I switched from T5 to LED and now my greenhouse is seeing temps as high as 110

[Toshi]

Hello,

I could use some advice on how to keep my setup from reaching freakishly high temps if possible. I had one of those cheap mobile greenhouses that served me well but decided to try a grow tent and compare my results. I dropped and damaged my T5 system unfortunately so I needed a new lighting system and decided to go LED this time around. It produces incredible light but an insane amount of heat. On the medium light setting with the flap open temperatures hover between 86 - 92 but with the flap closed it stays at >100 consistently. Leaving the flap open means humidity stays at about 15 - 20%. On the highest light setting with the flap closed it stays at a comfortable 105 - 110 degrees, about 96 open.

I put my dwarf jade and ripple jade in there for a few days to observe and the leaves of the ripple jade actually got scorched. My plants that I overwinter are premna, ficus, bougie, portulacaria.

Is it even worth trying to amend this system? I'm thinking I just cut my losses, return the LED and get another Agrobrite T5 system which worked very well for me without issue for about 6 years. I'm really not interested in fitting the grow tent with a massive ventilation kit if that's what it takes.

 

[Toshi]

Links to the LED system and grow tent -

https://www.amazon.com/VIPARSPECTRA-Spectrum-Upgraded-Dimmable-Seeding/dp/B085W3LY4Q/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=p2000+led+grow+light&qid=1662648240&sprefix=p2000+led+%2Caps%2C73&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.d977788f-1483-4f76-90a3-786e4cdc8f10

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06ZY9Z7T8?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[Wattsy]

I have some experience with grow lamps from another hobby I used to have these lights get hot and I had two fans on a grow tent to keep temps low what I did was suck air from outside which was cold and exhausted warm air out with another fan the plants I was growing was very happy in there but without the fans I just couldn’t keep temps right

 

[Toshi]

I have some experience with grow lamps from another hobby I used to have these lights get hot and I had two fans on a grow tent to keep temps low what I did was suck air from outside which was cold and exhausted warm air out with another fan the plants I was growing was very happy in there but without the fans I just couldn’t keep temps right

I'm going to try setting up 4 small fans and see if that makes any difference and if not then I'll switch back to the T5. Thank you.

 

[Wattsy]

Most hydroponic stores sell fans these move a huge amount of air and very fast the only thing is the humidity drops this can be a problem as you end up moving to much air I am not sure what humidity you need but here in the uk it usually around 60% so the air coming in was about right for what I needed

 

[Tums]

If you can leave the tent open, you could just get an oscillating standing fan or even a $20 box fan which would help a lot. If you can also invert the top vent so that it points out and then keep it open, maybe that could help as well. The downside of the small hydroponics oriented fans is that they're pretty loud because the fan diameter is small but the airflow is high.

 

[penumbra]

Fans can help but what you need is a vent system. In my opinion, you have a light that is twice the power needed for your tent.
My tent is 32" square and 52" high and I just upgraded to a Spider Farmer after 3 years. This is my new light:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TS82HWB?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

 

[penumbra]

If you can leave the tent open, you could just get an oscillating standing fan or even a $20 box fan which would help a lot. If you can also invert the top vent so that it points out and then keep it open, maybe that could help as well. The downside of the small hydroponics oriented fans is that they're pretty loud because the fan diameter is small but the airflow is high.

^^^ this would certainly help.

 

[RJG2]

Another thing to think about: what is getting hotter, the power supply or the board with the LEDs?

If it's the power supply, you could extend the cable, and keep it outside of the tent.

 

[Toshi]

Fans can help but what you need is a vent system. In my opinion, you have a light that is twice the power needed for your tent.
My tent is 32" square and 52" high and I just upgraded to a Spider Farmer after 3 years. This is my new light:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TS82HWB?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

Regarding the power I honestly didn't even realize that. This setup was originally put together with the intention of growing some herbs hydroponically in the upper half and overwintering my bonsai in the lower half of the tent. A very crude and amateur DIY setup

 

[Toshi]

Another thing to think about: what is getting hotter, the power supply or the board with the LEDs?

If it's the power supply, you could extend the cable, and keep it outside of the tent.

I believe it's the power supply board that generates the overwhelming heat.

 

[Toshi]

If you can leave the tent open, you could just get an oscillating standing fan or even a $20 box fan which would help a lot. If you can also invert the top vent so that it points out and then keep it open, maybe that could help as well. The downside of the small hydroponics oriented fans is that they're pretty loud because the fan diameter is small but the airflow is high.

This is what I'm going to try next, a fan/vent system as has been suggested here and gauge my results. Thank you all for your input.

 

[19Mateo83]

How long have you had the light?

 

[Toshi]

How long have you had the light?

Not very long, a little over 1 week.

 

[19Mateo83]

Send it back to Amazon and get a marshydro ts1000w (it has a detachable ballast) and is $109 on Amazon or the spider farmer that was recommended (it has more efficient led’s = less heat). Plus the spider farmer light has a $42 coupon going on amazon which brings it down to $129ish.

 

[luvinthemountains]

Regarding the power I honestly didn't even realize that. This setup was originally put together with the intention of growing some herbs hydroponically in the upper half and overwintering my bonsai in the lower half of the tent. A very crude and amateur DIY setup

You're doing fine. The really complex setups are built for indoor pot farmers.

The heat issue you will need to figure out for sure. I have struggled with that myself, even with some decent exhaust fans. One thing that helped a lot for me was running the lights at night, when ambient temps are likely to be lower. This year, when I move things inside, I will probably take @RJG2's advice and relocate the power supplies. I am hoping that solves a lot of my problems, because increasing ventilation really killed my humidity levels. (And raised humidity levels in my garage, requiring a dehumidifier.)

Re @penumbra's comment, there is definitely a healthy balance with LED power levels. Myself, I think I probably found the edge of the envelope last year when I was using 600W in each of my two 24in x 48in x 72in grow tents. Light levels were starting to approach acceptable.

Oh, and PS, your ripple jade will not do well with high humidity. Been there, almost lost a nice specimen.

 

[Wattsy]

When I used a grow tent it wasn’t until put an extra fan injecting fresh air that I saw a result in dropping temps I had two fans sucking air through but that dint work as soon as blew air in it dropped massively and I could keep a stable temp

 

[cmeg1]

Yes in a non -sealed grow tent it is very easy to vent it with a smal 6-8” fan ducted out a hole and rigged to an temperature regulator that turns on when over a certain temp…… and if you’re going to get this you might as well get a humidity and temperature all in one unit…….

If that still doesn’t work you’re gonna have to enter in a floor air conditioner that vents out a window there’s no other way and then vent air into the tent

 

[MHBonsai]

Mine looks hodge-podge, but it works.

Grow Tent for Tropicals - setup guide

Setting up a grow tent can be daunting to get started. I've been pretty successful with mine for the past several years, so I thought I'd put together a quick guide on what works for me. I grow orchids, tropicals, and several 'houseplants'/kusamono successfully. I assemble it typically in...

www.bonsainut.com

One strong exhaust fan with a temperature regulated on/off will get the job done.

For temp control:

https://www.amazon.com/Inkbird-Max-...house+light+controller&qid=1632831444&sr=8-12

Outlet fan:

https://www.amazon.com/VIVOSUN-Inline-Booster-Noise-Grounded/dp/B01C82SZRM/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&keywords=greenhouse+fan+6"&qid=1632831500&sr=8-21

 

[Paradox]

That's crazy.
LEDS are supposed to be cooler than florescent bulbs. That's one of the whole points of switching in the first place.