Temperature problem in closet

High everyone,

Im runnin tests for my closet, Im almost ready to germinate... so my closet is a 2 feet per 2 feet and 4 feet tall. It has one intake ( pc fan on 9 v ) and one exhaust ( pc fan on ajdustable voltage). I also have a small desk fan in the closet. MY lights : 2 , 150 w cfl mounted each of them on clamp light , clamped on the pot. and 4 100 w cfl hanging on a chain 2 on one side of the pot in the other 2 on the other side ( mounted on 2 way splitter). ( ILL post pic tonight) so my question is im reaching about 28 C at 2 inches of the 150 w. In my book its too hot for growing... knowing that the cfl have to stay as close as possible of the canopy. I read on another thread that if you can put your hand between the plant and the lamp and it doesnt burn you then.. your plant will be doing fine. IS that true? ANother Question, how much dolomite lime should i put in about one cubic feet of soil for the soil to stay ph neutral , thx...

My solution to high temps in a restricted space cabinet has been to install a cut glass 'heat shield' between the CFL's and the plants, its dropped the temps dramatically! Depends on set up but with a fan blowing the warm air through the bulbs and towards the exhaust fan, both mounted above the shield, it stops any heat building up around the plant tops. The CFL's can rest on the glass and yet you can place your hand on the glass and its barely warm.

Hard to describe but take a look at my pics maybe for airflow set up? The shield is directly above the temp gauge with the airflow left to right ----------> temps hold at 75.

Hope this helps you?

Thanks alot , yea its a good way to get through the problem but i think it could create another problem, it will increment the distance between the foliage and the light source, with my cfl it might be problem, is it a safe rule to say that if i can put my hand between the lamp and the lamp without burning it is find to grow? thanks .!

papasamba said:

Thanks alot , yea its a good way to get through the problem but i think it could create another problem, it will increment the distance between the foliage and the light source, with my cfl it might be problem, is it a safe rule to say that if i can put my hand between the lamp and the lamp without burning it is find to grow? thanks .!

Click to expand...

I can keep my plant tops just 3" below the glass and the CFL's are resting on the glass! I guess it does depend upon how you have your CFL's set up though.

Basically if you are feeling heat build up around the tops with no air movement through them then its best to increase airflow. But yes, a general rule of thumb is back of the hand, just warm =ok.

Im having trouble with my temperature, I only have 2 42W runnin 24/24 and my temp is always around 90 fr or 30c im plaing on using more lights later on, u can chek my whole setup in my setup post , go look at it and tell me whatr you think. I have a oscilating fan and 2 pc fan for intake and exhaust thanks in advance

PLZZ someone help me out on this one