4X42watt + Rubbermade = too hot

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
I thought CFL's were cool and wouldn't need to worry about heat. 4 - 42 watters have the rubbermade at 95 degrees with the lid on. Even with the lid off heat is 90+.
 

itsgrowinglikeaweed

Well-Known Member
The glass part that produces the light is relatively cool to the touch, but the ballast gets pretty hot yeah. Even without the heat, you need ventilation anyway, fresh air =cool air. You can use those in a Rubbermaid with proper ventilation.
 

vandewalle

Well-Known Member
so you are growing inside the tote? you really need to vent that because if its just stale air that is really bad for the plants. also you really shouldnt grow inside a rubbermaid in the first place, because it is just impractical.
 

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
I thought 4x42 in a rubbermade was a pretty standard thing. This isnt going to work...
 

SyNiK4L

New Member
ya deff wont...where is the rubermaid sitting? in a very hot room i take it? cus i mean i have 12 cfls in my closet and i usually stay between 75-85 degreez
 

itsgrowinglikeaweed

Well-Known Member
Its for handy do it yerselfers who want to go stealth. I dont really think its practical either lol but for stealth....or hydro yeah rubbermaid. But just for growing indoor...no you dont want a rubbermaid.
 

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
I live in an apartment and I want to put it in my closet.

It doesnt have to be all that steath - just want it in the corner of my closet and not have light filling room - it has some Oregano and chives that are growing inside from seed. I saw a couple Rubbermade grows and thought it would work.

Right now it is in my kitchen - I cant believe how hot it is.
 

SyNiK4L

New Member
is ur apartment hot? cus i live in a apartment and my grow is in my closet...i just used a file cabinet and put a planter and a propagation tray that i fitted with drains so that i could use it as hydroponics...and then i got 3 pieces of wood and created like a box around the grow area to put mylar on to reflect light...if ur not worried about it being stealth then build something like mine...and get a couple fans and put one at the door of ur closet so that it can blow cold air from ur room into the closet...i did this and it works fine for me...to keep the light out i hung a sheet in front of my door so at night i drop the sheet down and leave just enough room at the bottom for the fan so it can continue to cool the room while i sleep...then when i get up i raise the sheet up and the temp usually drops from about 82 to 75. dont use the rubermaid make a stand for ur plants in ur closet and then just tarp off and put a sheet up over ur door and u wont have to worry bout the light coming out much...and what to u keep ur apartment temp at? i keep mine at 70-72 and my temps in my closet never go above 83 degreez..85-90 is okay but still not good ...but 90+ will kill them.
 

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
is ur apartment hot? cus i live in a apartment and my grow is in my closet...i just used a file cabinet and put a planter and a propagation tray that i fitted with drains so that i could use it as hydroponics...and then i got 3 pieces of wood and created like a box around the grow area to put mylar on to reflect light...if ur not worried about it being stealth then build something like mine...and get a couple fans and put one at the door of ur closet so that it can blow cold air from ur room into the closet...i did this and it works fine for me...to keep the light out i hung a sheet in front of my door so at night i drop the sheet down and leave just enough room at the bottom for the fan so it can continue to cool the room while i sleep...then when i get up i raise the sheet up and the temp usually drops from about 82 to 75. dont use the rubermaid make a stand for ur plants in ur closet and then just tarp off and put a sheet up over ur door and u wont have to worry bout the light coming out much...and what to u keep ur apartment temp at? i keep mine at 70-72 and my temps in my closet never go above 83 degreez..85-90 is okay but still not good ...but 90+ will kill them.
I am sure I just overkilled the box with too big of bulbs. My place is 74.

I am going to check out the 23 watt bulbs. If they stay cooler I could use them. Possibly I could use 8 of them?

The 42 watters are too hot for this box. The plastic part of the light is hot to the touch. How hot does the plastic part of the 23 watters get?
 

itsgrowinglikeaweed

Well-Known Member
8 X23W will be just as hot as 4X42 W lol probably hotter. If you want to still use the rubbermaid you just have to cut a hole in the bottom/side/back to let air in and one on top to let air out. You have to stack 2 tubs on top of each other. is that what you were trying to do. You're just missing the vents and fans.
 

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
8 X23W will be just as hot as 4X42 W lol probably hotter. If you want to still use the rubbermaid you just have to cut a hole in the bottom/side/back to let air in and one on top to let air out. You have to stack 2 tubs on top of each other. is that what you were trying to do. You're just missing the vents and fans.
Ill run to the store and grab one of the packs of the 23 watters tommorow and give it another try.

I dont mind cutting a hole - but the rubbermade was 90+ with the top off and a fan blowing air.

Will the second tub give me enough volume to keep the temp down?
 

slinger36s

Well-Known Member
i got 428 watt of cfl in my closet for 1 plant and the temp stay around 72 just with the door open, my room is air conditioned. plant is doing amazing 19 inches tall 17 inches wide , fuckin bushy man, check it out in my signature grow
 

Toukinup

Active Member
I'm too growing in a rubbermaid with 300watts of true cfl lighting, computer fans for intake and outtake are a must. I have 2 80mm fans in and 2 80mm fans out, plus I supplement with c02. With this setup my temps range from 70-83. You can wire these computer fans up to a 12v ac/dc adapter which could likely be found around the house or you can buy one (I found fryz to be the only supplier).
 

tnrtinr

Well-Known Member
I'm too growing in a rubbermaid with 300watts of true cfl lighting, computer fans for intake and outtake are a must. I have 2 80mm fans in and 2 80mm fans out, plus I supplement with c02. With this setup my temps range from 70-83. You can wire these computer fans up to a 12v ac/dc adapter which could likely be found around the house or you can buy one (I found fryz to be the only supplier).
What are the wattages of the bulbs?
 

Da Chef

Member
your closet will be much better suited for the job. with a good fan on the plants, especialy pointed at the lights so it is moving hot air off of the ballast, and you will be in buisness. shouldnt get hotter than 80 deg. in a closet. they will be fine in 80 degrees. its a very consistent 80 deg. in my closet and i have no problem with heat. even if you live in a hot area. and if it gets hotter than that, turn the a/c on. either way you will be straight. only time i would use rubbermaids is if i was runnin a hydro or aero system out of a few of them.

you can make great diy hydro setups with rubbermaids but i wouldnt fuck with them otherwise.
 
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