So I'm just about done with my cab construction, but have a few tweaks I need to work out. As it stands now temps are at about 85-87 which I obviously need to bring down. I have 2 separate fans, one for scrubbing and one dedicated to cooling the 400w. But due to improper planning I cut a hole for the exhaust from the light and it was in a spot that prevented me from mounting the fan inside the cab. So it's currently setting on top. http://www.growkind.com/gallery/data/500/medium/162.jpg http://www.growkind.com/gallery/data/500/medium/233.jpg As you can see it's a little tight in there so although the fan would have fit inside, it would have been a challenge. I'm running S&P mixvent fans as they produce pretty much no noise at all and obviously stealth was key. What sucks is that by placing the fan on top of the cab it puts more length in between the hood and fan, which is contributing to my temp issues. I know this because i originally had the light hanging down toward the bottom of the cab and just raising it to the top cut temps down by like 6 degrees. My other issue is that in order to keep support in cab, I elected to cut a square into the top shelf rather than just removing it. I was concerned with removing it and the cab warping in from the weight of the equipment. But since I now have to hang the reflector up near the top of the cab, it only leaves about a 2" gap in the front and back and about 1/2 on each side. I'm thinking this is contributing to the heat issues since the fan attached to the srubber is mounted in the top part of the cab and the air can only move around the hood. http://www.growkind.com/gallery/data/500/medium/327.jpg One solution I came up with is I could cut an additional hole in the back of the cab so that the fan is pulling fresh, cooler air through the hood rather than just pulling the hot air. I'm hoping some of you guys that run cabs can chime in as I was looking to flip in about a week and want these temp issues kept in check since once the stink arrives I can't really be leaving the doors open like I am now. If I can't get this squared away I may have to go out and buy another cab and do it so that the fan can be mounted inside right next to the hood, but I would obviously rather not do that.
I would say that cutting a second hole for cool outside air to come in through your hood is a good idea for two reasons. 1: Cooler air passing through the hood will cool the light more efficiently therefore lowering the temps in the cabinet. 2: Your scrubber fan is separate from your light's cooling fan and so as it sits now the cooling fan is exhausting air pulled from inside the cabinet that does not pass through the scrubber to eliminate smell. Placing a dedicated duct to the outside for your light's air intake would eliminate this problem. Looks like a nice little cabinet overall though. :thumbs-up: A good friend of mine wants me to design a stealth grow cabinet for him that can be placed into his closet so I like to look at all the other peoples ideals to help me design one for him.
I figure bringing air from outside will help with temps, but I'm not pulling out air from the cab as the other side of the reflector is sealed so that no air is being drawn from the cab. Everything is sealed nice so I know that all the air that is being exhausted from the room will be going through the filter, I'm just concerned about the limited space the air has to move around the reflector. I'm thinking it will impede my air flow and in turn not exhaust as efficiently as it should.
Thanks man, but unless it becomes more functional it's all for nothing. It's like bringing home that bangin chick from the bar and finding out she has roast beef down below. Sexy looking, but not doable!!!!
What??? That doesn't make sense. I must be misunderstanding something. What is the fan and duct for then? I do understand the core of your post as to wether the tight space around you light at the shelf will constrict the air flow. I don't think so. But if you want to make sure just drill a couple few 2" holes near the corners of the shelf. Retiree
What I'm saying is as of now my fan pulls through my reflector, which is sealed on one side and has the fan attached to the other. So all my fan is doing is removing the hot air coming off the bulb. My hopes were that if I cut another hole in the back of the cab, I can pull cool ambient air from outside through the hood hopefully bringing down temps.
Where is the air intake for the fan that is exhausting the air from the reflector? If the reflector is sealed on one side then the fan is not going to do much cooling if there is no inlet for the air to flow. Too much negative pressure inside the reflector. I figured that the reflector was like most air cooled hoods with two flanges to attach ductwork. One is the intake for cool air and the other is the exhaust side, so I guess I'm not following you...
First love the cabinet and I am a big fan of medium sized stealth grow cabinets. Everyone is right, you got to have air going past the bulb or it is doing didly. Imo I would get rid of the wood that is at the bottom of the light, that alone will bring the temp down through the scrubber. Also get temps in three different locations in the cab; canapy level, light level and above the hood. You'll find out where the heat needs to be moved. Or unblock the side of the light you said you sealed and put a 90 degree angle and through the wood to grab the heat. Just ideas. and thinking outloud. Looks nice and neat. :thumbs-up:
Well.....cut a hole in the back of the cab and don't ask me how but temps have gone up and now are hitting upper 90's. Part of it is obviously since I'm exhausting into the room the cab is in. I really thought it would at least take it down a few degrees certainly didn't expect it to get hotter. My last hope is to move it to my basement in hopes that the much cooler ambient temp in the room will help to keep things cooler. This is why you don't start shit til you've built and tested your cab since I was suppose to having this flowering 2 days ago.
Have you plumbed this hole to your hood? If so I don't undertand either. I am going to assume you cut the hole in the upper portion of your cab and if you have your temps are going up because you are now pulling less air from below where your plants are and where the heat is concentrated. Get that hole plumbed into your hood where your exhaust fan can do some good. Don't get discouraged. Every misstep is a step in the right direction as far as I'm concerned. Finding out what doesn't work is prerequisite to doing what does. asssit: opcorn-2: Retiree
Of course it's in the hood bro......it's an air cooled hood. I'm pretty sure the problem is that the cab sits in a room and doesn't vent to an outside room, so all the warm air brings the ambient temp in the room up. But that was kind of the point of the cab and its construction.......to not have a long duct run attached to it. I'm going to try moving it to the basement to see if that will help. I really don't wanna have to set my tent back up due to the fact that's about as stealth as an elephant.
