Indoor Making a PC GROW BOX, what will i need?

[wrekstar]

So i'm planning to make a PC GROW BOX as a side thing to do.
I'm not to sure on what to get, how to assemble everything but then that's where you guys can help me
what i'm planning to get is..

Pc Computer Case - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-GAM...mponents_RL&hash=item3f0cbb7f78#ht_2468wt_924
SPEC : Colour: All black
Case Type: ATX Middle Tower
Gaming case
No PSU, takes standard ATX PSU
Full Dimensions : H = L = W
W/O package: L:395+30 W:185 H:412(mm)
W package: L:420 W:208 H:456(mm)
Thickness of steel: 0.6mm SGCC
5.25” bays: 4
3.5” bays: 2(Exposed)+5(Hidden)
USB2.0/Audio location in the first 3.5”drive bay
No case fan included
Can accommodate the following case fans: 1x80mm or 90mm fans in the front of case. 1x92mm cm 80mm fan in the rear of the case.
Motherboard required: Full ATX / MICRO ATX

Socket adapter - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250V-UK-P...ht_Fittings&hash=item2313157a84#ht_1998wt_974 ( about 4 OF THESE ON ONE EXTENSION LEAD )

CFL BULBS - Haven't found the right ones yet but if i'm using 4 socket adapters, what do you guys think?

Venting - already have two 120mm fans

Reflective material - White paint or reflective windhsield things from poundland

My plan - one big pot ( width rather than height ) and one small short rider seed, LST IT! and hopefully get 15g+

MY QUESTIONS!

1. I've never opened a computer case open, could i use the screwdriver to open up all the holes?
2 . What tools will i need?
3 . Anything I am missing in this set up?
4 . Will i NEED to COMPLETELY strip the insides? so its like a ' blank space '

I have checked out grow box tutorials and how to's and i have the basic idea but i just want some help from this site as the other sites just seem to hate the fact of a AUTO in a MICRO GROW let alone an auto.

Any input will be welcomed and thanked for, thanks

 

[wrekstar]

anyonE?

 

[TshirtNinja]

this honestly isnt a large enough forum for that kind of advice so far..... i am about to build a few myself but thats not going to be for a few weeks but ill be happy to document my builds when i get around to them.

 

[micromaster]

Pc case
Fans
PC power supply (for fans)
drop cord power strip
outlet to bulb adapters
CFLS
odor control
temp/humidity guage


thats pretty much the basics. If I was you I would look for an older PC off craigslist. The older pcs usually had pretty big cases, plus it will be cheaper than buying a case and already come with a power supply and fans

As for gutting youll need a philips screwdriver, and you could probably get away with using tin snips to cut out the drive bays or depending on what holds the case together just drill out the rivets for the drive bays

 

[wrekstar]

this honestly isnt a large enough forum for that kind of advice so far..... i am about to build a few myself but thats not going to be for a few weeks but ill be happy to document my builds when i get around to them.

gotta start from somewhere though
someone could google the same idea
come on this website and sign up

---------- Post added 08-15-2011 at 04:41 AM ----------

Pc case
Fans
PC power supply (for fans)
drop cord power strip
outlet to bulb adapters
CFLS
odor control
temp/humidity guage


thats pretty much the basics. If I was you I would look for an older PC off craigslist. The older pcs usually had pretty big cases, plus it will be cheaper than buying a case and already come with a power supply and fans

As for gutting youll need a philips screwdriver, and you could probably get away with using tin snips to cut out the drive bays or depending on what holds the case together just drill out the rivets for the drive bays

the pc to power the fans? so keep the psu in their? or keep it on 12v phone cgarger

 

[whatsgoodie]

Some decent advice coming along in this thread, TSN can add to it.. the dude knows all about lighting and positioning. We should get it moved to the micro/cfl/led forum - that's how you build the base of the knowledge and expand the community! I'd never use a PSU to power a fan - not many at all run cool. I run a Corsair 1KW PSU and it's probably the coolest and quietest PSU I've ever ran, but the lower end PSUs (no point for a micro grow) run pretty damn hot. 12V Phone charger sounds much better.

 

[wrekstar]

thanks man, mods do too much work for me
they move every thread i have lool

 

[micromaster]

shouldnt have the psu in the case anyways just takes up room

 

[Clyde]

Totally agree on using 12v phone charger the fan - just cut the adaptor off and join the wires to the red and black wires on the fan. If it doesn't work, swap them over.

