Heat/Cooling Issues

[SlickDick]

Hi there. I am halfway through building a Rubbermaid Box. I was planning on using CFLs, however I have been given a 400w HPS bulb socket ant ballast.

So Just how powerful of a fan should I be looking at purchasing, seeing as this bulb nearly melts the plastic without one? Or should I be looking at cool tubes?

Cheers for the Help

SlickDick Reviewed by SlickDick on 02-21-2010. Heat/Cooling Issues Hi there. I am halfway through building a Rubbermaid Box. I was planning on using CFLs, however I have been given a 400w HPS bulb socket ant ballast. So Just how powerful of a fan should I be looking at purchasing, seeing as this bulb nearly melts the plastic without one? Or should I be looking at cool tubes? Cheers for the Help Rating: 5

[scott9116]

I don't think there is any safe way you can run a 400w hps in a rubbermaid box. I must admit, I've considered a 400w hps in a trash can. I'm all for overkill and pushing limits though. Maybe, some kind of water cooled setup. Peltier units?

[jtsik330]

You don't have a chance with a 400w HPS in a rubbermaid grow without a cooltube. With a cool tube it can be done however you are going to need a nice fan to cool it off. It depends what ducting you have to use and how many bends you are going to have in the duct to determine how big a fan you need?

[bigtopsfinn]

^^Agreed. Anythings possible, , but how far ($$$) you're willing to go is another thing. Definitely need a cooltube, the water-cooled one sounds interesting to me. Maybe you can mount it so that it's not actually inside the rubbermaid, just mounted on top and shining through a hole cut to size.

Get a nice big fan (preferably with a speed controller) + cooltube and I'd say you have a shot. Worst thing that could happen is that you spend another $60 to build a real grow tent.