Small scale, high efficiency perpetual SOG

[GrowinSmoke]

I have been toying with this idea for about a month now while trying to find an upgrade to my CFL cabinet. Being a student, I have little money, so I gotta keep the initial start price low.

I want to build a bigger flowering box in my closet. Max dimensions would be 4'L x 2.5'D x 3.5'H, but I am thinking more like 4x2x3. I have an access panel to the attic where I can blow my exhaust. As of now I am planning on a Stanley blower. From what I hear it will cool anything I could throw at it. On a side note: has anyone exhausted into their attic and still had odor issues without a carbon filter?

My dilemma is choosing my lighting. I have considered 2 150w HPS lights, and 2 250w HPS lights. I'm comfortable with DIY projects, so I figure I can piece the 2 150w lights together on 100-120 bucks. I'm probably going easily to pay double that to get a couple of 250w lights put together, and $30 a ballast for the 150W, I could add another 150w as I get going if I need it, and I would still only be 50w behind the dual 250's, but have an extra ~$60 in my pocket. I have access to a machine shop and lots of free material, so ballast heatsinks, enclosures, and bulb reflectors will be free in any situation.

If you didn't think I was crazy yet, you probably will now.

I'm a fan of the "Dr. Bud" method. Even though I'm sure he wasn't the first. My plans are to put 4 small clones in and harvest 4 plants weekly, so lets say its an 8 week strain. Thats 32 plants at a time. I haven't found anything like this done in the space I am using, but lets just reason this out.

32plants/8sqft = 4 plants/sqft From what I have seen, that's more than reasonable for a SOG.

There is also only a 2x2 foot area per light. I have heard this figure for a 150w light before

I also plan on using cool tubes.

The multiple points of light should help out, and with the use of cool tubes, I will be keeping everything as low as the plants allow. I am also not going to have any space unoccupied when I get this moving, so I should be using as much of the light output as possible. The short plants should allow for plenty of light penetration, even in a 4per/sqft, shouldn't it?

Where are the holes in my logic? Any input or resources would be much appreciated.

 

[convict156326]

i like it bro, im new to indoors just had first harvest. anyways, yes odor will still be an issue in attic, cause your still venting skunky air up there. imo

 

[GrowinSmoke]

It won't be hard to make a filter anyway.

No one else has any input? I have seen boxed 400w HPS units for $100. Is having multiple points of light really that beneficial? If I was to throw a 400w in do you think I could focus it to the area as well and be able to cool it enough when compared to a couple 150 watters? If I didnt use a cooltube, and just sucked air from the top of the hood and left the glass off, would the cooling effect be much different than a cooltube? I was planning on running air from inside the box through the tube.

I have no experience with HIDs, and I can think up different theories and plans all day, but others experience can be so much more useful.

 

[convict156326]

like i said ima noob. that said. i noticed incredible heat in my tent each time i opened it, the light kept the 40x40x70 tent a steady 15 degrees hotter than rest of the house. but after i got some fans and whatnot i noticed imediate drops, so i guess if you vented enough and allowed for the room between tops and light, then yeah sounds good.

 

[convict156326]

how would you seperate between veg/flower in such a small space? im needing to build a small mother chamber for 1-2 moms. and veg up to 6 clones b4 transplant to 400 tent. any ideas man?

 

[GrowinSmoke]

I left room on my max dimensions to add another foot or 2 onto the length to use for a mother and cloning. I still have my CFL cabinet I can use too, but Id like to eliminate that if possible. It has some pretty loud and clunky server fans on it now.

 

[convict156326]

whats your cfl cab set up like?

 

[Flo Grow]

GrowinSmoke -
I vent into my attic without a scrubber.
Smell is a very small issue sometimes late in bloom, and only in the guest rooms walk-in closet which is where my tent sits.
As you can see, my 6 inch CanFan sits on the top and outside my tent with no bends and 3ft of rigid ducting STRAIGHT up into the attic.
Therefore my negative pressure is so good, I don't even have to air cool my hood.
In fact, the glass lens is completely removed and I can get my 400w Horti within 5 - 6 inches of my colas.
My 2 thermometers tell my story !! lol

 

[GrowinSmoke]

whats your cfl cab set up like?

172-178 watts of CFL in a 28x38x17 inch area. I have 2 120mm axial pc fans that are pretty thick and pull around 140cfm if I remember right. I have them on a rheostat and run them at 5 volts when the lights are off. I needed to stack them to be able to pull through my scrubber though.

GrowinSmoke -
I vent into my attic without a scrubber.
Smell is a very small issue sometimes late in bloom, and only in the guest rooms walk-in closet which is where my tent sits.
As you can see, my 6 inch CanFan sits on the top and outside my tent with no bends and 3ft of rigid ducting STRAIGHT up into the attic.
Therefore my negative pressure is so good, I don't even have to air cool my hood.
In fact, the glass lens is completely removed and I can get my 400w Horti within 5 - 6 inches of my colas.
My 2 thermometers tell my story !! lol

Very nice. How big is your tent? My ducting wont be able to be quite as efficient, but it should still be ok. Probably going to use schedule 40 PVC wherever I can. At worst there will be 1 or 2 <30* angles outside of the cabinet. I want to try to get my bulbs within 3 inches, especially if they are 150w lights. When I say efficient, I want to get as much light from the bulb to the plant as possible. I'm ok with having to go nuts on cooling, but I think the Stanley should do it. Anyone know how much better it is to pull outside air through the lights vs air in the box? How much better are cool tubes for temps when compared to an air cooled hood without glass? The house should be around 70*. If I can keep that box under 80 all the time I will be very happy. I would like to see how a plant behaves closer to 70 though. I can't ever get that low when I flower in the CFL cabinet. I have to keep the door open when the lights are on to duck under 80*.

Sorry for the overly detailed questions. I'm having a hard time finding grows that are comparable enough to answer some of these light cooling questions.