Exhausting through the wall?

[OneHit]

Would a big return vent look more proper than than a regular heat vent?

 

[NewGrowth]

Would a big return vent look more proper than than a regular heat vent?

I guess you could just use a heat vent, but you might need an active intake with a smaller vent to move enough air through your closet.

 

[OneHit]

Hmm, Newgrowth, Ive been reading around and it seems like having a 1:1 ratio of passive intake and powered exhaust is good for creating good negative pressure. Do you know of something different? I wasnt planning to have a active intake, just more work.

Also, I was thinking about what the best way to block lights from the vent leaking out. Whats the perferred method? Having 2 90 deg turns?

 

[NewGrowth]

Hmm, Newgrowth, Ive been reading around and it seems like having a 1:1 ratio of passive intake and powered exhaust is good for creating good negative pressure. Do you know of something different? I wasnt planning to have a active intake, just more work.

I suppose but I was thinking more in terms of heat. The other benefit of a return vent is many are made to have filter installed that would allow you to block light escape and filter incoming air of dust, spores, small bugs. That is a good thing for sure.

Also, I was thinking about what the best way to block lights from the vent leaking out. Whats the perferred method? Having 2 90 deg turns?

Yep two 90's should stop any light but they also restrict air flow a bit meaning you might need a slightly larger intake vent.

 

[OneHit]

How would I block the light with a straight hole? If it was easy, that would be my prefered method because its the easiest to do. Also, in your experience, do you think I will have a heat problem? And how would you partition a space off for vegging? Thats something I would want to do, to get a ongoing harvest. But the only way I can think how to do it would be to create a separate cab

 

[NewGrowth]

How would I block the light with a straight hole? If it was easy, that would be my prefered method because its the easiest to do. Also, in your experience, do you think I will have a heat problem? And how would you partition a space off for vegging? Thats something I would want to do, to get a ongoing harvest. But the only way I can think how to do it would be to create a separate cab

Can you take pictures of the inside of your closet? You can always build a small cab inside your grow room for mothers/clones. You could also get a small tent, the homebox xs small goes for only $100. I don't think you could effectively block light without a bend. Two 90's would probably work best. If you used a larger return vent for your intake these are the type filters that are commonly found behind them Maximum Allergen Filter 12x24

Heat control should be a major concern, HID lights put off a LOT of heat so a cool tube would be advisable.

 

[OneHit]

The second picture gives a pretty good view of the inside, it just extends to the left by about a foot. I think its either 3x3 or 4x4.

I was going to order through HTGsupply as they seem to have the best prices, and are highly recomended from the forums. Cooltubes are an extra 80 bucks, but can I make one myself? If I run a cooltube, Im going to have to run a fan directly on it, and it would be an extra that I would have to connect to my filter fan.

I have a 125 CFM fan that came with my filter, but it isnt a blower. Do I definatly need a blower type fan to be able to cool the room?

If I have an active intake, would a smaller heat vent work? It would just be difficult to explain to our parents why we would install another return vent, when its obvious to them that we dont need it.

Ive thought about the tent, but I dont see any clear advantages to it. Why I would spend 100 bucks for something thats going to restrict my growing space a bit

 

[NewGrowth]

The second picture gives a pretty good view of the inside, it just extends to the left by about a foot. I think its either 3x3 or 4x4.
I was going to order through HTGsupply as they seem to have the best prices, and are highly recomended from the forums. Cooltubes are an extra 80 bucks, but can I make one myself? If I run a cooltube, Im going to have to run a fan directly on it, and it would be an extra that I would have to connect to my filter fan.

Look up "bake around" tubes on e-bay they are cheap DIY alternative for a cooltube.

I have a 125 CFM fan that came with my filter, but it isnt a blower. Do I definatly need a blower type fan to be able to cool the room?

You want to exhaust the air at least every three minutes. If you assume your room is 4x4x8= 128 sqft. A 125 CFM fan should be adequate.

If I have an active intake, would a smaller heat vent work? It would just be difficult to explain to our parents why we would install another return vent, when its obvious to them that we dont need it.

Should work fine just make sure you intake and out fans are equal in CFM rating.

Ive thought about the tent, but I dont see any clear advantages to it. Why I would spend 100 bucks for something thats going to restrict my growing space a bit

Easy set up, just a simple way to house your mother plants.

