Budget Grow Box Design - Input Appreciated!

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tomgrazz

Member
**reposting in newbie central

Hello all, I'm trying to build a somewhat compact grow box on a budget to house some autoflowering plants while I wait for my bigger grows to mature :weed:. I've been toying around with a few ideas and drew a crude picture via paint with a prototype. Input?



The idea is to have the light hanging in that upper box. Inside would of course be mylar coated. The gaping hole in the side is for a cheapie fan that I could have sit in there. Would this design present heating/humidity/any problems? (I plan to use a 400w bulb + reflector) Dimensions are all subject to change. All cheers and jeers welcome!
 
just8420

just8420

Active Member
are you going to have glass separating the light box from the grow box if not it would probably get pretty hot in there other then that looks good to me +rep
 
T

tomgrazz

Member
Hmmm didn't consider the glass, would a sheet of plexiglass work? Should I invest in a cool tube/duct/expensiveductfan sort of setup for a box as such?
 
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mywifeknows

Member
Personally I'm growing in about the same size. 2.7x2.7x5.8 and is tight. I also had a 400w with ballast and it got incredibly hot around 90-95 and I changed out asap! I'm using 2 150 watt sun systems which are awesome and put out a lot of light and very low heat. My temp is always around 78-80 and hum 48-51. With that size room you will need a good cooling system if you are going to use a 400. I bought two brand new 150hps sun systems for $75 each! Light and hood. Amazing deal. With that size room you should look into that. Just my 2cents. I have a post of my grow with the 2 150 watts if you want to check out the size of the plants. I'm growing 2 og kush and 2 white widow and they are pretty big! Good luck and I hope I was able to help!
 
Essex

Essex

Active Member
id say it depends on size of ya fans, but having that box at the top will make the room hotter as you will have no airflow over the bulb to cool it down.

but if you used a standerd outside fitting for your lamp with glass not boxed in but outside on top, this would work very well as the aliminum box the light goes in will convect the heat,
 
T

tomgrazz

Member
Personally I'm growing in about the same size. 2.7x2.7x5.8 and is tight. I also had a 400w with ballast and it got incredibly hot around 90-95 and I changed out asap! I'm using 2 150 watt sun systems which are awesome and put out a lot of light and very low heat. My temp is always around 78-80 and hum 48-51. With that size room you will need a good cooling system if you are going to use a 400. I bought two brand new 150hps sun systems for $75 each! Light and hood. Amazing deal. With that size room you should look into that. Just my 2cents. I have a post of my grow with the 2 150 watts if you want to check out the size of the plants. I'm growing 2 og kush and 2 white widow and they are pretty big! Good luck and I hope I was able to help!
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I kinda like this idea, 2 150w hps could provide enough light for 5-7 autoflowers, no? Will do more research on this...

can`t use plexiglass,It`ll melt
Click to expand...
Lame. :(

id say it depends on size of ya fans, but having that box at the top will make the room hotter as you will have no airflow over the bulb to cool it down.

but if you used a standerd outside fitting for your lamp with glass not boxed in but outside on top, this would work very well as the aliminum box the light goes in will convect the heat,
Click to expand...
Hmmm, I think I'm following you. You're saying the outside (in this case, the top of a reflector) where the light would be encased should be exposed to the outside?

Thanks all, appreciate feedback bongsmilie
 
Essex

Essex

Active Member
ya know the outside hps/mh fittings, like this one.


cut a hole in top of the box, and place on top over the hole.

It will work well I built one for a friend :-)
but i think ya want a 250w max else ya will get very hot
 
T

tomgrazz

Member
Aaah I see! Thanks Essex, will look into this!

Mywifeknows, just checked out your thread dude, nice plants :D. Wondering what kind of vent system you have in your cab?
 
T

tomgrazz

Member
Nah, I understood Essex :) found that outdoor fixture after searching a bit, what you did for your friend will probably be the way that I go. Simply wondering how much extra venting I may need even with that outside fitting on top? Trying to operate on a very tight budget for now :(.
 
Essex

Essex

Active Member
id use 4 120mm PC fans on a dc transformer, 2 in at bottom, 2 out at top.

fans $2.99 free shippin :smile:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Desktop-Computer...item439f424757

$9.49 it can run 12 of em! you can also adjust the voltage for sound/air flow
http://cgi.ebay.com/Universal-Laptop...item1c10cc0763

depending on how ya wire it (ill help if ya confused) ya can run em at 7.5v-18v, and if ya use 2 fans stacked it will increase pressaure for a home made carbon filter :-)
cheapest way I know off gettin good air flow,
 
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bayoudreams

Member
How'd it work out?
Another way to power those dc fans is how I did it.
Take an old atx power supply (who doesn't have one or two old pc's in the closet), you want to short a black to a green wire on the 20 pin main power that would normally power your old motherboard. I had one that had it's own on/off switch built in. I used elec tape, and secured the jumper wire, as well as closed up any plugs that might find water somehow.
I plugged in a 120mm, and 2 80 mm fans to the ps connections.
btw: yellow wires carry 12V (ding), red carry 5V...so if you can always wire them in by hand if need be.
 
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