Please Critique My Plans, or Blow It Out Your Skylight!!!

[FrijolElVerde]

I have been admiring the many GREAT grow boxes here at IC!!
Thanks to Dr.Bud and the Cab Club!! I have worked out this design and think it's gonna be fine...BUT....PLEASE check it out for flaws.
It's upstairs, under a well insulated (R30) North facing roof with a skylight above. On summer days a 4400CFM evaporative cooler cools the house and puts gentle air pressure on the intake vents, thus aiding the fans. Max house temp is 78*, normally low 70's. Seperate fans for lights and fresh air. Remote ballasts. All fans are 3 speed, CFM's shown are @ 2nd speed.
4 vertical T5's cooled by fresh air, all other T5's are behind Plexiglas with
dedicated fan. So...Check it out, por favor!

Never tried loading pic before....hummmm...kinda gotum on here.

Purple Urkle ready to give up babies, with Marigold
GDP with rocks in front, first pistils June 23rd.
Two Cheese and two NYCD veggin' for their new casita, with basil
The Plans. Wish I knew how to turn the damn picture!!

 

[PeteWeedSeed]

Wow your design is very esoteric.. I'm really not sure what I'm looking at?? a plant next to a wall or is it inside a box? what does the slope indicate? its next to a roof?
A nice basic picture of what your trying to make will help others understand what your trying to make.

Anyways just sayin, you clearly know what your doing. it's well designed. exhausting out a skylight is really interesting idea, I haven't seen anyone try before. Best of luck to you!

 

[BedBug]

It kinda reminds me of one of those old Tom 'n' Jerry episodes.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Muchas Gracias, PeteWeedSeed and BedBug for your replys. Esoteric..I like it!...I'll try to clue you in.
Yes it's under a roof with a back closet wall height of 48" and a 12" roof @ 10/12 pitch. There is a 5" gap behind the box where the intakes and flower room to nursery duct is located.
In the center is a front view cutaway- nursery door in the left side. On the left cutaway view the flower room door is not shown and hanging down in all 4 corners are F24T5HO's. Right view shows fresh route thru the box.
Hey BedBug, I was thinkin' Rube Goldburg myself-HAHA!!

I'm HAPPY to answer all questions

 

[what the]

Why not just cut in a roof vent? I think that's going to leak. (wind driven rain)

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Yo what the. It shur would leak in the Winter- we average 54" here in NorCal from about November to April, but Old Frijol is south of the border at that time. The few rains we have in other months come from the South, and the skylight is on a steep North facing roof- we had some rain the other day and all 3 skylights were open about 4"- no problems. Plus I don't want to cut extra holes in my house. I can always slide the box forward and close it if the rain gets really bad. Thanks for checking out my plans. If this doesn't work I can replace the skylight glass and frame with a louver vent. Do not need or want sunlight entering anyway. Any other thoughts?

 

[what the]

I don't think you can replace the skylight with a louver vent.

I don't see a problem with cutting in a roof vent. You can use the same vent as for a range hood. It takes about 10 minutes to install. Looks like any other vent on your roof. It can be removed and covered in one hour when you're done.

I'm going to guess that you're an architect.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Hola what the, Wellll, I've been thinking onto that, and, in the morning when the roof is cool and if my buddy stops by to catch me if I fall, I'm going to climb up there and take a good look at that skylight and take some pics. I built my house 28 years ago so I'm kinda going from old memory.
The main reason it's under the skylight is to not cut any holes and thereby enjoy continued marital bliss with with my sweetie. ;-}
Here's some pics that I should have put up the first time-hope it makes thing clearer!!
Just watched a beautiful sunset over the Coast Range, 100 or so miles away across California's Central Valley.... time for a little toke now


FrijolElVerde is 100% Prop 215 Legal

 

[twrex]

I love the idea for the vertical fluoros in the corners for side lighting.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Ho-Ho!!! He climbed the roof and survived!!! Really sort of an anticlimax, it's a typical aluminum extrusion, cut to size, sits on the curb and holds the glass as well. Glued down with silicone. I now know that I can pop it off from the inside AND lower it back thru the opening. Here it's propped open 3"X 12" wide =36sqin exhaust area. Flashing needs a little work, maybe a curb cap. So what do you think? Look OK? We are out in the country so no scrubber needed.

I couldn't find a lot on vertical T5 use, just figure it can't hurt plus I can fit it in. Not sure if reflectors on the vert T5's is good or more diffuse light without.

Got to work today at fitting one of the side panels to the slope ceiling- I'm using an old 3pc display/room divider-2 of the panels form the sides of the box. first I cut it a little long then scribed the exact roof angle for the final cut. Here's the result using scrap ply to check the fit.

