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Lightproofing an open window without blocking the air

njayjay

Member
Like the title says, I have a window to the outside in my growroom which I want to leave open to let in air, but it needs lightproofing. However I don't want the lightproofing to block out the air since it would defeat the purpose of having the window open. So I'm wondering what the best way to block out the light while letting air flow freely would be. Peace
 

xcrispi

Member
Darkroom vents .
Back in the old days ppl. used to have to devolop pictures before all this digital mumbo jumbo . Google em .
Crispi
 

Lazyman

Overkill is under-rated.
Veteran
I usually make sure I've got a nice flat surface all the way around the window, apply some 1/2" foam insulating tape all the way around (makes a gasket) and then screw a piece of 1/2" plywood to it. Cut a hole for your A/C, or fan, and you can exhaust out the window. If using a fan and it would appear suspicious, hang some of those outdoor window rollup shades over it. If in your backyard just paint the outside of the board (the side facing out) white so it looks more normal.
 
I painted a plywood cut out and screwed it over the window. I put a black sheet between the window and the board. I cut holes for vents.
I used this now instead of a box around the window.
 
how about some blinds along with a plywood insulated box w/ an exhaust hole???

:yeahthats

When I had a grow on the second floor of a duplex I vented through casement windows with a egg-crate foam lined boxes. The denser the material you use for the box, the better. I used really heavy particle-boardish stuff, with an 8" exhaust hole, 8" duct muffler, and an 8" inline at maybe 50%ish speed, and had the intake filter last (it would have been better to have it first to keep my fan and ducting clean, but it didn't fit in the box).

It worked REALLY well -- I couldn't hear anything when I stuck my head out another window which was only like 6' away, not to mention from ground level. Additionally, my neighbors' bedroom window was like 10' away from one of my intake windows, and they couldn't hear a thing. I know because I ran into one of them in the back yard, and I asked him if the portable air conditioner (that didn't exist :D) that I had in my bedroom (that also didn't exist :D) ever bothered him when he had his window open on hot evenings, and he said he never even heard it.

Which reminds me of my favorite I-totally-live-here-it's-not-just-a-garden tactic:

Bringing my dog to a grow to take out for a piss when my neighbors are outside. You can casually probe them for security breaches, as well as convincing them that you are just a hard working guy who is away from home a lot. Which is completely true, now that I think about it. Plus, my dog loves car rides and pissing in strange yards, so she digs it too.

I also like to put out cheap patio furniture and a Weber grill, and just hang out there with a close friend or two once a month in the summer. A couple of square-looking dudes grilling out in a backyard is very soothing to the neighbors.
 
Does anybody have any issues with this exhaust setup in the winter???
sorry i dont mean to be hijacking the thread but its a potential security issue related to venting out a window.
EX heat/humidity = melting snow=potential security breach.

Random nobody only works indoors in the spring getting ready to set up outside.
 

njayjay

Member
I'm really not looking to build an exhaust system. I want the air from the open window to flow in freely, thats the whole point of my question.
 

njayjay

Member
I painted a plywood cut out and screwed it over the window. I put a black sheet between the window and the board. I cut holes for vents.
I used this now instead of a box around the window.

can u do both intakes and exhaust on the same window? peace
 
S

silent_lemon

im going to raise this thread from the dead because i think the last OP's question is a very valid question.

How do you put intake and exhaust on the same window? it's turning out very risky business as it's a lot to shove into a small opening, trying to remain stealthy, and with winter encroaching or here for some already, normal people do not have their windows wide open.

so far for exhaust i have the air thru my tent scrubber, light, 6" fan, ducting, diy muffler, 4"ducting, 2" abs(im ingenuitive) and hung above the window pointing down at the window opening, it's pretty quiet once it reaches the 2"abs and hanging above where the curtain rod is keeps it fairly stealth.

for intake at the window sill level i put an L bracket on 4" ducting and put one side of the 90* bracket hanging on the window sill with a book on it to hold the duct just below the sill running down the wall from the window, then up to a 4" fan pulling cold air into the room.

panda film over the curtain and the whole window space. staples all around keeping it light tight.

what im finding is the exhaust is heating up the whole area between the film and the window and i fear itll condensate all over when it gets colder. not even mentioning the intake, even at the bottom of the window, is pulling in hot exhaust air that's being spewed into the window crevice.

IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE INTAKE/EXHAUST IN ONE WINDOW?...
 

whadeezlrg

Just Say Grow
Veteran
save a little cash on your winter heating, route your scrubbed exhaust into the living area for a comfortable ambient temp, and use the window for intake (fan on a thermostat to keep things from getting too cold)
 

Lazyman

Overkill is under-rated.
Veteran
silent_lemon;2772288 IS THERE A WAY TO HAVE INTAKE/EXHAUST IN ONE WINDOW?...[/quote said:
Hot exhaust at the top, hopefully pointed slightly up. Intake at the bottom, pulling from a slight downward angle. If that doesn't work well enough then no, if it does, you're set! Really depends on the volume of air and size of the window opening.
 
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