Hi Ho, Hi ho, it's off to grow I go...

Like many others, we've been giving serious thought to the production of produce and other food sources, under "controlled conditions".

You don't have to be a survivalist or a prepper to see the sense in this.

And it leads me to wonder if it's "economically possible, and/or practical, to use a 20' High Cube ISBU Shipping Container to become the "structure" for an LED based growth system.

Let's face it... it'd be weather resistant, easily securable, capable of housing it's own photovoltaic arrays and water reclamation systems, vent system, etc...

Has anyone else given this "serious thought"?

I've seen the "pie in the sky - gold plated ISBU" varieties, but I'm thinking about doing this "realistically."

And, anyone that knows me already knows I have several containers that I could use as donor carcasses, so acquiring the Corten box isn't even remotely an issue...

I'm eager to hear people's views and opinions.

leds are usless, but the container idea is a new idea m8ty, i myself have thought this and many other i no....

In the part of the US where I live, there are containers galore. I have several, already. So, I thought to meeself... I wonder...

Why are LEDs useless? I thought it was the way of the future? Low energy usage, low heat generation, capable of being used in a self-contained space. And capable of being run remotely by using Photovoltaic panels.

Where am I wrong in my thinking? I'm open to opinions...

I am seriously itching to do a "pilot project"...

i know a couple people that use them to grow. they work great for them. with full generator backup there is no worries. plus it's fire proof

if u got 20ft container, id go SoG, aeroponic, as many as plants as u can get, and use 4-6 1000w hps....
1 x 6" intake fans, 1 x 6" wiv carbon filter for outtake.....
1 x 12" fan, 2 x Y ducting connecters, 20-30m ducting....to pull throught the lights......cold lights = 2-4" from plants.....
6-10 high power oscilating fans.....
and main thing of all, excess to 100000000L of water....

1000 plants - 2oz per plant...7 wk flower......easy.....

Yeah... but completely, totally, absolutely... (get my drift?) off-grid, that's a lot of power to try and generate, without generators running 24/7.

I don't want the "noise". We're going for "complete peace" here...

How could that be "streamlined" to be more "efficient?" I REALLY want to do this.

I'd even be willing to run two systems side by side, just to see which works better and more efficiently.

how much money u wonting to make....
dont cost much for big silences for the fans, and 1 10000w generator wud be fine....and if u wonna save all hassle...burry the fuckin thing under ground will an exces only u no of....ivv thought long and hard on jobs like this...just need the container....

another handy piece of kit is

Harvest Master - http://www.1-hydroponics.co.uk/environmental-controls/harvest-master-climate-controller.htm

http://harvest-master.com/Manuals/Sales_Training_Benefits_English.pdf - abit of info about it....#

like i sed this is my next big operation, i just need the container....

Okay, in truth...

I'm not looking to make money, per see...

The American Economy is crushing us. MANY families are losing their homes. I teach them (since 1977) how to convert shipping containers into housing, affordably and sustainably. I've even written a book about it recently, and I sell it thru my blog to help families in need. That's not my point, however.

Many of my families are simply trying to survive. There's an abundance of these 20' Containers in the South (they were used after Katrina to allow homeowners to store personal goods while they rebuilt their homes after the hurricane). I've personally stockpiled MANY of these left-over Katrina-reminders".

If we could devise a way to use this "over-supply" of boxes to build securable gardens, they could literally be hauled anywhere. And the space provided by a 20' ISBU is just about perfect to support a single family needing produce.

AND, that knowledge would transfer, to any crop.

I figure that if you want REAL tech knowledge, go to the source. In this case, it's you guys. You know more about growing than just about anyone.

Still with me?

i dint no how to help you then m8ty, im all about gettin qaulity smoke, and biulding secure grow rooms and biulding growing systems....it's very rare a purchase stystems, more parts than anything....

DIY is the cheapest way to go.....

If I ever build a house it will be built out of shipping containers. I have already made that pledge. Hopefully soon.

@ Moler!

And there you have it! You're doing exactly what I'm trying to do!

