DIY Stealth closest grow box.

rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
So I have a Closet maid 30 in wide 2-door, that I would like to convert into a grow cab, but keeping stealth in mind, as well as heat. I've grown outdoors before, but I have not grown in a few years now. doing research I would like to experiment with alternatives to hps. I have come up with a design so far and would like any input from anyone willing to share.

So assuming the flurotubes each give out a little less then 2000 lumens that's roughly 18,000 - 24,000 lumens that will reach the plants using SCROG If I combined those with 6: 45w led 10 red, 5 blue, I should have an additional 10,000 - 15,000 lumens plus the color spectrum, In theory I should get a total of 30,000 - 40,000 lumens with a 4.5 square foot area, using reflective material I should get 6500-9000 lumens per sqaure foot. I will have to see on how many i want to grow, but I think more then 4 would be pushing it in terms of space. I will update this thread as I build it, but any comments or suggestions are appreciated.
 
justugh

justugh

Well-Known Member
change out all the T5s for a decent LED

2 foot bulbs are 2000 lumen 12 of them is 24000 lumens

the LED light will give u more light at a lower heat cost
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
Unfortunately not an option, already have the t5, and want the t5 because I want to experiment with it, obviously ill keep the babies close to the t5 until they are ready. I will try a LED panel when I can afford a nice one, the t5 12 lamp was only 84$. Would you advise any other spot LED's then the ones I plan on using? they use 3w led bulbs, with 15 bulbs which is I think what to look for in a LED grow light correct me if I'm wrong.
 
justugh

justugh

Well-Known Member
well the trouble is t5 lights the light only goes so far down leaving the buds fluffier .......

as for keeping them close u better rethink that 8 inches ...........any closer and u need to check every day to make sure nothing is closer then 4 inches from it any closer then that u are looking at heat damage from the light

as for the extra lights your going to need them when it goes into flowering ...........but your issuse again will be the increase of the heat .........so u will need a faster exhaust and cooler intake temps
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
Alright sounds good, so instead go for something like an 8" Hurricane inline double the CFM, We don't heat our home much temps are 68-69, adding high cfm computer fans at the intakes, and adding a few more intake along the back panel definitely wont hurt. Now I did find at lowes a glass sheet that matches the the size of the t5's, could eventually add a separate duct for the t5 using 2 fans, and make another 2 extra exausts towards the top, which should blow all the hot air in the bedroom. Or just mount some cpu heatsinks on the t5 lol just throwing ideas out
 
GreenthumbQC

GreenthumbQC

Well-Known Member
T5 will leave you with useless buds about 12 inches down from the top cola. If not less. You could use 5000 t5's, they have no depth.

Your idea is wicked, and im going to be doing the same, but I think your overthinking the lighting. KISS. I would go for. . nothing.. Just whatever you have throw it in their and veg it. Keep em close. I mean they don't need too much for about a month... So you have time to make money in one month right. The just buy an led. Mars II. I got a 1200, and a 900. Man those things make no heat. But I don't do spot lights, nor do I have side lighting, I penetrate that bitch with pure led power.

My two cents.. PS I keep looking at your box layout.. Its gonna be sick. Post pics! And if I get mine going ill see if we come up with similar ideas. Best of luck!
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
haha alright, I was also thinking of using LED computer fans on those additional intakes I add, like If I put 3 more holes the the size to fit two computer case fans I could put 7:red 1:blue led case fans, allow further penetration into the bottom canopy, though If I do that I should stack them by 2, right above the scrog screen, since towards the top it will be reached by the the t5's. We shall see how things go, I'm sure using orchids and geraniums as benchmarks before I start will help me plan out better.
 
