How to best to test your DIY carbon filter?

[GrilldCheese]

Need help!!

I am constructing and testing the DIY carbon filter design that is here, for my new stealth cab.
This is for a semi micro grow.

what is the best way to test if it is working properly. I do not want to have to fix it in the middle of flowering.
I did try some incense, but could smell it through the exhaust. Is it my filter is not big enough?

Please any ideas welcome.

thanks

 

[Pyramid]

How thick is your bed of carbon and how many CFM's is your exhaust fan? How heavy is it overall? How large is your space in cubic feet?

 

[GrilldCheese]

Hey Pyramid,

1in of carbon, filter is approx. 5in long, that is the exposure length.

The space is 2.5ft x 2.5ft x 2.5

CFM 35

 

[Pyramid]

is the carbon pelletized or granulated? I find the pelletized is for water purification and tends to leave unscrubbed air through. Also is this inch the entire circumference or .5 inch on each side = 1 inch? Im not sure if the filter even working 100% will reduce stinky incense to no odor, but try toking a hit into a plastic bag, then trying to pull it through and take a whiff after the scent has left your palate.

1 inch of compacted granulated carbon should definately be good if your fan isnt too weak or too strong (which it may be a little on the small end)

Also i dont want to really talk like this because Im sure alot will flame, but In my experience plants dont smell as much as you would imagine. Trimming/Drying is the biggest stinker IMO. This was my biggest concern before I started up so I dont take it lightly and would much rather have overkill then under.

Double check, make sure there are no areas where unscrubbed air could enter, all seals tight/taped , make sure the fan isnt blowing too fast for the filter, make sure its really compacted and should be good.

 

[GrilldCheese]

Thanks for the input Pyramid.

the carbon is granulated/activated, but it is from the local pet store. the actual thickness is 1 inch all around. There may be some areas where it leaks, but I have done a pretty good job of sealing everything up.

My concern is that if I go thicker the fan will not be able to pull enough to even cool down the cab.

Sadly, I have been on the wagon due to a op shutdown a while back (so, no greenage, insert crying face), incense was the closest I could get to testing, I now starting back up and working out the smell before it comes an issue again.

Any idea how thick and how long the filter and carbon must be to make it optimal?

 

[Lowman]

I now starting back up and working out the smell before it comes an issue again[/B].

Any idea how thick and how long the filter and carbon must be to make it optimal?

It sounds like this has been a problem in the past. Why not just stop doing the DIY thing...and buy the right tool for the job? Then you don't have to worry so much...and you can base your future DIY projects on the real deal you have purchased.

 

[Pyramid]

I have 100 cuft and use a 440 cfm 6 in fan with a filter the is about 8.5 in diameter on the outer chamber, 6inch on inner. So 1.25 inch deep carbon. The length is about 14 inches. I think it took just over 8 liters of carbon?? Pretty heavy and needs to be bungeed to be stable as its above the canopy. If you shake it, it shouldnt move or make any noise really. thats when you know its solid.

Ill get some incense soon and try it out, but for my purposes it works fine. I also dont need to cool my light with this exhaust and the intake air is conditioned already to optimal temps. Maybe find a way to cool your cab seperately. I made a straight run from outside the cab through the light and back out without entering the "smelly" air. Also get a lint roller to clean off the pantyhose after a while.

You could turn it on for a few days and maybe toss some dust to see if its pulled equally all over the filter.

 

[GrilldCheese]

It sounds like this has been a problem in the past. Why not just stop doing the DIY thing...and buy the right tool for the job? Then you don't have to worry so much...and you can base your future DIY projects on the real deal you have purchased.

it was an issue as I did nothing about it in the past. There are several things preventing me from purchasing the prof, type: location ,availability and $$$$$$.

I have a 600W and 6in RVk with can filter, but it is overkill for this space and cannot be fully deployed for some time. I got what I got and need to work with that for now, all CFL and DIY. But I know what you are saying.

 

[GrilldCheese]

I have 100 cuft and use a 440 cfm 6 in fan with a filter the is about 8.5 in diameter on the outer chamber, 6inch on inner. So 1.25 inch deep carbon. The length is about 14 inches. I think it took just over 8 liters of carbon?? Pretty heavy and needs to be bungeed to be stable as its above the canopy. If you shake it, it shouldnt move or make any noise really. thats when you know its solid.

