CFL grow - ALL REMOTE CONTROL - want a few custom ideas - Monday is deadline

This posting is dedicated to the stimulation of your brain cells, but mostly dedicated to myself

Keep in mind that this will all have the ability to be controlled remotely.

I have a part-time contractor building a box on Monday, and the dimensions AS OF NOW are as follows:

Think vertical subwoofer box meets phone booth
48 OR 60 inches-height
24 inches-width
24 inches-depth
3 holes on front-top, center, bottom - top exhaust w/carbon filter, center is fan blowing on plants, bottom is a speaker. All 3 holes will be covered by identical speaker covers.

I'm wanting to keep this cheap & easy (keep in mind I've spent enough on all of the supplies after leaving my bathroom grow room due to the dumbasses upstairs popping a perfect viewing hole when doing construction).

I do all CFL. Why? Well, in the states it started because of my worry with power consumption & authorities. Now, it's just because I'm able to grow almost what I can with HPS lighting while paying less than half for the cost to grow.

I need two holes for the exhaust/intake (pc fans), one small hole for the electrical strip coming out & fine tuned organization of the timer/thermometer/lights/fan positioning/drainage & watering pumps, etc. I have a nice round/deep 8-10 gallon pot that I plan on sitting atop a wooden box with a cut-out sitting above a plastic tray that I can sit my immersible pump into. Watering hose is about an 1/2 - 1 inch diameter & will be attached to a pump that is plugged into a power link connecter (usb interface) so that I can control it remotely (on/off). A webcam is also ready to be used in order to monitor remote watering/drainage/heat stress. The box will be light proof & the inside will have all white paint.

NOW MY QUESTIONS:

Is there anything that I can use as an alternative to painting? Wife has asthma, and I'd prefer not to trigger it. Aluminum foil, I never recommend as it serves as a heat tent, so I'm trying to come up with alternative ideas for reflection all before monday night when my seedlings will be woken up & placed in. I've got a batch that aren't feminized, so with this box, keep in mind that I'll need room for at least 5 plants. I've grown with these same seeds before (many times), and knock on wood, but I always get females & am forced to kill them down to one

With the intake/exhaust running while the lights are (possibly running 24/7), will I need to worry about the box erupting in flames? 487 watts available (probably will use about 400 unless I can sensibly arrange the cfl's to where the box isn't a homemade oven. Seeds are asian strands & grow best about 93-94 degrees; I just don't want the place to burn down while they are growing.

What type of pc fans work the best? I don't know shit about them as I use your everyday fan, and there are 120 mm, etc..Please be detailed on this one

Also, I'm considering doing a 12/12 from seed. Haven't decided yet. I only have two days to do so. Typically, I do 18/6 if not 24 for the first 2 weeks. I've been seeing some night posts off of 12/12 from seed, and am almost tempted to do it again. I'm wondering if it will vegetate enough with 360 degrees of florescent lighting (last 12/12 was years ago & with HPS 400). Any feedback from recent grows (12/12)?? Preferably feedback from those who like to grow on 18/6 & those who like to grow on 12/12.

Last question: LED lights on the fans...that's about the only damn thing I can find here. Are the 2/4 or 8 LED's on the fan going to make any difference? If they're 24, I know I can use green lights (safe lights), but are these the same universally, or are some green led's not safe during LIGHTS OUT?


Well, that's it...Long ass post & I'd really appreciate it if I don't have a noob sitting here giving feedback. On design, hey that's great, but, I'm a seasoned grower with quite a few successful grows under my belt & don't want some unrelated help filling up the forum post. I'm only saying this because this happens on every site I'm a member of if you do not post it.


*****If anyone would love the challenge, you could do a quick sketch in paint/photoshop & upload the screenshot or send it to me If I use your setup inside the box, I'll post a pic & send it to you ALSO, another BIG BIG THING! The dimmers that I'm using for pc fan control speed, I would really like to be linked to a thermostat...does anyone know if a thermostat can adjust the fan speed? Can I use this in conjunction with a dimmer to control the max speed the fan will be allowed to go? There needs to be a separate divider wall 2-3 inches from the frame so that I can install mounts/switches into it & have the elec strip, etc behind it hidden beautifully...yes, beautifully


fuck lol, all that detail & useless detail just kicked my ass. Now, I've got to smoke another

Thanks in advance for all the cool ideas.

***ROOM FOR 5 PLANTS, meaninggggg, I WANT TO SEX THEM & KNOCK IT DOWN TO ONE! IF NOT 12/12, I'll early sex & flip the lady back into veg unless the box gives me enough veg off of 4 weeks (which somehow I doubt) w/ 5 plants in that space.

don't use any reflective material in a small growbox like this in my experience it only causes heat problems, if anything use white paint, lastly I would only put one or two plants in there myself but if you wanted to do Sog+scrog or a small strain then by all means put more plants in there - but I would just do one plant at most 2 and grow them out as big as I can.