NorthernHize

NorthernHize

Well-Known Member
I have made a similar grow cab. The only fault to the cab is that unless you tape around the doors or use some sort of weather striping you will have light leaks and ultimately odor leaks. I personally use cree cxa3050's 2700k about $36 a peice you can find a decent driver for about $20. get two of them
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
A little update since getting back from holidays, after some thought I'm going to trash the idea of using T5's, I have the red/blue leds setup and they work fine and temps stay much more regular then with T5's, I spent the majority of my holiday researching LEDS and will probably end up using 4 cree CXA3070 or 3590 depending on total cost of drivers and such, Its actually funny before thinking of doing this ordered 10 cpu heat sink and coolers for .99 cents a pop, so I've got them laying around serving no purpose. As far as whats been done so far: LEDS are setup, intake is setup, temporary outtake as well, air circulates very well, I water in the morning, they are usually dry by the end of the day. I set up a flood tray on the whole bottom level with pond liner, works very well. other then that managed to light proof the SOB, except from behind looks like a fucking spaceship so the last things that have to be done before flowering is obtaining the CREE leds, and a proper outtake vent with a carbon filter. My geraniums, and various other herbs are definitely appreciating the full spectrum.

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NorthernHize

NorthernHize

Well-Known Member
Good job if you are gunna run the Crees I have four cxa3070's in my cab cost me $250 for the setup, well $290 with heat sinks and fans I can't point out parts if you like!
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
Yes I would gladly take input on equipment I'm trying to fill about a 40,000 lumen void roughly so even 4x3070's would probably work at optimum efficiency, though I'm truly getting lost in which driver will fit my needs best, what drivers did you use?
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
so after some research into supra's charts, my limited budget, I'm thinking I should go with:
5 x LPF-90D-42
2 x vero 29 5000k BXRC-56G10K0-L-04
3 x vero 29 2700k BXRC-27G10K0-L-03

using the spare computer heat sinks, and powering the active cooling through the PC power supply. The way I see it I wouldn't be running them too hard, but still get more then enough light for a SOG type grow. Any input on my choice of hardware is greatly appreciated especially if you know of better/cheaper drivers.
 
NorthernHize

NorthernHize

Well-Known Member
Well better and cheaper are usually not synonymous so I can't think of any. The vero's will serve you just fine, they also withstand and perform better if you happen to drive them a little harder.
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
So a little update, because I do over think things, and change things around constantly. air flow is installed, going to have to muffle it a bit to make it stealth, babies are growing just some random bag weed to see how they perform they are about 2 weeks old now, I installed some pre-filters on the led fans on the back panel to try and control that light, but I just might have to scrap the idea of led fans, because rocket ship looking closest is not stealthy. I might drill holes into the upper levels for the red/blue leds to prop them up a little to give more room for canopy space. Also after more reviewing I thought I might get more bang for my buck powering 4 vero 29's using a meanwell HLG-185H-48A to power them, which I believe would bring me close to sun power for my little 30in x 18in grow space, mixed with active cooling and the passive cooling of the high cfm fan I think temps would be more then manageable If i'm making a mistake somewhere please let me know, all help is always appreciated
 

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rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
After all I went with the cheap alternative of a pair of vero 29's and a pair of 100w ebay drivers, thanks to supra's help. They run great, the intake fan is setup and temps are cool, It gonna be time to finish the mylar in the back and start topping for a SOG in this test of bag weed.
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Voidling

Voidling

Well-Known Member
What did the two vero and two drivers cost you with shipping if you don't mind sharing. I've got two cree with 50w drivers but looking for something cheaper for another project.

Supra is a ton of help
 
rolledupdriver

rolledupdriver

Well-Known Member
Voidling said:
What did the two vero and two drivers cost you with shipping if you don't mind sharing. I've got two cree with 50w drivers but looking for something cheaper for another project.

Supra is a ton of help
Click to expand...
both of them were 61$ total with free shipping, good deal on ebay
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181302171749?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

I was walking around office depot and found one of those aluminum clipboard with a compartment, so I'm going to try to make something a little cleaner as far as housing the drivers and heatsinks lol should give a much cleaner look lol.
 
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