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Invisiblebbox244
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HEPA AirPump TEK
    #14373995 - 04/29/11 06:07 PM (12 years, 10 months ago)

I'm still a newb, but I have an extensive engineering backround and I have several air pumps I use for my fruiting chambers.  Since certain types of 0.3 micron HEPA filters are now being mass produced in certain countries, I decided to find out if one could be purchased with minimal cost and yet with a high filtration rate.  I found a HEPA filter at Manards with a prefilter builtin and a 0.3 micron filtration rate for $11.00 US.  So, I decided to make a 5 pump capable box which can be fully maintenanced, and allow you to start with fewer than five pumps, but allows for you to add/remove pumps (up to five) anytime you wish.  This box also draws all of it's intake air through the HEPA prefilter, then the HEPA filter, then into the punps, as to allow for contam free FAE in your fruiting chambers.  Starting out lets look at the list of materials needed.  I chose materials most people already have on hand, perhaps with the exception of extra pumps and a container.

1)  One Rubbermaid KeepSake CD-ROM Media Box


2) Household Silicone, 3 Outlet 2prong Six Foot Extension Cord, Loctite Plastic Epoxy (optional, in case you crack the container).

3) Three Plug Extender to allow for 5 total plugs off extension cord.

4) 30911 HepaTech HEPA Filter with built in prefilter.



5) Razor Blade, drill/dremel (to make holes for plug and tubes), Stuffit crack filler, a permanent market sharpie.

First, place the lid onto the container and place the filter, prefilter up ontop of the container.  Center it and with the sharpie draw a line around the outside of the filter.

.. draw the line ..


With the lid off and upside down on a magazine, start scoring the plastic about 1/4" inside the line with the razor blade.


Keep cutting until the inner rectangle of plastic pops out.  Do this nice and slow to not crack the container lid.

Then, turn the lid over and run silicone on the 1/4" section of plastic between the sharpie line and the cut in the plastic.  This is how we are going to attach the filter to the container top.


Now, put the filter on the table with the pre-filter side down and press the container lid onto the filter carefully pressing along the cut edge to distribute the silicone evenly between the plastic lip on the container lid and the filter.


Now, we set aside the lid to let the silicone set.  So, take 5 4-8 foot sections of pump tubing and get an drill a hole into the lower middle side of the container so that all 5 sections of tubing can fit into the hole loosley, I used a dremmel to rip out the hole, but you can use a drill or carefully use a razor to do the same thing.


We do the same thing on one end of the container for the electrical plug to fit through, you don't need to make the hole large enough for the multi-plug female end, just the single plug male connector, again I used a dremel for this, but you can use a drill or carefully use a razor.


Attach the 3 to 1 plug extension to the single female plug of the extension cord in the container.


Place your pumps into the container, up to 5, and pull enough tubing through to connect to the pumps and if not using 5 pumps, pull enough slack off the unused tubing through to allow you to add additional pumps later.  Once this is done generously seal the hole with stuffit from the inside and outside of the container.



Now seal the air pump tubing hole.



Now do the same for the electical cord outlet:


Now we want ot add silicone to the top of the container where it makes contact with the lid and smooth it out with a finger.  This will create a nice seal when the lid top is attached.


We do the same thing for the lid, which is still sitting upside down on the filter.  This way there is a silicone to silicone contact made when the lid is attached to the container.  Again, after adding the silicone, smooth it out with a finger.


After silicone has set, we want to seal any cracks in the filter itself to ensure all airflow goes into the prefilter first.




Once everything had dried for 24 hours, go ahead and attach the lid and you have your finished product.



If you are not certain the silicone is airtight between the lid and the container, you can always add duct tape along the edges between the container and the lid to ensure it is airtight.  Also, for any hoses which were unused, you can place tape over the ends of the tubes so that no air is drawn in from the tubes.  When ready, simply add a pump, plug it in, and plug in the pre-ready tubing and remove the tape on the other end. 

This TEK is for a 5 pump box and it will not over tax the HEPA filter threfore putting no additional load on the pumps.  Each filter is good for 6 months, so simply use a razor to cut away the silicone and replace the filter every 6 months.

This is my first TEK article so I truly appreciate any feedback from such a wonderful board.  I really love the community here and I'm really happy to have this oppurtunity to share some ideas when so many have been gleened from this site by myself.  Thank you.


--------------------
.... Always curious, always looking for better ways, mind always wonders ....

