Exhaust Fan Recommendations

mary.chiva

mary.chiva

Well-Known Member
Hey again.

I've been looking online and at my local hydro vendor for exhaust fans to remove hot stale air from my growbox. I have an idea of what I'd like to build and spend, but I wanted to ask you all before I bought anything.

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to remove hot air from a 4x4x4 3/4 inch plywood box? It's pretty well sealed and has to be to keep light out during the day when it's supposed to be dark for the plant (I have my reasons).

I don't want to spend any more than I have to. The solutions I'm looking at average 100 dollars...but I was hoping to do it even cheaper if at all possible.

Plus...what if my solution doesn't work?

Thanks all for your help.
 
blacksnow

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
What kind of lights are you using? Are your temperatures ok?

Are you looking for something just to circulate air, or also to lower temps?

I have some pc fans I purchased that are super quiet, and only about $15 each. They don't help with temps much, but they move enough air in & out of my cabinet which is 36" Wide, 24.5" Deep, 54" Tall

I am only using T5 lighting though, so heat isn't much of an issue.
 
mary.chiva

mary.chiva

Well-Known Member
blacksnow said:
What kind of lights are you using? Are your temperatures ok?

Are you looking for something just to circulate air, or also to lower temps?

I have some pc fans I purchased that are super quiet, and only about $15 each. They don't help with temps much, but they move enough air in & out of my cabinet which is 36" Wide, 24.5" Deep, 54" Tall

I am only using T5 lighting though, so heat isn't much of an issue.
Click to expand...
Here's a link to my other thread so you can see pics, etc. https://www.rollitup.org/cfl-growing/119240-custom-growbox-progression-using-cfls.html

I have 2 fans in the box circulating air (just added the 2nd today), but I need to be able to pull the hot stale air out. Ever since I added more lights during flowering, the temps have gotten in the 90's...I have to turn off a light or two to bring temps down depending on how warm/cold it is outside (this is not in my house).

I actually found something online for 25 bucks, check it out. High Tech Garden Supply. It has 250cfm...which should be MORE than enough to pull the hot air out. Eventually I will even use it for an HPS to cool it down.

I'm using all CFL's at the moment.
 
blacksnow

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
Couple things..

Do you have anything pulling fresh air in? If not you will need that for sure!

That fan you linked is far from quiet. Is noise an issue to you? Worries of anyone hearing something like that running?

I doubt you need to move that much air. I mean moving air is great, but your box is tiny.

If you want something to move a lot of air, and not make a lot of noise check these out

Soler & Palau Commercial Centrifugal, Axial, Propeller, Exhaust and Supply Fans - Soler and Palau - HVACQuick.com

I haven't used one yet, but there was a lot of talk on these forums about them. I plan on upgrading my exhaust fan to one of these next time around.
 
mary.chiva

mary.chiva

Well-Known Member
blacksnow said:
Couple things..

Do you have anything pulling fresh air in? If not you will need that for sure!

That fan you linked is far from quiet. Is noise an issue to you? Worries of anyone hearing something like that running?

I doubt you need to move that much air. I mean moving air is great, but your box is tiny.

If you want something to move a lot of air, and not make a lot of noise check these out

Soler & Palau Commercial Centrifugal, Axial, Propeller, Exhaust and Supply Fans - Soler and Palau - HVACQuick.com

I haven't used one yet, but there was a lot of talk on these forums about them. I plan on upgrading my exhaust fan to one of these next time around.
Click to expand...
No, I don't have anything pulling fresh air in, but I have been opening the door once a day for about 10 minutes. Is this enough air exchange? If not, I can buy an additional fan to pull air in.

As far as the noise issue, I should be ok, the grow box is in a building not 'that' close to other houses. If it's too loud, I can always return it. Plus, I only plan to have it run while the lights are on for maybe 20 minutes at a time, a few times, over the 12 light period (I'll probably tweak how long it runs according to my temps).

I've been doing some more digging too, and it looks like I can go to Home Depot and buy a similar 6" inline duct fan similar to the one I linked above (it's 160CFM, rather than 250CFM...should be quieter). It's the same amount of money, but I have the convenience of taking it back to a store if I don't like it.

