First Cab Build - Any Advice?

[Siris]

Hey everyone,

Long time lurker first time poster here. I've been wanting to build a grow cab for a while now and finally have the chance to do it. I got an old wardrobe from my girlfriend that I'm turning into my grow cab.

I split it up so I have 4 chambers. Flower, veg/mother, drying and electrical. The exterior of the cab measures like so W-50" D-20.5" H-75". My flower chamber will measure like this W-31.25" D-20" H-69.5". My veg chamber will be W-15" D-20" H-29.5". The drying chamber is W-15" D-20" H-26". The electrical will be W-15" D-20" H-12.5".

For the Lighting in the flower chamber I was thinking of going with one 150W CMH bulb and one 150W HPS bulb. The CMH will have a cooled reflector hood and the HPS is be in a cooltube with reflector. For my fan I was thinking of going with a S&P TD-200 which has a CFM of 538 on high and 476 on low could this be too big? Originally I was going to go with the TD-150 but then I read somewhere that with the S&P you should go a size bigger than you think you need. I calculated that my CFM would be 146 and then I doubled it for good measure but I wasn't sure if I did the calculations right. I read through ventilation sticky but it was somewhat confusing for me.

For veg/mother I was thinking of putting in 4-fluorescents or a couple of cfls so that the was wattage would be about 60w. Not sure which ones would be better.

So far I've only got the cab painted white on the inside. Hoping to get the ventilation in sometime this week. Thinking of putting a couple of holes with some 1.5" pipe between the flower and veg chamber and a few holes on the bottom the flower and veg chamber as well. Not sure if I should give the drying chamber is own ventilation or make it so it gets ventilation from the veg chamber.

I'll end of with a couple of pictures. First the outside of the cab then with the doors open. Also all advice and feedback is very much appreciated.

 

[Jnugg]

I'd run a 250w HPS or CMH in the flower section.

 

[Siris]

Just a single bulb in flower? or along side with one of the other 150watts? I really like the idea of having a CMH and HPS just for the different light spectrums.

 

[fatigues]

The whole point of CMH is that it is a complete spectrum bulb and that there is no need to use a MH or HPS alongside it.

The experimental grows comparing CMH to HPS here on ICM have demonstrated it's a superior light -- and that was with the olded Color Master bulb. The new one is supposedly even more efficient.

I personally just don't see the point to it. I appreciate that you have a different perspective and that's A-OK. I just don't think you'll have an easy time selling the people who have waded through most of the CMH thread on the idea

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Hello my friend and congrats on a slick idea.

I will chime in on the ventilation, the big fan is better see if you can get a fan speed controller DIY or store bought and you can regulate your air flow easy to keep the temps in check. make sure you start the flow of air in one chamber going from the mother to the flower and then to the clone area and out the electrical box so everything gets some ventilation, you don't need it in that order but you will want the cool air in your flower area first. A hole saw for a drill works goof for that.

Peace

 

[Siris]

Thanks for the replies guys. So for the light I was thinking of doing 2 150W CMHs after what fatigues says. I calculated about 70W per square foot is that too much? A single 250W will give me about 60W per square foot so I'm not sure if it will make a big difference.

I have the day off tomorrow so I'm hoping to get the ventilation done. Would a single hole starting in the drying chamber be enough or would it need a computer fan? I was planning on having the ventilation go from the drying chamber to the mother/veg chamber and then the flower chamber and have a few holes in the bottom of the flower chamber just for extra fresh air. I figure I can just cap off the holes if its too much.

 

[fatigues]

Thanks for the replies guys. So for the light I was thinking of doing 2 150W CMHs after what fatigues says. I calculated about 70W per square foot is that too much? A single 250W will give me about 60W per square foot so I'm not sure if it will make a big difference.

I have the day off tomorrow so I'm hoping to get the ventilation done. Would a single hole starting in the drying chamber be enough or would it need a computer fan? I was planning on having the ventilation go from the drying chamber to the mother/veg chamber and then the flower chamber and have a few holes in the bottom of the flower chamber just for extra fresh air. I figure I can just cap off the holes if its too much.

60w/psf is plenty.

It isn't only about wattage psf, it's also about shape of your light footprint. At 2.5' feet by about 1.5', you have a decently rectangular footprint that a 250w CMH in a reflector will light up for you in spectacular fashion. You are good in terms of light with one lamp.

Now - you need to figure out how to cool it.

 

[fatigues]

Note: I have no experience with the newer Agri 315w CMH lamps, only the 400w Master Color lamps. However, it appears that some ICM members at least are suggesting that the new lamps generate remarkably little heat.

