rubbermaid veg box - where do I put the lights????

[h^2 O]

okay keeping it stealth, not going to attach the lights through the top of the container lid...want it to look stock. So where do I put the lights? I can make a hole on the side that will face the wall and have the light socket running through that...or I could pop a hanger screw thing into the top and hang the lights from that...but my doing that the light would be pointing down and I'd have less grow space, and there'd be a screw popping out of the top of the container lid. Fan is also a problem, have very small vornado that's like 8" long, was just going to put it in the container with the plants, but I'm thinkning I might take it apart and try to have it connect through the side that will face the wall. So at best I will have two giant holes on the back, not very stealth. But it's the best I can think of. Looking through the threads here, if you know of one please link

 

[phr0st]

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=100698

 

[h^2 O]

that's pretty sweet. It's doubled-up though...I'm doing just one. Seems like nobody really has done just one, not finding much.

 

[FreezerBoy]

PVC frame inside the tub?

You want a fan for air exchange not movement. Putting a fan in the tub just blows hot air around. You want the fan or it's ducting connected to an exhaust port so all air taken in by the fan is then forced out of the cab which will draw new air in through intake ports.

One intake cannot fully feed an equal sized exhaust. This will choke the fan, reduce airflow, heat the cab etc. Easiest method is 3 equal sized holes, one at top for powered exhaust, two at the bottom for passive intake.

 

[h^2 O]

good idea. What I could do is make like a passive exhaust...probably no such thing but basically use a piece of pvc to connect the fan, which will sit inside the cab, with the air outside...it would basically be sucking in fresh air. But, I know they say the exhaust part is more important...but I'm not sure how I could get the fan to act as an exhaust. I don't want to buy a can fan or anything. I might check ebay for those stupid little plastic computer fans...but I never find quite the right thing and it's always too much.

 

[FreezerBoy]

DANGER, WILL ROBINSON!

You're in the express lane hurtling into downtown positive pressureville. Positive pressure leads to jail and death. No foolin'! No passing Go, no collecting $200... bad, bad, bad, bad, bad.

Powered exhaust forces all air through the filter. Powered intake forces air to bypass the filter. Powered intakes are for the pros and, no offense that ain't us. While 2X intakes are not required, they're the easiest, math free, never fail solution.

 

[h^2 O]

I know, we want negative pressure....but I don't see how it's happening. Unless, I keep the fan inside the cab as before, but have it facing the side so it's actually sucking air from inside the cab??????? And have just osme tiny holes or an S tube thing to suck in air...passively?
I shall draw a diagram.
Also, the light thing...all I can still think of is using a hanging screw through the top and hanging the cfls from that...but they'd be taking up room and pointing down into the grow area. Or I could have it connected through a hole in the side.
Both ways aren't as stealth as I'd like. Ideally, I'd like a shop life setup,a few tube fluoros. But I have to use the cfl bulbs I have. The rubbermaid bin is done, secured spaceblanket to the insides with glue. IT's light tight for stealth.But it's just for veg. So now I'm hung up on lighting and circulation

 

[FreezerBoy]

have it facing the side so it's actually sucking air from inside the cab???????

Close. You want the fan attached to the side in an air tight connection. Attached as in: flush, stuck, adhered, bolted, pressed, sealed... the fan and the box are the same thing, they are one unit. They are no more separate than your head and body. Disconnect your head from your body, blood gushes out and you die. Disconnect the fan from the exhaust port, smell gushes out and you're busted.



The only exception is if there's a flange attached to the wall that's attached to a hose that's attached to the fan. You MUST fix the fan flush to the wall or provide the equivalent thereof. What you're talking about is a waste of time, energy, money and equipment.

This isn't the TOU. We don't get to pick and chose. It's physics, the law that will be obeyed whether we like it or not.

 

[h^2 O]

what I can do is just put the fan inside the cabinet against a hole I'll make...then I'll tape it to the bin so it's airtight and sucking out air from the cabinet. Sucks though, then I need another fan to keep them wiggling. I'll get this together sooner or later.

 

[FreezerBoy]

Sucks though, then I need another fan to keep them wiggling.

Nah. All that does is stress the plants and dry them out. Strengthen plants by hand. When seedlings, gently stroke the leaves. Once stalks put on some weight, use the "V" for victory hand sign. Slip stalk between fingers and wiggle back and forth shaking the whole plant.