Cooling a 600w hps dimmed down to 50%, how much air?

JCave

JCave

Well-Known Member
I am about to buy my first HID lights and I have my eye on this 600w system http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005ECZQTY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2Q2QAOMZVLG0Q&coliid=I26U3T58U1NURM

Its a 600w bulb but the ballast is dimmable and since I have no frame of reference of how much heat this thing will pump out I will be starting out dimming to maybe 50% so the bulb will be around 300w. I plan on having only 1-2 plants to get hang of this new system.

I was looking at 6'' duct fan 240 CFM pushing air over the bulb out the reflector.
http://www.amazon.com/VenTech-DF6-Duct-Fan-240/dp/B005KMTYFK/ref=aag_m_pw_dp?ie=UTF8&m=A2WRS4X4C0GMOQ

Is 240CFM enough to cool off the 300w? Will it be enough to cool off the bulb at full 600w?
 
U

urban1026835

Well-Known Member
600 will grow 2 monsters and a 6in inline fan is plenty. I currently run 600 watts in a 3x3 tent with a 4inch inline and my temps stay a consistent 68-70 in winter and about 70-72 summer. with my carbon filter attached which has to be taking away from airflow some
 
lilroach

lilroach

Well-Known Member
I have almost the exact set-up as you described and I too use the inline booster fan (240 CFM) to cool my 600w light (at full power). Not a problem at all. Make sure your intake fan and your exhaust fans are as far away from each other as possible. If the intake starts sucking the hot air from the exhaust, you'll have what's called a "heat-loop" and things will get very warm if that happens.
 
U

urban1026835

Well-Known Member
have dealt with the heat loop at one time. must say i was so confused at first why the addition of a new fam had raised my temps untill i realized i had moved my ducting and it was pointed right at my intake flap.
 
J

Jbone77

Well-Known Member
Its easy to cool a 600 but to cool a 600 efficiently, quietly, and also pull air thru a carbon filter is another story. Booster fans are for free air movement with no restrictions. If you dont mind the noise, replacement, and smell they are great.
 
JCave

JCave

Well-Known Member
Jbone77 said:
Its easy to cool a 600 but to cool a 600 efficiently, quietly, and also pull air thru a carbon filter is another story. Booster fans are for free air movement with no restrictions. If you dont mind the noise, replacement, and smell they are great.
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I am really on a budget right now, so I am trying to buy the minimum possible. Right now I got only 1 plant, so I don't need that much light.

Noise is a big deal for me since the grow room is in my living space, so noise is going to be a problem for me.
 
JCave

JCave

Well-Known Member
AimAim said:
I have the 600 Apollo in a cool tube and it runs pretty cool. I started with the fan you show, one lasted a week or so, the replacement lasted hours.

WEnt with this one with a speed controller and it works great, Quiet as well, usually run it about 25%.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JQ14F8/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I did not know failure rates for those fans are that high. Amazon has 4 stars for it also.

That fan cost $80+$20 controller, I always looking for high quality even though I am on a budget, I always use warranty when I can, but I hate for things to break. I just want to get everything squared up before I order anything yet.
 
J

Jbone77

Well-Known Member
Buy once n buy smart, a decent 6" inline fan doesnt cost much and air exchange is pretty important for a grow.
 
JCave

JCave

Well-Known Member
Here is what I just found out. About those speedster/route speed controllers. http://www.amazon.com/SE-Electronic-Stepless-Speed-Controller/dp/B000HQAVNI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388334191&sr=8-1&keywords=Speed+Controller

Amazon review that caught my attention, then I did some searching on the forums, to make sure.

"It slows the engine speed by changing the sine wave of your Alternating Current (A/C) current into a Square Wave. Why is this bad? A/C appliances are made to run with a smooth ramp up and a smooth ramp down. By changing this into a square wave, it's 100% plus, then zero, then 100% minus, without a ramp. This produced an immediate hum in my fan as soon as I slowed the engine with this device. It will also reduce the efficiency and shorten the bearing life of your fan. Electronic equipment nearby may suffer from electrical noise such as lines on your TV or hum in your sound system."
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What you'll want is a Variac, a voltage adjustable transformer. People on this forum swears by it. Rather than chopping the AC sine wave, it simply alters the amplitude. A variac is a much cleaner; much more compatible way to control AC motors. Only downside is they're bulky and expensive,
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What is needed is a Variac speed controller. http://www.amazon.com/Variac-Variable-Transformer-300va-Output/dp/B006NGI8VS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1388334819&sr=8-1&keywords=Variac

That speed control is rated at 3amp so it should be able to control this fan http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JQ14F8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1DXN92KCKEQV4
at least, and maybe 1 smaller right?
 
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