[Hitboss]

I recently got a computer case to start a grow. How the hell do I remove all the inside parts that are attached with screwless pins? Do they make a tool to remove these or do I have to cut them off? Thanks!

LOL I thought the title was for a grow controlled by computers, hahaha.
Sorry man, I'm not sure, tho I want to do a similar micro grow myself, I'm not sure. There is a thread or 2 by a guy who does just that, have you searched?

[pontiac]

Those are called rivets. Just drill through them with a drill bit. Try a 1/16" drill bit or a #40 drill bit.

[Hitboss]

lol Yea I've searched here and google, it's hard to search when you don't know what the pins are called :p. It isn't really a grow related question, more of a setup one. Maybe I'll have to take some kind of dremel and grind them off or something. I just hope they make a tool to pop those off instead of me having to buy a dremel lol.

On a side note, this 26" tall case is HUGE. I didn't expect it to be this big. The size makes it look like a prop you would have in a room where things are bigger than normal lol. I garauntee one thing, every person that comes in the room will comment on the size of it.

Edit - pontiac posted while I was typing. Thanks!

[pontiac]

Lol yea, i know what you mean bro. Thats why i always make a model of my growbox (or pc enclosure in your case)out of carboard or something, that way i know the general size and how it'll look in my room.

Hint- Check your local pepboys for a deal on a drill and dremel. They have a dremel knock-off, drill and jigsaw for $15-$20 each.

[Hitboss]

This case has 5 spots for fans but I'll only use the back 3.
I know I should have passive intake(s) but I might as well use the fans for blowing since I already bought them.

The intake will be two 80mm/40.5cfm fans. These have knobs on them so I'm sure I will slow them down some because of the noise.

The exhaust will be one 120mm/80cfm fan which will be taken down some because of the carbon filter.

I had plans for a 70w hps but the case is a lot bigger than I thought it would be, I'm thinking a 150w hps might work since I know some people that use a 150w in a filing cabinet. The case is the height and depth of a filing cabinet, just not as wide. I know it sounds crazy putting a 150w in a computer case but this thing is HUGE (like I've said 100 times already :P).

To combat the heat I was thinking I could build a false wall to block the light from the fans (which I planned on doing anyways). The bottom could be sealed and the top would be open. I could then use all three fans for exhaust and use the front 2 fan spots as passive intakes.

Worth a try, if it's too hot I'll just buy the 70w and use the 150w in the future.

[Mr_Micro]

I wish ya luck Hitboss... I've been growing in PC cases for a little over a month now and I'm about to swap out my 18" (L) x 8" (W) x 20" (H) cases for 26" ones with the same length and width.

I just got fed up trying to control the temps in my 20" cases. I was using 50cfm intake and 50cfm exhaust and I still couldn't keep the box cool enough with a 50 watt HPS. I tried putting in a 70 watt HPS remote ballasted with a tempered glass heat sheild and it's own 80cfm cooling system, but that put the temps up to almost 100*F.

So personally, even if your plan does sound quite good on paper, I would strongly suggest that you try a 70 watt HPS instead of a 150 and just supplement with a couple CFLs if you need more light.

Your big battle in PC case growing is going to be temps for sure. If you can keep those down and find a good way to build a carbon filter that will do it's job without restricting the (highly sensitive to restriction) PC fans than your good to go.

My current plan now is to try using a 26" case with a 50 watt electronic ballast HPS & two 26 watt CFLs (6500k for veg, 2700 for flower) for lighting. Then use a 110 cfm (120mm) exhaust fan at the top of the case and a 80cfm (80mm) intake at the bottom. Hopefully having the lower intake power than exhaust power will create a vacuum in the case that will help contain the smell. I just had to kill off two of my Skunk #1's because even with a 2" thick carbon filter I couldn't keep the smell under control in my cases. Also hoping that the higher power 110cfm 120mm fan will be able to push air through the carbon filter without being restricted as badly as the 50cfm 80mm ones I was using.


But seriously man, I highly suggest that you start with a 70 watt light. If you can keep the temps under control with the 70 watt than try something higher wattage on the next grow. People say 70 watt HPS's don't put out much heat, but when you put one into a PC case it turns it into a freakin oven. Like I said, I'm just struggling to keep temps under control with a 50 watt HPS and a few low wattage CFLs. I honestly don't think theres any way (even with a cooltube) to keep a 150 watt HPS from turning a 26" PC case into an oven.

[Hitboss]

Alright thanks. I'll just go for a 70w since you have more experience with pc case grows than me.

Either way it seems like the heat problems are there so I'll just use all three fans for intake and build a false wall (bottom open) for the front of the inside of the case. Not having a passive intake might make the smell harder to get rid of.