CFL stealth cab design

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=8c48d5c91f9163e94c4e976bf2b6081f

This is going to be a CFL grow in my closet. Once I get the money I'm going to start construction. Any ideas are appreciated.

Passive intake through 1" PVC at the bottom, exhausted by a computer fan. 4 gallon DWC reservoir will accommodate 2 plants, and the lights will be raised/lowered so they are always within 2" of the plants. The lightbox will hold 8 23W CFLs horizontally and another 4 vertically, totalling 12 23W lights. I was contemplating adding UVB, would it be worth it? I don't know. The screen will be 11" from the bottom of the fully raised lightbox (the plants can grow about another 2" from the bottom of the box). CFLs were chosen do to space considerations and because they throw a more even light than HPS, which I would asume would be better for ScrOG. https://www.rollitup.org/indoor-growing/83378-16k-lumens-hps-vs-cfl.html#post972220

The screen will be held in place by 1" PVC frame, but I am unsure how to mount it at this point...I am considering making "legs" for it.

THe measurements are slightly off on the sketchup model, I meant to use 1/2" plywood for all sides and 1/4" for the door. THe door will be the hardest part to put into function because the cab will be in a closet and I only have a certain amount of space it can swing before it hits other boxes. I'm probably going to end up designing a folding door so I can fully open it and tend to my plants.

a succeful grow can be done with cfls but the hps would be far more better.especially in a small cab for a scrog set up.

wyteberrywidow said:

a succeful grow can be done with cfls but the hps would be far more better.especially in a small cab for a scrog set up.

Click to expand...

I'm currently debating between the two. For the price, 20 23W bulbs (12 2700k for flower and 8 6500k for veg) would be just as expensive as a chop-job 150W HPS system.

The problems I have with desiring to try HPS are:
1) The CFLs are self-ballasted. I do not have another room to keep the HPS ballast and I don't want to put it near the water. It would have to be mounted ABOVE on the ceiling, which may affect the overall distance I can raise the light.
2) HPS can kick a lot of heat, from what I've heard, and I don't want to have to keep the lights any further than is absolutely necessary to maximize light and minimize space.
3) 12 CFLs spread out would provide a much more even light than 1 150W HPS, which I would assume wold provide more even cola size.
4) CFLS are swappable and you can adjust for veg/flower. HPS is suitable mostly for flower, but would be pretty pathetic for veg. Since I'm doing a short veg (so the clones can get established), I want to be able to use less energy on more usuable light (6500k vs 2700k)

However, I would love to try HPS if I could fit the system in the space and cool it effectively eough to keep the plants 3" or less from the light. HPS, from what I've seen and heard, emits a much more penetrating light, which would be great for a fuller ScrOG. However, if the plants are 3" or less from the light, this light won't have a chance to spread evenly. I have no clue if this would actually be the case, but it seems like it would be. Also, if HPS can be used for a short (2-3 week) veg, please tell me, because everything I've seen suggests otherwise.

hps can be used thru the whole grow succesfully.You have farmers and people who have ops that just use hps foor veg,mothers clones and double the amount hps for flowering.I used my 400 hps my first grow and was able to clone after a month.when i use my t5s Ive been vegging for a month and a week and i still cant take a clone off of the same strain.Imo i would say u will get better colas from using a hps instead of cfls.But thats me try it out see how it works for you.

I think I going to stick with CFL after careful consideration. I desire the even and spread out lighting that CFLs offer, as well as less heat to worry about. HPS will be for a day when I have more room (hopefully soon).

Has anyone had success with CFL and ScrOG?

keep updating im watchin!

I'm thinking about a similar box. For the screen I was thinking about using strips of 1X1 boards. Mount them to the sides and back at the height you want the screen. The screen frame would then be supported on three sides and could be easily taken out and put back in the cab between grows or during veg so you could get the lights right down on seedlings.