Light/heat output comparison of 2 setups...

So I've already invested in T5 lighting and face a cooling dilema. I've had other threads past & present discussing various AC options such as Portable versus Mini-Split... But now I'm considering a 3rd option...

So, given a small room 6x10 or so... I have 2 units of T5 lights - 8 bulbs each (BadBoys) which draw 5a @ 100v each. These are built with their ballasts built right into the lighting fixture so there is no 'remote' ballast option (never seen anything T5 like that)... I have considered hacking them apart and seeing if the ballasts couldn't be relocated externally but I need to contact Fulham (makers of the ballasts used by Quantum) and determine if it's feasible and if so, how many feet can the wiring be extended. That would be kinda awesome... T5 lights with a remote ballast! I could really make some interesting options there (think Cool Tube for the ballasts or putting them outside of the room if the distance allowed). I have TONS of server-grade PC fans, aluminum heat sinks, etc...

Now, consider the alternative/traditional HID lighting path... If I did the whole sealed hood/cool-tube type of tihng... I could put my ballasts outside of the room (i.e. the attic space above the room) and the lights could have their intake and exhause into the attic... I would ONLY consider attic-based ventilation options for the lighting since I fear humidity/condensation issues with venting AC into the attic. And this still may present issues with condensation in the winter when that hot air from the lights dumps into the attic's cool air. I can't destroy my home in the process!

That option of course means I need to sell off my T5 gear and shell out a lot more $$$ for new lighting setup (maybe a 2 light ballast for 600w each hood?) and possibly another fan/filter combo and the associated ducting. I actually have a 3rd T5 light as well.. a 6 bulb unit I was keeping for a seperate veg/mother area some day. So I'm hesitant to keep dumping $$ into lighting.

A final crazy option... Design an enclosure to basically make an air-cooled hood for my T5 lights. Something that would let me use a cent. fan to draw air through the enclosure cooling the lights and dumping that into the attic. I'm no DIY guy per se... but I'm sure I can design/build SOMETHING given the motivation... The biggest challenge would be finding the right glass to use for the bottom of some enclosure and then what material to use for the rest. I'm probably better with wood and plastic than metal fabrication...

Any ideas/suggestions based on all that info?

I just remembered another option that I could consider...

What about water-cooling the room? I think I know what is involved... Basically a Chiller that sits somewhere it can do it's heat-exchange thing... then lines to the room (what would be the max practical distance?) that then attach to a radiator (ala Ice Box) which in turn has a fan drawing air across the coils.

Would I be better off and in the same ball-park $$$$ wise? If I took that portable AC unit back and spent the same money on a chiller...

Here's the only challenge... The lines would need to run approx. 25 or 35 feet to a garage where I could place the chiller. The path they take could be either (A) up & over in the attic or (B) out the wall and along my eave (which is where the electrician found a clear/easy way to run the circuit I had installed)...

In case (A) through the attic you have to have a pump that can "lift" pretty damn high - several vertical feet around 10-12 or so. And then there's the heat in the attic in summer - but insulation may be able to cope with that.

In case (B) the eave option, which is un-insulated and has vents all along it to the outside environment... You would have heat issues in the summer and freeze-up issues in the winter (esp. during lights off time)... The winter issue is a good/bad thing... free chilling... up to the point of freezing... doh!

I like this option in that odor control is a non-issue... I like this option in that water is far more efficient in heat transfer... But I don't know about these other barriers/considerations.

all t5 lights that i have seen are self enclosed ballasts, just like a t12 shop light and really put out very little heat. hell, i put my seeds on top of mine to pop them. if you are having heat problems you need to address that and not worry about changing lights. you need to control the enviroment.

superstoner1 said:

all t5 lights that i have seen are self enclosed ballasts, just like a t12 shop light and really put out very little heat. hell, i put my seeds on top of mine to pop them. if you are having heat problems you need to address that and not worry about changing lights. you need to control the enviroment.

Click to expand...

Many think T5 lighting generates "no heat" but there's still heat generated... just nothing compared to HID lighting. The room is sealed is the problem. No ventilation at all. That's why my other thread is discussing the AC situation... Even with that said though, I'm still looking to minimize the amount of heat that is generated. Less heat means less cooling demands.