is a 400w HPS too hot for my small closet

[Aviar]

Ive got a small closet area 9ft wide 2ft deep and 6ft tall. With proper ventilation and a cooltube hood will I be able to not catch my closet on fire with a 400w HPS?

 

[Nullis]

Yup. That area would be fine for a 400w.

 

[Joven Agricultor]

You certainly could catch your closet on fire if you have any jerry riged wires or loose connections. However 400watts is not enough for that space, you'll need to partition it and use a, I'd say 2x3 space for that light. I don't think the light will even spread 4'.

 

[Aviar]

This is my first grow I have them going with CFL's right now 18 of the 23w. The plan is to have 4 and do a scrog or maybe just LST a bit. should I center the HPS and supplement around the sides with CFL.

 

[Joven Agricultor]

No cfls and your space is too big, needs to be partitioned. Not just the light centered, put up walls and mylar or white pait. 9' wide is crazy unless you had 3 400's.

 

[Joven Agricultor]

I think the mod was saying it's not too small as in a fire hazard. 400watts is not good for a 9' wide space.

 

[Joven Agricultor]

However it is good for 4 vigorous plants to the 5 week mark. I would advise partitioning off the space and putting reflective walls up.

 

[Aviar]

Thanks for the suggestions. I hadn't thought about partitioning it, I really like that idea. Right now I dont have the budget to add everything I want. Im still worried if I partition and put a 400w on each side the temps might be out of control. could the 400w grow 2 plants underneath it decently well? Ill throw up some pics in a minute

 

[Joven Agricultor]

The 400 can grow 4 plants real well. Partition using one light, so the light isn't escaping, contain it in a smaller area, use cardboard and white paper if you have no budget. Put your lamp 18-24" center from one side of the closet, then at 36-48" put up a cardboard partition. 9' wide you're wasting a lot of light that could be kept in the area.

 

[Aviar]

Im really glad i posted on here, I will definitely be partitioning it tonight. I will have to use the CFL setup I have for atleast another 7-10 days. which may make these plants suffer but I have no expectations from this first grow. I just wanna learn as much as possible.

 

[Joven Agricultor]

I used cfls, 300 something watts, then uped to 546 actual watts, then bought my 400MH at about 3 weeks into veg I beleive. I'm glad you posted on here too, and I'm glad I could help. I'm weeks away from my first harvest. I read si much for months, really 17 years to get started, I thought I had a good grasp l, I did, but have learned so much, and have had key help from the RIU comunity. It's nice to be able to help where I can. I do framing, plumbing and electrical for a living, so building my indoor garden (lung room with 400w veg cab and 1k flower chamber, soon to be 600 veg, 2k flower) was a dream, I spent hours reading, put over 3k into it, and this first crop is really showing the care and thought I put into it all, not to mention going to pay for itself! Good luck man!!! Peace and tranquility, your ladies will need it

 

[Mr John]

Are you venting/cooling that space, I sure hope so. It will get plenty hot in there for sure.

 

[Aviar]

So heres my crappy temporary set up. I raised the lights to take pics
Heres the left side

heres the other half

This is my biggest

this is my smallest.

These popped thru the dirt on 13th and 14th for some. so im on day 16 or so

 

[Aviar]

I plan on venting it even better but for now i have a fan and a bathroom vent fan pulling air out. it stays 78-82 degrees with 38-45% humidity

 

[Joven Agricultor]

I've got to het to my ladies. I the space you have this is what I'd do.

=> filter (optional)= ===>cooltube =>fan==exhaust

That will work for cooling your light and air exchange

Air cooled hood, better yet in the space a cool tube.

4" carbon filter, if smell is a concern

4" inline fan (I run variarc transformers((speed controls)) on all my fans)

Partition grow area to around 42" give or take

Passive intake from unused portion of cabinet

Exhaust into over head cabinet if available

Box fan facing wall for air circulation, or tower fan.

I'll sketch it up later if you'd like, I have 4 very mature ladies to tend too and 8 smaller girls !!

Edit: btw looks like you're headed in the right direction. Did you start the seeds in 5 gal buckets? Probably better to "pot up".

 

[Flagg420]

Ive got a small closet area 9ft wide 2ft deep and 6ft tall. With proper ventilation and a cooltube hood will I be able to not catch my closet on fire with a 400w HPS?

My 4'x2'8' closet is rocking a 600w HPS in a vented hood, and active intake..... temps are the best my grow has ever maintained, lol... I am so in love with my new hoods.... ( http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BMVK8HG/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) Nothing fancy, but keeps my 600 cool to the touch and for 60-70 bucks...

(my cool tubes lasted one grow, i will grow w/o a reflector at all b4 i use a tube again) ((not really true... I still have 1 in the light chain, its just not active..... waiting on harvest to pay for a 3rd one of these hoods to swap it out, but I dont use it for light anymore...))

 

[Aviar]

so im trying to figure out how much space my plants will have to grow if i get a 400w HPS. I think i should have around 33" if i keep my light 18" away. does that sound reasonable?

 

[vostok]

Ive got a small closet area 9ft wide 2ft deep and 6ft tall. With proper ventilation and a cooltube hood will I be able to not catch my closet on fire with a 400w HPS?

What the boys above fail to advise is tho the 400w hps is a great light
its footprint is rectangular roughly 3x4 feet or 4x5 feet depending on height desired
anything less than 400w hps is more heat than light
tho you could go 2x 250w hps lights, but heat will be more of a concern

if anything look to rearranging the grow space to take the 400w foot print

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[Joven Agricultor]

What you fail to realize is that however he rearranges his grow, he is limited to 2' due to his closet, so unless the OP wants to remodel his house (which I would be glad to do) he can't rearrange his grow to anything other than 2'd x X'(9' or smaller)w x 6' tall.

Edit: that chart is for light penetration depth, not footprint........and no way can a 400 light up a 4'x5' area either per your statement, not optimally anyway.

 

[Aviar]

ya the 2' part is the worst part obviously. and im stuck with this amount of room for sure. I am very glad to have this space though and I hope I can do something worthwhile.