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 Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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 Mini-Fridge Grow Box 
#280431 - 09/14/09 10:08 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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My friend has an extra mini-fridge he's not using.
Are there any TEKs that show how to convert a mini-fridge into a grow box?
Or can anyone offer any advice?
I've read good things about LED light panels. Would 2 LED panels like this one
(Each panel has 225 LEDs, 14:1 Red/Blue light ratio, 14 watts per panel)
Along with 2 CFL bulbs be enough light to support a few plants?
Would the shiny white plastic work well enough to reflect the light? Or would it be best to line the sides with some kind of film? I read somewhere that matte white spray paint has the same effect as reflective film, is that true?
The fridge is fairly large for a mini-fridge, how many plants could realistically grow to harvest in it? 4? Maybe 6?
Any help is greatly appreciated.
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Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#281973 - 09/17/09 05:23 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Well, I dove right in and got to work today.
Since I haven't seen a step by step tek for this, I'll try to put one together.
First, start with a busted mini-fridge.
Clean it out and remov all the cooling unit equipment from the back and cut all wires that run into the actual fridge. Save the power wire, as you'll see later.
Remove the shelving on the inside of the door. This is optional, it was done here to save space. The shelves are held in place by small screws around the seal. (SAVE THESE)
Cut a piece of cardboard to fit the door, and wrap the seal around the edge of it. Then screw in the screws through the seal and the cardboard into the pre-dilled holes. This probably isn't the best way to do this, but we were improvising, and it works.
For this fridge, a 4" inline duct fan was used.
Use a 4 inch bit to drill a hole through the back of the fridge. HILTI makes a really tough bit that went right through the steel and insulation.
Once you have your hole, install your fan. This fan was wired to the existing power cord on the fridge, so an extra cord was not necessary. The wiring is very simple, white with white, black with black, green is the ground wire
Use silicon, epoxy, or some kind of sealant to secure the fan in place. Allow it to set.
(sorry no pic of this, will get one soon)
Spray paint the entire interior of the fridge FLAT white. I have been told this works almost as well as mylar or other reflective films.
This is the pre dilled hole the freon hose came in. Use this for any wires you may need to run.
Install two light sockets on either side of the fridge. These will have CFL bulbs in them to supplement the LED light that will be used later.
Drill another 4 inch hole on the top to allow an inlet vent. For this fridge, a small circular vent was placed in and sealed for a good fit.
A few finishing touches(like a power strip mounted on top) and violia!
Mini-Fridge Grow Box.
Very low expenses, except for the drill bit and fan.
Plans for the future include a 90 watt LED UFO light.
Thoughts? Comments?
Edited by Purplekush (09/17/09 05:24 PM)
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Mushr00m_Man
Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 261
Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#281978 - 09/17/09 05:28 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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you could get one plant in there and two would probly be the max
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  SMOKE MARIJUANA
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Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Mushr00m_Man]
#281979 - 09/17/09 05:30 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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One or two is all that it will be needed for.
A nice sized tent would be ideal, but this is to just get started before investing tons of money
It could make a nice chamber for mother plants too.
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Mushr00m_Man
Registered: 09/14/08
Posts: 261
Last seen: 14 years, 2 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#281983 - 09/17/09 05:38 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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ya you should get as much light in ther as possible
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SMOKE MARIJUANA
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 Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal 
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#282083 - 09/17/09 08:46 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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I like your grow light choice for sure, but I hear the UFO's are pretty poopie. you should shop LED lights by looking at the wattage of each individual diode as well as the total power of the entire array. the increased power per diode translates to greater intensity and therefore more penetration, and thus yield. I've found some sites that offer 1.5W diodes, and I'm sure there are some higher ones if you look around.
http://www.thegrowlights.com/
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Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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I've heard that 1W per diode is sufficient, and that's what I'm ordering. I'm not looking to invest ton's of cash right now.
http://www.growery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/238422/fpart/1/vc/1
This guy only used 1 90 watt UFO style LED and his seems to have worked fine. I will make a grow log once seeds come in.
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Lucid
Monster Plant Creator
Registered: 07/18/08
Posts: 1,082
Loc: Canada-ish.