It might be that you could follow up with those ICM members who have used both the Master Color series and the new Argi 315w CMH lamps. If the heat on the 315w Agris is as low as is being reported, you might consider going with one of those. I would not go higher than that though under any circumstance in a space as small as that.

 

[festerous]

I think you should use the drying area for veg also. I think it will get to hot to use as a drying chamber and a second veg area will help keep things running smoothly.

Those big tyvek envelopes work well for drying discreetly in the open.

 

[Siris]

Thanks for the input fatigues. I think going with the 250W and then down the road when it needs replacing Ill look into the Agri lamp. Btw I read the thread where you compare medical cannabis in Canada vs USA and found it very informative. I live in Canada and didn't even know how it really works. I'm hoping when they change the program next year it will be easier to access.

Festerous - I was thinking of making the drying chamber a veg chamber as well when the bud isn't ready to be dried but I'll have to try it out and hope that it doesn't get too hot when drying. That's why I'm thinking of putting a small computer fan in hopes of it circulating the air enough that it keeps that chamber a bit cooler than the others. Also I heard it gets pretty smelly when drying. I live in a small suite and I'm sure it would stink up the entire place. I guess if it doesn't work out I could always make a separate drying chamber but that's something to think about down the road.

 

[Siris]

Update

Update

Hey Guys!

Been a while since I've posted so I figure I'll show some pictures. Got my ventilation in. It comes in through the drying chamber then goes to the veg chamber then to the flower chamber. I've also added some vent holes in the flower chamber for added fresh air. I figure if I don't need them there then I can just cap them off.

I've also ordered my fan its a S&P TD-200. Also I'm waiting for my light to come in the mail its a 250w CMH.

For my veg lights I was thinking of going with about 4 cfl lights not sure of the wattage for those yet though.

 

[Sativa Dragon]

Really Fuckin Slick Man!!!

Peace

 

[Payaso]

Sorry for the missing posts above, but once in awhile some one will join this site and deliberately post mis-information in order to get everyone arguing.

These are called trolls.

ICMag has an effective and swift system for eliminating trolls.. please report any weird behavior to the nearest moderator!

Thank you!

 

[SpicySativa]

My thoughts as a fellow cabinet grower.... (mine's a homemade 4x4x7 cabinet lit by a 600 watter). I didn't read all the responses, so I apologize if this stuff has already been said.

* You really only have room for one air-cooled hood. A 250 watter would work very well in that space, but a 400 watter would be even better IF you can keep it cool.

* Going along with what I said above, I would recommend buying a 400 watt Lumitek adjustable digital ballast. That way you can experiment with 250 watt, 400 watt, HPS or MH. Use as much light as you can while maintaining proper temps.

* I like your idea with the different chambers, but you might be better off focussing on one chamber at a time. With the HPS and MH options in your big chamber, you could easily take plants from start to finish. If you want to build a separate veg later, it'll be simple.

Good luck! And make sure to invest in a good inline fan for cooling/ventilation. If you're paying less than $75-100 for that fan, it's probably the wrong one...

 

[Siris]

Hey all been a while since I've been on. Here's a little update.

Spicy I wish I got your post before I bought my light. I just got my 250W CMH light but a 400W does sound like it would have been way better but I was looking at the 315W CMH for later down the road when I decide to replace my 250 watter. I did decide to go with a single cooled hood just having trouble deciding if I want to build my own hood or just put out the money for a store bought hood. Any suggestion on a good store bought hood?

The one problem I'm having with my light is how I wire the thing up and if I have to get special socket for the light or if a regular one from depot will work.

I also got my S&P 200 fan. Maybe Ill post some pictures of the fan and light later today with an update on my cab. All that I've really done with it is finish the veg/mother chamber. It has 6 spots for a cfl 23w lights in it though right now I only have 4 lights in it. Hoping to get my lamp and fan figured out and have the electrical chamber all wire up and ready to go.

 

[Windowshaker]

Siris
I am not able to answer your question about the socket. Research the bulb you have purchased and make sure and mate it with the proper ballast etc. this is crucial. I have a somewhat similar cab except it is cfl and the flower chamber is two stories and only one small veg about 1/4 the foot print of flower. The flower chambers vent through a can 33 / s&p td- 150 housed in a poorly engineered setup I built. It works fairly well. It runs a bunch of cfl, they produce an acceptable prodct if you keep fresh bulbs but I wish I had a Cmh somtimes...most times. Heed the advise and at least have the option of veg in the drying chamber. I struggle with veg /clone space. Your not skimping on fans etc. that is a good thing.
Peace and grease!