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Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:20 pm
by dwcled
Installed my unit today.

Pros: More light and better distribution.

Cons: 1.Weight. I would prefer the power supply section be separate, anything to reduce the weight (remove the fans).
2. Heat. I would prefer hook ups to the "Cooltube" that I replaced if the unit is gonna generate that much heat (it does!).
I had to re-vent my cabinet and I know that screwed up the Co2 mix.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 7:47 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
Welcome to the forums!

More light than what?

Soil/hydro? Genetics?


SME

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:04 pm
by dwcled
Thanks for the welcome.

The unit replaces my 600 watt "Cooltube".

I grow using a chamber and RDWC.

White Widow for the last few years.

My big hurdle with the unit for the moment is the heat.

I may fabricate a "shell" with adapters to the 6" diameter air and exhaust that exist for the Cooltube.

My chamber was into the high 90's in no time at all.

I will post pictures.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Wed Sep 12, 2012 9:17 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
I assume that you got the SS800w because that's about the same as a 600w HPS than the SS400w.

Unfortunately, the fans run in the opposite direction than you may think so if you attached a 6" flange on top to suck air you'll be fighting the fans and if you alter the light, you'll void it's guarantee so you may want to make sure that nothing is actually altered. I figured out a way to add the flanges without altering the light but it would still work against the fans so I never made the plans public. I think CLW is working on a fix to the cooling issues but I'm not sure if that includes fan flanges.

YMMV...

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:02 am
by dwcled
I am concentrating on heat extraction for the time being.

I am looking at attaching modified manifolds to the sides and connecting these to the 6" "extraction" end of fan/vent I have installed.

I may use gutter drain pipe to build the manifolds.

The heat issue is not acceptable in my "chamber" as the amount of air I have to circulate ruins the Co2 mixing.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:34 am
by DarkChessLord
IMO that would help but it's not going to do a ton, because in my experience the heat is coming from the photons, not the panel itself.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:55 am
by dwcled
DarkChessLord wrote:IMO that would help but it's not going to do a ton, because in my experience the heat is coming from the photons, not the panel itself.


You are wrong.

The temps below the panel are way lower.

The panel vents the heat out the sides, which IMO is not the way to do it.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:57 am
by SisterMaryElephant
DarkChessLord wrote:IMO that would help but it's not going to do a ton, because in my experience the heat is coming from the photons, not the panel itself.

As I explained in another thread, the heat comes from the heat sinks, attached to the LED drivers, inside the unit.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:32 pm
by dwcled
DarkChessLord wrote:IMO that would help but it's not going to do a ton, because in my experience the heat is coming from the photons, not the panel itself.



What is your experience/education on the difference between light and heat?


I thought this "forum" was to discuss the Cal.Light works systems and report on the operation and results.

The ventilation method of this panel is not what I would have done, and I am gonna fix that as in its' current form, the temperatures are not acceptable.

I have over 30 years experience in research and development of electronic products and systems and "black body" sensors so I know of what I write.

I think CLW is onto a good thing, it can be better.

Re: Solarstorm day one installed and running

PostPosted: Thu Sep 13, 2012 12:51 pm
by SisterMaryElephant
You don't have to be rude about it dwlcd, we sometimes get sidetracked discussing posts and while he's wrong about where the heat comes from, we were talking about how to get rid of it so there was nothing wrong with him replying to your other comment. He's been corrected.

This forum is not like other grow forums, we try to be more polite here.