Last seen: 8 years, 5 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#282335 - 09/18/09 06:44 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Always wanted to try an LED grow! very cool, with definitely watch your progress!
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BlzdLivng
Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 54
Last seen: 14 years, 5 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Lucid]
#282741 - 09/19/09 01:03 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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It needs more light. more more light. but nice setup. I would go with cfl's over l.e.d. any day. preferably t5's. Im not to sure how you could get them to fit in there, but if so that would be the way i would go.
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: BlzdLivng]
#282743 - 09/19/09 01:04 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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weren't you in another thread just telling me to use less light?
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Zippy
Needlepoint
Registered: 06/04/09
Posts: 750
Loc: Santa Cruz
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Quote:
Harry_Ba11sach said:
weren't you in another thread just telling me to use less light?
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Even a fish could stay out of trouble if he learned to keep his mouth shut.
Indoor Floro Troublemaker/ Troublemaker x WW grow
Indoor 1000w HPS Soil Grow- *updated*
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BlzdLivng
Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 54
Last seen: 14 years, 5 months
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Different set-ups. Which require different lights because of different issues.....making sense yet?
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Zippy
Needlepoint
Registered: 06/04/09
Posts: 750
Loc: Santa Cruz
Last seen: 14 years, 11 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: BlzdLivng]
#282751 - 09/19/09 01:37 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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 ?
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Even a fish could stay out of trouble if he learned to keep his mouth shut.
Indoor Floro Troublemaker/ Troublemaker x WW grow
Indoor 1000w HPS Soil Grow- *updated*
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Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#283013 - 09/19/09 07:04 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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After some research, I think I might use a 250 watt CFL instead of an LED.
But I also have another fridge I will eventually convert and use with an LED.
How much electricity use difference can I expect with a 250 watt CFL instead of a 90 watt LED? I know thats a hard question to answer but will it be a dramatic increase?
Also, how much of a heat increase can I expect? Will that inline fan be enough to take care of the heat?
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Harry_Ba11sach
cannoisseur
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 11,753
Loc: Nepal
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: BlzdLivng]
#283074 - 09/19/09 10:18 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
BlzdLivng said:
Different set-ups. Which require different lights because of different issues.....making sense yet?
Oh, I get it now. I've never even seen weed, so you need to explain things like this to me. you mean that different situations require different things? that's crazy talk man
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Purplekush
Stranger
Registered: 09/14/09
Posts: 9
Last seen: 15 years, 2 months
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Thanks for the help guys. 
Would a 150 watt HPS like this one
(sorry to use a pic with a brand name, I'm not advertising, just using it for example)
or a 250 watt CFL like this one
work better for this application?
I am interested in the differences in heat generated by the bulbs. Will the single four inch fan be enough to cool the box if I use an LED light?
Any other pros and cons are welcome.
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Ojom
Registered: 04/20/08
Posts: 333
Last seen: 9 years, 6 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: Purplekush]
#283713 - 09/21/09 12:37 AM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Have you looked at the measurements on those reflectors to insure they will even fit in the fridge?
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BlzdLivng
Registered: 03/14/09
Posts: 54
Last seen: 14 years, 5 months
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Well I'm glad I could help you a little you cocky asshole. Most people who are around bud are much more considerate than you. Yes people are on this site for help, advice, and to just chill. You might wanna consider changing your tone slightly to a move stoner attitude...the way the site should be. We are talking about marijuana after all and not blow or anything...right? So where is the love? Everyone needs to relax and smoke a blunt.
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SpaceMonkey
Mind Pilot
Registered: 02/09/09
Posts: 3,471
Loc: Hawaiian Islands
Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box [Re: BlzdLivng]
#283937 - 09/21/09 02:29 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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Chill out fella's
If BlzdLivng and Harry wanna argue take it to the dome!
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 Don't Mistake My Kindness For Weakness
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SpaceMonkey
Mind Pilot
Registered: 02/09/09
Posts: 3,471
Loc: Hawaiian Islands
Last seen: 4 years, 4 months
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Re: Mini-Fridge Grow Box (moved) [Re: Purplekush]
#283938 - 09/21/09 02:30 PM (15 years, 3 months ago) |
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 This thread was moved from Marijuana Cultivation.
Reason:
fits
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