Hey.

I've been using my grow-cupboard for a week (grow diary), and wanted some advice. I've got a 4inch ruck for extraction, and a passive intake. I've also got 2 desk fans (one in the cabinet and one underneath).

Since I'm around all the time, I've been checking on them regularly. Goes something like this: Ruck and top desk fan on, until temp drops under 22c - then turn off ruck until temps get over 28c. My humidity levels are low (between 29 and LO) and they drop when the ruck is on.

First question is, I'm not going to be able to keep this up, when they start smelling (presumably). The ruck will have to be on (and since the temps drop) so will my oil heater. Am i right?

Secondly, should I just get a fogger (for the humidity) and a WAC 1 Single Sweep Fan Controller for the fan (obviously)?

Cheers for the opinions...

have your fan on a controller, and have a thermostat switch it to full speed at x temp, then heat and humidity shouldn't be a problem, turn the fan off and humidity goes up just the same as temperature

Okay. Got a fogger coming just to keep humidity reasonable. But the fan controller is leaving me stumped. I've read through loads of the threads and I want one with a thermostat control (like you say scraglor), but I just can't see anything that fits the bill (cept the primair one, and it's expensive and not all talk about it is positive).

I found this one (though nobody here has mentioned it). Any thoughts?
fan controller

Anyway, noise isn't that much of a biggie - but the temperature fluctuations are getting annoying (plus I got to reach underneath my setup, to turn on & off the ruck...

I found some more details about that fan controller, if anyone wants to offer an opinion. It looks just like the kind of thing I'm after (cept of course the plug won't be UK):

This Brons Fan Controller is a combined Speed Controller and Thermostat.

It is possible to set a fixed minimum speed level and maximum temperature. If the temperature reaches set level, the controller turns the speed all the way up until the temperature drops below set level and the speedcontroller returns to set level.

It handles 4.5A / 1000 W and is Plug and Play. No wiring required

there should be plenty available in the uk. although i couldn't direct you anywhere as i mkae all my own stuff, but there's defo more than just the primair and klimavator

Cheers for the input scraglor. Seems your the man to come to about wiring the fuckers up. Just got to find one first.

They will get to a size where they significantly raise the humidy, so you will have the opposite problem then.

Smart move getting the humidifier, compare the natural vegitation of arid areas to humid areas.

The plants love high humidty, they really do. Only problem is, so does mould and powdery mildrew. The best humidity for late flower is the highest you can get that doesn't give mould or pm problems. Safety first etc. so play safe and try for 50%RH.

Funny you should say that. I potted up yesterday, and already the humidity is slightly higher (around 30%).

Anyway, no opinions on an actual fan controller?

Anyway, think I'm going to settle on an airforce one. Bit expensive, but I've got a feeling it's going to be worth it (plus I'm never going to be able to build one etc). Question answered!

Man, these fan controllers are bloody confusing...

Am I right in thinking I'd need an air force thermometer and an airforce speedo together (to get temperature control over the speed of the fan)?
I just want to set the fan slower during the night, and slightly higher during the day. Plus I want no hum, buzz or whatever you want to call it...
I also don't want to kill myself wiring up something (and I have 0 electrical abilities - okay I can rewire a plug, but that's about it).
Somebody. Anybody...

hya mate,check your pm's btw,to answer your questions,yes you will need a dimmer controller and a thermostat controller (talk about expensive...)for the airforce.I own the bigger model dimmer switch,and can sya that they are a quality component if a tadd on the heavy side ,but i think that is the case with all "proper" (forget the correct term,the ones that don't buzz basically) dimmer switches.peace

you can use a normal thermostat with the airforce controller, just need to get yourself a kettle lead and a cheapo thermostat

Cheers for the advice. I went for a smscom fan controller with thermostat. Apparently tho, it buzzes on low and works best with 6 inch or greater fans. I have a 4inch fan currently providing extraction, so I've got a feeling that I'm not going to be pleased. Then the decision comes, replace the controller or upgrade the fan...

I guess I could always use the 4 inch for intake, though presumably that'd need a controller too? D'oh...

Presumably wiring up the airforce to a conventional thermostat would still require some kind of wiring, and I just don't want/can't do it (probably).

Hello scraglor, would you mind elaborating on that a little? I have the above items but I'm unsure how to wire them and can't find any info elsewhere.

I guess I wire the kettle lead into the stat to provide mains power and then use the cable supplied with the fan controller to pass the power from stat to controller when the stat is 'on' ?!

Thanks in advance

How about sending back the fan speed controler and buy a temp controled ruck. you can always use the 4" as your intake. Not sure that would work with the temp controled fan though.