Grow Box Construction

[snappas]

I drew up a some of my ideas in AutoCAD based on this build, 4' tall 22"x22"



4x 2x2x8
2x 4'x8'x1/2" plywood
4x 120mm computer fans
1x 250W HPS

Runs about $80. Any ideas are welcome, sorry for posting in your thread, but it seemed related

[berrydizzle]

Would you rig the light to move up and down like that or are you going to be hanging it and using a hood?

[snappas]

I want a hood but I don't want it to interfere with ventilation. I was wondering how much it would actually move inside a small space like that and if it would be easier to do what stratlogic did and set up a fixed location for the light? (I also do not want my plant stretching for light to keep it low)

[Brett2theMax]

Originally Posted by StevePo

Would it be too small if I did the same thing, cept, only 3 feet high? or 4? Is there some specific reason it has to be 5 feet, or you just chose that?

Is it easy to conceal the smell with something like this?

What kind of strains should I get to grow in this?

How much could I yield/how long does it take?

Thanks!

Sticky this thread! It's extremely useful and come September ill absolutely be using it for reference as I build my box
+Rep!

1. You can have it lower if you want to do a SCRoG, it will keep the plant to a limited hight.

2. One of these will help the smell.

3. Strain is a personal preference but for a first grow I suggest using bagseed, there is alot that is to be learned and nothing teaches like experience.

4. Depends on how long you want to veg for, generally veg for 3-4 weeks then flower time varies on strain, when trichomes are around 50% amber in color.

Hope this helps with some of your questions

[berrydizzle]

Look at brett linking my page to someone else. This site is sooooo sweet. Thanks man.

[stratlogic]

Sorry I have been gone a while. A combination of working too much and dumb people that all seem to work at Home Depot and UPS hasn't helped much either. Moving on.

I have decided to go with the fixed lighting setup. That way I can isolate it from the grow chamber. This allows me to eliminate heat at the source by exhausting it elsewhere thus greatly reducing the temp in the grow chamber. As far as the plant and distance from the light, I am just going to throw some milk crates or buckets underneath. Low-tech, but effective and cheap.

Now with the lighting ventilation. I cut two holes for the fans to go into. I used a 1" hole saw drill bit in the shape of the fan and cut out the notches with a saw. There are way more efficient ways of doing this, but this worked in the middle of the night. In the end, the fans fit right into the holes. Any spaces left over will be filled in or covered up. Almost done.

The fans fit pretty good.



As far as the fans go Brett, I wired them to a universal power adapter I bought at the Depot for $12. This stepped down the voltage from the wall preventing me from blowing any more up. (I had to try it once.) Just like the movies, a pop and a cloud of smoke. Typically 15 amps comes out of the wall and the little fans only require .12 amps.

I just cut the tip off and spliced it to the fans using an RCA cable.

The RCA cables work nice because it has two conductors inside, just like the fan, keeping things neat.

I also attached some RCA cable to the fans to give me more length so the two fans can be connected around the back.

It was pretty easy to connect, just keep it consistant. I connected the red to white, and black to the shield and it worked great.

Then the other...

Then I wrapped it all up in electrical tape to keep it all secure and resistant to moisture.

In the end, I put the intake in the back lower corner and the exhaust in the front upper corner since heat rises, thats the best place to remove it. There will be a piece of glass separating the grow chamber and the lighting chamber.

[stratlogic]

I connected the two fans together, then a wire to attach the two connected fans to the power adapter.


A couple safety features to protect against me in case something gets pulled on for some reason.


A quick test let me know that both the fans worked when the power adapter was plugged in.
Now I know that works, time to put up the light fixtures.
It only took two screws to install the MH fixture.

Next was the HPS.

I installed the fixtures so I just need to remove the bulb when I'm not using the other. I was thinking of using both during the budding cycle because I've heard that works. We'll see how noise and heat factor in before I do that. But I like to leave myself options in case I do want to try it.
A pic from the bottom of the box looking up to the lights.


Next up will be the air filter and ventillation for the grow chamber.

[berrydizzle]

Looking nice!! Definately use both lights for flowering if you can.

[stratlogic]

Sweet, I will. I heard a while back about using both lights but wasn't sure. I'll definitely try it for sure. Thanks b-dizzle.

[stratlogic]

I started the air filter, check it out. I got the idea from this dude named Children of Bodom from another site just like this. (Had to give props). It's very similar to his and what a great idea for a cheap air filter using activated carbon, so I thought I would try it.

First I picked up some heavy-duty chicken wire at the Depot. $5 for 2'x5'.


Next I used a little math to figure out how big to cut the chicken wire. I needed a cylinder that measured 2.5" and another one 3.5" to accommodate my setup. The formula is (PIE x diameter)=length of chicken wire. It worked too.

Then I zip tied that biatch...

Tested and made sure it fit which it does.

Then I made the outer cylinder and tightened up the zip ties.

Checked them out and it looks good. Useful Tip: use a closet rod or something similar to round out the chicken wire after you zip tie it.


Wrapped them in some panty-hose to hold the activated carbon in place.

I am going to use two of these fans. The intake is on the side and the exhaust is the rectangular part. I am going to attach the two opposite ends of the PVC to the intakes of the squirrel fans, sucking the air through the filter and exhausting out the box. Then I am going to use dryer hose and run the two exhausts to the attic via the closet ceiling. No one will notice the holes I will have to make due to how my closet is designed.

I am debating if I should make two filters and use one on each fan using PVC elbow joints. Either way, I already have the supplies to easily make another.

Thats about where I'm at right now. I expect to be growing within the week. I just need to get the grow chamber fans running. I wont need the glass or filter right away. I am going to use CFL's for the first week or two to hopefully induce a female before I switch over to the 400w MH. Can't Wait!

[Medical Marijuana]

I am enjoying following your innovations. +5 rep

[stratlogic]

Thanks for the reps *****. I am enjoying this just as much.

[berrydizzle]

Yeah dude, so sweet. As I said earlier, both the MH and HPS spectrum during flowering is better than just the HPS. Supposed to be more like the sun. I used the same idea that you did for the carbon filter...same guy. Just hooked mine up, well see how they work. Nicely done bro.

[Bagzgroove]

And nice step by step. . . Good job!

Bagz

[stratlogic]

Sure StevePo. I chose 5' because it fit in my closet. I originally was going to do 4' but said fuggit, I'm goin' for it. I am not sure what the total money spent is, but I have saved all my receipts and will add them up when I'm done. Not sure about the smell, so I thought I would give that carbon filter a shot. As far as strains, couldn't tell ya, and yield and time, don't know...yet! I'm flying by the seat of my pants and hoping for the best. Not much, but I hope that helps dude.