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Stealth Nightstand Micro Grow

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semperfi8548

Hey all,

Just finished constructing a grow cab out of my nightstand. It took me about a week or two to create the light fixture, wire and fasten the fans, line the walls with reflective material, create a front door with locks, and lightproof the whole system. I want to use a hydroponic system and get HPS eventually but money is an issue right now.

Interior Dimensions: 21"W x 11"L x 21"H
Lighting System: 200W CFL Grow Light - 9,250 lumens
Ventilation: 2 x 12V Computer Fans

I started growing three bag seed plants before I finished projects; as a result, two succumbed to my carelessness while I was consumed with finishing the cabinet. I might be able to salvage the last remaining plant but it is very stretched out since its growing environment was rather unhealthy. Hopefully I will be able to bring you a more interesting grow soon.

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Please leave comments, opinions, and advice if you have any.

I will upload pictures as this adventure develops.

Thanks for stopping by,
SF8548
 
Tripsick

Tripsick

Experienced?
Veteran
how are your temps and humidity inside the cab compared to ambient?

I'm running a 250w CFL in my grow and its working great so far.

I can't wait to see how your grow turns out:canabis:
 
S

semperfi8548

Hey all,

So I started running the system and took some temperature and humidity measurements. I'm sad to say that it is not good news. I'm reluctant to give you actual numbers because its kind of embarrassing. But, by the same token it will be incredibly entertaining for everyone else.

Ambient Temp 72.5 F vs. Cab Temp 115.9
Ambient Humid 63% vs. Cab Humid 16%

As you can see, that isn't a very livable environment for anything except for maybe cacti and I'm not intending to grow cacti.

What I believe is the problem is such a large bulb in a small area, the fans are too small (they are both exhausts by the way), and most importantly is the reflective insulation. I'm not getting too discouraged though, its just a minor setback. Any comments, thoughts, and common experiences are more than welcome.

Thanks,
SF8548
 
idontsmoke

idontsmoke

Member
Hey there.
I beleave your problem is lack of intake holes.
Just drill bunch of holes in that floor or lower in back panel and that should do it.

You also might want to add another 120mm fan in front of that big CFL to blow air over the bulb
so the exaust vent behind the bulb grabs the hot air and blows it out of your box.
 
DiscoBiscuit

DiscoBiscuit

weed fiend
Veteran
Hey man, you're closer to success than it looks atm. There is more than one way to do this, I'm speaking from the method I took. It's easy to understand and actually works better than the more technical setups I tried and failed.

First off, heat rises and is exhausted most efficiently from the top of the enclosure. Ambient temps are not static. They range from the floor to the ceiling and the difference can be as much as several degrees. That said, the coolest ambient air clings to the floor. Locate intakes as low as possible. Use ducting or a baffle if necessary to keep warm exhaust air from recycling through the intake. Even a small amount of recirculation will continue to increase cab temps as long as the bulb is on.

The quickest fix IMHO would be to remove the lower exhaust fan. The open hole is now a passive intake. You'll need another passive intake hole the same size to get the air flow needed. Take your now available fan and mount it so that it blows between the canopy and bottom of the bulb. The hot spot is several inches larger than the bulb and the fan will reduce this most intense heat. The rest of the cab will benefit, thus lowering overall cab temps. The bulb cooling fan doubles as a circ fan, hardening stems and making plant structure strong.
 
DiscoBiscuit

DiscoBiscuit

weed fiend
Veteran
that's a bongo, not a vase, but i only know that because i've sat in that very room stoned to the bajeezus and played it
Click to expand...
Thought it was a gravity bong/umbrella can. I want one, could drive the neighbors bat shit crazy with that thing. You should form an IC band with Sleepy on cow bell.:biglaugh:
 
Aerohead

Aerohead

space gardener
Veteran
Don't give up just yet, Disco is correct you need to mod your cooling. When using PC fans, don't pay attention to CFM ratings as they are BS. Pay attention to how much current they draw. You will need at least 1.5 amps of PC fans to cool that cab. You are probably using less that .5 amp there. I use a single 1.26 amp PC fan to cool 165w CFL and it stays under 5 degrees F of ambient.
 
THiCk

THiCk

Member
Have both PC fans as exhaust fans and have only passive intake. You don't need an intake and exhaust fan. When cutting you passive intakes, remember to make sure the the area of the intake is ATLEAST 50% bigger than the area of the exhaust.

