Super Stealth Advice Needed for Venting

[messn'n'gommin']

Well, after a very long night, I got them in the room and cranked em for a while after upgrading a breaker so that it could handle the load. I'm now running 18 amps on wire that was originally intended for a 15amp breaker anyone with electrical experience think there will be a problem with this? If that wasn't bad enough, the breaker I replaced was the 15 amp and arc fault combo and I put in just a 20 amp to handle the 18 amps. So no more Arc Fault!!! Hopefully someone with more experience than me can tell me this will be safe...

STOP!!!

What you are doing is dangerous! I have little electrical experience, but, I do know that putting a higher amperage breaker in place of a lower rated one can seriously overload a circuit! Please! Change it back and grow smaller or divide your grow on two separate circuits! Please!

Namaste, mess

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

If you want to grow you need to really be safe, it doesn't sound like even w/ the way you are doing things that you are getting desirable results. I would scrap it and go back to the drawing board. 90? That's fucking hot man. Too hot IMO. The electrical? Not good. Planning on adding more w/ the AC? Not good. Not bitching at you, just want to help, you need to rethink what you are doing, I don't forsee anything good as an end result, just trying to save you some time.

 

[intlplayr]

If you want to grow you need to really be safe, it doesn't sound like even w/ the way you are doing things that you are getting desirable results. I would scrap it and go back to the drawing board. 90? That's fucking hot man. Too hot IMO. The electrical? Not good. Planning on adding more w/ the AC? Not good. Not bitching at you, just want to help, you need to rethink what you are doing, I don't forsee anything good as an end result, just trying to save you some time.

Totally! That's why I'm here dude. Trying to rethink and asking on these forums as well to try to generate ideas and learn from other people's experience while perhaps shedding a little light on anyone that may be doing the same at some later point that comes across this thread.

The A/C would be added on a dif circuit by the way in case the "adding more" you said was talking about the amperage.

I appreciate any ideas anyone can through my way.

Another option is to duct the heat from each light separately. Each machine has 3 4 inch ports that generate heat (2x400W port and the post for the ballast). This would mean a total of 9 4 inch ducts.

I guess I would have to duct them into a box and then run ducting form the box to the bathroom vent?

Doing it this way I'm sure would dramatically reduce the heat and would be easy enough (I think) with the proper flanges and ducting.
who knows, as a side benefit this may even cut back on some of that dreaded fan noise that was getting pretty loud yesterday. Might need a portable A/C as well,

What do you guys think?

 

[intlplayr]

STOP!!!

What you are doing is dangerous! I have little electrical experience, but, I do know that putting a higher amperage breaker in place of a lower rated one can seriously overload a circuit! Please! Change it back and grow smaller or divide your grow on two separate circuits! Please!

Namaste, mess

Lol, ya you're right. Maybe I can buy another extension cord and plug it into another circuit. I guess safety should trump neatness in the end shouldn't it. That way I can put the arc fault back in place which I found is in there for a pretty good reason when I came across this thread about how to NOT burn your place down and how to fireproof your home HERE

Thanks for the kick in the ass and the reminder... Safety should always trump...

 

[intlplayr]

Oh Ohhhhh! I just found out my clones are ready and I haven't worked out these ventilation issues yet!!! Pickin them up today and I don;t have a safe environment for them yet!!

Off to search ventilation forums and then buy and A/C and some materials for that ventilation box to hopefully have this ready by tonight!

Any words of wisdom before I go buy all this stuff guys???

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

^^
Get a simple uv/cfl fixture and veg them under those until you figure out your issues, it will buy you some time, and won't cook your clones. Then you just need to exchange air as needed and not worry so much about the heat, then you will have time to put together a solid solution instead of rushing it. Glad to hear you are changing up the electrical stuff, that's a good thing.

 

[intlplayr]

^^
Get a simple uv/cfl fixture and veg them under those until you figure out your issues, it will buy you some time, and won't cook your clones. Then you just need to exchange air as needed and not worry so much about the heat, then you will have time to put together a solid solution instead of rushing it. Glad to hear you are changing up the electrical stuff, that's a good thing.

Good idea! Off to the store now!

 

[IE2KS_KUSH]

Another plus is that you won't have to worry about smell so much if they are just in veg, just be sure to keep them very close to the light source so that they don't get too stretchy on you. They should be fine though, I have kept clones and mums under a 4 ft t12 for very long periods, good luck.

 

[Gr33nman]

pardon me if i missed it but if you want to stealth the room why have them in the cabs? just space out the lights and go for it.