Jesus, I hate it that every time I post, I have a tendency to go all detailed. I just effin hate doing shit more than once. PC fans with filter attached look good for a computer, but I'm guessing do no good; am i right? Is a pc fan gonna have enough power to push through a carbon filter? attached are the fans (green ones) & others I'm deciding if will be better or about the same for exhaust? Now, if I post one more thing, I'm gonna flip

Thanks for the input...I don't want to do scrog method because it takes longer to fill up & it's always nicer to have less plants when, until recently, the death penalty was enforced for moderate grows :-O They are not feminized & I don't want to waste my time by only growing a few that turn out to be males.

**I'm going to do LST anyways, as I find great results mixing that with double-budding

Hey Looking good man. AS far as PC fans go I do not recommend LED ones because A: they are more expensive, B: more power draw on your Ac/DC converter and C: the LED's do nothing for the plant. I use 7 120 mm dynex fans hooked up to a adjustable volts converter from radioshack. I found I needed that many fans to keep my box at 80F and I have 500 watts(20 26 watters). Definately get an adjustable volts converter and run it on 9 volts instead of the full 12 and you fans will be almost silent. Good luck with the cad man looking forward to seeing pics.

Yeah, I know the LED's do nothing positive for the plant...I was referring more to the negative effects. Such as this:

If I leave the fans all day & night (giving it more of a natural environment), being green as seen in safe lights, will they have any negative effect on the plant, or will it also be neutral? Neutral makes me happy, shock makes me sad. 7 fans? Would it really necessary for this large of a box with CFL's? They get hot, no doubt about that, but the more holes I make, the more I need to worry about light seals for night-time. Again, I know shit about pc fans, so I'm not doubting; no worries here mate


ANYONE: ideas for carbon filter on multiple fans? Looks like I'm going to use between 3-5 depending on adjustment of temp & don't want to make 3-5 carbon filters ( just don't wanna hassle with compacting all that right next to each other).


**oh and thanks for the input bud

I'm using phone chargers to serve the purpose of the fans.

7-65w (11&13 watt power consumptions) & a circular overhead flourescent (32watts)

will throw in smaller wattage bulbs if this gets too stressful in the box (5 minute trip to the hardware store), so I'm not too worried

I think it makes more sense to buy an existing used piece of furniture and convert that rather than build something.

Wardrobe cabinets are nice...

Light board? Nobody using cfl's needs a light board, all you need is a timer and an outlet strip.

I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "light board"? It doesn't even apply here unless you're talking about the divider board. With that, I just mean for the people who have sent me a couple designs. The divider is so that the dimmers & switches have something to mount into INSIDE the box, rather than protruding outside for all to see so that it looks like a switch on your living room wall. A wall inside a wall. I'm having it designed & setup ORGANIZED; a way in which I'm not used to Wardrobe cabinets are nice, however, it's cheaper here to have something made & it's more customizable too

Thanks for the input

Oh I thought I read that you were having a light board made, nevermind.

I know you said you don't want to do a sog and that's fine, but I'd suggest you copy as much of this guys setup as you can, and there's a lot to learn from this thread:
http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=69713

I would cut the leads to the LED's just coz there pointless and "could" cause a prob. PC fans are not designed to push against restriction e.g. carbon filter. you can overcome this by putting 2 in-line or getting high power ones (these are normaly a lot deeper and pull more power)

Also a phone charger is normaly 5v, 12cm PC fans are nearly always 12v. if ya use 5v they will spin but very slow and not push much air.

your second pic is a hard drive cooler. these are noisy and dont move much air, I have 3 in my pc.

If ya want a speed/temp control have a look at stuff like this for PC, http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=57&subid=189 but I just use a ajustable voltage DC converter on my small veg/clone room and set to how much I need.

is that a normal 5v on 110 or 220? From what I've seen, they move pretty fast on it. (but I could be wrong; I've just seen it in person so I'm not sure if the brand of phone charger matters/differs, etc). What you're saying makes since, though. typical operating speed would probably be sitting right between 10-12 for a fan I'd guess.

Cheers about the hard drive coolers. I saw them, and assumed they would move just as fast. I liked the idea of 2 in 1.

What problem could the LED's cause? please go into detail. I enjoy the look of them, especially when nicely medicated, and wouldn't mind paying the small difference. If a danger issue to plants or box, please inform

THAT SOG IS VERYYYY TEMPTING! I'm seriously looking into it, but does he have pictures of the actual setup? I'm having trouble finding anything but the bonsai moms" ".

