CFL closet grow - considering LED

Hey all. I'm doing a bedroom closet grow.

I currently only have 1 plant, 4 weeks into flowering, under a 200w cfl tube. Had 2 more, turned out to be hermies (bad seeds). I'm waiting for seeds to arrive, then I will start up at least 6 more.

I want to get better lights for my next grow, the one cfl won't be enough for 6 plants, I was thinking about LED's because they distribute light better and are generally better than cfl's from what I've read. I've grown with HPS before, that was way better than cfl.

My only problem is heat. With cfl I manage to keep the temp around 26°c (78°f) with the closet door open. Light is about 10 cm (4 in) from the canopy.

My question is, is it possible for me to get a LED for my closet or does it generate too much heat?

There is no way to get an exhaust fan, my only ventilation is a fan inside the closet and fresh air from a window. I don't want to ruin the closet door for a noisy fan in my bedroom.

I was thinking about getting some cheap 300w LED on amazon (most are about $100). I'm on a budget and this is just for my own fun.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Stoggr1 said:

Hey all. I'm doing a bedroom closet grow.

I currently only have 1 plant, 4 weeks into flowering, under a 200w cfl tube. Had 2 more, turned out to be hermies (bad seeds). I'm waiting for seeds to arrive, then I will start up at least 6 more.

I want to get better lights for my next grow, the one cfl won't be enough for 6 plants, I was thinking about LED's because they distribute light better and are generally better than cfl's from what I've read. I've grown with HPS before, that was way better than cfl.

My only problem is heat. With cfl I manage to keep the temp around 26°c (78°f) with the closet door open. Light is about 10 cm (4 in) from the canopy.

My question is, is it possible for me to get a LED for my closet or does it generate too much heat?

There is no way to get an exhaust fan, my only ventilation is a fan inside the closet and fresh air from a window. I don't want to ruin the closet door for a noisy fan in my bedroom.

I was thinking about getting some cheap 300w LED on amazon (most are about $100). I'm on a budget and this is just for my own fun.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Click to expand...

I love your micro grow! Is it the space you plan to use for your next grow? What's the dimensions of the space? I need this info before I can answer your led question.

Stoggr1 said:

Hey all. I'm doing a bedroom closet grow.

I currently only have 1 plant, 4 weeks into flowering, under a 200w cfl tube. Had 2 more, turned out to be hermies (bad seeds). I'm waiting for seeds to arrive, then I will start up at least 6 more.

I want to get better lights for my next grow, the one cfl won't be enough for 6 plants, I was thinking about LED's because they distribute light better and are generally better than cfl's from what I've read. I've grown with HPS before, that was way better than cfl.

My only problem is heat. With cfl I manage to keep the temp around 26°c (78°f) with the closet door open. Light is about 10 cm (4 in) from the canopy.

My question is, is it possible for me to get a LED for my closet or does it generate too much heat?

There is no way to get an exhaust fan, my only ventilation is a fan inside the closet and fresh air from a window. I don't want to ruin the closet door for a noisy fan in my bedroom.

I was thinking about getting some cheap 300w LED on amazon (most are about $100). I'm on a budget and this is just for my own fun.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Click to expand...

Im running a marshydro t600 (100 true watts) and its quit warm deff warmer than 3 cfl in splitter 23w each right beside it. Its very bright and could deff bloom it has no fan, i have some other leds 400w and 1000w both true 100w and they are far warmer having the mini fans included on them. One option i thought for you would be get a marshydro 2 400 and tape a 3” duct to both fans and run that to the bottom of the door space on your closet between floor and bottom of door?

Killaki said:

I love your micro grow! Is it the space you plan to use for your next grow? What's the dimensions of the space? I need this info before I can answer your led question.

Click to expand...

Thanks! Yes this is the only space I can grow in my apartment.
Yeah I forgot the dimensions.
Lenght : 87 cm (2.8 ft)
Width : 57 cm (1.8 ft)
Height : 167 cm (5.4 ft)

And you can mount the driver outside of the box for further heat reduction.


Or just get this





But the HLG light is a lot better for only $50 more

You need to cool most lights, even that CFL couldn't run door shut so that tells you any better light and wattage will be hotter.

Couple pc computer fans in the top set on low will be quiet stealth and your best option but these can't run carbon filters so hope smell isn't an issue.

Why is your thermometer in the light, looks like it could even be touching the bulb. Put it on the top of the bottle closest the door against the wall before you melt it, that's not where a thermometer goes and all that light will heat it up, remember were reading air not light or the temperature of the bulb since it seems that close.

HLG do a nice new 100Rspec light pulling around 100W. That will give off roughly 400W of CFL equivalence but with only 100W of heat!

led w driver mounted outside the grow area will help keep temps down.

the HLG 135W would be an awesome option. I started w an earlier V2 version of the same kit for a 2x2x5 tent as my first led fixture.

if you are up for a little more complicated DIY, a small strip fixture would be even better of a spread and might save $50 or so. you could also get the light closer to the canopy, which shouldn't be a huge issue w 5 ft of space but if you grow some taller strains it might help. I think if you use some decent heatsink or led profile channel to help dissipate heat it will run a little cooler than the HLG board as well since the heat is dissipated over a larger area and has more airflow.

also is worth mentioning that w LED you actually want slightly higher temps, like 81-84F is the sweet spot, so might be easier to work with your environment.

Great idea with the HLG light, if the driver is outside the closet there should be less heat inside. I guess I could also put small fans on top to lower the heat if needed

Anyone know if this works with 220v electricity? (EU) From the looks of it it seems to be american plug. I don't know much about electricity and difference between 120v and 220v, can I just switch plugs?

