Building a PC grow box

[Doubie]

Hi guys,

I'm looking to scale down my growing as the eye-in-the-sky is turning the missus into a paranoid wreck. (I must live under a heli flight path or something) She's convinced were going to get raided.

So, once my attic grow is complete I'll be turning things down a bit - and just growing on a very small scale. But, my thinking that a single PC case could quite easily supply me, perhaps with another PC case to house a mother, making the turn-around a lot quicker.

I've had an old PC tower knocking around for years, its about 16" high, 7" wide and 16" deep - which will be perfect for the job. I've got another 5 weeks to get this case up and running, so I intend to do it properly.

I've been very much inspired by Ghost's PC grow, but unfortunately it looks like his has been delayed indefinitely.


Goals
Stealthy
Low running cost
Low odour
Low setup cost


Location
Under my computer desk, next to my real computer


Plan
Case:
1. Strip all pc case down to its bare bones
2. Keep old power supply in place to add to illusion thats its just a PC
3. Fit reflective material inside case (TBD)
4. Install Philips MASTER Colour CDM-TC Elite 70W/930 with a G12 socket
5. Decide on number and size of fans required (TBD)
6. Decide on method to keep smells down when tending to my girls (TBD)
7. Make a carbon filter (TBD)
8. Install a scrog screen (TBD)
9. Install heat reflecting plexiglass under light
10. Install light traps to fans (TBD)
11. Make sure no light escapes
12. Decide on a 70w Metal Halide ballast (TBD)

Grow:
1. Decide on growing medium (TBD)
2. Decide on strain (TBD)
3. Decide on Auto or Photo (TBD)

Any tips or advise is very much appreciated.

[Sungrower]

Subbed up to this Greedo I'm interested to see what it does as I've got the bug from growing now and would like to do a similar thing
Good luck SG

[Doubie]

Subbed up to this Greedo I'm interested to see what it does as I've got the bug from growing now and would like to do a similar thing
Good luck SG

Cheers Sungrower you're welcome to learn from my mistakes - I'm sure I'll make quite a few as I go haha


Been looking into timers and contactors to use for the case, and I've decided on using this: http://www.dutchhydroponics.co.uk/im...and%20grow.jpg
as its a timer and contactor built into 1 unit. Should be perfect for my needs.

[Anonymiss]

2. Keep old power supply in place to add to illusion thats its just a PC

To gain some internal space, can you remove the fan/exhaust grille from the PSU and just mount that to the case instead?

[Doubie]

Good plan Anon, I've just been stripping it down and realised just how bulky the PSU is. I was hoping to wire it up to allow the standard 3 plug computer power supply to power everything. Maybe that won't happen afterall.

I'll be hot-glue-gunning all the odds and ends in place. From the USB sockets at the back to the cd drive fascia to the front. Making sure there's no actual working parts behind the fascia taking up unnecessary space.

[nuube]

Looking forward to seeing this, subbed.

[Hillbilly]

You will need a HPS light for flowering, Metal Halide is for veg. Just making sure you know that..

[Ater]

Guys, I have a related question. I understand that PC box is a cool thing for stealth, but what kind of plant would fit in it? I mean, I cultivated plants in a 1,5 meters box and I feel like there should be more space. Maybe I do not know something? How much could you receive from the plant in a PC box?

[glasgow grower]

subbed up and waiting with Anticipation just getting back into growing myself after a few years away from it good luck

[Mr-Lover]

Sounds Like a Plan Greedo, Im Subbed For This
Goodluck ML

[05jep83]

really looking forward to watching the progress, thinking about a similar set up myself ,so il be taking notes ,good luck!

[Doubie]

Well I've started work on the PC case (pics to come), and it's all stripped out. All that's left is to remove numerous pop-rivets and the bits they're holding in place.

You will need a HPS light for flowering, Metal Halide is for veg. Just making sure you know that..

Ah I didn't realise that! Looks like I need to re-think my lighting system. I could run a 70w HPS, although not sure on the heat output. Although it'll be annoying having the ballast and connections for a MH bulb just to change them over to flower. Maybe the CFL route will be best afterall.

[Doubie]

Guys, I have a related question. I understand that PC box is a cool thing for stealth, but what kind of plant would fit in it? I mean, I cultivated plants in a 1,5 meters box and I feel like there should be more space. Maybe I do not know something? How much could you receive from the plant in a PC box?

You do need to consider height in such a small space. People tend to grow just 1 or 2 plants, either a short auto (like a lowryder) or a photo that they don't veg for long before switching to flower.

[Doubie]

So here's the update pics. All internal parts have been removed, apart from a fan I'll be utilizing. All that's left is the support brackets which are held on with pop-rivets.

Managed to borrow a drill off a mate, so I'll have them out tonight. I really couldn't of been any more lucky with the PC case, as it already has a side-door with lock. Saves a lot of hassle.

IMG_0873.jpgIMG_0874.jpg

[Doubie]

So I managed to remove all the pop rivets holding bits in place. Easy to do, just find a drill bit the size of the hole (not the pop-rivet head) and drill through it.




Heres the case from the front




I ripped off the CD drive and floppy drive fascia's, to keep with the stealth theme. Simple matter of hot-glue gunning them back in place.




And here it is from the back, not pretty but doesn't need to be back here.




Got the fake CD drives fitted to the case. Bang tidy, would never know




I've decided to use some black and white to line the case with. White will reflect the light, and the black wont show up if anyone looks through a small gap.
So I whipped out the tape measure and after slicing my thumb set to work.




Then it was a simple case of getting it inside. A bit of hot-glue gun action and it was done. I actually trimmed some of the excess after taking this picture. But be careful not to trim it all off - you want a small 1" overlap to stop light leaks.



I stuck my Iphone in there with its flashlight on, put the case in a cupboard and it was 100% light proof. It won't stay that way when I start fitting wires and fans but its good for now.
Even though the case was light proof, I decided to stick some black and white to the PC case door, to help reflect the light.




Stay tuned. I've yet to decide on my light configuration, so any tips are greatfully received

[soundwave]

i thought about using a server cabinet as there a lot wider and taller and go up to 42u.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12U-Server...ht_1644wt_1396

[Doubie]

Definitely. I had a look around for one, but as I'm trying to do this to a budget couldn't warrant the expense. Plus itd be a lot harder to fob off as 'just a computer'

My computer geek friends would be all over a server tower!

If you're after that kind of space, I'd probably look into a cupboard of some kind. More stealthy than a server tower

[nuube]

I wouldn't mind using this one:


super-computer_ev5ha_28_TKkRj_5965.jpg

[MunicipalUK]

i tried making a pc grow box of my own one time and it turned out a total mess, some extremely handy little tips in this thread. certainly gonna try a new box myself

[Mysteri0n]

i love my little pc grow box i spent the time getting it right and it fooled the gf for some time stick with cfl in that space man i have trouble with a 100w hps in a 60x60x20 grow box. just a bit of advise get a dual spec 125w cfl will do the job nicely

B1ack0ut