Air cooled hoods

I'm going to use air cooled lights on my next grow and I'd like to know any important info about them from those more experienced. I heard not to have more than 2 connected, is this true? How many cfm do I need for each 600w or 1000w light (depending if I use 2 or 3 lights)? Do I blow the air or pull? Thanks!

kesaber said:

I'm going to use air cooled lights on my next grow and I'd like to know any important info about them from those more experienced. I heard not to have more than 2 connected, is this true? How many cfm do I need for each 600w or 1000w light (depending if I use 2 or 3 lights)? Do I blow the air or pull? Thanks!

Click to expand...

Pull the air. Always.

This is called "negative pressure". It helps avoid pushing skunky air through small cracks and crevices in your grow room. Which will save you from getting caught.

Your other questions require more info. How big is your grow room? Do you want one fan that is strong enough to cool the hoods and vent the room, or will you use separate fans for cooling hoods and venting room? Describe your grow room plan in great detail, and we'll be able to help you more.

3-site RDWC setup in an 8x4x7 foot tent. I will be using a 740 CFM fan for the room separately ( I have not heard of using one fan for everything). I would prefer 3 600w lights, but heard I should only connect 2, so if that's the case I would use 2 1000 watters

TBoneJack said:

Pull the air. Always.

This is called "negative pressure". It helps avoid pushing skunky air through small cracks and crevices in your grow room. Which will save you from getting caught.

Your other questions require more info. How big is your grow room? Do you want one fan that is strong enough to cool the hoods and vent the room, or will you use separate fans for cooling hoods and venting room? Describe your grow room plan in great detail, and we'll be able to help you more.

Click to expand...

Any other details needed?

bump

I have two air cooled hoods with one fan pulling air.... I also have a hole cut in my wall on the other end of my room pulling air from my storage room that has nice cool fresh air.... Here is the fan I use just one.... works great.... trust me don't go cheep on your inline fan....

Are these tips accurate?

http://www.just4growers.com/blog/10-tips-for-setting-up-air-cooled-grow-lights.aspx

I am also considering 4 400 watters, but if I did that I would not have an open duct for a separate inline fan for the room. Is that a possibility?

What do yall think about cool tubes ?

When it comes to hoods, you want to give them the coolest air possible over the bulbs. Exceeding two hoods in a circuit is just going to draw hot air over the third bulb eliminating the cooling properties of the hood. This will greatly shorten the life span of you bulb with it always being hot. I would suggest 6" hoods since that size fan will easily cool two hoods. A 4" would just have to work too hard especially if you are using 1000s. I like 600s for their lower temps. I use 6" Block Buster hoods with Lumatek ballasts in all of my tents and have never had an issue with any of them. A 6" Can fan would do you justice to finish it off.

i strap a 6" duct/computer axial fan onto the aircooled hood, wrap the whole thing in sound foam and duct the output towards my room extraction point.

works fine with a lowrider 600W alone and a 250 cooltube+400W lowrider piggybacked...

Air cooled hoods , Keep the glass clean ! can lose alot of light fast with dirty glass.
You can run them closer to plants helps in late flowering with the lower flowers.
once you go air cooled you never go back !

kesaber said:

I am also considering 4 400 watters, but if I did that I would not have an open duct for a separate inline fan for the room. Is that a possibility?

Click to expand...

You would be wayyyyy better off with 3 600 watters. more light per watt vs 400s

Dialawatt ballasts. Ftw.