Atticnoob said:
Hey all.. Awesome site just a few real noob questions I couldnt find anywhere else.
Hi... No problem... Makes me happy to help someone that tried on their own first...
Atticnoob said:
1. Does a cool tube HPS light have to be hooked up to a vent or can you just use it without?
If you are not going to hook the cool tube up, don't use it... the glass will steal some light (very little if the glass is clean), and you will get ZERO cooling from it...
The idea behind the cool tube is to isolate and exhaust the heat from the light, without allowing the glass to get hot...
this is how a cool tube set up is supposed to work... (courtesy of Al B. Fuct)
Atticnoob said:
2. Im planning on using a portable aircon in the room to keep temp and humidity consistant. Is there any reason i couldnt and could i take the exhaust of the aircon, which is conveniantly the same size and the cool tube, via the cool tube?
You can... but it is best to keep the cool tube cooled by it's own, dedicated fan...
It is very easy to loose control of the temps, which is the greatest benefit iof a cool tube, if you mix it up with other things..
For example... you need to turn the AC off to keep the room from being too cold... now you have no air blowing across the bulb... that type of thing...
Plus, you would be blowing hot air across the bulb.. defeating the purpose...
Have your exhaust for the grow hooked up to a cooling thermostat...
have a dedicated fan for the cool tube...
the AC can exhaust to the outside... independently, so you can turn everything on or off without interfering with the light and the cool tube...
Atticnoob said:
3. Does ali foil burn the plants or not? Half of everyone reccomends to use it, or just the dull side, and others claim it burns the plants. Has anyone had any personal experiance with this...
Foil is bad for a number of reasons...
It absorbs heat... it is not very effective at reflecting light... and if it has any creases at all, it will reflect distorted, concentrated beams of light that cause hot spots... and burn plants... mylar will do the same thing if it is not stretched to a mirror...
ever play with a shinny object in the sun...? the reflections on the ground..? same deal...
foil is bad....
I like flat white paint.. clean and efficient.. no chance of hot spots... and cheap too...
My tent is made of B&W Panda Film... white being the inside... very reflective...
Atticnoob said:
THanks in advance if anyone can help and sorry if these answers are else but read have searched.
You are welcome...
Your questions were very specific and educated...
It is obvious that you tried to find the info on your own...
You will find that most members will be open to answering your questions... if you keep doing what you are doing...
+Rep for researching first!!!!
Best of luck, and hit me up if you got anymore questions...
Gypsy...
![Joint :joint: :joint:](/styles/smilies/joint.gif)
Ps. here is my cool tubed 36" x 20" x 60", 600 watt home made tent...