Air cooled lights, CFM???

[Befri]

I wanted to get some advice.

I was running a single 1K HPS hortulix bulb with a mag style ballast. I going to add another light to the system. NextGen ballast 1K HPS. I'm currently using a 6"(435cfm) Vortex fan in air cooled hoods. The Air is being pulled in from under the house(60-70F). Should I upgrade the duct fan to 10"? I have made a practice run and noticed my room went from 83F to 90F when running both lights. But one thing I did notice to is that the 6" Vortex fan(1.5yrs old) is not blowing now were as much air as the new 6" Valuline fan I just bought for the Carbon scrubber. The total length of ducting 12' from fan to exhaust. I am running CO2 in a sealed room with A/C. When the lights are OFF the room temp is at 75F. But with lights on the room is 90F....

Here is a link to my current grow:

http://icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=122442

 

[customelement]

If you are already noticing a drop in performance on your vortex, i'd look at replacing that first. According to the sites I've read (I was looking at buying the same Vortex less then a month ago) the 6" Vortex should be able to cover 2x 1Kw hps. Not to mention, if it's already on the slipperly slope of failing, do you really wanna be mid grow when it does go, or dies enough it's not worth having there at all?

 

[Befri]

thanks Custom.

I bough a new fan today....and going to bring back the vortex to have checked. They might replace it with a new...then I will have a extra fan
Better safe then SORRY!!

 

[Elcap]

How big is your AC? You should be able to do a 2k sealed room without air cooling the lights with no temp issues at all with 12kbtu unit. If you're using CO2 you want higher temps anyway..like 80-85.

Are you running your lights-on cycle at night?

 

[FreezerBoy]

They might replace it with a new

As I recall, Vortex has a 10 year warranty. You should be covered.

 

[milehighmedical]

I run a 10k btu a/c (which is 4-5 years old, p.o.s.) in a 6x9 with a 1000w and a 600w in 6" a/c'd hoods all in a sealed room. My temperatures stay in the low 70s, one time the ducting got disconnected and I had a very quick 10+ degree jump. But I only have a 6" valuline which pulls from a scrubber and goes through both lights and doesn't even vent out of the room.

An a/c should have no problem keeping it all down on, even on its lowest setting.

 

[Elcap]

Milehigh,

You're just doing this in your sealed room with the air:

Grow room->CAN filter->hoods->fan->grow room?

So you're not using outside air to cool the lights and you're not removing that heat from the lights from the room (not counting the AC)?
Are you doing that just to be able to get the lights down closer to the plants without radiant heat issues?

 

[Befri]

Milehigh,

You're just doing this in your sealed room with the air:

Grow room->CAN filter->hoods->fan->grow room?

So you're not using outside air to cool the lights and you're not removing that heat from the lights from the room (not counting the AC)?
Are you doing that just to be able to get the lights down closer to the plants without radiant heat issues?

actually I'm cooling the hoods with cool air from outside....The hoods are being cooled with a 6" fan by themselves.

Flower room->Can filter(6"fan)->Veg room->Flower room(6" fan return)

A/C is now in the flower room(15MBTU 12amp wall mount). But the air in the veg room is getting to hot now. So I'm going to seal the flwer room by itself...then vent the veg room outside with a return vent bring in fresh air to the VEG room only. Keeping the Flower room sealed with a/c,co2, 2K lights..with fans. This should solve the issues.....I think!!

 

[milehighmedical]

That might be part of your problem. I know a lot of people do it that way, but in my room the a/c kicks out cold air which sinks to the floor and is sucked in through the carbon filter (which is sitting on the floor) > fan (on top of the filter, sucking) > 4-5 ft. of ducting > 1000w light > back into the room. The cold air from the a/c flowing directly over the 1000w bulb keeps the reflector glass almost cool to the touch. I have my light over 12" away but I could move it even lower.

Edit: Oops, I mis-read your last post. Looks like you have it figured out. Are you running fluoro or MH in your veg room? What are your outdoor temps? I vent my veg cab into the room its in (high 60s to low 70s) with a 4" desk fan pushing out and a passive intake. I only have fluorescents though.

 

[Befri]

That might be part of your problem. I know a lot of people do it that way, but in my room the a/c kicks out cold air which sinks to the floor and is sucked in through the carbon filter (which is sitting on the floor) > fan (on top of the filter, sucking) > 4-5 ft. of ducting > 1000w light > back into the room. The cold air from the a/c flowing directly over the 1000w bulb keeps the reflector glass almost cool to the touch. I have my light over 12" away but I could move it even lower.

Edit: Oops, I mis-read your last post. Looks like you have it figured out. Are you running fluoro or MH in your veg room? What are your outdoor temps? I vent my veg cab into the room its in (high 60s to low 70s) with a 4" desk fan pushing out and a passive intake. I only have fluorescents though.

Outside temps are about 55 right now...I'm using fluoro T-5 432 8 bulb light for veg.

 

[Befri]

I posted this in the a/c calculator thread...but I haven't received any help yet. So I will try here......

Need some help here:

I have been struggling with a heat issue in my sealed room. Here are the stats:
Basement style grow room 12'x8'x6'8"
I split this room into a VEG(7x8) and flower(5x8)

Veg is T-5 432watt light

Flower is 2-1k air cooled lights(sealed hoods with cool air and exhausting outside the room)

The way my basement was sent up(game room) the a/c that was already there(wall mount 6M btu). So I keep the a/c there and tried to use it. The flower and veg room have 2-6" fans transferring air between each other with a scrubber between the two. So my original thought was to run the 6M btu a/c to try and cool both rooms. That didn't work...the veg stayed ok at 75F but the flower stayed around 90-92F. SO then I went and bought a 15M btu a/c(wall mount) to hang in the flower room. After putting it in....it looked to big. But I figured that I needed the "big" a/c. Well the a/c cycles on and off with both rooms still exchanging air between them two. The only way I can get the rooms to stay stable is run the 15M and the little 6M in both rooms. The reason why is the BIG DOG a/c wont stay on long enough to cool the rooms down. I do have the a/c on low(speed 1) and still no help!

If I did the formula on this thread and adding up all the components between both rooms I'm at 10625 BTU needed. Now that is not counting the DH if needed. I would think the a/c would take care of that. If not I have a 65pint DH on hand if needed.

So should I take the 15M a/c back and get the 12M Btu??

Will I ever get both rooms to stay somewhat stable in the ideal temps??