Area of a Circle
A=(3.14)x(radiusxradius)
 
S

semperfi8548

Hey all,

Alright, I went to the local computer store and I might've gone a little overboard, but I figured better safe than sorry. The new fans are 120MM and can draw 80.6 CFM (a cumulative 161.2 CFM). They are only .45A each but I'm guessing they amount of air they can draw will be enough to keep my cab cool? Aero, I couldn't find any fans with more amps than what I have. So unfortunately I am being forced to rely on CFM... hopefully there is some aspect of truth to those ratings (btw, beautiful PC setup). I'm intending on creating a couple passive intakes tonight. In the meantime, please comment on the new exhaust setup.

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Thanks to everyone that's offered advice or just encouraged me to continue this project. Without you I probably would've come up with some idiotic solution. Gotta love these forums.

-SF8548

p.s. Sorry the picture quality isn't the best. I think you'll get the idea though.
 
S

semperfi8548

I'm trying to bring this shit to school. Getting the thing in the car without my dad seeing it is going to be the trick. But if it fails, I'll probably bring up the PC case I'm working on. Once I scrape up enough money for the lighting system in that, I'll be done. But I'm just concentrated on this cabinet right now. You don't think this thing is overkill? Right now I'm just worried too much light is escaping from the back. Hopefully I'll figure out some solution in order to maintain the original dream of a stealthy nightstand.
 
S

semperfi8548

I got the reflective lining in, and the fan wired-up and working. I think I'm going to cut two passive intakes of equal size, in relation to the fans, a couple inches underneath the fans. Good idea or bad idea? I'll probably end up drilling a couple 3/4" passive intakes in the bottom of the unit as well. Any ideas on how to prevent the light leak problem in the back of the nightstand? Its a tough question because I want it to be stealthy without losing too much room inside the cab.

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Your input is much appreciated.
Thanks

-SF8548

By the way, the light coming out of the box is not the grow light I'm using... its tinted brown because its just a regular lamp I was using to test light leaks.
 
DiscoBiscuit

DiscoBiscuit

weed fiend
Veteran
(EDIT: take a temp check before considering the light trap idea below. It will slightly restrict air flow and temps need to be under control for this to work.)

Intakes? Check out post #9, paragraph #2.

Light trap? post #16, first picture. Cut a piece of plywood or Masonite 20" x 20". Paint it flat black on one side, both sides if you prefer. Cut small spacer blocks about 3/4" to 1" thick. You only need about 8 of em. Sandwich the spacers between the cab back and the 20 x 20 trap (black paint facing the light) and center the trap w x h. This will leave you with a 1/2" dark vent around the perimeter of the cab back. The board will block light and the spacers will allow air flow between the exhaust holes and the trap. It might be easier to glue the spacers to the trap, then attach the assembly to the cab back with screws.

You look to be pretty handy. If you entertain my suggestion and do a neat job, the fan holes won't be visible and you're dad won't be as likely to say, "what the fffff is that?"
 
Tripsick

Tripsick

Experienced?
Veteran
Put one fan blowing on the bulb when it comes on to keep it cool
Have an Active Exhaust at the top of the unit and 3 times the passive intakes near the bottom that are pulling in fresh air not the hot air that is being exhausted.

Negative pressure is good for temps an smells and all kinds of good things.

also i used the silver reflective material you are using to line your cab the first few times i tried and it keeps the heat in.
Flat white paint is better for temps i have found.
 
DiscoBiscuit

DiscoBiscuit

weed fiend
Veteran
Semperfi, you already have the makings of a good little grow box. You possess the tech and fab skills to tweak whatever you find necessary. If you're half as good at growing, you'll flip some nice bud.

What are your living arrangements? Dorm or apartment/house? On campus or off? I hate to be nosy but true stealth takes some serious imagination and something to blame the fan noise on. Odor could give you away in a NY minute.

I'm sorry to caution you again about the environment as I can't imagine a more difficult circumstance to grow with nobody but you knowing about it. When I went to school, I had too many friends that new I had the good stuff. Everybody treated me great and loved the weed but as soon as somebody got busted or didn't like me for whatever reason I got ratted out. Human nature.

Getting popped at school could risk current and or future grants and low interest loans. Be safe and be very careful.
 
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