Cooling Solutions (Why is the default not to use more advanced tech to keep heat out of our grow spaces?)

Hi y'all!

I've been bouncing around the internet a long time looking into builds for grow builds. Finally decided to register on some of the forums (and this is my first post).

I see a recent thread asking about (active) air-cooled (vs just heat sinks or passive air cooling) and decided to finally ask some pros instead of just wondering on my own...

I know there are water-cooled lights out there and some hood/reflector-type setups...but this doesn't seem to be the standard (far, faaaar from it).

And I have read about the hassles of leaks from water-cooled bulbs and some immersion methods...but even just using a cold plate attached to the heat sinks would (have to be) a huge coup, no? I mean, that's a big part of the heat we have to deal with in our grow spaces and liquid-cooling is gonna be orders of magnitude more efficient/effective than air-cooling methods.

A simple switch (solenoid) to cool reservoir and lights with one one chiller?

And that'd just be what we would get using water!

What kind of lights are we talking?

Nope_49595933949 said:

What kind of lights are we talking?

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I mean, I guess I am thinking (high intensity) LEDs...because that's what has struck me as the best solution (at least for those growing in small spaces).

But nothing more specific than that, really.

I mean, obviously there will be LEDs that are just cool enough they aren't worth cooling...but seems like anything serious is going to be generating enough heat to warrant wanting to handle it efficiently...no?

By the way, I am totally open to this just being something(s) I am not considering.

Already, as I have thought about it more, I am wondering if there would actually be a good way to separate a reservoir water loop and a cooling water loop without the chiller (necessarily) mixing the two.

But I actually don't really know what the damage would be in using the reservoir water for both (as long as you aren't immersing the bulb in it).

stresse said:

I mean, I guess I am thinking (high intensity) LEDs...because that's what has struck me as the best solution (at least for those growing in small spaces).

But nothing more specific than that, really.

I mean, obviously there will be LEDs that are just cool enough they aren't worth cooling...but seems like anything serious is going to be generating enough heat to warrant wanting to handle it efficiently...no?

By the way, I am totally open to this just being something(s) I am not considering.

Already, as I have thought about it more, I am wondering if there would actually be a good way to separate a reservoir water loop and a cooling water loop without the chiller (necessarily) mixing the two.

But I actually don't really know what the damage would be in using the reservoir water for both (as long as you aren't immersing the bulb in it).

Click to expand...

Where are you liquid cooling the led lights?

You're over thinking this.. Most of the heat comes from the power supply not the diodes..
Passive heat sinks are very efficient.. I mount the power supply outside of tent..

A led grow should be +80F in temp rather than less than 80F as in the case of HPS. This means the heat is usually wellcome, most people with leds try to figure out how to not lose the heat. In the grow that on i consult with the dehuey and powersupplies are the the major contributors of heat in the grow, and come winter its not enough.

Led rigs have come a long way - overthinking some radiant heat will only complicate an already to use system. There would be very little to gain from it.

Heat is a necessary evil with grows. Leds need 80 plus degrees for good plant growth. Besides , utilizing dimmer control can help . No need to max out rig in its use.

As I said the other day on another thread ChilLEDs first lights were air-cooled.

They didn't really get far with them because the heats needed for many growers.

Let's also not forget we exchange air for multiple reasons , to lower humidity, to refresh ambient co2 levels, not just deal with heat.

So unless someone's running a sealed room which most aren't then it's over complicating a simple solution.

HydoDan said:

You're over thinking this.. Most of the heat comes from the power supply not the diodes..
Passive heat sinks are very efficient.. I mount the power supply outside of tent..

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Nope. If a driver is 94% efficiant, 94% of the power goes to the diodes and they produce 94% of the heat. The other 6% is converted to heat by the driver.

I can run water cooling on my strip light, the radiator has too much thermal mass and can drop the air temp to quickly and overshoot the temp controller.

coreywebster said:

As I said the other day on another thread ChilLEDs first lights were air-cooled.

They didn't really get far with them because the heats needed for many growers.

Let's also not forget we exchange air for multiple reasons , to lower humidity, to refresh ambient co2 levels, not just deal with heat.

So unless someone's running a sealed room which most aren't then it's over complicating a simple solution.

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I think you meant to say water cooled?
A problem I often have is loweing the temp without lossing too much humidity.

1212ham said:

I think you meant to say water cooled?
A problem I often have is loweing the temp without lossing too much humidity.

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I had actually forgotten about the water cooled options and was thinking about their air cooled hooded version.
Both are in this video

Brings back some memories ey

There is a reason water cooled is not used. It was tried and found to be a solution looking for a problem. The simplest solution is nearly always the best.

Sorry, I need to look into the forum a little more (I don't think I am missing something, I assume I can't react to posts because I am a new member).

I really appreciate all this input!! Thank you so much!

Wanted to get input from people who are doing (as opposed to me, who is just thinking).

Thank you!

stresse said:

Sorry, I need to look into the forum a little more (I don't think I am missing something, I assume I can't react to posts because I am a new member).

I really appreciate all this input!! Thank you so much!

Wanted to get input from people who are doing (as opposed to me, who is just thinking).

Thank you!

Click to expand...

You should start by growing plants and go from there, not the other way around. Imo.

I was thinking of this same idea once but there are advantages and disadvantages

-water above electrical is asking for trouble. Keep it simple and put the electrical above the water
-It will be complicated to run two chiller loops (one loop for lights and tent temp, could be set with a heater for night. Second loop for reservoir)
-then you will need added co2 during the day to keep it sealed to take advantage of cooling loop, and then probably need a night fan to deal with night humidity
-will need dehumidifier now to keep up with daytime sealed humidity
-expensive to setup but worth it for how fun the project would be. Need quality because of water and electric being mixed

Wouldn't it be much easier to just use an ac unit for cooling not to mention safer?

People have been moving their HPS ballasts outside of the grow area and growing in cool basements for decades.

Keep it simple.