DIY Cool tube HPS to MH Conversion Bulb - HELP!!!

ACSCorp

ACSCorp

Well-Known Member
Newbie who has done his homework.

Bought a boatload of Bake-A-Rounds for my 400 HPS (I have four of them, bought 6 tubes, I like backup) and bought one MH conversion bulb (400 watts of course) - ITS HUGE! No way it will fit in a Bake-A-Round tube. Are their any others DIY's to accommodate this bulb?

I'm a McGyver type of guy so all I need are some suggestions. Evidently, I'm not McGyver enough since I'm stumped right now. All I can come up with is 2 Pyrex baking dishes, with he hollow sides facing each other with a spacer (with concave to concave sides facing one another) with a gap between them (for air flow, thus the spacers), fastened with a large hose clamp (to hold them together) and a metal housing around the assembly (except for the light outlet) and suck air through the makeshift cool the tube. (I learned on cooltubes, always suck, NEVER BLOW)!!! LOL

Yes, I know, I can always go to a vertical lighting system with air blowing up to cool the bulb and vent the hot air to the outside (scrubbed of course) but I really don't want to do this right now.

Had my mind set on a cool tube. Guess it won't happen with this bulb! I want to do a combo MH and HPS for veg and flowering. First grow but I have big aspirations!

Suggestions please?

P.S. I'll be posting a journal. My first seedlings just popped their pretty heads up today! SWEET!!!!!!!!! YOWZA~~~~~~~~~
 
buster7467

buster7467

Well-Known Member
I just got one of those glass tubes last night and made my own cool tube with it. Mine is over a 250w HPS light. I am pulling cool air from one side of the grow room and blowing it out the other side. I will post a pic of it when the lights come back on at around 9:30pm tonight.
 
C

Coors

Well-Known Member
If you use an air cooled system does this mean that you can place the light closer to your buds?
 
buster7467

buster7467

Well-Known Member
It will cool it down pretty good. But it still puts out the uvb lights so it acts like a radiant heater. The tube is cool to the touch but you can still feel some heat at about 8in from the light. At least that is what it is with my little 250w hps.
 
buster7467

buster7467

Well-Known Member
You will only really benefit from a cool tube in a small grow room. They work great if done right in a small grow like i am using.
 
buster7467

buster7467

Well-Known Member
The cool tube is a great addition to any small confined area. You can get away with using the little fans. I just pull cool air from one side of the grow room and it goes thru the cool tube and then vents out the other side. I love it. I am going to do some improvements on it in the next few weeks so i can take it apart easier so i can clean it when it needs it. I don't want to use tape all the time on it because it gets to be a pain to take apart when need be. I will get this room to near perfect status as soon as i can. This hobby never ends. And i like it. LOL
 
420 Growper

420 Growper

Well-Known Member
LOL nice
I wanna finish it but im not in any hurry, I just finished painting my "room" so im a ways off...i'll journal and post when I crack the beans.
 
ACSCorp

ACSCorp

Well-Known Member
Hey Buster,

I've been studying your cool tube photo. You used galvanized plumbing strap to mount the mogul and the tube didn't you? Much easier to use that those Café Rod brackets in the DYI. Mine kept on breaking when I was trying to bend them until I started heating them first. Good idea! I'm going to try these with my next tube.
 
buster7467

buster7467

Well-Known Member
Yes i did use the plumbing straps. They are alot easier to use than other material. I am sure there is other stuff you can use but this just seemed to be the easiest stuff to use in a pinch.
 
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