I'm using a 30" x 12" x 12" sterilite tub as a grow box with 153w cfl and when the lights are on it gives off a strange odor similar to an electrical fire/ wires burning. I've run the lights as long as 18 hours at a time and I haven't had any problems as far as fire hazards, so I thought I'd just ignore it, but now the odor is making me dizzy. I'm wondering if its heating up the plastic and releasing toxins in the air, has anyone else had these issues growing in plastic tubs? When I put the temp gauge up near the lights at the top of the box w/ no fan on, the temps are around 100F. The plastic shows no signs of melting, but I'm still concerned that its burning off chemicals. I'm gonna put the fan on and see if the temp drops at all.

[stickyickyicky]

seperate the light area from the plant area with a sheet of plexi-glass found at H-D. run a computer fan with a passive air intake. my lights went for super hot to the touch to cool enough to grab with your whole hand. should get rid of any over heating problem your having. look in my grow post or look in RED GREENERYS post there are sections on fans and such! let me know if u need more help.

cfls seperated by plexiglass



cfls and the exhaust fan 120mm - 12vdc



cfls and the intake ports added 1 more hole like the large on in the middle right below it





lights on, fan spinin'


shot lookin into the grow area - exhaust- later to be hooked to a scrubber of some sort.




outside exhaust shot



heres the 19 volt powersupply for a laptop. Wired the fans in series and they are pulling 9.5 volts each



and last.... new cab sitting in its new home closet...

sticky

do you have the emergency blanket in there as well? that should protect the plastic from heat as well as be very reflective

Thanks all, I don't have an emergency blanket, I painted it w/ flat white paint for a reflector. I'm thinking of lining it with mylar, will that protect the plastic form getting hot? I also am thinking of maybe just going with a wood cabinet. I saw one at office depot 29" x 27" x 14" for $50, I think its worth it to feel safer. Plus, my tub is only 30" x 12" x 12", so I'll be able to fit another plant in the cabinet. One other idea is to use a pc box. I have one thats unusuable as a pc cause of viruses and such, but the fan still works, which would allow me to return the fans I bought for the tub. I just can't see how people can grow in these cause mine is only about 18" x 18" x 8". I'll be growing LR #2, but with the height of the pots and lights it wouldn't leave much room at all. I'm assuming people lst in pc boxes, but I got LR #2 to avoid lst. How would I grow LR #2 in a pc successfully?

id keep the fans...never know when yoll need them....and the tubs work good, but if your concerned id go with the wood....on a side note you should think it all out and make some plans of some kind so u dont have to start over again

Thanks darren, I'm going with the cabinet. I just called office depot and there in stock so I'm picking it up tonight, and I'm gonna keep the fans too. I'm not gonna mess with the pc box and I kinda screwed up the tub when I was cutting the holes, so I wanted something else regardless and this cabinet will be something I can keep for a long time hopefully. I had thought I had planned everything the first time, but there were alot of extra details I discovered. This time I already have everything else I need and I have a better feel for what I'm doing so it should be alot less complicated with better results.