TRUE HEPA Filtered Air Pumps TEK
Everything you need to know about tubs TEK
Fast Tub Dehydrator TEK

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Invisiblebbox244
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: bbox244]
    #14376705 - 04/30/11 09:49 AM (12 years, 9 months ago)

I built this as part of my "stealth" setup.  Needed something expandable, mobile (can sit outside the FC closet), more on the FC in another post... 

Anyway, I just found this:
Making a HEPA Case for your Air Pump

I just got done posting my TEK which is slightly similar except that it isn't HEPA filtered. Also, I spent a lot of time on the mathematics involved.  My HEPA filter is capable of 664.27 gallons/min.  The other HEPATech models which have a built in pre-filter and separate builtin HEPA filter have similar characteristics, you just have to make sure you get a model that includes a builtin prefilter.  The 30911 HEPATech is the smallest model.  So, any larger such model will have a higher free-flow rate.  For pump calculations, I based mine on a 40 gallon Tetra Whisper Air Pump, this model will perform (had to test manually with equipment since specs are not published) at a rate of 0.3909 gallons/min.  So with 5 pumps, you're talkin less than 2 gallons/min. So you can also use the 30915 model filter which is about $13 online, and about the same size.  All available at Manards and probably Home Depot.

Based on my stealth needs, and the need for maintenance, long term usage, expandability, I designed this unit to have perfect free-flow FAE in your chambers with a true HEPA filter to pump into the chambers, or drive air rocks, or whatever.

Since I found that other link in the archives, I was wondering if you could add my TEK with that one since mine is truly HEPA filtered and I feel it will do quite well in comparison.  Been testing my first one for quite some time now, no contams as of yet.  When I built my second one for the TEK posting, I covered the filter top with saran wrap, then duck tape and unplugged all 5 hoses from the pumps.  When I blew into the chanber, it was like blowing up a balloon, the silicone sealant around the top edges of the container and lid held together really well with very little leakage after applying a lot of pressure into the hoses.  I really had to push lot of air to get any leakage at all, meaning that under normal circumstances, that silicone seal is plenty to keep out contams and all air will come in through the HEPA filter, so adding duck tape to the edges of the container/lid in my TEK is completely optional, the silicone really does a good job.  According to the manufacturers site, the filter can go down to 0.1 microns.  But, the filter states 0.3 microns, so I'm not sure on that one.

Also, any comments from the community would be greatly appreciated.  I put a lot of time into this to get the flows just right, and you'll notice everything is converted into gallons/min so that calculating air replacement for your FC's FAE is easily done.  Thanks.


--------------------
.... Always curious, always looking for better ways, mind always wonders ....

TRUE HEPA Filtered Air Pumps TEK
Everything you need to know about tubs TEK
Fast Tub Dehydrator TEK

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Offlineblurt
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: bbox244]
    #14376925 - 04/30/11 10:45 AM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Why do youneed to attach a HEPA to a fruiting chamber?

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Invisiblebbox244
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: blurt]
    #14378041 - 04/30/11 02:37 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

I have a pretty stealthy setup where the pumps are pretty far from the FC's.  They are in a temp controlled environment, but the air is stale and stagnant.  I can calculate exactly how much I need to run the pumps, and I'm using SGFC's with the air coming in at the top of the chamber to push the CO2 out the bottom.  So far, I have gotten 3-4 flushes no problem with this method and have yet to have a cake get contams.  The HEPA filters all air used for FAE, so the cakes remain contam free.  Granted, I've only fruited twice, once with 3 flushes, and once with 4, the cakes eventually crack up and stop flushing.  But, they stay contam free.  I use the pumps more than average however to provide ample FAE.  I started with HEPA because of the environment in the FC chamber area.  The whole idea came from using a HEPA on my Glovebox with a FAN (I was afraid to blow myself flaming needles).  Beleive it or not, these cheap filters really do work.  I seal the side seams up a little bit to make sure all air goes into the pre-filter, and on my glovebox, I added a second layer of prefilter material since the airflow is a lot higher, but they really do work.  My RH is usally around 95%, which isn't too bad.  It would be higher, but I run the pumps a lot.


--------------------
.... Always curious, always looking for better ways, mind always wonders ....

