Ventallation Question

[midnitetokker]

Ok, I have my new cabinet that I am going to use as a garden. My only question is where I should have spaces for ventalation. I am guessing that since there are two sides, I will need two vent's for outgoing, but where should i put them? On the top, or towards the bottom? Or does it matter? I will be using duct fans to push air out (and in, i suppose), so I will have a bunch of 4" holes when its done.

Anyway, can someone take a look at the unit here and give me an opinion?

Thanks

[Rusty Trichome]

Yes, it definatelly matters.

Heat rises, so putting the active (fan forced) exhaust up high, is best.

Passive (no fan) intake near bottom, but be careful of light leaks from both. Not necessary to cut that big of intake holes. You can likely get away with smaller. (2")

You'll need a circulation fan for inside the cabinet, too. (exhaust and intake don't work well alone, so additional air circulation is needed.

Have you taken a look at other wardrobe conversions, for guidance?

[midnitetokker]

No, I really haven't. This is more of a hybrid of my closet attempt and a grow box...on a larger scale. Do you have a link to a decent wardrobe conversion post?

[midnitetokker]

You can likely get away with smaller. (2")



Also, if I can get away with smaller, what type fan(s) would you suggest? The only one's i can really see are the 4" duct fans from home depot, but am definatly open to suggestions

[Rusty Trichome]

Fans on the intake are unnecessary. The suction caused by the exhaust fan(s) will pull the air in just fine.

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[midnitetokker]

so I can get away with a few little slits towards the bottom then? I am a n00b in this, so any help is appreciated.

[Rusty Trichome]

I don't see why not, if you can keep all light out, and it doesn't restrict the incoming air. Do you have plans for keeping the light from entering thru the doors? Step inside and close the doors...If you see light, it will need to be addressed.
Don't lock yourself in, tho. :thumbsup:

[midnitetokker]

Yeah, I have a thick black painters plastic sheet that I am hanging in front of the doors. That way, you have to open the doors, then open the plastic to have access. All other little holes will be covered by tape when I am done with cutting the new holes (not the vent holes, I'm working on figureing out how to make those light proof as well......)

[Rusty Trichome]

Perhaps putting them in the back of the closet, and keep light from getting back there...?

[midnitetokker]

I was thinking. If i take an air duct, and make slits in it, and extend it the entire length of the area, (similar to the concept of an air conditioner), would that work? in other words, have a hole where a duct comes in on the bottom of one chaimber, then the duct goes to both chaimbers on teh bottom, then take a knife and make holes in the ductwork. That way air can get into both sides, and minimal (if any) light issues. I suppose the same would work on the outgoing air holes as well....except with two fans on top (one on each side, pulling air out both ends).

[Rusty Trichome]

I don't see why not, but a 'cleaner looking' solution may be 2" grey PVC. (ending in a 4" to 2" reducer 'T') Just a thought. Shouldn't be a need to glue it together, as it slides together pretty tight.
But, as long as you do something that works, then go for it. :thumbsup:

If doors aren't weather-stripped, air will come thru there, inherently adding to the intake volume. (it'll leak air in, which is ok as long as the light doesn't follow, lol)

[midnitetokker]

I don't see why not, but a 'cleaner looking' solution may be 2" grey PVC. (ending in a 4" to 2" reducer 'T') Just a thought. Shouldn't be a need to glue it together, as it slides together pretty tight.
But, as long as you do something that works, then go for it. :thumbsup:

If doors aren't weather-stripped, air will come thru there, inherently adding to the intake volume. (it'll leak air in, which is ok as long as the light doesn't follow, lol)

So you are suggesting something like my diagram below, or just have it come in and end with the opening? Also, doors are not weather stripped (they can be, i suppose), would you suggest leaving them undone? Do I want to share air (intake and out going?) between the bud and the veg rooms?

As far as outgoing air, repeat same process as intake but with fans? Pardon for my ignorance, but im not seeing what you are talking about. I have my father in law coming this afternoon with the tool to cut holes in this plastic, so i'm trying to figure this out on the fly ;)

[Rusty Trichome]

That doesn't look bad at all. Would be leery of light coming thru the straight pipe, tho. The more bends you have, the more it traps the light. Painting the inside of the PVC with flat black paint would help, too.

My thoughts stem from my Coral tank. Like in the picture below, (an unfinished project) the plumbing along the top edge of the tank, with the reducer 'T' and two elbows on the ends, turned directly into the lower-back of your cabinet. (the 'T' still facing down, tho)
As if you were to take a ruller, and draw a straight line along the bottom of the top-horizontal pipes, and disregard the rest. (and rotate the thing 90 degrees, so elbows go into the back, for intake) Would need 2 elbows, two short sections of pipe, and a reducer 'T'.

For exhaust, one hole on each side, one fan per hole, pointing out, lol.

But not sure about how you'd block incoming light from those exhausts...possibly a Panda film 'curtain' on the inside or block it before entering, or both? Likely tho, once light comes in, it'll bounce all around that cabinet.

Might just be easier to do it the other way you were mentioning, but, this design may be less of an eyesore, lol.

Boittom line: do whatever works. :thumbsup:

[midnitetokker]

Solved....

I just got back from home depot, and man, you can learn alot in there....


For my air INTAKE: I have 2 U bend (like under your sink) 2" pvc pipes attached to eachother, making an S. It will point to a dark corner behind the unit so light should not be an issue.

For the out take, I am going to install 2 vent fans at the end of a 8' expandable ductwork (like for the dryer), which will sit outside and behind the unit. This will allow max space inside, I have tested the vent fan, and it does move alot of air...maybe not as much as i need atm, but thats why i only bought one...to test it all.

I am only making one side now, just for testing purposes.... Hopefully once my father in law comes by with the necessary tools to drill my holes i can get this setup. If there is anything else you can think of to help me get started, it will be appreciated. I will also be posting a grow log with pics from the entire process on my new website (once i post it live, that is).

Thanks in advance, and for the help so far.

[Rusty Trichome]

Ummm...Possibly tell the father in law you'll be growing tomatoes, so you won't have to share...?

Good job. Just make sure to test the inside for light leaks. Have a seat, and let your eyes adjust for a couple of minutes, and fix anything you come across. Looking forward to the pix...:thumbsup:

[midnitetokker]

He thinks its a server cabinet at the moment. I have a few pc's in there and some cat5 just for appearance sake. :)

And yeah, I'll post here when i put the pix up online.

On a side note, damn chinamen put the wrong size screw with the light, so its not mounting on the junction box right...but tahts and easy fix that ill take care of here soon.

[midnitetokker]

Ok, here is how one side looks after construction. I have done a few heat tests for 1hr in this chamber, and I am averaging around 83.4F -- A little on the warm side, but within acceptable levels until I can add a little more ventilation.

Anyway, here are a few more pics until I get these babies growin again...

Oh yeah, before i forget. The light is not mounted yet, it's on the floor, so until i can get back to home depot, i cannot hang the light....not a major issue right now.