Can someone give me an idea about pc fans with carbon filters that work?

Also, anyone know how loud the inline fans are? How effective? How many? I can get them, I just figured from previous forums, they were louder than my industrial fan for the breezeway

Thanks guys; big help & I love the ideas! Keep 'em coming!

A phone battery is normaly 4.8v and the charger is 5.7v (e.g. nokia, samsung etc) and only about 0.8A at 110v/220v too small power output for more than 2 "normal" 12cm PC fans even at half speed)

Just get something like this, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Universal-2500mA-Power-Supply-adaptor-Uniross-/160422459291?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item2559ec779b

It will run as many fans as ya need, I use 6 PC fans off one in my veg room and you can change voltage to suit noise/air flow.

If ya want lights on ya fans go 4 it! use green and ya should b ok in dark cycle (I wouldnt though but its just coz I wouldnt want the posability of less bud just for some cool lights)

"Also, anyone know how loud the inline fans are? How effective? How many? I can get them, I just figured from previous forums, they were louder than my industrial fan for the breezeway" (Sorry I dont understand this question?)

I use 2, 12cm PC fans sucking out top of my cab next to a 150w MH and 1 12cm sucking in at bottom and 2 8cm PC fans blowing at the bulb inside. (I can keep at room temp with this setup)

Look in my sig and take a look at my little room for ideas.

Hey, thanks for that!! I appreciate it! I was actually thinking my only option was to do 1 phone charger PER fan. I didn't realize I was able to use one multi-plug for 6! How the hell do I do that? Just splice off six fans? Really? Is that going to give enough power OR START A FIRE? lol...Also, what voltage do you have the fans set on with the plug? I already have one, so you're just continually saving me money

Biggest paranoia that I hit, and I always hit it no matter how great the setup, is a fire. That's a sure way to get caught. I'm not willing to risk less bud either; I've just come across the "safe lights" over the last year throughout forums, and I didn't know whether they were an effective form of safety or not. Honestly, I know nothing about a box. Typically I use a spare bathroom, but I am happy to get out of there as the humidity is a BITCH to control. The more space you have, the more pain in the ass it truly becomes.

FOGGER!! How did you make that! DIY is recommended (not preferred)...Gotta love asia ..pshhhhh

My converter is on 7v so has loads of room for more cooling just by switching up! I cant hear it at 7v when I sleep and it keeps cool so I dont need more.

Yep splice away! check how many mA or A your converter is, the link was for 2500mA/2.5A at 12v. PC fans pull from 0.1A so look at packet. (More Amps = more air movement) Add em all together and as long as it aint over the output of ya adaptor ya will be fine! (most auto cutout if overloaded/short circit anyway)

Fire is only a problem if ya stupid and overload plugs/fittings or put someting flamable next to something very hot or have lose conections/ bare wires. etc etc

I just got myself a 21L a day dehumidifyer as my rooms walls were swetting, lol

stanislavski said:

FOGGER!! How did you make that! DIY is recommended (not preferred)...Gotta love asia ..pshhhhh

Click to expand...

what??? confused?

motherfucker...i hate that shit...you type it all up, looks all nice and neat, then ya get distracted with facebook...you come back to this and then you click refresh...all while you forget to click submit & have to type it all again. although, it never comes out as savvy as when you first did it, and things go missing. so let's try our best here haha. 21L a day? I thought you had a dry ice setup? i've got two horizontal & one vertical coming out of each ballast. Then one circular overhead. & 7th I popped out moving the shit. although, i really doubt i need it for this SOG i'm going to do. brilliant idea he had. i don't mind harvesting 9-21 grams if I'll end up with 20 producing plants. I can handle that.

what's your thoughts on this box? It's gonna be carpeted plywood built with a 2x4 frame or 1x3 frame. light positioning in such an enclosed area? 450 watts gonnna be overkill? too much for the wood too handle? 2 fans blowing in from top, 2 blowing on plant, 2 exhaust? are pc fans going to actually be enough for an exhaust? Will it work with a DIY carbon filter? I've got the carbon, fans after I wake up, and I can buy pantyhose & basket...I don't have much to work with here, so what can i do best for smell from the beginning? I don't like messing around with my setup after its put together and plants are in unless absolutely needed. is there a way to make a carbon filter that connects to 2 fans and works properly? and out of the materials offered here...keep in mind, hardware store takes 10 minutes to go down all aisles :-/

just checked.. 220v plug & 6,9,12v on the switch...what's polarity? can i hit 12 on the fans if needed?