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I want to start growing in my closet, but it has to be concealed. I was planning on building a locker out of pressure treated wood, so that i can put a plant at the bottom and lighting within the closet (attached to the walls), so that i can close it and it would be self contained. There are multiple details I have to settle, but my main problem is fires. I have to make sure that none of my wiring, or heat caused by the lighting, leads to a fire. I would like to put fluorescents around the sides (wide spectrum, approx. 8, 2 on each wall) and an HPS/MH affixed to the top of the trunk (when oriented "tallwise"). I would hook all the lights to a timer and then send the cord through a small, drilled hole in the trunk - to connect to the wall. Again, fires and discretion are of top priority, so I don't want the HPS/MH to become too hot. I also plan to drill holes at the top and bottom of the locker and install fans (one at the bottom for forced intake and one at the top for forced exhaust). I can hook these up to battery that can fit in the closet. Will this make for enough ventilation/heat control? Thanks. (I live in US)

***Fluorescents are wide spectrum, HPS/MH at about 450 W, the fans would be SILVERSTONE FM121 120mm 2 Ball Case Cooling Fans

Please don't double post

viewtopic.php?t=15149

Read the piece I posted about ventilation, it answers many of your questions.

Remember that the reason one ventilates a grow box, is not only for heat issues, but also for fresh air. You need sufficent airflow so that the plants receive the necessary amount of CO2

You are using a hps system, so the need for real good ventilation is a must as these lights produce alot of heat. What wattage are you going with and what are the exact dimensions of the grow box. With that info I can tell you how much ventilation you need.

You need an exhaust fan on the box, the strength of it will depend on the size of the box, the length of ducting and whether or not you will be using a carbon filter.

When you have an exhaust fan, you need intake. No need for a fan on the intake, just passive holes are fine, and even better in my box.

You will also need a small fan(computer fan) blowing a gentle breeze over the plants in the growbox.

Are you growing in your parents house or your own place?

Sorry about the double post, I didn't know that was a no no. So I'm thinking 5 ft tall, 1 ft wide, and 1 ft deep. 450 watts for the HPS. I think the heat will be too much for passive intake, so I want the fans to intake from the bottom. The locker will be elevated off the floor, and so the duct will go from under the floor and have the duct with a filter (i think it's better??).

No, the passive intake will work fine, as long as you have it balanced with the exhaust. It's damn hard to get exhaust to work with active intake. The exhaust must be at the top, the intake at the bottom. The filter has to be on the exhaust..you want to filter the air going out of the box, not what coming in.

Do you really have to use the locker or can you construct something else out of wood? Do you have an old dresser or piece of furniture that you can modify? The locker sounds sound but...One thing that will be difficult is cutting your holes into it. Also 1ft wide 1 ft deep is a little small, though it is not impossible mind you. But forget the hps/mh with that dimensions....the only thing you will be able to fit in there are fluros.

Are you growing in your own place or with parents?

Here's an example of a growcab in the making.

Those holes you see are intake holes..they are at two different levels because there will be a removeable shelf there



The back of the thing is pretty ugly, but hell who cares. Those pvc elbows are the intakes..the piping serves as a light trap. The ducting is coming from the exhaust, which will be leading into another room.



The exhaust fan, which is level with the light bulb. It will help to pull heat out before it can even circulate in the cab.



Exhaust fan in manifold (stanley blower) with ducting leading to carbon scrubber (not visible)



Outside view off cab



That's gonna hold htree mother plants of three different strains. The clone cabs are still only on paper..they will be in a different room. All cabs are pushed into closets.[/img]

If you do use that locker, then 5x1x1 means you have 5 square feet of growing space. I have 6 square feet in mine.

Like I said, in that area using a hps won't work..too small, the light wont even fit in. So suppose you use fluros Iwould go with a 250 cfm fan atleast, if you will be using a filter. With no filter, you could get away with less. You might wanna check out bathroom fans, the range from 50 cfm to 250 cfm.

If you wanna use the 450 watt, then you need a bigger box. To cool and ventialte that you would be better using a stanley blower, or other type of blower. Inline fans and whatnot will not be strong enough. The more cooling power the better

In my case I went with a stanley blower. It pushes 1200 cfm on the lowest setting 1800 on the highest. Cost only 60 bucks. Bathroom fans were to small for my liking. Cheaper than any inline or vortex fan, and more powerful. Get a better run for your money.

If you get a fan that has a diameter of four inches, then you need 12 inches of passive intake, no more no less. Less will create back pressure which makes noise, and improper circulation. More will create odor leaks.
You must always multiply the diameter of the exhaust by 3. A 5 inch fan = 15 inches of intake (like mine)

I really hope for your sake, that you can use something other than a locker. If you are planning on just budding your plants, then you don't even need all that much headroom. There are all kinds of interesting techniques to force your plants to grow short. I'll point you towards that info later. You can modify a simple clothes dresser, even if it''s only waist high. Sounds weird, but its true. Lenght and depth will be moew benefical to you than height. But if you wanna just grow normally, then you need height, its up too you.

That is some impressive stuff. I'm planning on growing in a small room in which i live. i plan on creating the locker out of wood (part of the reason for the double post was that i had changed my plan to make it out of wood, due to convenience and customizability. I REALLY think that having a forced intake putting fresh air in from the bottom will compliment the forced exhaust (your other post says that) and i think it's worth it for the time and money i put in (very cheap for fan and easy to make the hole)

plus i can also put the HPS at the top of the wooden locker, and have the five gallon bucket with the plant on a shelf that moves up and down in the locker, moving it farther from the light at the top as the plant grows. another question, can i have two plants in the same five gallon bucket?