Also, smell is not an issue and my thermometer is about the same length from the light as the canopy

Edit: HLG doesn't ship to my country

Stoggr1 said:

Thanks! Yes this is the only space I can grow in my apartment.
Yeah I forgot the dimensions.
Lenght : 87 cm (2.8 ft)
Width : 57 cm (1.8 ft)
Height : 167 cm (5.4 ft)

Click to expand...

Nice! I would have suggested the spider farmer depending on budget. I was also going to bring up temps. Seems like you're pretty well covered by others here.
I will add; I started with CFLs and I know how different it can be. Florescents can get damn near touching, an led will blast the plant to death at this distance so you'll want to keep all this in mind when doing your setup.

Stoggr1 said:

Great idea with the HLG light, if the driver is outside the closet there should be less heat inside. I guess I could also put small fans on top to lower the heat if needed

Anyone know if this works with 220v electricity? (EU) From the looks of it it seems to be american plug. I don't know much about electricity and difference between 120v and 220v, can I just switch plugs?

Also, smell is not an issue and my thermometer is about the same length from the light as the canopy

Click to expand...

Ah. This is a game changer. I'm in the US as well but you will need something different. I think there are some that will work for you. Lemme see...

Stoggr1 said:

Great idea with the HLG light, if the driver is outside the closet there should be less heat inside. I guess I could also put small fans on top to lower the heat if needed

Anyone know if this works with 220v electricity? (EU) From the looks of it it seems to be american plug. I don't know much about electricity and difference between 120v and 220v, can I just switch plugs?

Also, smell is not an issue and my thermometer is about the same length from the light as the canopy

Click to expand...

My kits come with UK plugs and drivers upto 277v

Stoggr1 said:

my thermometer is about the same length from the light as the canopy

Click to expand...

We just need the air temperature away from the light, it is not a light reader so cannot tell air temperature when you shine lots of light at it.

Like trying to read air temperature by putting the thermometer under your tounge, you only read body temperature. Put the thermometer in the air not in the light or there really is no point in owning one.

The heat from cfl/led feels the same to me, I'm sure Google will know. I think if you're ok with 200w of cfl; you'll be ok with 200w led.

I think making your own vented door jamb would be the way to go, or get a big wardrobe and ventilate that. I have gotten by with a 4" inline eBay fan through a filter, and ~ 350w actual in a waredrobe (65f ambient). I'm going to need a second fan if I want more. I believe the fan is about 6-7 watts. It's like a computer fan, it's dinky and weak... But I get by.

My canopy is 8-12f above ambient, and above the lights it's 15f above ambient. My intake air is passive and basically a 5" circle, frankly a bit undersized but good for odor.
none of this is ideal, but I'm telling you a 5-7w computer fan will do it for ya in a pinch if there's not a ton of ducting behind it.

I keep my led's so close, that if well ventilated; I could have a two story grow in my wardrobe... I will someday.

Edit: check eBay for tents, and find some configuration that fits your closet. My buddy wanted a certain tent for $100, but the smaller one that fit his closet was like $180..... The way she goes. His was something like 30x64x70 etc. Not 4x4x7. Most sellers list a dozen sizes at once too.

Stoggr1 said:

Great idea with the HLG light, if the driver is outside the closet there should be less heat inside. I guess I could also put small fans on top to lower the heat if needed

Anyone know if this works with 220v electricity? (EU) From the looks of it it seems to be american plug. I don't know much about electricity and difference between 120v and 220v, can I just switch plugs?

Also, smell is not an issue and my thermometer is about the same length from the light as the canopy

Edit: HLG doesn't ship to my country

Click to expand...

You definitely want adequate ventilation, it is crucial to good results.

Something like an AC infinity axial fan or duct booster fan will work fine for your space and is relatively cheap and quiet. I use a 6” duct booster fan to cool my 2x5 veg tent, it comes with a speed controller which is very helpful. You could get the 4” model and turn it down to 40-50% and it would be very quiet and still move enough air.

Since your space is about 5 sq ft. you want around 150w of quality LED. The 135w QB would work fine for your space. The drivers are all compatible with 220v and it is as simple as cutting off and replacing the plug.

PizzaMan5000 said:

My canopy is 8-12f above ambient, and above the lights it's 15f above ambient.

Click to expand...

Read your ambient temperature, your thermometer is not your ambient in the light, ambient is away from light off to the side.

Your only fuck your self up when you get a better light and can't get your grow under 95 because now you have even more light heating the fuck out if the thermometer.

BBQtoast said:

Read your ambient temperature, your thermometer is not your ambient in the light, ambient is away from light off to the side.

Your only fuck your self up when you get a better light and can't get your grow under 95 because now you have even more light heating the fuck out if the thermometer.

Click to expand...

the thermometer sitting on top of the light is 82-84, under the canopy mid 70's, in direct light on a black alarm clock it's about 79.
I haven't checked with infared in a while, but my leaf temps were fine.

air out the exhaust is 70's....

I panic at 82f.

PizzaMan5000 said:

the thermometer sitting on top of the light is 82-84, under the canopy mid 70's, in direct light on a black alarm clock it's about 79.
I haven't checked with infared in a while, but my leaf temps were fine.

air out the exhaust is 70's....

I panic at 82f.

Click to expand...

If want to read air temperature it is a simple affair, can't follow your complicated approach.

LEDGROWSHOP.CO.UK said:

My kits come with UK plugs and drivers upto 277v

Click to expand...

Sweet, this is exactly what I need!
Edit: The shop only ships to the UK, and I don't live there. Oh well, I'll keep on looking

Thanks all for answering, I will buy this LED and see how it goes. With good ventilation I will make this happen.