buddwasher
Active Member
I have been using a 25' caravan as a grow room, thought i would share my issues so far for other to learn by:
i realise a caravan is only viable in a secluded location - so u need a large garden and few neighbours as sound and smell issues are doubled for these 3 grow room locations.
ELECTRIC
i had max electric output of about 13 amps (1 long extention cable on an isolated 15 amp fuse - u lose some electic the longer the extension so i reckon on losing 2 amps)
I run x2 600w HPS - ebb and flo system - rockwool and clay balls - fans and extractors + a 40w water heater and air stone for resorvior
i found a 1kw electric radiator heater insuffiecient - when outside temps got to -5 (23 deg F) down to -15 deg C (5 deg F) that with lights on and no electric heater i was getting max of 18 deg ~C and lights off about 5deg C = wayy too cold
so to resolve i spent £130 on butane gas heater (electric equivelant is 4300w output) so now all is toasty 27 deg c with lights on 15 deg C off
As your grow room is poorly insulated temp will be your main issue:
There will be little diff between outside and inside conditions until u add some extras, so in winter u will have to increase ambient temp and ofc summer lower it.
Mylar is a no no - it attracts condensation - use white plastic heavey duty sheeting (polar plastic- black on outside).
if u can insulate whole home or shed b4 u sheet up - add more insulation to floor if u can as this gets real cold / hot.
When u do sheet up as much plastic sa poss - dont skimp here floor to ceiling and all across ceiling - i advise going over twice - so like 50 bucks min xpense
i sealed all my windows with silicon or adhesive - extra secure and insulation
if located far away try to find a harder route to location, this way u can see tracks others might make if they been snooping (snow especaly)
i vent out of the floor where the down pipe for the loo went and then i have 2 tyres under that filled with hay to condense hot air b4 it escapes (cold days u would see steam rising else - not good for an abandoned caravan).
Also i leave front room clear to appear normal but i do get condensation on inside of windows - if i was worried about snoopers i would revove windows and replace with plywood.
Mould
yup easy to get in these grow room conditions , not a biggy in winter but the damp caused by winter will have effects in summer.
B4 set up remove all out carpets cusions ect.. - anything not needed and where water can be trapped
Take boots off b4 u enter very easy to let place get dirty and risk contamination
bored now will come back to this and adds more + some pics
one last thought - i was amazed i didnt kill my plants as my lowest temp i achieved was - 0.5 deg C and with lights off they reguly got down to 5 deg C untill i got gas heater. Just gos to show how adaptable plants are - although i am sure it was the gradual drops rather that suddenly exposing plants to freeze temps that saved em
i realise a caravan is only viable in a secluded location - so u need a large garden and few neighbours as sound and smell issues are doubled for these 3 grow room locations.
ELECTRIC
i had max electric output of about 13 amps (1 long extention cable on an isolated 15 amp fuse - u lose some electic the longer the extension so i reckon on losing 2 amps)
I run x2 600w HPS - ebb and flo system - rockwool and clay balls - fans and extractors + a 40w water heater and air stone for resorvior
i found a 1kw electric radiator heater insuffiecient - when outside temps got to -5 (23 deg F) down to -15 deg C (5 deg F) that with lights on and no electric heater i was getting max of 18 deg ~C and lights off about 5deg C = wayy too cold
so to resolve i spent £130 on butane gas heater (electric equivelant is 4300w output) so now all is toasty 27 deg c with lights on 15 deg C off
As your grow room is poorly insulated temp will be your main issue:
There will be little diff between outside and inside conditions until u add some extras, so in winter u will have to increase ambient temp and ofc summer lower it.
Mylar is a no no - it attracts condensation - use white plastic heavey duty sheeting (polar plastic- black on outside).
if u can insulate whole home or shed b4 u sheet up - add more insulation to floor if u can as this gets real cold / hot.
When u do sheet up as much plastic sa poss - dont skimp here floor to ceiling and all across ceiling - i advise going over twice - so like 50 bucks min xpense
i sealed all my windows with silicon or adhesive - extra secure and insulation
if located far away try to find a harder route to location, this way u can see tracks others might make if they been snooping (snow especaly)
i vent out of the floor where the down pipe for the loo went and then i have 2 tyres under that filled with hay to condense hot air b4 it escapes (cold days u would see steam rising else - not good for an abandoned caravan).
Also i leave front room clear to appear normal but i do get condensation on inside of windows - if i was worried about snoopers i would revove windows and replace with plywood.
Mould
yup easy to get in these grow room conditions , not a biggy in winter but the damp caused by winter will have effects in summer.
B4 set up remove all out carpets cusions ect.. - anything not needed and where water can be trapped
Take boots off b4 u enter very easy to let place get dirty and risk contamination
bored now will come back to this and adds more + some pics
one last thought - i was amazed i didnt kill my plants as my lowest temp i achieved was - 0.5 deg C and with lights off they reguly got down to 5 deg C untill i got gas heater. Just gos to show how adaptable plants are - although i am sure it was the gradual drops rather that suddenly exposing plants to freeze temps that saved em