 

[intlplayr]

Gr33nman: the cab's are nice because they automate the CO2, the lights, the intake / exhaust, air pump, top feed and they're on wheels and are quickly moved if need be and the whole room actually. Basically plug and play right out the box. In one word, convenience.

---------------------------------

Well, I mad a trip down to my local G-store and ended up getting a couple 2 ft long T5's and set them up on a retractable yoyo and have them hovering over my babies a few inches from the 2 domes. They got a bit roughed up before I got my hands on them unfortunately and some of the leaves are even yellow but I'm sure the T5's will coax them back to vigor in no time, and hopefully just in time for once I have my room dialed. I alos got 10 Ak-47 seeds from serious that finished soaking for the 24 hr period and have now made the switch over to a damp paper towel. They'll hang there for a few days prolly until they're sprouted and ready to plant (staying in 24*C darkness. Clones are at 22*C and 98% humidity)

In order to get my room dialed in the meantime as far as temps go, I plan to build a wooden box that I'll vent the lights into. Each machine has 3 4inch exhausts (1 for each of the 2 400W lights and 1 for the ballast / air pump / timer section). That means I'll have 9 4 inch ducts coming into this box altogether.

From the box I have some 6 inch ducting waiting to connect the box and the bathroom fan. The bathroom fan is less than 3 yrs old and looks like a miniature squirrel fan. I'm hoping this will have enough juice to pull all the hot air from the box out through the bathroom fan and onwards until it eventually exits the building. Do you think this bathroom fan will have enough juice to clear everything else out? Remember that at the back of each cab where the light exhaust is there is 1 Rodale A/C Axial Ball Bearing Fan for each 400W light and it was hard for me to believe but I think the BCNL rep told me that each of these shoots out 125 CFM (not too sure about that though but I better double check)

On top of that I was going to buy a portable A/C tomorrow and put that in the room also. If all this doesn;t clear up the temp problems than I'll have to smoke a doob and really mediatate on this for a while...

It's planned to exhaust the A/C into this same box as well. Good plan?

I'm always second guessing myself and like as much feedback as possible from people in the know, so please point out if you notice any areas for improvement as my goal is grow the best herbs that I can....

 

[messn'n'gommin']

Just my . But, any ventilation system is restricted by its smallest aperture. So, you will have to balance what you need with what you have to work with. That being said, if possible, are you able to tap into the dryer vent as well? I’m betting that your bathroom vent is going to be a pretty fair run and overcoming the static pressure would be a bit easier if you could add the dryer vent into the equation (drying clothes during lights off).

Another thing to consider, but considerably more dangerous (and not really recommended unless you or a close friend know what you are doing!) is bypassing the bathroom fan or disabling it altogether (but leaving power to the light) to tap directly into the vent.

Good luck!

Namaste, mess

 

[intlplayr]

Just my . But, any ventilation system is restricted by its smallest aperture. So, you will have to balance what you need with what you have to work with. That being said, if possible, are you able to tap into the dryer vent as well? I’m betting that your bathroom vent is going to be a pretty fair run and overcoming the static pressure would be a bit easier if you could add the dryer vent into the equation (drying clothes during lights off).

Another thing to consider, but considerably more dangerous (and not really recommended unless you or a close friend know what you are doing!) is bypassing the bathroom fan or disabling it altogether (but leaving power to the light) to tap directly into the vent.

Good luck!

Namaste, mess

Thanks man. Actually, I could use the dryer vent as well but it would open up a whole new can of worms where smell is concerned because then I'd have to open a door (or cut a hole) into the main room where the insuite laundry are. I'm noticing these PK clones are already starting to smell a little, so I will need to address this next

I'm very interested in this bathroom fan and your suggestion for bypassing it. When you say bypass it or disable it venting to the vent directly are you suggesting I remove the little squirrel fan altogether because it would be getting in the way?

I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly but would love some clarification because I was under the impression that the bathroom fan would help to overcome any static pressure and that would be avantageous to leave it in place. My original plan was to remove the cover, exposing the 12" hole and the squirrel fan (I believe is about 130 CFM) and then collar that hole and attach the 6" ducting from there to the box (I really got to find my camera ASAP).

When you say "tapping directly into the vent" do you mean to remove the fan altogether?

By the way the light and the fan are on 2 different switches so I could easily continue using the light.

Thanks for your it's always appreciated

 

[messn'n'gommin']

Thanks man. Actually, I could use the dryer vent as well but it would open up a whole new can of worms where smell is concerned because then I'd have to open a door (or cut a hole) into the main room where the insuite laundry are. I'm noticing these PK clones are already starting to smell a little, so I will need to address this next

I'm very interested in this bathroom fan and your suggestion for bypassing it. When you say bypass it or disable it venting to the vent directly are you suggesting I remove the little squirrel fan altogether because it would be getting in the way?

