Air Cooled Hoods...

[daemos]

Looking to buy some air cooled hoods (not cool tubes) and can only find these here in Australia - http://www.ablite.com/templates/abl/page/page_html_standard.php?secID=184

Does anybody use these or have tried these hoods before?

Are there any other brands such as HYDROFARM, SUNLEAVES and HYDROTEK for e.g that are stocked here in Australia?

any Links, Info etc... is always greatly appreciated,

THANKS!

Ez...Mos

 

[Technique]

dont use one of them shitty circle hpm timers for your fan.. fucker keeps not working for me and i have fans off and lights on..

 

[daemos]

No one has one of these ablite air cooled hoods running apart from Tech then?

anybody?

 

[ChunkNugs]

I havn't got one yet, but im either looking at the ablite or this one http://urbangardenershop.com.au/product/1159/default.asp kind of leaning towards the 2nd one cause it has the hammer tone interior which reflects better then white paint. I'm gonna run 400w CMH bulbs which are meant to run cooler probly just hook a fan straight up to duct outlet on hood blowing up and not bother with ducting... hopefully.

 

[Kiwi Star]

Thought of using cool tubes?

 

[daemos]

I said in the 1st post no cool tubes... They are an option though. Looking at gettn 2 ablite large at this stage now.

 

[Ozstoner]

G'day daemos, I would go with the Ablites if i were you. I'm using the cooltubes now and while better than nothing they do have a hot spot under them because the curve of the reflector is so tight it focuses the light into a hot spot. It's not that noticable, but the plant directly under the globe deos suffer slightly from overheating compared to plants around it. I read about this just after i bought them in an online extract of George Cervantes book. So yeah, while they are definately better than nothing i will prob replace my cooltubes with ablites or something else one day. I've seen the ablites in a shop and they looked like a well made product. I can't really help you with your question of options other than ablites, but thought i would chime in with my veiws anyway.

I would actually question wether air cooled lights are really worth the trouble of all the ducting required and i think a grower is prob better of to concentrate mainly on having a very good ventilation system with thermostat, and possibly air-con for summer. I think the americans maybee think air cooling lights is more important than it really is.

I remember reading about 2 sorts of heat coming from a light - radiative heat, and another one that i can't remember the name of, but radiative heat is the one that you feel when you put your hand about 18 inches under a 600w, sort of like the heat produced by the actual energy of the lumens themselves, like the warmth you feel when sunlight strikes you. Air cooling can't reduce this heat at all. Only the second kind of heat produced by the lamp - the one mainly responsible for heating up your grow space, can be reduced by air cooled lamps, and this kind of heat is prob just as easy to remove with venting/air conditioning of the grow space. I think, deffinately if you are setting up a long term grow in a house that is not being rented then it might be worth fiddling around with air cooling lights, but as i said the main ventilation system should still be a growers main concern and the cooled lights more of an afterthought. And they're prob a waste of time for smaller and/or short term grows.

Daemos i'm not trying to talk you out of using cooled lights mate, i'm just posting my thoughts here for all growers to read, and i'm not saying i'm an expert on the subject, just my two cents worth.

Cheers mate, have a good one

 

[ChunkNugs]

I tried to order some ablite air cooled or similar hoods today... apparently nowhere in AUS has them or is making them because everyone wants cooltubes... Had quick look at another shop and found some similar to the ablite ones but just have one hole for a fan instead of the 2 for duct and the top is kinda curved where the corners meet. (which is just what I want). Find out tommorow if I can get them with a hammer tone interior.

 

[daemos]

Ozstoner - Thank you for your views and i have taken them on board you advice is always appreciated! and that goes out to anyone who has helped me out with my questions here at IC...

ChunkNugs - My local H shops have them ablites in ive rang and asked... Can you give me the name of the brand your shop has in stock wouldnt mind having a look at them if they have a website. Thanks!

Ez...Mos

 

[medi-useA]

I might hav an addy for a hydrostore or 2 in Perth th@ I believe has a range of them...

PM me if interested.

muA

 

[wvkindbud38]

I use sunlight supply hoods and have the glass inserts and went air-cooled about 2-3 years ago. It's a GREAT idea air-cooled is the way. The glass inserts range from around $15-30 dollars so it pretty cheap to add these inserts and go air cooled with sunlight supply hoods. The closer your light is to the buds= bigger buds. I have 4 different hoods air cooled and I keep my growroom envoirnment alot better temp/humidity wise since going air cooled. Ventalating alot of hot air from your grow is a win win....hot stale air will close the plants stomata and slow growth. If your only running 1-2 lights you could probably be ok with a good oscalating fan but if you got more than 2 hoods I'd air-cool it. Also if your not on a budget don't think about it twice....air cool your hot lights.