Ok, Zombi needs new lights, but I'm Lost!

[zombi3girl]

Ok...so right now my plants are doing OK under the 2 23w cfl and 2 42w cfl in a box about 26"w by 40" h and 24"d...but I am having some temp issues with these bulbs and it's just becoming too much of a headache. That having been said, I don't wanna invest HPS money in a project this small(and it would make my heat issue worse), so I was thinking about T5's, I think that would eliminate my heat issues. I need a solution under $150 for about 6 small plants. Does anyone recommend any good vendors? It's hard to sort out bullshit when shopping for lights online. Are there any alternatives to the marketed grow lights?


Please and Thankies!



~Zombi

 

[green_grow]

what are you using for intake/exhaust ? what are your ambient temps ? you might solve the problem with better air exchange rather than changing your entire lighting set-up. do you have a pic or 2 of your cabinet ?

 

[zombi3girl]

I don't have any pics of this cabinet yet...it was kinda an emergency "I have to move now!" project to save a few plants, intake is a 10" fan and a little duct...for exhaust I used an old bathroom exhaust fan I had around...also I have 2 4" fans near the lights...when the light are off the temps are around 70 degrees...when the lights are on the highest reading was 93degrees on average(and one very sad day of 104 when the A/C was killed)...I can usually manage to keep it around 85 though...I've never built anything this small in such a short amount of time, I'm not really sure how to deal with temp issues in enclosed spaces. I'll try to get some pics.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I'm with Green Grow. My first thought goes to ventilation. It sounds like you're pushing air around rather than drawing it through. A proper vent fan (meaning one that attaches to ducting or can be flush mounted to the wall) with a couple of intakes may solve the problem AND allow for stronger lights as well. Note the fan needn't be some $500 Vortex. In a garden that size a $10 axial is probably fine.

Pics would be nice.

 

[enigmatik]

zombi, were having the same issue cooling my friends box with almost the same temps as you got goin on. Is your intake fan blowing directly on your lights?

Our solution we planned so far is to exchange as much air as possible(while staying economical$) over and through the lights. So were installing 2 100cfm intake fans blowing directly at the lights and 2 100cfm exhaust fans pulling over/through the lights.

With a 78cfm intake fan and the 100cfm exhaust fan the temps in the cab are around 93.

Here's a link to the thread: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=92371

I'll keep ya posted on how the new fix works out.

 

[zombi3girl]

Yes, I definitely need to address my venting issues...but I think I'm going to replace the lights too...this box was meant to be a temporary thing, but I like it's small size and it's about 30"wide...I think I said 24" before. I've been reading up on lights and I could increase my light output for relatively cheap...I want to be able to pack more small plants without having to worry about the not having enough light...

I'm going to home depot tomorrow to buy a decent vent fan...Thankies Freezerboy *hugs*

I'll check out that thread Enigmatik, thankies *hugs*

As for lighting, I was wondering if anyone has had any good experiences with any specific brands? Any recommendations?

Here are the specs for a fixture being sold locally...I found it online for $229, but there's a listing for one for $150, still in warranty.

New Wave 192W 2FT - 8 Lamp T5 fluorescent grow light produces 16.000 lumens with 3000 Kelvin lamps for flowering & fruiting growth

* 192 watt 2-ft 95% reflective T5 fluorescent grow light.
* Includes 8-3000 Kelvin Fluorescent lamps for flowering & fruiting growth
* Lumen Output: 16,000 lumens
* Fixture dimensions: 21.3"Lx22.8"Wx3.5"H
* Growing Area: 2ft x 4ft
* Solid state electronic ballasts
* Includes standard chrome "V" hangers


I'd love to free up some space by getting rid of the light bulbs.

 

[GET MO]

U could try 1000bulbs.com, I orderred my cfl's from them and they came in good shape.

 

[FreezerBoy]

My cabs about your size. 22" x 29" x 54". My fan is a 120 mm (4 inch) 76 CFM axial. With a 150 HPS, all I needed was one matching intake. My new 250 CMH turned the cab into an Easy Bake Oven. Doubling the intake cured the problem (two passive 4" intakes, one 4" fan forced exhaust)

With 2X intakes, my fan still ramps up and down whenever I close or open the door. I'm tempted to try 3X intakes. There are those here who swear by 4X.

 

[messn'n'gommin']

I don't have any pics of this cabinet yet...it was kinda an emergency "I have to move now!" project to save a few plants, intake is a 10" fan and a little duct...for exhaust I used an old bathroom exhaust fan I had around...also I have 2 4" fans near the lights...when the light are off the temps are around 70 degrees...when the lights are on the highest reading was 93degrees on average(and one very sad day of 104 when the A/C was killed)...I can usually manage to keep it around 85 though...I've never built anything this small in such a short amount of time, I'm not really sure how to deal with temp issues in enclosed spaces. I'll try to get some pics.

I have an experiment for you. The next time you are out and about, stop in any fast food place and get a half dozen drinking straws. When you get home take them out of the wrapper and bundle five of them together with a rubberband. Do some calisthenics or run around the block or on a treadmill or do whatever, until you're breathing at a pretty fair clip. Put the single straw in your mouth and pinch your nostrils together and breathe through the one straw. Quickly add the bundle of five, with the single, and pinch off your nostrils again. Which is easier to breathe through?