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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber
#21775815 - 06/07/15 08:09 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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So i decided id like to expand my operations onto my covered back patio with some stacked pails in a poly tent. I'm in desert climate so i figured a swamp cooler should help get humidity and temp get closer to target while feeding tons of fresh air. Total cost was somewhere around $13 since i used a fan i had on hand. I still need to get a float valve and intake duct to draw air from outside the chamber which will end up being ~$30 total into the pail. It takes my 90*F 22% RH air to 75*F and 50% RH, not bad!! Ill probably include inside the tent some misters running off my existing garden drip hose that turns on 4 times a day, that should bump the humidity up to 70-80% hopefully.
inside

test run with digital thermometer/hygrometer
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knomadic_niki
A mile high



Registered: 06/30/14
Posts: 1,275
Loc: 6200' Colorado
Last seen: 6 years, 5 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Gr0wer]
#21776173 - 06/07/15 09:23 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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neat
-------------------- My trade list In search of sporeless oyster cultures
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: knomadic_niki]
#21776332 - 06/07/15 10:03 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Just made a mock-up of what the layout would be. Looks like max capacity is somewhere around 20 pails if i go 5 high. If the swamp cooler pail isn't enough BTU's i may upgrade to a 55 gal plastic drum version.
Edited by Gr0wer (06/07/15 10:05 PM)
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CitrusSuicide



Registered: 03/30/15
Posts: 23
Loc: Desert
Last seen: 6 months, 23 days
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Gr0wer]
#21776883 - 06/08/15 12:41 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Nice dude I'm trying to grow in a desert climate myself. I was thinking of having an indoor shelf greenhouse myself, but any possibility that I could grow outside is cool.
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: CitrusSuicide]
#21777926 - 06/08/15 09:28 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'll keep the thread updated. Hopefully it works as planned.
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Migraine
Expanding Life


Registered: 09/21/09
Posts: 158
Loc: Alabama
Last seen: 2 months, 22 days
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Gr0wer]
#21778049 - 06/08/15 10:04 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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The PC fan you are using is NOT the correct fan to accomplish your task.
Fans of that design type (where air intake and exhaust are on the same axis) are used when moving air with little to no back pressure - as in blowing air through a case to cool components.
The efficiency drops considerably when the axial fan is attempting to move air and experiences a back pressure as your will given your design.
Squirrel cage type fans (or blower type fan), where air is exhausted 90 degrees to the intake, are designed to move air against a back pressure as your bucket will produce.
That is why blower fans are used in "flow hoods" -- they work into a back pressure.
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Migraine]
#21778827 - 06/08/15 01:35 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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It's a bit more powerful than a computer fan, its a 120v fan and its what I had on hand. I'm aware squirrel cage fans push harder but they are also typically loud and I live in a townhome.
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Migraine
Expanding Life


Registered: 09/21/09
Posts: 158
Loc: Alabama
Last seen: 2 months, 22 days
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Gr0wer]
#21779129 - 06/08/15 02:51 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I'm just sharing info that the type/style of fan you are using is not designed for your application and will most likely perform poorly.
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solarity
mm... my favourite food



Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,590
Loc: UK
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Migraine]
#21782080 - 06/09/15 08:14 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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I like the idea of the tube of wood wool. I have always made panels with a dripper on top and they are a pain to work with as you have to build a box around them. I could see that idea being scalable. Thanks!
-------------------- Commercial exotics farmer for 8 years - now sold up!
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: solarity]
#21829141 - 06/19/15 05:53 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
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Aspen shavings were no bueno, they would break loose and clog the pump. I went to a synthetic material for $10 and have enough material for another pail. The float valve is installed and i also went to a larger 1/2 supply hose with holes punched every 2-3" with my drip line hole punch. I need to rig up a better way to keep the cooling mat off the bucket walls, causing the unit to drip all over the floor. I'm eyeballing some orange construction plastic fence material at a job site at work, ill have to ask the foreman if i can cut off a few feet. That should make a good structure to attach and support the mat. I'd say i have about $50 into this by now. I flipped the fan around to see how much volume it blows out the fan, its almost the same volume of air as free air, blows your hair back at two feet away. Performance at 99F 2% RH input was 80F at 40%RH output.
Edited by Gr0wer (06/19/15 06:01 PM)
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Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
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Re: 5 gal $30 DIY swap cooler for desert outdoor fruiting chamber [Re: Gr0wer]
#21884885 - 07/01/15 08:26 PM (8 years, 6 months ago) |
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