Remote mounting t5 ballast

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
I was kind of surprised at how hot t5's get. Im running 4ft 8 bulb in a 2x4 area. How much of the heat is from the ballast? Would it be worth mounting the ballast outside of the cab? Anyone that has done this the info would be appreciated.
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Sorry, I'd like to know more about this as well. I'm curious though, how close to the bulbs before you really feel em?
I ran 8 bulbs in a 2x4. Temps got in the 90's with my 4 in fan maxed out. Any closer than 8 inches and the tops burned.

I will run 12 bulbs in it if I can get it cooled down.
 

paranoid4areason

Active Member
Wow, can you post a link to the type you are using? I've read so many times you can get em within an inch or so or did I have a stroke?
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
You can run them a little closer as the plant gets bigger. I find it counter productive. They can only handl so much heat. At that close I get burns and fox tailing. Don't let no one fool you. T5's are hot.
 

workinit

Well-Known Member
I ran 8 bulbs in a 2x4. Temps got in the 90's with my 4 in fan maxed out. Any closer than 8 inches and the tops burned.

I will run 12 bulbs in it if I can get it cooled down.
I'm currently running 16 bulbs in a 5 x 5 with a 4 inch fan pulling from my tent to the attic and temps are fine. I keep them about 8 inches from the tops with no problems. Your going to need to pull that hot air out of your grow space.
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
I'm currently running 16 bulbs in a 5 x 5 with a 4 inch fan pulling from my tent to the attic and temps are fine. I keep them about 8 inches from the tops with no problems. Your going to need to pull that hot air out of your grow space.
I guess you didn't look at my link. I do have a 4 inch fan pulling heat. The smaller the area the harder to cool. The 8 bulb in a 2x4 runs about 90 degrees. If I run more bulb I will have to up the fan size. The problem with that is, when you run more cfms than a room needs the air moves too fast over the carbon and let's smell through.

Fall is getting close and temps are cooling so its cooler in my cab.

I'll get it worked out.
 

workinit

Well-Known Member
I guess you didn't look at my link. I do have a 4 inch fan pulling heat. The smaller the area the harder to cool. The 8 bulb in a 2x4 runs about 90 degrees. If I run more bulb I will have to up the fan size. The problem with that is, when you run more cfms than a room needs the air moves too fast over the carbon and let's smell through.

Fall is getting close and temps are cooling so its cooler in my cab.

I'll get it worked out.
Are you pulling from above or below the fixture?
 
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