Using insulated ducting for my 600w hps?

infinitescrog

Active Member
So I have some insulated ducting left over that I would like to make use of, and use it for my 600w hps cooltube. The only problem (maybe?) is that it's black plastic wrapping, not the silver stuff...and I going to have problems if I use this black insulated ducting? (The insulation is just the regular white polyfill stuff)
 

infinitescrog

Active Member
I don't know how well spray paint will work on plastic bag-like material? When it dries I would think it would crack and come off, and then be all over my plants.
 

Serapis

Well-Known Member
I'm just saying if they were white, they would be better.
why exactly is that? How much directional light do you expect to be thrown back down to the canopy from a cylindrical shape? I also do not know of many paints that would adhere to plastic insulation covers.

Scrogs, I personally think, in my own opinion that the ducting you have is fine. The other poster has a different opinion, but has yet to offer a reasonable explanation for it. I'm sure you'll get more responses on this.
 

dadio161

Well-Known Member
I wouldn't worry about the color being black . It wont reflect that much light off the ducting . Go for it . Better than not having it.
 

Airwave

Well-Known Member
What's the poiint of insulated ducting? The regular ducting doesn't seem to get at all warm.
 

smoke and coke

Well-Known Member
i think he is worried about the plastic duct melting from the heat of the cooltube fixture. i run 2- 400watt HPS cooltubes. i have the 6" black plastic insulating ducting that comes from my exhaust fan. i have intalled a 6" to 4" metal reducer also with some holes drilled in it so it also takes some sir from the ceiling and not restrict the air flow. connected a 4"wye metal fitting then come off the wye fitting with 2 of the aluminum flexible 4" dryer ducts conected to the 2 cooltubes. by the time the air gets to the plastic insulated ducting, the air is cool enough not to melt the ducting.

this is the reducer with holes. i put plenty of holes in it but if i need more air for the cooltubes i can cover a couple holes with duct tape. but i havnt needed to tape the holes. the reducer is located at the ceiling so there is also air being removed from up high also.

if its not the heat issue and its the light shining thru the plastic ducting then i would get the duct that has the insulatoin wrap with a silver sleeve.
 

Serapis

Well-Known Member
if its not the heat issue and its the light shining thru the plastic ducting then i would get the duct that has the insulatoin wrap with a silver sleeve.
he already has ducting laying around. It is insulated and it is black. He is fine to use it. As has been stated already, by the time light may reflect off the floor or shelf surface, any minimal amount that reflects back up to the duct will be reflected off at varying angles due to the shape of the duct. The color of the duct really doesn't matter. The suggestion earlier to paint it white was even more absurd.
 

dankalotta

Member
wrap it in that 1$ a foot 1x10 white/black plastic stuff from the hydro store if u think it matters otherwise it doesnt that much really unless it blocks light some how
 

infinitescrog

Active Member
The ducting is regular (aluminum I think) ducting, just wrapped in insulation and then black plastic to keep the insulation against the ducting. I am not worried about it melting (I used to same stuff to install the HVAC to my house) I was just wondering about the black absorbing light and transferring it to heat energy (thus raising the temps in my cab). I will probably end up using what I have, since it'd be another $30-40 to buy additional ducting, heck, I could strip the insulation off too I suppose, but that sounds like work ;)
 

infinitescrog

Active Member
His op is a little more spacious and pro than mine haha, but thanks for the pic, I have actually read his journal I just didn't notice the black! I'm good to go with black then thanks!!
 

BoomerBloomer57

Well-Known Member
His op is a little more spacious and pro than mine haha, but thanks for the pic, I have actually read his journal I just didn't notice the black! I'm good to go with black then thanks!!
Thanks.
I need a little bit of black so I don't go snowblind.
I'm no Pro. Holiday Inn, yess.

After 41 years of growing this amazing Plant, this is what makes me happy.
Put the frame up and electric in in one day.

Finished it myself over two months of pure terror trying to meet
my deadline.

Last night it was met,,,,,

If I can do it, ANYONE can,,,,,,,,,,,


bb57^

ftp
 

Attachments

Serapis

Well-Known Member
Thanks.
I need a little bit of black so I don't go snowblind.
I'm no Pro. Holiday Inn, yess.

After 41 years of growing this amazing Plant, this is what makes me happy.
Put the frame up and electric in in one day.

Finished it myself over two months of pure terror trying to meet
my deadline.

Last night it was met,,,,,

If I can do it, ANYONE can,,,,,,,,,,,


bb57^

ftp
Holy Cow.... that Shuretape is $17 a roll and you guys used it like it was free.... ;)

Was it? lol
 

infinitescrog

Active Member
Boomer Bloomer I didn't realize this was your op i just knew I had read through it before from the picture! Very nice! I have a 6-pot 22 gallon system...but I will only be filling 3-4 of the spots. You seem to have about 20gal. per plant!! My air supply is about 650 gph. or about 22 watts of power..

Do you think that 22 gal. is enough room for roots to grow in the same reservoir?
 
Top