pc grow - cooling a 70w hps?

[spliffmaster]

hi fellow stoners

i am having problems with my cooling!

im about to start growing in a computer case and have installed a 70 w hps, along with 5 pc fans.








my problem is that when on for a while temps still get to about 100 degrees f!

i have 2 fans either side of the case at the bottom sucking in air and another one exausting it on one side, then i have a slightly bigger one just blowing on the light, and another one inside the box with the ballast exausting air

srry if it sounds confusing lol

i was just wondering if anyone knew if there was a more "efficient" way of using the fans? or whether i shoul just install a bigger fan blowing on the light.

my alternative is to build a cool tube but i wouldnt know where to start especially in such a small space! thanks,
spliffmaster

 

[mdanzig]

Use a 125 watt compact Fluoro. I highly suggerst you dont use an HPS in such amall space.

 

[inefectualize]

water cool it!

 

[mrbiggs]

what mdanzig said, also try 2 fans in 3 fans out you want more out than in, lol .
if you have to use the hps try getting some toughened glass place just below the bulb creating a seperate compartment then vent the top compartment with 1 in 1 out and the lower 1 in 2 out and try and put ballast on out side. hope this helps.

stay safe

 

[Danksta408]

Wouldn't that cause resistance and cause the fans to work against each other and using more power and make tha fan motor run hotter??

 

[mdanzig]

Check this out. Its a custom PC case grow box, and they use 125 watt compact fluoros.

http://www.homegrown-hydroponics.com/lapccotogrbo.html

 

[mrbiggs]

hi Danksta408,
2 in 2 out then but with pc fans dont think you will get much resistance and seems to me that it would be more efficient at removing the heat,you could be right on the power efficientcy front.what do you think?
stay safe.

 

[Pseudo]

im not dissin micro growers, i just dont get it, why take the risk for a tiny reward?
if your gonna tiptoe on ice you might as well dance

 

[stihgnobevoli]

micro growers like stealth mostly, and in most stated less than 6 plants is a misdemeanor with a fine. more than 6 is jail time.

you should be able to cool a 70w easy. i used to have a 50whps in a rubbermaid and they dont throw off that much heat. if you have good exhaust and intake this shouldnt be a problem. you should also have a fan blowing across the bulb itself. the fan blowing the bulb keeps it cool and blows the hot air away... hopefully for your exhaust to take care of.

 

[spliffmaster]

thanks for your responses guys! im growing in a pc case because if i do it this way i can still grow, im not bothered about how much i get from it, its a good little hobby!

i tried one of those 125 w cfls and it was way too big and turned it into an oven, so i got the hps instead. i like the idea of getting some toughened glass but wouldnt know where to get some thats the right siz e etc. im gna try a few little tweaks and then fully light proof the comp then il be ready to go (hopefully)
oh and also how would i go about water cooling it?
thanks again
spliffmaster

 

[MicroHope]

Go to the hardware store and tell them you want tempered glass. They should cut it to size.

 

[HinduKushed_423]

no need for tempered glass

no need for tempered glass

your trying to cool a 70w hps, looks like your working with a mid tower pc case ?

regardless the way i approached my set up , which is a 100w hps , which i put a glass partition about 5" from the top of the case at one end is a little bit of a gap so air from below gets pulled through the boxed in bulb. i use 1 120mm x 25mm 120v fan to cool whole thing sometimes i even put in additional cfl lights to add more blue ,temps stay with in 74 - 80f, also my pc case is a full tower, that measures 9"w x 16"d x 26"t. if ya wanted too ya could even just have the cool tube or box separate from the chamber you have enough fans, take 2 hook up for light and the 3rd to cool chamber with plants ?


oh yeah that pic is before i put in the hps, so the area above the bar on the side is where i built a box with glass bottom and gap at one end to act as my air cooled hood

 

[mdanzig]

thanks for your responses guys! im growing in a pc case because if i do it this way i can still grow, im not bothered about how much i get from it, its a good little hobby!

i tried one of those 125 w cfls and it was way too big and turned it into an oven, so i got the hps instead. i like the idea of getting some toughened glass but wouldnt know where to get some thats the right siz e etc. im gna try a few little tweaks and then fully light proof the comp then il be ready to go (hopefully)
oh and also how would i go about water cooling it?
thanks again
spliffmaster

Dude, your saying a 125 watt CFL runs hotter than a 70 watt HPS? Wow, I never heard that before. I also use this as a hobby. Runs with two 26 watt compact CFL's.

 

[Cozy Amnesia]

Dude, your saying a 125 watt CFL runs hotter than a 70 watt HPS? Wow, I never heard that before. I also use this as a hobby. Runs with two 26 watt compact CFL's.

Of course they run hotter, they're using more watts! Whether or not this will make your pc case hotter depends on ventillation -- that is, any air movement will be enough to cool the CFLs. You see, CFLs emit light from the entire perimeter of the tub so that the heat is much more spread out than HPS, and this is why they are easier to cool.

Any ways, spliffmaster, I say use the 70w HPS still. You should be able to control temps much better if you use HinduKushed_423's setup (the way he uses glass to sheild bulb from the plants) and if you setup the ballast remotely. Good luck!

EDIT: you don't want to water cool anything, that's pretty much a joke.

 

[jahman]

high there! Well, i use to cool my 70 w hps , with two pc fans...and of course i put a glass between my plants and the lamp...im having temps between 26/28 C.

 

[NanoScroger]

125w cfl puts off more heat than a 70w hps. i will take some pics of a pc setup with 70hps for ya in the next day or so so you can check her out.

your lucky, your power supply is all the way at the top! mines not

 

[spliffmaster]

thanks for your help guys, am definately gona go with the glass idea, just need to get it and then install!

yea i bought a cfl first and it would barely fit in the case, and was really hot after running it for about an hour, so i bought a 70w hps instead. will keep you updated, and hopefully upload more pics wen everything is up and running!
oh and also just for funzies look at the plant i grew outside last year lol, it got to bout 8 feet and i have kept the stem and varnished it as my very own marijuana "pimp stick". im not stoned right now, honestly.....

 

[NanoScroger]

keep in mind the glass will absorb alot of the energy that 70w puts out, which looks to be barely enough as it is.

on this pc i made a plate to mount 4 90mm {30 cfm} fans in the rom drive location. during the tests 2 were pushing air out, one pushing air in. one was not running. temp held at about 5 degree above ambient. {85} when finished all 4 of these fans will be exhaust, 3 120mm fans will be pushing air in from the back/bottom of the case. remember heat rises so use the convection currents to your advantage, dont try and fight them.

 

[Mr Bubbles]

look for mr. micro pc grow 3. its a great template to work with.

 

[NanoScroger]

here is the link i think he was reffering to, i got the same case as that, i just dont really like his setup because it is not at all stealth. mine has to look like a normal pc from the outside.

Mr Micro pc3