One day I'll learn how to rotate pics also. Thanks for tunin' in!!

 

[twrex]

We are out in the country so no scrubber needed.

I couldn't find a lot on vertical T5 use, just figure it can't hurt plus I can fit it in. Not sure if reflectors on the vert T5's is good or more diffuse light without.

Two things: 1) have you considered pl-l lights rather than t-5? 2) I'm not sure how far out in the country you are, but I don't think I'd ever exhaust straight dank smell out into the world, no matter how far in the middle of nowhere I was. If nothing else visitors to the house might notice it. It might be worth looking into at least having a scrubber in the room just circulating the air through a carbon filter.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Hello twrex, Mucho Gusto. I have looked at the PL-L lights but the 24W T5 HO's fit the space I had in mind somewhat better. At any rate I have all my parts as shown. I have and am growing a few girls in with the veggies quite near the house and no one has ever mentioned any smell. But I'm a newby at indoor- does indoor smell a lot more than outdoor? House is in the center of 10 acres and I'm Prop 215 Legal so fuck the smell, more worried about rippers in the outdoor!!
I see you are here a lot twrex helping folks out, so thanks for taking a look.

 

[twrex]

Ah, well if you're legal then it doesn't matter very much, so long as you're staying within your limits. At that point it's just a matter of how much you care about people knowing. I'd imagine that nosy neighbor kids breaking in to steal your stuff isn't an issue with that much land. After that then the decision about scrubbing the air is just a matter of how much you and your wife like the smell of herb in the house and how stinky the strains you grow are.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Top of the mornin', y'all. I'm hoping that with a good quality build this box will be quite air tight with all the stank going out the skylight. Don't want a dank smelling house! It's kinda funny how as one gets older you just don't give a shit what people think any more, plus being legal and within the limits gives room me to do my thing without worry.

Can anyone tell me the best way to post this build here on IC? Not computer savvy. Keep this thread going? Is there 'help' page on here somewhere?

Here's a few pics of Ms. Erkle. She was getting all hairy down below with lots of babies hang off so she got the spa treatment- Pulled out all the pipe cleaners and enlarged the basin, trimmed her up good collecting the babies which I gave to a fellow Prop 215 patient, spread her out and staked her down, and gave her a couple of snapdragons to enjoy. I guess this would be called an outdoor SCROG?

I'm off to water the garden and build some more on the box.

 

[twrex]

Can anyone tell me the best way to post this build here on IC? Not computer savvy. Keep this thread going? Is there 'help' page on here somewhere?

You're doing just fine with descriptions and pictures and such. Hell, you even use proper spelling and grammar! Keep up the good work is the only advice I have for you.

If you have any further questions about how to post things and such this is a good link.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Hey twrex, Thanks so much for that excellent link!!!
Got the second side panel cleaned up and the top angle cut. Today I'll lay out all the various panels- using stuff saved in the shop over the years and a sheet of 3/8 OSB.

Poco a poco

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Making Progress!!

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Hola Amigos, shall we share a toke? Why Not??
I have been putting in work on the Skylight Box and have a few photos for your enjoyment.

IMG0109- Front view w/ front panel and door removed. Flower Room below with Nursery above. 3 inch space between has 6 tubes with Plexi below, and 4 tubes vertically in the corners, all are F24T5HO. Black panel is the inside wall of the light venting 'chimney' leading to the fan at top right.

IMG0112- Back view. Top left is light vent exhaust fan with the visor, and below is fresh air exhaust fan. At bottom left is fresh air intake, above that the light vent intake; two cutouts on right will connect to move fresh air out of flower room and into nursery. Panel you see thru the nursery door is the opposite side of the black 'chimney' . Exterior ducts/ light traps still to be added.

IMG0111- Detail of light area, intake at back right, rails for Plexi; 6 tubes go cross ways. Upper front panel will unscrew to allow maintenance.

IMG0110- Nursery showing air inlet from flower room below and fresh air exhaust fan location. The 3" at right of door is the black 'chimney' area. Above the nursery door is Plexi with 3 T5's above that.

It's all held together with a few screws right now so I'll take it all apart, do a last few small details and the paint everything.

This is crazy fun and challenging to figure out, even tho I designed it!!

The Cheese and the NYCD are just about ready for their new home, so I'm off to work. But first...well, you know....

 

[twrex]

Congratulations, you look to be the proud father of an arcade cabinet/birdhouse hybrid! Can't wait to see how it all comes together.

 

[FrijolElVerde]

Howdy Friends, I have finished the Skylight Box and here are some photos. I'll follow with some more detailed pics.