My goal is to have fun growing a good plant that produces enough bud for me to smoke throughout the semester. no selling.

The forced vs. passive intake is entirely up too you, either works I'm just voicing my personal opinion. What works for one may not work for another.

You would want to have 1 plant per bucket.

Wooden locker, great to hear! What is the closet space you have to put this locker in? What kinda money are you willing to put down on this?

A moving shelf for plant height is a no no. It will screw up your intake pretty bad.

I have a shelf, but it's not for light adjustemt, it's a permanent way that I can set the box up..long story.

You would be better rigging up a simple chain system. Couple screwhooks and eyes and a chain.

im living with someone else, so a stanley blower wont be possible. I can probably add a little bit to the dimensions (6 cubic feet). The fan I want to use has 41 cfm. This goes well with your previous graph. Am I thinking wrong?

You are thinking half right half wrong!!

41 cfm is enough to ventilate that size box.

41 cfm is not enough to push or suck through a carbon filter. Resistance is created when pushing through the filter, so you need a stronger fan. If you put a 100 cfm fan on a carbon filter, the cfm will probably be reduced by around half.

41 cfm is not enough to cool a 450watt

What kind of fan do you want to use exactly?? Is it one that you already own?

The stanley blower is not as bad as it sounds. With the closet doors closed, mine can be barely heard. You gotta do a bit of sound proofing mind you. It makes less noise than typical bathroom fan!

Check out inline fans, that kind might be better adapted to your needs. Google it, you'll see what it is.

Do you know what type filter you plan on using? Homemade carbon scrubber or store bought can filter?

When thinking about the size of the box, remember to take into account the light and reflector size!

When planning the size of your box, think about where you are placing the fans and the filter. All outside the box, or enclosed like mine. Mine is all in the same piece of furniture, just in two compartment, GRow area on one side, fan and filter on other side. Helps reduce noise.

I'd go with nothing less than 5 ft tall, 2.5 ft wide, 1.5 ft deep. Two plants with 5 gallon pots would be great in there

yes, i have been throwing around the idea of making it bigger. i dont see the need for the filter on the exhaust. i dont care about smell, since i smoke in the room all the time anyway. i want to use computer fans, something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6811999344. I think one on the bottom pulling air in and one blowing air out at the top. I would cut the wood out and put the fans on the inside. so that it's all contained in the locker. i do think working with 5 feet tall, 2.5 feet deep, 1 foot wide. I wonder if, since the depth was expanded, i can make it shorter, four foot. thoughts?

Well, yes you should chop 1 ft off the height, though heaight does make things a bit easier. With less height, you can use a training technique to keep your plants low, or somply flower thema bit earlier, so the plants don't grow too high.

If smell isn't an issue for you, then you don't need a filter. Makes things a bit less complicated anyways!

You're gonna need a stronger fan than though to be able to cool your 450 watt light

so with a locker 4 feet tall, 2.5 ft deet, and 1 foot wide, what kind of cfm am i looking at with a 450 Watt HPS (or MH, whichever is recommended) and 6 40 watt fluros? (I think I can put two plants in there). Could I put a system of computer fans? And with your wooden cabinets, do you experience moisture problems? I was thinking that I might have to polyurathane the wood to keep it from warping. I plan to use pressure treated lumber to construct the locker. and dude... you're the man for helping me

faylingmudder wrote:so with a locker 4 feet tall, 2.5 ft deet, and 1 foot wide, what kind of cfm am i looking at with a 450 Watt HPS (or MH, whichever is recommended) and 6 40 watt fluros? (I think I can put two plants in there). Could I put a system of computer fans? And with your wooden cabinets, do you experience moisture problems? I was thinking that I might have to polyurathane the wood to keep it from warping. I plan to use pressure treated lumber to construct the locker. and dude... you're the man for helping me

Go with atleast 1.5 ft wide if you can.

I'd go with the highest cfm possible. Computer fans are ok, but they are not very strong and you have to wire them. You will need to hook them up to a 12 volt adapter..like the kind from certain cell phones or cordless phones. Just make sure the voltage is the same. And use those plastic covers when wiring..not just electrical tape - fire hazard. By the time you buy a bunch of pc fans, it will prolly have cost you as much as a bigger quieter fan. You'll need a shitload of them.

You can get relatively cheap bathroom fans at the hardware store. &13 bucks or so for the 50 cfm kind.

There is not specific mathmatical formula to figure out how much air you need to cool. More is better..I would be hesitant to go with less than 100 cfm..250 would be better for sure though. Bathroom fans go up to 250 cfm I believe. Have a look on Ebay if you can use it, can get pretty cheap good fans there. With all those lights, thats gonna be alot of heat, its more than I have. Can't emphasize enough that more is better. If you have an adjustable speed fan, then you can run it on normal, then if things get a bit hot, turn it up a notch. The interior temp of your cab will also depend on the room temperature. In summer time it's harder to control temps.

Pressure treated lumber will be good, and all you need to do is paint it. A good three or four coats of flat white paint will not only protect the wood, but it can also be the reflective material you use. White flat paint is more reflective than aluminum foil if you can imagine that.

I think I can manage 1.5 foot wide. Will bathroom fans be quiet enough? ill look into that. The paint tip was necessary, as I didnt know. I also plan to use mylar for the sides for reflection. And I've decided that it might be cool to have it open from the top (with a lock) and also have it open from the front (i could have the front side on a lock to the sides). So that i can open it from the top, reach in, undo the latches that hold the front, and then let the front hinge down, so that i can sweep out the trimmings and clippings that fell to the floor. Out of curiosity, what are the dimensions of the stanley blower and what cfm does it produce?