TRUE HEPA Filtered Air Pumps TEK
Everything you need to know about tubs TEK
Fast Tub Dehydrator TEK

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblejokefox
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: bbox244]
    #14378060 - 04/30/11 02:42 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

heres the thing

you dont need sterile air to grow shrooms

only when your going from spores to grain and grain to manure
but when you fruit, you can fruit in open air,

i dont get the lysol sprayers, and the air bleachers, and hepa air pumps?

make a flow hood, that would be worth your time

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Invisiblebbox244
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: jokefox]
    #14387517 - 05/02/11 09:06 AM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Thanks for setting me straight.  Thats what I needed to know.  I'm going to make a flowhood next, for agar, slants, etc.  Want to keep a few clones around for a long time.  I guess some of the posts I read are so old, I got a bit confused regarding fruiting conditions.  I'm still a bit of newb :wink: :smile:


--------------------
.... Always curious, always looking for better ways, mind always wonders ....

TRUE HEPA Filtered Air Pumps TEK
Everything you need to know about tubs TEK
Fast Tub Dehydrator TEK

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
Invisiblejokefox
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: bbox244]
    #14391744 - 05/02/11 10:17 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Quote:

bbox244 said:
Thanks for setting me straight.  Thats what I needed to know.  I'm going to make a flowhood next, for agar, slants, etc.  Want to keep a few clones around for a long time.  I guess some of the posts I read are so old, I got a bit confused regarding fruiting conditions.  I'm still a bit of newb :wink: :smile:





but your on the right track , and if you build that for just a fc ,
i cant wait to see your flow hood,

your attention to detail is good , thats what i like to see, just dont be so worried,
and shower, thats my best advice

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InvisibleSpector
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: jokefox]
    #14495479 - 05/22/11 06:36 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

:awelol:

I see what your doin there.
but unnecessary, just wanted to say Great effort tho!!

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Invisiblebbox244
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: Spector]
    #14495542 - 05/22/11 06:55 PM (12 years, 9 months ago)

Yeah, even though that post is still new, it feels a million years old.  I still use the tek, I have an OCD about contams, but I will say it provides perfect FAE for my modded HUGH SGFC.  I have massive temp flux, and stagnant air in my TiT modded SGFC, so I pump in a ton of air 12hours a day, and it's fresh and sterile.  I will say though, I haven't had any trays contam yet.  Maybe it's my sterile techniques, or perhaps the HEPA air has something to do with it, dunno.  But, I built the darn thing, so I keep on using it.  You see, I happen to do a LOT with a LOT of these aqua pumps.  I buy them by the case.  eh hem.  So, I figured I'd use them for FAE, works great, the air gets completely changed out many many times for 45mins, every 45mins, 24 hours a day, and my RH is still at 99.  So, it does it's job.  Calculating the CFM was a bitch since there are no publications on the Whispers, but I manually generated specs of my own for CFM, and GallonsPerMinute, for all the different Whisper models.  I like them the best since they wear out less, I have like a hundred or so running around the clock, for airation of my other hobby.


--------------------
.... Always curious, always looking for better ways, mind always wonders ....

TRUE HEPA Filtered Air Pumps TEK
Everything you need to know about tubs TEK
Fast Tub Dehydrator TEK

Extras: Filter Print Post Top
InvisibleDoctor_Inoc
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: jokefox]
    #14571431 - 06/06/11 08:43 PM (12 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

you dont need sterile air to grow shrooms. i dont get the lysol sprayers, and the air bleachers, and hepa air pumps?



Sterile air is not needed to grow shrooms, correct.  It's more personal preference then a requirement. 

The way I look at is, why not take any provisions to sterility if you can dream them up, I say, GO FOR IT!

A one to ten parts bleach water solution, sprayed onto all surfaces of the fruiting area, once a week, is a great and easy measure of prevention to keep invader spores in check. 

http://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/14561051#14561051

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Invisiblejokefox
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: Doctor_Inoc]
    #14572315 - 06/06/11 11:50 PM (12 years, 8 months ago)

or you can use soap and water like a normal person

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InvisibleDoctor_Inoc
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Re: HEPA AirPump TEK [Re: jokefox]
    #14574498 - 06/07/11 01:31 PM (12 years, 8 months ago)

Quote:

jokefox said:
or you can use soap and water like a normal person



Like a "normal person?"  :facepalm:

This is a highly self-righteous and judgmental post.  As if someone who doesn't conform to the same set of standards as you is not "normal".  It's a matter of personal preference.

A lot of people around here use a bleach/water solution as a preventive measure against invader spores in their fruiting area(s).  WHY, because, IT WORKS!  So, I guess, you'r calling half of an entire community, not "normal" either.

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