Help! new to HPS..

M

Markamus

Active Member
Howdy,
This is my second grow and I need help with my setup. I have grown once previously with cfls and I vegged and started this grow with cfl's but have recently upgraded to a 400 watt hps cool tube for flowering my 4 bubba kush females. Anyways I am new to this hps light and since ive never used them before I need help cooling/exhausting my 400 watt cool tube. I recently purchased this fan from my local hydro shop


http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/valueline-inch-435-cfm-centrifugal-inline-fan-p-2260.html


but its very bulky and hard to set up in/around my tent setup so I was thinking of returning it and taking suggestions on the best way to cool my seup. I have also looked into these inline duct booster fans..


http://www.amazon.com/6-Inch-110VAC-250-Line-Duct/dp/B0007N5LI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1277162171&sr=8-1-catcorr


.. and am open to getting a few of these if they will work sufficiently.. Would I be better off incorporating the fan I already have or would I be better trying out other options. Also I would like for this setup to be suitable to cool a 600 watt because I am looking to upgrade later on down the road.. Sorry I am a newb I really don't know so much about lighting but if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be amazing. I have my girls under it now and it gets nice and warm but nothing too extreme but I would like to nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. My area is 3" by 3" by 6" grow tent.

Thanks,
and I will post pics when I can.
 
LEDGrowKing

LEDGrowKing

Active Member
Sorry to say it, but you probably have the best of the 3 fans already. HPS comes with it's downfalls, the main one is heat. You need a large, usually loud (compared to CFL grows) intake fan in order to displace the immense heat created from the light. If your house is very cool, running around 68-70 degrees, then a smaller, quieter fan like the booster fans you linked might work. But, a smaller fan means the tent temperature will rise a minimum of about 10 degrees.
 
supdro

supdro

Well-Known Member
i too have the 6 inch vortex fan. its a good one....if it is too much you can always us a dimmer if the air flow is too much. i would get a 400 digital ballast, which is universal.
 
meetzu

meetzu

Well-Known Member
Markamus said:
Howdy,
This is my second grow and I need help with my setup. I have grown once previously with cfls and I vegged and started this grow with cfl's but have recently upgraded to a 400 watt hps cool tube for flowering my 4 bubba kush females. Anyways I am new to this hps light and since ive never used them before I need help cooling/exhausting my 400 watt cool tube. I recently purchased this fan from my local hydro shop


http://www.plantlightinghydroponics.com/valueline-inch-435-cfm-centrifugal-inline-fan-p-2260.html




but its very bulky and hard to set up in/around my tent setup so I was thinking of returning it and taking suggestions on the best way to cool my seup. I have also looked into these inline duct booster fans..


http://www.amazon.com/6-Inch-110VAC-250-Line-Duct/dp/B0007N5LI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1277162171&sr=8-1-catcorr


.. and am open to getting a few of these if they will work sufficiently.. Would I be better off incorporating the fan I already have or would I be better trying out other options. Also I would like for this setup to be suitable to cool a 600 watt because I am looking to upgrade later on down the road.. Sorry I am a newb I really don't know so much about lighting but if anyone could point me in the right direction that would be amazing. I have my girls under it now and it gets nice and warm but nothing too extreme but I would like to nip it in the bud before it becomes a problem. My area is 3" by 3" by 6" grow tent.

Thanks,
and I will post pics when I can.
Click to expand...
Yeah, imo vortex are the way to go with squirrel cage fans in 2nd behind them. The boosters wont cool nearly as effectively especially with the drag created by a filter, the ducting, and your cooltube. In my tent I mounted it via nylon straps on the ceiling of my tent to keep the lower area less cluttered. My 485 CFM vortex cools 2x 600w HPS in easy cool 6 hoods easily.
 
M

Markamus

Active Member
Thanks for the feedback guys. I appreciate it.

1 more question would it be overkill to keep the fan I have and get 1 duct booster to assemble in the end of the cool tube?

And as for the noise its not my setback, I am just more focused on getting the set up sufficiently. I want to make sure that the fan is hung securely (wherever it may be) and that I have a good idea of what other things I should need to properly cool my light. I am going to buy 6' ducting are there any other things I will need?

Also meetzu I would like to see how you have yours hanging.. I just don't want to put too much weight on the top bars since im already using them to hang my light.. but that sounds like a good idea. If its not too inconvienient for you to post a pic or anyone with a similar setup for that matter that would be amazing.

Thanks
 
meetzu

meetzu

Well-Known Member
The duct booster might not help and may actually impede airflow depending on the cfm your vortex is actually pushing after all of the drag is factored in at the point of exhaust. However, if the airflow at the end would be less than the cfm of the booster fan you got then it would help. However, I really dont think you would need the booster with a 400w cooltube.
You will need collars to connect them all, they are probably around $.80-$1 depending on where you are.

2uoi33n.jpg
That is how mine is set up. I have a tent from something like A+choice usa on ebay. Not the highest quality in the world but still fair. It holds all that. the carbon filter I use weighs 27 lbs alone + everything else you see in there. It is actually set up a bit different now and blows straight through the hoods rather than looping around.
 
jesus of Cannabis

jesus of Cannabis

:-)
I have 2-400 HPS and the heat and power it uses made me switch to T5's for the Veg and using the HPS during 12/12 which gives me a smaller overhead for every ounce.
 
meetzu

meetzu

Well-Known Member
jesus of Cannabis said:
I have 2-400 HPS and the heat and power it uses made me switch to T5's for the Veg and using the HPS during 12/12 which gives me a smaller overhead for every ounce.
Click to expand...
These are 2 600w with a 485 cfm vortex. temps have never been higher than about 82 and that is 4" from the glass. I don't live in a terribly hot climate though (like mid 90's @ the peak of summer) and my canopy sits lower than 4" anyways. I use a small t5 hood for rooting/seedlings and then go to HID.
 
M

Markamus

Active Member
Nice thanks meetzu! Those pics are giving me a good idea. So im seeing I need some collars and a carbon filter.. where is a good place to order one online? Also once I have the ducting/ carbon filter/ and fan together in which way should I set them up to properly cool/ exhaust my light/ tent? I am ready to order the remaining pieces asap! So if anyone can point me in a good direction to get the remaining things im thinking i'll go to home depot for the collars but everything else can be ordered online (preferably) Thanks!
 
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