My first grow cabinet (handmade, sort of)

[McDanger]

1 more thing, foam weatherstrip should work good around the doors for the light leaks, but you may need to add a latch to hold the doors shut.

[PlainJane]

Where is your thermometer located?

And how close do you plan your plants to be to the light?

I've moved it all around in there, no permanent home yet as this thing is only in its first few hours of use. Trying to sort everything out before putting anything in there.

As close as they need to be, which I imagine I'll figure out as a go along but I'm under the impression the light and plants are pretty close. That light is adjustable.

Now I could be wrong, but I believe your temps will go up when you have plants in there.
The plastic was sucked up because you don't have a big enough intake, it should be bigger than the exhaust. 2-2" holes do not equal 1 4" hole(math, lol)
What is the temp outside the cab?
Looks good otherwise, good job:thumbsup:

Damn, I was afraid of that. All of that makes sense. Probably explains why it's so effing hot in there too. (it's hanging around 30ºc/86ºf)

I can't think of many things I want to do LESS than cutting more holes into that bloody thing. Sounds like you're right though and it needs to be done.

How many more holes should I do? I have two 2" holes currently. Would one more 2" suffice or should I do two more? (totalling 8" of passive intake in 4 holes for one 4" exhaust) I am not sure of the appropriate ratio here. (I could kick myself for not finding out for sure beforehand. I thought this was correct, matching inch for inch.)

It's about 70ºf outside the cabinet.

Thank you, by the way.

1 more thing, foam weatherstrip should work good around the doors for the light leaks, but you may need to add a latch to hold the doors shut.

Thanks, will check it out. I'd hate to have to put anything on the front of it (latch or handles) I dig the whole minimalistic/uninviting to open thing it's got going on right now. ah, sacrifices.

Looks like I'm in for another trip to the hardware store.

[PlainJane]

Well, two more holes for intake cut out. They weren't quite 2" (more like 1.5" or 1.75") so I think that poor exhaust was gasping for air. So it's got roughly 6-7 inches of intake for the 4" exhaust. It seems to be working better. That white plastic did not get sucked up again like before and so far the temp is a couple degrees lower. :thumbsup:

Took the doors off and put on a soft rubber sealer and used magnetic latches. This has helped the light leaks quite a lot. Still the tiniest bit but it's very unlikely that light will get IN, just the massive brightness of the HPS gets out in a couple minuscule slivers.

Here are a couple photos:

<- front view

<- back view of intakes.

Whew!

[SunnyD]

If the temperatures still aren't what you want you can try to mount another oscillating fan on the other side too...just another thought.

I'm not sure if theres a way you can use an air conditioner to help with the temperature on the outside of your cab. Might want to look into that if it becomes a HUGE problem

[PlainJane]

^ Good idea. That fan isn't all that strong of a breeze.

In the summertime (if the UK ever gets warm again ) if it gets really hot I might need to A/C the room... I'd like that anyway and now there a great excuse.

Thanks for the input guys.

[SunnyD]

Let us know what you decide to do

[bickeybammer]

do your ac vents come from the ground or ceileing? if the come from the ground just put the back of the cab by that soo the passive intakes suck nice ac cold air in.... just a thought :hippy:

[PlainJane]

do your ac vents come from the ground or ceileing? if the come from the ground just put the back of the cab by that soo the passive intakes suck nice ac cold air in.... just a thought :hippy:

This is England, mate, AC is a rarity. If it gets VERY hot in the "summer" (hahahahaha) I would buy a lousy portable AC to cool the whole room. Sure, ideally cool air through the intake would be fab but it's not always so simple. The cabinet is not moving from its spot for any reason anyway. Not enough room, and under no circumstances can its little secret be given away, it needs to be completely stealth. I think it's pretty good in that regard. :thumbsup:




By the way, the new intakes seemed to do the trick. It runs a lot cooler (around 27ºc) and that plastic sucking upward thing has stopped.