I'm not sure I'm understanding you correctly but would love some clarification because I was under the impression that the bathroom fan would help to overcome any static pressure and that would be avantageous to leave it in place. My original plan was to remove the cover, exposing the 12" hole and the squirrel fan (I believe is about 130 CFM) and then collar that hole and attach the 6" ducting from there to the box (I really got to find my camera ASAP).

When you say "tapping directly into the vent" do you mean to remove the fan altogether?

By the way the light and the fan are on 2 different switches so I could easily continue using the light.

Thanks for your it's always appreciated

Even better, since the fan has its own switch, you could just leave it as is and either use it as a supplement or turn it off if it hinders airflow. Ideally you would want the weaker fan pushing into the stronger one, but the other way around will still have some flow. More than what the bathroom fan would normally do, but less than what the bigger fan normally does. If need be you could remove it, it just seems like a lot of work to me. Try it both ways, paying close attention to temps, and see what happens before trying to remove it though.

As far as smell is concerned just have the air scrubbed before it leaves the cab and any leaks passed that point will be less troublesome.

Hope this helps.

Namaste, mess

 

[intlplayr]

Even better, since the fan has its own switch, you could just leave it as is and either use it as a supplement or turn it off if it hinders airflow. Ideally you would want the weaker fan pushing into the stronger one, but the other way around will still have some flow. More than what the bathroom fan would normally do, but less than what the bigger fan normally does. If need be you could remove it, it just seems like a lot of work to me. Try it both ways, paying close attention to temps, and see what happens before trying to remove it though.

As far as smell is concerned just have the air scrubbed before it leaves the cab and any leaks passed that point will be less troublesome.

Hope this helps.

Namaste, mess

Definitely helps thanks again! I will try both ways and hopefully by tomm night be able to draw a conclusion

Do you foresee a problem from having the A/C unit's exhaust hooked up to this box as well? I bought one today and tested it out and the the exhaust blows out pretty heavy which is cool. My only concern is that I don't know how it will be affected when the A/C is shut off. I'm assuming intermittently I will reach optimal temps in the room and the A/C will only be on part of the time but the box will still be attempting to pull air from it since its attached to the box and the box continues to exhaust the lights etc. out of the bathroom fan. I wonder if this will be a problem?

As far as scrubbing goes, each Producer has an exhaust fan that vents from the box into a small carbon scrubber located at the back of the cab. On top of this I'm thinking I will install a standalone scrubber in the corner of teh room or something with an inline fan attached to the top of the unit pulling air through the scrubber for the whole room just to make sure. those PK's can be crazy stanky! Good plan?

 

[messn'n'gommin']

While the A/C is blowing may cause you trouble. While on, your fan will be trying to extract even more air than when the A/C is off. It all goes back to the smallest restriction in the system. Do a dry run. Set up your grow and run it for at least an hour (several would be better) with and without the A/C and make adjustments as needed.

Another member here, Sumo, is fond of saying, "Keep it simple, and complicate as needed."

Namaste, mess

 

[intlplayr]

Well, it looks like ?I'm going to have to get more complicated then unfortunately...

After finishing the box and attaching all light exhausts and A/C exhaust to the bathroom fan and running it, it quickly became clear that this was not going to do the trick. I tried it while the bath fan was running and while it was not and I even removed the fan entirely and added a vortex 6" inline to push the air through the bath vent faster all to no avail.

Although the closest I got to reaching ideal temps was with the last combination with the ie vortex and entire fan removed, I just couldn't seem to break it to go lower than 29 and it was continuing to climb when I gave up on it. Each time got a little bit better but int eh end, the 14,000 BTU Dandy portable A/C fell short. I really thought that last minute vortex purchase was going to make it work, but no...

It looks like I may have to resort to getting that expensive ass water cooled A/C after all if I want to have a CRE (Closed Room Environment) with ideal temps. Although those split units are great, It's not cool for me to put that one half of it on the balcony and I really can't drill holes through walls for those cooling lines.

Just thought I would leave this message as a last effort to see if anyone has any other ideas to try to get those temps down before ?I go put my deposit down tomm for that water cooled A/C

I finally got some photos but it told me that the photos exceeded the limit (too big). What's the easiest way to upload photos to this site? I always see photos in posts that show that they were automatically resixed for them so I must've done it a different way... Long night...