Apartment dwelling and Stealth Cab Questions?

[Sunnyvale420]

Here's my pickle... I live in an apartment building where the super/management find a different reason to enter the premises about every 2 months. In my year and a half living here we've had at least 6 "annual" fire inspections, among other excuses.

Now, I've read through alot of logs and in general my focus is on sound/air/light proofing, and odor control. Weather or not my plants succeed is not that important on my first run. Stealth is paramount.

I've toiled the idea of lining the cab with egg cartons and then reflectix to muffle the sound of fans, air intakes/vents. Is that sufficient to muffle a PC fan/Oscillation fan combo? As I will be running CFL's this time around I didn't think an inline/centrifugal was warranted. For light and air tightness I will use a mix of weather stripping on doors and caulking on seams. Hope that's easier done than said. In regards to Odor I've looked at several tutorials for DIY scrubbers, however, I haven't seen any rigged to a PC fan though. Makes me worry about how effective that combo will prove to be. Is total control of odor on a converted cab even reasonable???

So thats just a few concerns I have. I'd be less concerned if I was renting a house. I'm sure there's a few apartment dwellers with overly concerned superintendants. Hoping for some input guys. Cheers!

Sunnyvale420 Reviewed by Sunnyvale420 on 11-27-2006. Apartment dwelling and Stealth Cab Questions? Here's my pickle... I live in an apartment building where the super/management find a different reason to enter the premises about every 2 months. In my year and a half living here we've had at least 6 "annual" fire inspections, among other excuses. Now, I've read through alot of logs and in general my focus is on sound/air/light proofing, and odor control. Weather or not my plants succeed is not that important on my first run. Stealth is paramount. I've toiled the idea of lining the cab Rating: 5

[E Man]

Yo S

Maybe a comp. fan at both ends of your DIY scrubber. The harder a fan works the more noise it'll make. Just a suggestion.

[doco]

Ive seen people build sound deadening boxes around fans to hold down the noise too. Also use insulated ducting if you can.

Good Luck.

[CCIE]

Are your manager's visits announced or unannounced? How long do they last? Do you plan to place the cabinet in a closet or in the open?

My cabinet is in a small closet with sliding doors. If I turn off the lights and main fan, then move the hanging fan inside directly in front of the cooltube, it maintains enough negative pressure to prevent escaping smell and is nearly inaudible - completely so if a computer is running nearby. When I have guests who might enter that room, I do that and close the closet doors. People have walked within 2 feet without noticing anything. The carbon filter on the unit by itself leaves a trace of an unclassifiable 'sweet' aroma like heated sugar smelled from a distance. Adding two 22-watt odor-killing CFLs to the ceiling fixture completely eliminated even that smell.

[Sunnyvale420]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Visits are always announced, but frequent enough, giving at least 24-72hrs notice. Because there's approximately 50 units in this building they specify hours between 8am-5pm for the given day so as to accomodate the necessary work involved. What worries me is that most visits are ongoing while me and my wife are at work.

The cabinet will be in an open location however I considered rigging casters on the bottom side so I could quickly roll the unit into the walk-in closet if needed. It can't stay there because my wife has way too many clothes

If we are both working I thought about posting a sign on the bedroom door stating I'm working nights and am sleeping. Please do not open my door. My super is fully aware that I work shift work and I'm confident that this would do the trick, I'm also confident he's too lazy to check the underground parking to see if our cars are there.

Another trick I have been thinking of is running one of those DIY "ONA" fans on those particular days as well.

How do these ideas sound? Keep your suggestions coming. Hopefully won't be long before I start my own log.

[CCIE]

Random thoughts:

1. Purchase a reasonably decorative cabinet a'la Jamstigator's, put a lock on it, arrange it so the vents/filter aren't easily visible, then place a noisy humidifier/dehumidifier/air ionizer on top of it or a noisily ventilated PC next to it. Find a spot where it doesn't look out of place. Avoid placing a 6-foot wardrobe next to the living room television, for example.

2. Arrange a pile of sorted laundry around the cabinet along with a laundry basket, sewing kit and chair. Alternatively, partially disassemble your bed, stack the pieces around the cabinet and leave a few tools out. Variations are endless, but the idea is to make it difficult to reach the cab without making it look like you want it to be difficult. Drawback: after a few visits, the super might notice a pattern.

3. If the visits are only about every other month and your jobs will allow it, alternate taking days off so one of you is there when he arrives. Playing a radio to cover fan noise and hooking a pair of pants on a hanger to one corner of the (locked) cab should be plenty of 'cover' if there's someone there to discourage invasive snooping and the cab doesn't look bizarrely out of place. If you don't mind direct deception and are a decent actor, making a show of being ill and retreating to your bed when he arrives might encourage him to skip that room and not spend much time in your apartment.

4. I like the casters, but not for inspections. If your superintendent were to find a large rolling cabinet jammed crossways into a walk-in closet, he might find it strange and become curious. Similarly, if for some reason he opens your door despite the sign and finds no snoozing Sunnyvale, he might become really curious.

5. Don't skimp on the odor control! I have a full-fledged vortex-fan-and-carbon-can setup for only 3 plants, and as I note in the last post there's still a trace of scent when the Ti2 CFLs are off. If your chosen solution leaves evidence, cook something strong-smelling and leave the pan in the sink when you head to work. Corned beef brisket, for example, reeks and is also tasty.

6. No, I mean super tasty. If you use idea #5, I demand a piece.

[burnable]

you can nail every single one of these points and never get caught. or, for as much or less work, you can find a new apartment complex?

[Sunnyvale420]

CCIE, Great ideas! Thanks soooo much. These top notch responses are what makes coming here worth it.

Gotta another few things. What ballpark in decibals is the Vortex? I was looking at an adjustable 120mm PC fan that ran around 38dba at 105cfm. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to mount it to a conventional scrubber. Originally I thought perhaps the carbon filter inserts for deep fryers might be sufficient. I'm getting the feeling it wouldnt be. People around here also have commented on PC fans crapping out quick but hey my first run is definately a test phase.

Was hoping you could critique my light idea. I'm planning on using Philips Cfls - 12x23W 6500K (2700K for flower) staggered to form a canopy, using two bathroom fixtures stripped and bolted together, a splitter in each socket. Do you think I should rig two plugs for that many watts? I have a heavy duty power accessory cord rated for more than the 276 actual Watts. Was also thinking of adding DIY pop can reflectors, spread like wings however and not enveloping the bulbs, around the outside of it. I would use a chain system to add/remove height.

Don't know if I will try a scrog on my first attempt. Im leaning towards LST. I wondered how people who use cabs do their flushing. I'll be using soiled pots so I was thinking of building a screen the pot could sit on top of and the water could drain through the pot into a waiting resevoir; Perhaps a litter box. Can't see any cleaner way not tp run the floors.

Don't hesitate to shoot down any of these ideas point blank. Thats what receipts are for.

[keeko]

well if your looking for ultra stealth and maximum yeild i would take a look at 'justaseed' grow called ' lovely ladies' or something around that. his growing cabinet is very clever.

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=52326

[Sunnyvale420]

well if your looking for ultra stealth and maximum yeild i would take a look at 'justaseed' grow called ' lovely ladies' or something around that. his growing cabinet is very clever.

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=52326

That's the one that started it all for me. Without a doubt I think alot of guys in this community found inspiration there.:smokin: