xblazedx421

Well,The cab is about is done, but im having a little trouble with the last part of it : tempature.

As of the last two weeks I have been running 1K watt heater 24/7, becuase temps have been getting to low-mid 30's.

I have a 600w light system, and I was thinking I could build a little wood box , 1'x1'x'1, To house the ballast in, and i would build this right next into the intake on the cab...The ballast would warm the little box so the intake air temp will be stable.

Could this work?

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slowthestone

If the ambient temps are that chilled...I'm thinking you'd be able to manage putting a fan on the bulb to push or pull it's heat throughout the space.
And turn off that juice sucking heater to boot.

alteredego

Is your cab outside?

Those are some pretty low temps, especially if your light is on and it is in the 30s. I wouldn't believe that the heat from the ballast alone would raise your temps 30-40 degrees. At a minimum you would want your temps to be up in the 60s.

How big is your cab?
What's the ambient temp outside of the cab?
How big of an exhaust fan are you using?
How much intake do you have?

All of these could play a role in determining your temperatures.

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alteredego

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Schmoke

I was thinking the same thing, but if he meant Celsius those arent low temps at all.

Isnt that freezing point? Under 1000w, thats insanity!

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bloodshoteyes

attic grow possibly?

I'm constantly battling the temps as well. Soon I'm going to make my grow space smaller, hopefully maximizing the use of my light and heater.

I think my plants are destined to live quite a chilly and stunted life

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xblazedx421

No, its not outside, but its in my garage, which has the same temps as outside.

The room is 4x4x8...
exhaust fan is 172 cfm Voretx powerfan.
intake, an 8x8 passive intake

With an air-cooled 600w lumatek HPS.

I have already built the 'intake port box'...

Imagine a 1'x1'x1' box with an 8''x8'' filter on each side (2) connected to the flowering cab and the ballast sits in there and warms and filters the intake air.

Ill be getting a new camera in a few days, and ill get some pics up.

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I would feel more optomistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving he can outwit nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

swordfish

I have a similar setup but I am burning 1000w in a parabolic. You could try not useing your glass in your fixture, as you mentioned it's air cooled. Or get a smaller inline. I blow air across my bulb only when the temps call for it. Your stratagy on useing your ballasts in the way you describe sounds minimal. Sounds like the 172cfm Vortex is to efficient and is sucking more passive air than you really need for that small cabinet. I am useing a small 80cfm ceiling extraction bathroom fan for a 1000w heat generation. It's all about tweaking what you already have sometimes. For the cost of running a space heater 24/7 you could be burning an extra 1500w.

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discingolfer

2 questions-

1. Is your room isulated?
2. Can you run your lights at night when it's colder, allowing them to heat your room as opposed to running a heater all night?

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xblazedx421

no worries...thats why I have a fan speed-contoller..

1- no its not, and it doesnt matter if it is or not, becuase of how cold the intake air is.

2- yes I can, but I dont like to becuase than I cant spend as much time with the ladies.

ps- I have my new camera, so ill get some pics up soon.

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I would feel more optomistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving he can outwit nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

hygs

I have a similar situation. A small greenhouse w/ an insulated cabinet for the plants. Insulation will help a lot. You can use a bubble pack thermostat to control the intake air, and a separate fan for circulation only. I also use a oil filled heater to keep the greenhouse temps above 55 degrees F.