Hey People

[Mr.Wicky]

Well I have just spent the best part of 4 hours browsing through these forums, trying to learn as much as possible as I am looking into growing my own weed, considering the fact that its so dry in the UK at the moment and im tired of paying more than what its worth. Anyways I have read about what I need to get set up and I think my main worry is the lighting and ventilation, After reading every thread with the word Light in, I am still unsure of I should be aiming for, and for ventilation I see people mentioning PC fans? how would I link this up to a mains electrical supply?

This is the first time I have visited this forum, and must say, looks like a great resource! I apologise for asking questions that have probably been asked a million times before, but I thought I would give it a go!

I am planning on growing indoors, possibly in a built in wardrobe although I may consider taking a chest of drawers, removing the inners shelves, glue the fronts onto the chest and have a nice stealthy box but I may build a box, not sure on that one yet!

So to round up:

Lighting, what is the best, if possible I would like the least hassle, 1 bulb or however many I would need for say 5 plants at anyone time, to take it through from germination to flower, if this isn't possible, then what is the best way?

Ventilation, How the hell do you link a PC fan upto mains electricity, the concept baffles me!


On a side note, I was looking on E-Bay for HPS lighting and found this:

<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="2" width="80%"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">

Basement Lighting Limited's 600w Full Dual Spectrum Grolux Grow Light

</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="25">

400w HPS/Metal halide Ballast - Quiet Running - Sylvania Grolux Dual Spectrum Lamp - Hanging Chain and hooks - One Year Guarentee - Plain Packaging - 48 hour shipping

</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="25">

Comes with a super long 5 metres of flex for easy positioning of the reflector!

</td></tr></tbody></table>

Is that what I should be looking for or am I way off?

[toastybiz]

The best option for a single light all the way through is a single ballast and both MH (for veg) and HPS (for flower) bulbs. There are three ways to do this:
- A switchable ballast -- acts as both a MH ballast and a HPS ballast
- HPS ballast with a HPS bulb and a conversion MH bulb
- MH ballast with a MH bulb and a conversion HPS bulb

I don't think there's an advantage to one over the other, I think the MH conversion option is more common so better price. Just match all bulb wattages to ballast wattage and don't try to run HPS off a MH ballast or vice versa unless you are using a conversion bulb.

For 5 plants I think 400w is perfect.

There is a straightforward way to run a PC fan I've just never done it, I'm sure someone will chime in with the answer.

[Rabiez]

Just FYI that auction title states 600w, but offers a 400w ballast.

Anyway, the PC case fan thing is simple Mr.Wicky.

You need a 12v DC transformer, such as might be used to power your small apliances from your 240v AC wall socket.

Here's an example with switchable voltage.
ebay.co.uk/1000mA-universal-AC-Adaptor

Snip the connectors off the pc case fan, and the transformer.

Plug in the transformer and touch the wires with the fan wires till the fan spins (the white wire from the fan is unused), then join the wires when you find the right combo, and insulate.

You can run multiple fans off the 1 transformer.

There's a more detailed post on how to rig a case fan here.

[Mr.Wicky]

Thanks for the information guys, much appreciated, wiring the fans up seems simple know I know to use one of those transformers, I am thinking maybe I could use two fans, one for intake one for output, with maybe a carbon filter outside of the output?

I have looked for some conversion lamps and think I have found some, and also checked that HPS light again and found:

System comprises 400w ballast, Dutch Shiney reflector, chain hanging kit, 400w Grolux bulb and flex and plug.

So why it states 600w I do not know, also one thing I noticed was:

This lamp has full dual spectrum: blue for vegetative growth and red for the flowering cycle. This means one lamp can be used during the entire life cycle of the plant, without relying on switching between a Halide and Son-T-Plus bulb.


Is that actually possible? or shall I buy an MH conversion lamp anyway?


And did you mean buying the HPS system and then buying an MH conversion is the best option? I looked at doing it the other way round (MH system HPS Conversion) and it would mean huge shipment costs from the US, where as I can get the HPS system in the UK and import just a bulb.

thanks again

[hopeitworks]

Am only a UK newbie grower myself and decided to have a go for the same reasons you have stated! I have managed to do my first grow of 5 plants with a 400W HPS dual spectrum light with diamond reflector and with just three weeks to go now until harvest all seems to be well. So it worked for me. I also used just an oscillating fan in my growroom and again that worked out OK. Dont know if any of that helps, but I wish you luck with your first grow.

[Mr.Wicky]

Yeah its getting really bad over here! I have been looking around these forums a bit more and noticed that alot of people warn of overheating the 400w HPS lighting in a closed space (I am planning on using a built in wardrobe, well building a box in the wardrobe) I am unsure of the exact ventilation I will need, and where to get fans etc?

I realise that there needs to be inlet holes at the bottom, these do not necessarily need to have fans pulling air through, and using black tubes through these holes would prevent any light escaping(not that its an issue really) but I am not sure of what to use to extract the air, and how to setup the carbon filter as well? and to be honest, I only just realised the little computer fans are to cool the plants down!

will I need anything on this HPS light to keep it cool, im not so much in a rush because I have a million and one jobs to do before I can get round to building my box of heavenly delight (I hope)

Just want to make sure I get everything right, I dont expect a super harvest 1st time, but I want to make sure I use the right equipment for what im doing! and thanks for the luck with my first grow, I think I may need it!

[hopeitworks]

I can only go on my own experience but my grow room is just one square meter by 2 meters high and I havent had a problem with the heat from my lamp, but as I said the fan is blowing in there (though not permanently) and I have an extractor fan also. The extractor is a RUCK Fan 125mm/5 Inch High Power and cost about 60 quid, but I reckon you could get one on ebay a lot cheaper. I believe you can attach a carbon filter to these but I wouldnt know how!!

Hopefully someone with more experience than me can give you some help on your other questions.