 

[LemonKush]

you want 4" ducting through all your walls and exhausted out side? call a ventilation mechanic and tell him your putting vertical washer and dryer setup in that closet. assure him you have the measurements now you just need to get the work done in the walls. if he asks where your electric outlet is for the washer and dryer then tell him you have someone coming after him. just dont let him realize your trying to grow

 

[OneHit]

Lemon, where does the other side of the vent connect to? One side is the closet, where does the other one supposed to connect to?

Im considering just purchasing a sealed reflector off HTG, but Im not sure which one I should get. My current filter fan is 4 inches, does that mean I have to get the supernova reflector because its the only 4 inch flange?

Id rather have an active intake of the same size than have to cut a bigger passive intake in the wall. Is the only rule that I need to use less CFM for the intake, as opposed to the exhaust?

What about building a tent with some pvc tubing and some of that poly. Would that be difficult? I didnt see any DIY tents out there

 

[-=4:20=-Guy]

WOW all the questions.

So for Intake I Like the standard Air Return for the intake they are readily available they look good and people expect to hear a fan behind them, not to mention you can actually get a fitting filter every time.

For the Hoods I went for the Euro Hood from HTG and it works very well, it is only like a $30 upgrade if you are getting a kit and $85 standalone. It has 6 inch duct hookups and with my setup the center of the top of the hood only gets to 130 degrees with 1000W HPS.

As for light blockage a few 90s, or build a small box over the intake and attach a few lenghs of tube to be placed on the hood and the floor
Use "S" bends to block direct light.
Flat black spray paint the inside of every part you can to prevent reflected light.


Hope this info is helpfull and checkout my links =)

P.S.
Just had a thought. If you place the vent in an area that will be seen by others when it is dark a well placed night light could hide a small amount of light leakage.

 

[OneHit]

I dont think a standard return vent is a option for a couple of reasons, there is another one on the opposing wall, so it would look wierd having 2 in each room. My parents have seen the condo, that would be suspicious why we would add another return vent, when it clearly doesnt need it. I think im going to have to stick to an active intake, though Im having trouble finding exactly how many cfms I should use for good negative pressure.

I just placed my HTG order today, for the same hood. More like a $70 upgrade though.

Im planning to place the vent near the ground, and have a small table near it with a tablecloth to cover up the vent entirely. Im definatly going to have enough bends to totally block the light. Having light coming out of a vent is not an option.

Now I almost have it worked out in my head, but have a few unanswered questions. Do you know what CFM the intake fan needs to be? And how should I seperate a veg area? Im considering using a tent, but dont want to spend $100 on one. Maybe Ill be forced to just build a box to place inside the room. Does anyone have any pictures of how they are separating the 2 areas in the same closet?

 

[NewGrowth]

You can always just use panda plastic to section off your closet.
You need the exact dimensions of your closet but here is what I posted earlier about minimum fan requirements:

You want to exhaust the air at least every three minutes. If you assume your room is 4x4x8= 128 sqft. A 125 CFM fan should be adequate.

 

[OneHit]

I got a picture of the closet, and I measured it. 3x3x9. Its very basic just a small room. How much room would I need for cloning and mothers?

 

[NewGrowth]

I got a picture of the closet, and I measured it. 3x3x9. Its very basic just a small room. How much room would I need for cloning and mothers?

So that is only 81 sqft a 125 CFM fan should work great in there. You don't need much room for mothers/clones. Save most of it for your flowering plants.

 

[OneHit]

Alright, Ive ran into a problem. I just went through settlement, so I just got the place. Now that im trying to put in the vent, It seems like there is a verticle beam right above the door. Ive attached a picture what I think it looks like.

How do I find exactly how wide the beam is, does a stud finder find wood? Can I cut through the beam? Im not sure why its there....

 

[NewGrowth]

You can cut the beam but i would recommend placing two more studs on either side of the vent location. The stud holds the drywall in front of it so be careful if you cut it out. I would only cut out a section, place two new studs, screw the drywall to them and make the minimal drywall repairs for screw holes.

 

[OneHit]

Im a little bit confused about what you mean? What exacty is a stud? the head of a nail? or the board supporting the drywall?

Maybe you can edit the picture to show what you mean?

 

[skunkbud]

I dont think thats an option. The closet is smack dab in the middle of the condo.
How is venting into the walls different from venting into a normal room with a cab?

and yor walls might start smelling like pot

 

[NewGrowth]

Im a little bit confused about what you mean? What exacty is a stud? the head of a nail? or the board supporting the drywall?

Maybe you can edit the picture to show what you mean?

I would edit the pic but I had a long day at work and I'm tired. Yeah the stud is the board. The problem with removing it is the drywall is screwed into it.