That inline fan you linked looks great. When I build my REAL grow box next year I should pick up a few. I built this seemingly cheap-not well designed-grow box just to get me some free smoke and until I have the money to build my permanent grow setup. For now, I'm using this el-cheapo setup utilizing CFL's (which, are expensive in the long run if you add up how many you have to buy...). A good HPS bulb is cheaper than if I had to replace all my CFL's. Granted, I have to get the HPS light set up first $$. I plan to get a 400w or 600w with my perm setup, and I want to air cool it (I can use thse 6" inline duct fans to do so).

For now...I suppose I'm going to Home Depot...it's cheap and it will probably work.

And...who knows...If I get decent yields off my next 1 or 2 harvests, I may even keep this el-cheapo box...I suspect, though, that a 400w/600w air-cooled HPS would definitely produce higher yields....but I digress.

Ok...enough ramblin'
 
superryder

superryder

Active Member
does anyone no if i can get a extractor fan an carbon filter kits second hand an reasonable price?????????????
 
blacksnow

blacksnow

Well-Known Member
mary.chiva said:
No, I don't have anything pulling fresh air in, but I have been opening the door once a day for about 10 minutes. Is this enough air exchange? If not, I can buy an additional fan to pull air in.

As far as the noise issue, I should be ok, the grow box is in a building not 'that' close to other houses. If it's too loud, I can always return it. Plus, I only plan to have it run while the lights are on for maybe 20 minutes at a time, a few times, over the 12 light period (I'll probably tweak how long it runs according to my temps).

I've been doing some more digging too, and it looks like I can go to Home Depot and buy a similar 6" inline duct fan similar to the one I linked above (it's 160CFM, rather than 250CFM...should be quieter). It's the same amount of money, but I have the convenience of taking it back to a store if I don't like it.

That inline fan you linked looks great. When I build my REAL grow box next year I should pick up a few. I built this seemingly cheap-not well designed-grow box just to get me some free smoke and until I have the money to build my permanent grow setup. For now, I'm using this el-cheapo setup utilizing CFL's (which, are expensive in the long run if you add up how many you have to buy...). A good HPS bulb is cheaper than if I had to replace all my CFL's. Granted, I have to get the HPS light set up first $$. I plan to get a 400w or 600w with my perm setup, and I want to air cool it (I can use thse 6" inline duct fans to do so).

For now...I suppose I'm going to Home Depot...it's cheap and it will probably work.

And...who knows...If I get decent yields off my next 1 or 2 harvests, I may even keep this el-cheapo box...I suspect, though, that a 400w/600w air-cooled HPS would definitely produce higher yields....but I digress.

Ok...enough ramblin'
Click to expand...

ya buying things locally and being able to return/exchange easily is always nice.

I had purchased a fan from home depot (bathroom exhaust) and thought it was too loud and returned it.

I have my plants under 2 of these lights
High Tech Garden Supply

Only cost me $140, and putting out 20,000 lumens with barely any heat.

I wanted a 250w or 400w hps, but I'm glad I didn't go with it for now. Noise is a huge issue to me right now, and I can't have any loud fans. Next time around I will using those fans I linked above and air cool a nice 400w hps.

although im interested to see how my bud turns out with these t5's..cause ever since i put them under these lights they took off like rockets! and ive seen some nice bud produced on here under t5's
 
superryder

superryder

Active Member
ive looked on ebay but it seems so steap £100 for a carbon filter and extractor fan omfg lol no any where cheaper ???
 
C

chronic vegan

Active Member
Can u get a $99.00 air condiiton.
dont have vent room.
temp easy to control.
it filters the air somewhat.
Depends on your location. air condition may look out of place?


I have a 600 w setup with a water cooled light. (water cooled system $250.00)
plus there is a bit of equipment (like a 55 gallon drum for water)

BUt Man it IS Dyamite!!! I can literally hold the light system in my hands while the bulb is on It s like 76 degrees temp. Any one who works with 600w can tell u a naked bulb puts like 140 degree temp.
 
Rooter

Rooter

Well-Known Member
superryder said:
ive looked on ebay but it seems so steap £100 for a carbon filter and extractor fan omfg lol no any where cheaper ???
Click to expand...
well first, make your own carbon filter. its a lot cheeper and buying them online just looks sketchy (i mean really, what do you need to cover the smell of, tomatoes?). just search for DIY carbon filters and youll find all you need.
as for the extractor fan, you shouldnt be paying more than $20 if your talking about a bathroom extractor. since your working out of the UK it looks like i dont know where you would find a homedepot, but any hardware store that has a bathroom section like it will work.
 
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