Building a grow cabinet.

Here's the plan thus far. I'm going to use hardboard/ 1/4" plywood to make a 2x2x4' grow cabinet, the inner lining will be reflective mylar or it's equivalent. I'll be using a computer surge protector, which will be housed inside the unit, the only electrical cord coming from the cabinet itself will come from this.



My only problems are circulation (I was thinking 120mm computer fans, one side blowing in, the other blowing out, with a carbon air filter on both ends, but I don't know how I'd wire it with 120 volts ac)

Lighting is another issue, I'm either going with 3 or 4 CFL's or 1 HPS.

Problem with the HPS is, while I work at a home improvement center (like lowes or hd) I don't know if I could get a ballast. But CFLs would not be conspicuous or difficult to obtain.

I'd be doing my grow in soil, either 1 large pot with a few plants, or a few small plants.

Sea of Green is the name if this game I think.







Any suggestions? Ideas?

Be sure to mount the surge strip high up in the cab. Electricity up-water down.
The fans can be easly wired to any 12VDC Supply. I used an old plug I had rated for 12VDC.
The HPS is the way to go. Its not very suspicious to walk out with one, Say your driveways dark. try to find the 150W but if you cant get the 70W maybe 2.
If you have any electrical skill you can easly mod the ballast to separate from the bulb. There are just Two wires running to the bulb, I believe 16AWG wire was the minimum recomended. I used a heavy duty extension cord that was 14AWG. Then used the plug end to attach the ballast to 120V AC.
If you do mod, Be sure to be safe. Mark wires, Cap them right, Then electrical or I use black (non-conductive)duck tape so the whole joint is tidy.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zcomp

Be sure to mount the surge strip high up in the cab. Electricity up-water down.
The fans can be easly wired to any 12VDC Supply. I used an old plug I had rated for 12VDC.
The HPS is the way to go. Its not very suspicious to walk out with one, Say your driveways dark. try to find the 150W but if you cant get the 70W maybe 2.
If you have any electrical skill you can easly mod the ballast to separate from the bulb. There are just Two wires running to the bulb, I believe 16AWG wire was the minimum recomended. I used a heavy duty extension cord that was 14AWG. Then used the plug end to attach the ballast to 120V AC.
If you do mod, Be sure to be safe. Mark wires, Cap them right, Then electrical or I use black (non-conductive)duck tape so the whole joint is tidy.

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Thanks for the advice man, unfortunately, I discussed with some fellow employees who are down with the cause. And while I can get HPS lights, up to 150+ watts, I cannot get a ballast, but can get housing.

I have no real electrical skill, I've replaced the pickups in my electric guitar (with trouble) so I dunno about that.

Are you sure?? Check in security lights. I haven't been in a HD or Lowes that didn't have HPS security lights.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zcomp

Are you sure?? Check in security lights. I haven't been in a HD or Lowes that didn't have HPS security lights.

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I live near both of those places, so I'll check and see if I can buy them from there.


I probably shouldn't be buying a ton of growing shit from my own workplace anyways.





I can buy soil and stuff from my work though, along with fertalizers and materials to build, along with pots.


Because my family grows plants other than pot, and I have my own little pinapple bush in my window of my room, so there's a good excuse, just saying I'm trans-planting it.

What nutes are you thinking? Try to go organic if possible but don't die trying.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Zcomp

What nutes are you thinking? Try to go organic if possible but don't die trying.

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My family keeps a compost heap in our back yard.

We also dump ashes from our fire pit in there (phosphates will be good for flowering)

I'll be using black dirt, when fishing season comes around I'll buy some worms and try to get some worm castings.

Pearlite, peat moss and some sand will go in there too. I might put some saw dust in there too.




I'm thinking of planting them in 1 big container, and putting each sprout in it's own separate coffee can with the bottom cut out. That's my dad's method with tomato plants, and off just 3 plants we get hundreds of tomatos every summer. That way I can fertilize in the part of the dirt outside the can, and gradually it'll soak into the other dirt inside the can, up through the bottom and the roots will get it in the bottom also. That and I can tend to individual plant's needs more efficiently even in a single tub.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by maxsuperdanks

My family keeps a compost heap in our back yard.

We also dump ashes from our fire pit in there (phosphates will be good for flowering)

I'll be using black dirt, when fishing season comes around I'll buy some worms and try to get some worm castings.

Pearlite, peat moss and some sand will go in there too. I might put some saw dust in there too.

I'm thinking of planting them in 1 big container, and putting each sprout in it's own separate coffee can with the bottom cut out.

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Compost can cause problems (most notably pests) indoors.
Ashes change the pH of the soil and make it sticky and hard to work with.
Fishing worms and compost worms are not the same, and a source of disease-free worm castings (=commercially packaged) is safer indoors.
Peat moss has a VERY low pH and needs to be limed.
Sand isn't desirable. Go with extra perlite.
Raw sawdust leads to nitrogen problems.
Coffee cans are going to release iron oxide into the soil and lock out other nutrients. Never use metal in an indoor grow.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

Compost can cause problems (most notably pests) indoors.
Ashes change the pH of the soil and make it sticky and hard to work with.
Fishing worms and compost worms are not the same, and a source of disease-free worm castings (=commercially packaged) is safer indoors.
Peat moss has a VERY low pH and needs to be limed.
Sand isn't desirable. Go with extra perlite.
Raw sawdust leads to nitrogen problems.
Coffee cans are going to release iron oxide into the soil and lock out other nutrients. Never use metal in an indoor grow.

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See, this is the kind of shit I need to know. Thank you very much for this wealth of information.

Ok, so here's my plan for lighting thus far.


I'll be using one 70w HPS security light (comes fully enclosed)
One 70w MH security light
and One or Two 200w CFLs.


The HPS will be on for flowering, the MH for veg.

Would this be acceptable?