sizing a cabinet

bentech · Post by **bentech** » Thu Aug 21, 2014 7:27 pm

ive been asked to build a cabinet for a small grow
there are several old bureau's i can pick from
or i can just slap together a plywood box
it will be sitting in a garage so nothing will look out of place

the concern is electricity use

a medical use for 2 who go through about 6 oz a year

my first thought was floro's over clones and a couple 70watt HID over flower
a 250 HID is to much

im tempted to build a led panel but
i dont see any "correct" prescription as to which diodes to use
so im inclined not to risk it

so!

i figured id pick the lights and grow space dimensions
before i picked the cabinet

suggestions?

deran · Post by **deran** » Thu Aug 21, 2014 11:25 pm

take the 250W version, makes more sense ...

if they are medical, they dont want to have further issues, like growing non stop around the year with a 70W thingy

so they have only 1 or maybe 2 runs a year, and their needs are fullfilled with the 250W bulb, anything below 250 is pure hobby, but not medical

60 X 60 cm to 80 X 80 cm and a height 1,60 to 2 meters, everythings gonna fit nicely into those dimensions, you can even jam a hydrotable in there

Intrinsic · Post by **Intrinsic** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:13 am

I agree with deran, less grows per year is good, jes one is better , should be some down time planned, shit happens. keep it simple.

for 6oz * 28 = 168g. if ya get .7 gram per watt then ya need 168/.7 = 240 watts. (or four 70w along a long box, 2' x 5')

Yeah go with the 250 or more, .and 5g/watt is more likely. for beginners.

Intrinsic · Post by **Intrinsic** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:19 am

designing an LED panel sounded like real fun, wish i could afford give it a try.

twilson · Post by **twilson** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 11:49 am

250.

A dialed in 150 would do it too no prob if you had small separate mother room . like 60 watts of floros.

deran · Post by **deran** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 12:42 pm

250W X 18h X 31 days = 139.5 kWh
250W X 12h X 62 days = 186 kWh

summs up to 325,5 kWh for 1 run for the lights

take another 100 W for additional fans and stuff

100W X 24h X 93 days = 223,2kwh

totals in 548,7kWh for one run (3 months)

if the kWh is 0.3 bucks, thats 165 bucks for at least 0.5 g/w i mean, its a no brainer

bentech · Post by **bentech** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:33 pm

the drag is that this home is designated 'coastal' no matter theyre in the mountains and their ponds ice over on occasions; every extra bit of electricity they use from their best conservation effort get billed at the highest tier

country boy · Post by **country boy** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:59 pm

If you can get away with a bit more than 4ft long, I'd go with floros and don't be afraid of side lighting for flowering.
Instead of 1 cab, i think separate veg/mother and flower chambers make light-proofing easier.

I feel the highest tier pricing.
Our summer rates are 3x's what it is in winter.

bentech · Post by **bentech** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:20 pm

yes,
its going to be two cabinets
intrinsic sure makes floro's look productive

is that a matter of a good strain for them?
like vic high used to hype

deran · Post by **deran** » Fri Aug 22, 2014 2:24 pm

do the maths with fluros, and count in how many watts you need to achive those 180 grams, count in time too, i bet its cheaper the way i calculated it

on the other hand you are right, only needing 0,5 grams a day, can be energeticaly idealy made with a perpetous low wattage sog, but that means again gardening every day throuout the year, if thats not an issue go along, and rotate 31 plants monthly