see how it goes.
I have an idea that I'm gonna try to get incorporated into this. I want to put a red and green light into the outside of the freezer door. Then use a light sensor to switch between R&G making it obvious if the plant is sleeping. I've got a rough plan but I need to go to Radio Shack to check out some things. I also thought about a small LED brake light from a wrecked car for the red. Any advice?
I'm also thinking of a buzzer-siren that would activate when either door opens in the dark time. That shouldn't be too hard. I want to get these in before the two door panels. I'm also thinking of a green bulb maybe under the Carbon filter. Any recommendations on a cheap lower power bulb?
I'll get on this as I want to try Pepe in a SCROG. I've never done it so it'll be fun. Here's an old pic of her on the right.
Daniels

Click to expand...

I'd definitely go to either a Harbor Freight or a Farm and Fleet and pick up a set of hole saws. I got the set in this pic from Harbor Freight for $9 and it has up to 5"!!!

Rather than spend $$'s on something to tell you someone opened it up, why not get something to keep them out in the first place...a lock? But then again, you can do both. Just put your $'s where it makes the most sense at the time. Remember our mantra..."I am a cheap bastard", "I am a cheap bastard", "I am.....

jsgamber said:

Don't you just love Newegg? I ordered 3 more of these fans last Friday. Between you and me, they are going to run out!!!





I'd definitely go to either a Harbor Freight or a Farm and Fleet and pick up a set of hole saws. I got the set in this pic from Harbor Freight for $9 and it has up to 5"!!! View attachment 916589

Rather than spend $$'s on something to tell you someone opened it up, why not get something to keep them out in the first place...a lock? But then again, you can do both. Just put your $'s where it makes the most sense at the time. Remember our mantra..."I am a cheap bastard", "I am a cheap bastard", "I am.....

Click to expand...

Well now I'm off to Harbor Freight in the morning. Thought it was a rape for those. I was going to the Restore (sells used and spare construction crap) to look for a couple things. I already found the activator for the red light at the house. Cost'n me nothing on that part. I'm trying that part for fun. I sold a sewing cabinet on craigslist for $30 so I'll get a $20 thermometer and paid for my shipping on fans. I temp wired the green bulb socket and tested it. Worked fine. I'll get an update again soon. I'm on a mission.

Forgot some pics

Danielsgb said:

Well now I'm off to Harbor Freight in the morning. Thought it was a rape for those. I was going to the Restore (sells used and spare construction crap) to look for a couple things. I already found the activator for the red light at the house. Cost'n me nothing on that part. I'm trying that part for fun. I sold a sewing cabinet on craigslist for $30 so I'll get a $20 thermometer and paid for my shipping on fans. I temp wired the green bulb socket and tested it. Worked fine. I'll get an update again soon. I'm on a mission.

Click to expand...

Gotta love Sativas! Keep it up bro! Here's what you are looking for. I got the 18 pc. for $9.99 http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/?category=425&q=hole+saw+set. You might want to bring some "extry caesh", you know "moola" 'cause you might see things like this that end up in yer baeskeet' http://www.harborfreight.com/thermo-hygrometer-with-clock-96417.html (don't I sound like Andy Taylor...right Opie?)

I'm on a mission too...I invented (plagiarized) a new humidifier. I made it out of a Cat Waterer, Sponges, 4" PVC and a fan. Nothing yet on humidity change but I just put it in and turned it on and closed it up. I'll give it an hour! or ooorrr

peace