3 Hoods in 4x8..

bankcee

Well-Known Member
So I'm trying to get my setup up and running but few questions.. I have 3 hoods I wanna run in there they do fit but do I need all 3 each to have its own ballast? I've seen setups where people clip the power cord and then wire them all together where they have x amount if good but one power cord to plug in.. is that an option for me?
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
avoid playing popular mechanics with these lights

its dangerous, and beside you loose individual control

you have failed to mention the wattage involved !

either way hang all ballats on an external wall or

above ur waist

if you have a choice of ventilation or reflection go ventilation every time

many growers(me too) have had to trim down these light reflectors

good luck
 

bankcee

Well-Known Member
avoid playing popular mechanics with these lights

its dangerous, and beside you loose individual control

you have failed to mention the wattage involved !

either way hang all ballats on an external wall or

above ur waist

if you have a choice of ventilation or reflection go ventilation every time

many growers(me too) have had to trim down these light reflectors

good luck
when you say go vent over reflect what do you mean?

so three hoods three ballasts?

I plan to run for veg 600mh/400hps/600mh.. and in flower chamber 600hps/400mh/600hps..

above my waist?? lol
 

vostok

Well-Known Member
in practice once you get everything in balance you'll see

the reflectors inhibit venting, in most cases

screw the reflection, boost the venting by trimming the reflectors

with snips or shears, more so with ur light selection

which is currently cool white(6500k) dominant

suggesting that the internodes will be a lot closer than you desire

closer internodes imply fungi infection later (wait and see)

or you may go the conversion bulb trick if any are still around

the golden rule of growing with lights

1: power above ur waist

2: water below the waist

good luck
 

bankcee

Well-Known Member
in practice once you get everything in balance you'll see

the reflectors inhibit venting, in most cases

screw the reflection, boost the venting by trimming the reflectors

with snips or shears, more so with ur light selection

which is currently cool white(6500k) dominant

suggesting that the internodes will be a lot closer than you desire

closer internodes imply fungi infection later (wait and see)

or you may go the conversion bulb trick if any are still around

the golden rule of growing with lights

1: power above ur waist

2: water below the waist

good luck
you have me confused af.. lol

what do you mean screw the reflection? inside the tent the hood? what? lol
 

sonson176

Well-Known Member
So I'm trying to get my setup up and running but few questions.. I have 3 hoods I wanna run in there they do fit but do I need all 3 each to have its own ballast? I've seen setups where people clip the power cord and then wire them all together where they have x amount if good but one power cord to plug in.. is that an option for me?

Don't go splicing multiple bulbs into one ballast. That's asking for trouble.

Have you considered hanging the bulbs vertically with no hood? Airflow from the bottom up?
 

bankcee

Well-Known Member
Don't go splicing multiple bulbs into one ballast. That's asking for trouble.

Have you considered hanging the bulbs vertically with no hood? Airflow from the bottom up?
I've seen that but never understood it really? why do people do that?
 

bankcee

Well-Known Member
Don't go splicing multiple bulbs into one ballast. That's asking for trouble.

Have you considered hanging the bulbs vertically with no hood? Airflow from the bottom up?
is that easier to cool? will it create less heat? and blowing air where? if I have a fan at the bottom blowing air up towards the lights/ceiling where does it get exhausted and how?
 

sonson176

Well-Known Member
Put a return/exhaust above each light, tie the ducts together with a wye or run them all into an air box, insert filter and exhaust fan and route your exhaust duct wherever you like.

Data centers run in a similar fashion. The pdu's put out insane heat, they use a subfloor that has cold air pumped in and vents under each unit, exhausts at the top. Most efficient way to handle high heat in that scenario.
 
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