Why am I always struggling fighting temps. Doing everything right.

Dking93420

Well-Known Member
Sup guys.. so I finished building my stealth grow cabinet and it looks pretty good.. only problem I have like always is keeping temps down.. I have an exhaust fan that’s more than enough for my little grow space, oscillation fans and air vents for passive air to come through. First I figured it was because my intake hole wasn’t bigger than outtake hole so I made it twice as big like it should’ve been. temps still reaching 85+.. I feel like I’m doing everything right but still no results. It has to be another way without using an air conditioner ‍♂. Only thing I think could be causing this is too much light ‍♂ Any suggestions would be love .... oh I have 2 450w LED lights inside a 2.5 x1.5x3 ft area ... 2 4 inch ventilation holes along with the one in the middle.
 

Attachments

smokinrav

Well-Known Member
It will help mix it for sure but I think you need intake power fans too for proper airflow.
Have you thought about maybe you have too much light for the space and external environment?
 

slacker140

Well-Known Member
Yeah your lights could just be inneficient and with drivers mounted to them in the tent putting out too much heat. Can you put their drivers outside the tent? I had 3 50 watt cobs that were putting out heat and I got rid of them and put 60 watts of Emerson boards instead and it significantly reduced heat and I got better lighting out of it for less watts. What lights are they you have?
 

Highlife42

Well-Known Member
I know those lights. (all in one LED, fans & all.) No driver...lol. AND 2 of them in that small space is not good for your issue. I had one in a much larger space and my temps were up there too. Those fans just blow around the hot air from the light. Either vent those beasts, give AC or buy a slim LED with driver. I would T8 light that cabinet
 

Dking93420

Well-Known Member
Thanks everybody for the love.. every opinion was good. Reading them all now let me know that it’s those big ass lights... to answer some of y’all questions, outside temps are 76-79 and here is the lights I was using..

bought these a while ago for a bigger size tent
Figured I use them. Haven’t grown in a while but I knew panels was the new thing, was being cheap.
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Any links for a good grow light for my size??
You definitely are going to want better lights, but setting the air temp in the room the cabinet is in down a degree until you get it where you want it should work. I used to do that, but now I just suck the cold air from outside into my tent. Cools it off real quick this time of year. :bigjoint:
 

LEDTonic - Max

Active Member
Any links for a good grow light for my size??
The lamp you linked above seems to draw 200 watts each. 400 watts in total is a lot in that grow space both in terms of light but also in terms of heat.
(for most growers) With good LEDs (~2.5 µmol/J), you'll want around 20w/sqft as a minimum and 35w/sqft being close to the upper end.

2.5x1.5' = 3.75 sqft

3.75 x 20w = 75 watts
3.75 x 35w = 131 watts

Watts = heat
1 watt = 3.41 BTU/h
Getting twice as efficient lamp(s) will make it possible to use half as many watts and reduce your heat by 50% while still producing the same light intensity.

Hope this helps!
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
I know those lights. (all in one LED, fans & all.) No driver...lol. AND 2 of them in that small space is not good for your issue. I had one in a much larger space and my temps were up there too. Those fans just blow around the hot air from the light. Either vent those beasts, give AC or buy a slim LED with driver. I would T8 light that cabinet
T5HO are a better choice. He would have the ability to change his spectrum too.

Still. Hot air going in - Hotter air going out.

Fix the light issue and then control the ambient air better....
 

Dking93420

Well-Known Member
All great opinions thanks guys.... as for temps outside grow space, if it’s below 77 it feels cold. I try to keep it above 77 cause of my newborn in the apartment plus I think I’m anemic lol. I’ll look at some T5’s and panel lights y’all recommended thanks
 
Top