I want to learn how to DIY a "secure growth chamber". The "crop" (and possibly the light source) is the only difference. I'm trying to determine if you can build a cost effective LED system, totally self-contained (and transportable), capable of growing enough "crops" to sustain a family.

I teach people how to do for themselves. So DIY is the only track!

BTW: You can't bury a shipping container, they aren't designed for that. It won't work. Trust me. Structural failure city...

Thanks for the links, I'm reading now...

(Yeah, Idiot Savant ISBU guys can read.. sorta... as long as there are pictures...)

Use solar panels on the top of the container for power, more eco friendly and stealthier then generators. also i would think that as long as its not to hot in there you can use passive intakes.

@ acexxacer;

That's what I was thinking. I have PVs that could be used easily, to build a supporting array. Aside from "gray days" where you'd require a decent battery bank, you should (theoretically) be able to run interior lighting and whatever else is required, based on the currents amperages I'm seeing in the lit.

What I'm trying to determine is (a) if LED lighting is really viable as a source, and (b) is it affordable enough to be embraced on the "food production" level.

Some of you guys (you know who you are) have a lot of money to throw at systems, due to the expertise you have and the crop you grow. My families will be depending on these systems for survival.

I REALLY appreciate all the input.

ok if your seiouse about cost effective try these
http://www.enviro-gro-lites.co.uk/Bundles.asp

chioce of lamps, envorolite better than cfl throught past tests.....produce little heat and low energy.....

come in chioce of blue ( for growing ) and red ( for flowering )

what sort of diy info u after?

all so thise will produce far better yields than led's 125w x 8 or summet

or 6 x 250w....and ull be mekin more than enough for ur familey....get enought solar panals and ull probly power it....

@ moler;

Man, talk about a walking encyclopedia!

I have several 20' High Cube Shipping containers. They are only different than standard containers in that they are taller.

Original wooden floors removed (they are filled with pesticides and poisons that make them "unlivable") and replaced with lightweight concrete.

Okay, I have dimensions of 7'6" and change, running out 19'6". Ceiling height is 8'9" easy. I'm thinking that you could use 24" - 30" bench type beds (and possibly even hydroponics) to actually grow your crops. Set them high enough to allow storage underneath. Lights, watering systems, heating/cooling, and ventilation requirements are where I'm thinking...

The boxes are insulated on the exterior, so as not to reduce the inside cavity space. (Why make a small place smaller?)

This is easily achieved using SPF foam (self applied) and then applying siding, stucco, veneer, you name it. Now you have a temperature stabilized box.

I'm thinking to use the first 4 feet of interior to build a storage unit for the operational systems, water storage and possibly to house the battery banks. Opposed would be a 4' workbench to allow simple potting operations.

Approx 4' wide entryway, to allow entrance/egress.

(This "potting/clean-up" operation could also be achieved outside the box if necessary.)

Interior doors built within existing shipping container double doors, to allow complete security of crops.

Array of PV's on roof, with a solar collector for warm/hot water generation to allow for full winter usage. Don't want icing... just stabilized temps. I'm thinking that I can actually use the hot water to supply additional "cabin" heat if required, by running it thru PEX tubing in the floor in a radiant heat scheme, if necessary.

How do I determine the number of lamps required for a given space? Is there a simple calculation, or do I need a Ph. D. in Math?

How High over the beds can they be placed effectively? Some of the crops will "climb".

Aren't you sorry you ever responded?

let me get this rite b4 we go any further...
W = 7.5ft
L = 19.5ft
H = 9ft

thats the area uv got inside the container?

@moler;

Width is 7'6" finished.

Ceiling height is 8'9".

And I'll take back 4 feet of that 19.5 feet for mechanicals (if required, unless I can safely house everything beneath existing growth beds), so the "growth cavity" would measure 15' deep... approximately

So you'd get 7.5' x 15' x 8.75' for growing (unless you can safely house systems beneath the beds. Then, it'd run the full length.) Capish?

cos u wonting to stay cheap with the equipment ur gunna have to use pots i suppose alot of hydro stems will cost abit...unless u mean uv got cash to setup, but u wont the running cost low....

you could use a simple dwc hydro setup which would only require an air pump. but for real low cost soil is a better