PC fan/carbon scrubber set up that works?

[D.B. Cooper]

I am working on a Micro? cab (24"x22"x44" grow area) and am using the following for the DIY carbon scrubber.

120mm x 120mm x 38mm
120 volt, 20 watts
65cfm free air flow
38db

I am pulling thru a manufactured duct fitting (4"x10") that is filled with a 1-1/2" deep bed of activated carbon. I think that the fan pulls about 30 cfm with the carbon scrubber in place so the ventilation rate is fine. I have tested with an open tuna fish can and the results seem fine.

The Febreze gadget will probably take care of anything that escapes.

I use the same fan to ventilate my sealed CFL light fixture with only a 5 degree rise in temperatures in the cabinet.

 

[maryjohn]

Hey Scrub,
Thanks for the info, how big is your Phat filter? Did you run that full flower too? I am not saying less than an inch wont work, but anything less than that can cause pockets that can let smell out IMHO. I have made more than one ghetto carbon screen, using furnace heater filters layered...they worked, not 100 percent...but I didnt really care as much back then. The secret to any filter working right is to make sure all air is scubbed. I have made a couple Can style scrubbers, that work 100 percent...but they are hooked up to much bigger fans. Obviously your Phat filter is pretty big, so with the right fan it should work fine. BTW, how do you like your HomeBox XS? Almost same dimensions as the lil cab this PC fan filter combo would be in.

MaryJohn,
Have you used your filter during full flower yet? Veg smell and full flower are much different in stank factor, just making sure it works during the most stinky time! Would be nice to have the filter on the outside, to save a lil space....as long as it does not smell at all.
Any suggestions on a good yet cheap pc fan that would work well? Seems like Delta is a good brand? Dont wanna spend over 25 bucks on a pc fan, so keep that in mind. Thanks alot guys

I am indeed talking full flower. My scrubber is also a light trap, so if it shifts around I can tell right away. With cheap pc fans I run 10F above ambient at scrog level. I got some high end delta fans for my new bin. Should be much better.

 

[slowandeasy]

Hey MJ,
Cool, glad it works out for you full flower! How much did you pay for your Delta set up? Was checking out some options, but dont wanna spend much. Dont really wanna buy a power source, have an adjustable volt Wal Wart...but not sure on amps. Not willing to pay alot, this is just for the hell of it because of extra stuff laying around. So, any suggestions? Good luck on your new bin!

 

[maryjohn]

The wal mart supply will not cut it with decent fans. I have a variable one made for labs, but once I use it to figure out which voltage I want I will be converting a psu I got for 5$. Actually I got 4 of them for 20. Will use one to set up a friend, will probably give one away and keep a spare.

Can't remember the price on the deltas and I am away from home at the moment. Got them from sidewinder computers.

Check craigslist for the power supplies. Scrub posted directions.

 

[xOOx]

not sure how much space you have outside the cab, or if you want it totally scrubber hidden inside only..

i've gone thru all this stuff trying to figure out how to cover smell issues.. tried lots and lots of different things, i also built that pencil holder 6 inch/4inch filter, and stuck it inside my pc case (not flowering in pc case, just a bonsai mom holder) it does work..but i can't tell if it's any better then a fabreeze and swapping filters when they run out. i think its probably equal, just lasts longer, since its more carbon. the pencil thing works in either direction if you pop a fan ontop and blow up, or reverse it and blow air into it. i tested by using little pieces of tissue paper on the outside of the filter to see that it was holding (via suction) the tissue paper to the walls.. so even tho airflow might not be a max, it was def sucking in thru all sides of that pencil case.

if your going on the cheap..you could just fill up a plastic garbage/trash can/or even a heavy duty contractor plastic bag..with activated carbon, and bury an exhaust end halfway down into it..then fill it to the top with carbon..then just give it all the fan power u got chained into the exhaust end run.. i'd imagine air would go in there and percolate up eventually..getting scrubbed along the way trying to escape..just cover the exhaust end with a stocking or something to prevent carbon from going up into it after your bury the the duct run..no need to put all those holes all over it, just let the air try to find its way out, and don't use super fine carbon granules..use the bigger lumpier stuff so air can wiggle its way out (it has to go somewhere). like aquarium activated carbon .. thing is you might get some resistance from that, and i can see it working just fine on odor, but not enuff pull to cool..worth a shot tho, very easy

just adding some ideas.. keeping it super simple, yet functional..

xoox

 

[theratings]

Alright, since you said the RedGreenery idea wasn't for you:

I suggest searching Vaportronic on these forums. Never used one, but it might be interesting for your application. Apparently they work well to contain smell but you have to buy new discs every so often.

 

[xOOx]

did that vapor thing too, don't bother with the machines, just buy the refill discs..put a disc in a solo cup, cover the cup with some saran wrap..and poke a hole in it, add holes if u need to emit more stink..until it covers the skunk..

one disc all by itself out in the open is wayyy stinky on its own (while covering up the skunk).. only the ones that say 'neutral' scent work against weed. it has an odor of its own, kinda like Hall's menthol cough drops/eucalyptus scent - if you've ever had a dog that got skunked, if you know that skunk-off stuff, that's the odor it has. if you get to emit just enuff of the vapor that equals the amount of weed stink, it will kinda balance to nothing, but it's one TOUGH job, it can be done..but PIA

xoox

 

[southpaw]

Yeah, Vaportronics are tricky.

Pros... Simple, battery powered, effective at covering smells.

Cons... Fairly expensive ($35 plus shipping for 12 "neutral" discs, which depending on strain and flowering time may all be used during the course of a grow), and initial smell from a new disc can be overpowering. Your spot won't smell like weed, but it will smell very strongly of "something". xOOx is right on the money.

I've extended the lives of the discs by sticking old "dried out" ones into the grating of a small oscillating fan. This plus a new disc in the unit usually do the trick without turning the whole place into a eucalyptus grove candy stand.

Overall, if you have DIY skills and absolutely must have stealth, carbon is your answer.

 

[ScrubNinja]

If you don't want to use a filter at all, look up BioZone...it's not one of those disc/smelly things. Gets good reviews on here.

Use a PSU to power large fans, you can get many voltages out of them, simply.

 

[slowandeasy]

The Ultra Kaze 3000, is ultra loud! I had it plugged into a 5 volt power cord, so not even half stregth? Makes some weird noise, not like air moving. Almost like a zing? Taking it back, just bought it today...to see how it worked. Thing would move some air, but that noise is not tolerable. Might be those fins ScrubNinja is talking about? Will see what else is out there.

 

[ScrubNinja]

The scythe doesn't have the fins I was talking about. This is them:



The real blades are spinning too fast to see. The ones you see are fixed, it eliminates the dead spot in the middle of the flow where the motor is (no good to growers)

I have no idea what the zing is. Some fans perform better than others at over or under volting. I know if I use my generic hydro store fan controller on a generic 6" axial inline, it makes an electronic groan sort of sound if slowed much at all. I guess that could be called a zing. My SF2s run silent at 4.5v.

Carbon filter and insulated ducting will help considerably with noise but sounds like a faulty fan, or an ac adapter or something.