I've built a couple of mocro/stealth cabinets to date - a PC and a speaker case. In my experience the most brain-stretching bit is designing your odour control mechanism. How stealthy you need it to be will detemine how much effort you have to put in. Mine had to be pretty damn good and it wasn't easy getting a filter in the cab that killed the odour, allowed for enough pull from a 12 cm PC fan to keep the temps right and didn't use up all the head-hight in the cab.

Another problem you'll have to deal with is light leaks. Again, it depends on why you're doing it, but if you really need your set up to look like a spare PC sitting in the corner and nothing else, then light leaks will give you headaches. The seams/joints are fairly easy - line the whole thing with duct tape or aluminium reflective tape (I recommend painting the inside white even if you use reflective tape). The removable panel on the side should be quite flush, but in a dark room light might still be visible and a few strips of aluminium beer can (cut with scissors) can be used to make flanges to sort that. Ventilation holes are harder - your carbon filter, if you use one, will take care of the exit hole but intakes are a problem.

I don't mean to be discouraging, mate - if you know which bits are most tricky, you'll be better prepared.

As for lights - don't know what size your cab will be and that will be a determining factor, but remember that its a small space and a little light will go a long way. My PC had a floor area of 0.7 feet and I got great results with four 23w cfl bulbs. Any more and you'll run into heat issues. Not saying it can't be done, but more/bigger fans = less space. Noise is also a factor to consider and the more powerful your fan, the louder it's going to be. I found a 12 cm Scythe Juno 1900 rpm to be just the ticket for my set up, but there are a load of fans out ther which will do the trick.

Good luck, mate. Hope you enjoy the challenge as much as I did. When it's all up and running and your neighbour can come in for tea (or even the local community police officer, as I had once in Russia) and sit next to your PC grow box and not suspect a thing, you'll experience a wonderful sense of achievement.

 

[wrekstar]

Totally agree on using 12v phone charger the fan - just cut the adaptor off and join the wires to the red and black wires on the fan. If it doesn't work, swap them over.

I've built a couple of mocro/stealth cabinets to date - a PC and a speaker case. In my experience the most brain-stretching bit is designing your odour control mechanism. How stealthy you need it to be will detemine how much effort you have to put in. Mine had to be pretty damn good and it wasn't easy getting a filter in the cab that killed the odour, allowed for enough pull from a 12 cm PC fan to keep the temps right and didn't use up all the head-hight in the cab.

Another problem you'll have to deal with is light leaks. Again, it depends on why you're doing it, but if you really need your set up to look like a spare PC sitting in the corner and nothing else, then light leaks will give you headaches. The seams/joints are fairly easy - line the whole thing with duct tape or aluminium reflective tape (I recommend painting the inside white even if you use reflective tape). The removable panel on the side should be quite flush, but in a dark room light might still be visible and a few strips of aluminium beer can (cut with scissors) can be used to make flanges to sort that. Ventilation holes are harder - your carbon filter, if you use one, will take care of the exit hole but intakes are a problem.

I don't mean to be discouraging, mate - if you know which bits are most tricky, you'll be better prepared.

As for lights - don't know what size your cab will be and that will be a determining factor, but remember that its a small space and a little light will go a long way. My PC had a floor area of 0.7 feet and I got great results with four 23w cfl bulbs. Any more and you'll run into heat issues. Not saying it can't be done, but more/bigger fans = less space. Noise is also a factor to consider and the more powerful your fan, the louder it's going to be. I found a 12 cm Scythe Juno 1900 rpm to be just the ticket for my set up, but there are a load of fans out ther which will do the trick.

Good luck, mate. Hope you enjoy the challenge as much as I did. When it's all up and running and your neighbour can come in for tea (or even the local community police officer, as I had once in Russia) and sit next to your PC grow box and not suspect a thing, you'll experience a wonderful sense of achievement.

Yeah i've already got 2 pc fans hooked up
and odour control umm im thinking to buy some dryer sheets, or those pocketed one and open and fill them up with activated carbon then sew it back up

- my two fans only have CFM ratings about 30-40 but then again i can buy newer ones..
- i think as for light leaks i will tape up every joint properly, or use some kind of reflector for it
- you had four cfl's? ever change colours?
- what was your final yield?