new grow box project

Y

you know!

Active Member
hello,
i am designing a new grow box , this what i have so far , its a DIY budget project so i am planing to use screw ordinary led bulbs in this set up, i have space for 50 bulbs is this too much? baed on the size of the box ,all dimensions are in meters,tell me what you think please.

thanks
 

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Well-Known Member
I am in the process of making a veg 'tent' that is 2'x4'. Darn, same size as yours. I am also using screw in bulbs bought from a Dollar store, $1 each for the first bunch, $1.25 for the rest as I could not get more of the originals. I decided on them as some previous grows say they are not that bad in efficency (if the ratings can be believed) as the output includes the power supply losses. I probably would not have bothered with them if I had to buy light fixtures as they are twice the price of the lights. I also have aluminum channel that I am using as a heatsink and am going to blow outside air into the channel and exhaust it out of the space.

So why the big story. Basically, other than cost of the fixtures added to the bulb cost the problem is heat. As a guess I would say you are using 10W bulbs so 50 of them would be 500W. 7W would be 350W. It does not seem unreasonable in between the two numbers for the space but you will have to vent the heat.

I went with the bulbs as the original ones I got were reasonable in design and to work with. When I found I could not get more I used others that were not as friendly or inexpensive (25% more) but I was already committed as I did not want to wait for Leds from China. I probably would have bought a bunch of 20-30W chips instead.
 
Y

you know!

Active Member
thanks guys for the replies,
well i was thinking of using 12 watt bulbs 50% 6500k and 50% 3000k which totals to 600 watts ,the cost for the whole lighting set up including the bulb holders and the hardware and wiring totals to about 100 USD, i was also thinking of putting each 10 bulbs on a separate switch so i can control the amount of lights,as for venting i am using a big cone car air filter! filled with carbon granules and hooked up to a 220 volt high capacity exhaust fan with a screen in between the two,also i have 4 12mmx12mm high rpm pc fans blowing in clean air 2 on each side and they are shrouded for light proofing the box.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
Ok man, so firstly if you use a more efficient LED board you can light that space with 240w , which in most cases would be a good thing unless you live in freezing conditions.

I can link them for you if you like, it would cost $100 for the boards and heatsinks and probably $50 for the driver and aluminium. So you are looking at 50% more money spent but less than half the power consumption and heat.

600w would probably be a bit over the top even for standard bulbs.
I know there are a few guys on here who have done exactly as you plan, one guy even lit up a 5x5ft tent.
 
Y

you know!

Active Member
thanks guys,
great suggestions and i am aware of the quantum boards ,but where i live i have to order everything overseas and by the time it gets delivered i could pay as much as 100% in shipping and customs fees so that's why using the screw on bulbs is my only option for the time being.
 
coreywebster

coreywebster

Well-Known Member
you know! said:
thanks guys,
great suggestions and i am aware of the quantum boards ,but where i live i have to order everything overseas and by the time it gets delivered i could pay as much as 100% in shipping and customs fees so that's why using the screw on bulbs is my only option for the time being.
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In that case I would aim for between 400w and 450w. Unless your in a cold climate.
Beauty is if you overbuild you can always take out a few bulbs if the temps do get hot and add them back later. :bigjoint:
 
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