Ill get some incense soon and try it out, but for my purposes it works fine. I also dont need to cool my light with this exhaust and the intake air is conditioned already to optimal temps. Maybe find a way to cool your cab separately. I made a straight run from outside the cab through the light and back out without entering the "smelly" air. Also get a lint roller to clean off the pantyhose after a while.

You could turn it on for a few days and maybe toss some dust to see if its pulled equally all over the filter.

Thanks, if you do get to test it please let me know. I am heading out to the "workshop" and try to build another one that is longer.

I will also let it run and the dust idea is interesting. how about something like a little baby powder?

 

[Pyramid]

I think you also need a better fan either way you look at it. 35 CFM has to be on of the lowest rated computer fans or something right? Youve got 16 cuft and the filter will at least reduce it by 1/2 cfm to ~ 16 cfm so thats one exchange per minute. Id shoot for at least 3 exchanges per minute. So a fan with around 100 cfm should be better.

 

[GrilldCheese]

I have a bathroom fan laying around I think it is rated at 75-80. I think I will try and rig something up for that. See how that affects it.

the help is much appreciated!!

 

[tokinafaty420]

Set it up in a small room. Begin to smell up the room by hot boxing it. Leave the room when you know it is totally funked out and turn the scrubber on. Find some fresh coffee grounds to smell for a minute or so. This will reset your nose and it will become sensitive to the smells you probably don't notice anymore.

Carbon will not grab every molecule floating through the air. Not sure if something that carries the scent from the incense will just pass right through the carbon grains.

 

[shrapnel]

sniff around and if it stank you failed if it dont you didnt

 

[GrilldCheese]

sniff around and if it stank you failed if it dont you didnt

I am new here and hate to resort to flaming, but wow that logic is amazing!!

The point here is a lot of us make carbon filters, but the best time to test them, to make sure if they are working, is not during the "stank"-iest time. But how to test it properly without the presence of a flowering plant.

If what tokinafaty say is correct then the question comes to my mind, perhaps the carbon picks up the moist molecules, such as those from plant material, better then hot/dry molecule from an incense.

 

[CottonMouth]

I use an old army trick for testing carbon filters.
Bannana oil extrac!!!!

We used to use this to test the seals on the gas mask, if you can smell it through the filter then you will be able to smell your growing/drying buds through it. Most of the time I never smell it, however there are sometimes that I smell it but very faintly.

CM

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Digging that banana oil trick.. Sounds like the deal right there.

I have my own idea though, perhaps if that oil is hard to locate or something.. Try lighting a cigarette in there, let it burn down, then kick on the fan and monitor the exhaust. Feel like maybe a cigarette would really stress test the filter/fan combo a bit more than boxing it out with weed. Incense is a good recommendation too.

LOL, now I'm picturing you in the tent with incense burning, a bong packed, sipping Jack Daniels from the bottle and smoking cigarettes.

 

[day-o]

Is it completely stuffed with carbon?

Is it completely stuffed with carbon?

In my limitted experience, if you can hear some rattling around inside, then you have room to add more carbon. FWIW, my filter is 6"OD x 4"ID x 20" long with an 18" long effective filter length. It took 4 of those giant 1/2 gallon milk carton-like containers of carbon from the pet store to fill it.

 

[Lazyman]

Carbon filters work best in low RH, above about 60% they pretty much clog up and stop working.

 

[bush master]

once i had really stanky bud!. it stank up the whole room.
I put it in the box, closed it for 5-7 mins. opened and it reeked...
Next turn on filter and close box back up. I took a walk out side where i could not smell cannabis. walk in after 2-3 if not less minutes. and check to see if the room smelled.
(very important if your filter vents to a room.)
if not open box with bag of skunk and see if it reeks.

 

[GrilldCheese]

thanks for the replies so far, I have been testing with various things, but no banana oil round here. The issue is neighbors are close enough for discomfort. There is no trial by fire in this situation.

What I have done for now is go out and pick up new pieces for a long and thicker filter. I want to keep its size to a minumum or there won't be any headroom at all

Right now the filter will be 12inch long with roughly 1.5 inches of carbon to filter through. We'll see what that does...update by the weekend.

peace