plant in the ground?

[TheTrueShangsta]

Soo this winter, i've decided that growing indoors is too risky, and where i live outdoor grows arent really possible until around may..I've come up with a partial plan that i would like some feedback/input/criticism on from the pros....


I have a already-made DIY rubbermaid growbox constructed out of 2x 38gallon tubs stacked on top of each other so that the top rim of the bottom tub aligns with the top rim of the top tub, with heavy-duty hinges on the back, connecting the two tubs, so that when you open the box, both tubs appear to be upright on the ground next to eachother. Inside the box currently, is a 150w hps bulb, with mylar above it. there is a semi-large fan blowing directly on the bulb for cooling, as well as ventilation. The box is currently working perfectly.(indoors)

My plan:
To add more lighting; (...using what i already have)
(1) 100w converted hps security light
(2) 150w hps lamps purchased as only the lamps and ballasts
(1) 70w converted hps security light
and probably 2-4 cfl bulbs to complement the hps
..a total of at least 620w in the box when complete.

I will also be adding a couple more fans of the same size (large AC computer fans) The number of fans i add will depend on the heat in the box after light installation.

The total power in the box will probably reach close to 800w.

Currently, my plan is to dig a hole large enough to accommodate the box....(im thinking around 5' wide x 3' length x 4.5' deep(in ground))
I already have a construction site for this hole. (public property, unknown/unvisited) I would line the hole (rectangle) with a layer of plywood, thin layer of insulation, and another layer of plywood, in hopes to keep out some of the harsh winter coldness in the ground. The top of the box will be plywood as well, hinged on to one side of the box.... and camoflauged (sp?) with great detail, padlocked, and monitored by hidden camera.

The problem: Electricity.
I have gone over many options, and the one that seems to fit best is using many 25-50ft(or as big as available) indoor/outdoor extension cords connected together and intensely covered in electrical tape and put in plastic pvc tubing, approx. 1ft underground tunneled all the way(hundreds of feet) to the site from an outdoor outlet at a nearby friend's house.(which is how i discovered the location)...I realize this way will cost a couple bucks but its ok.
I have looked into the possibilities of a diesel generator, but there are 3 major negative aspects of the generator;
1. run time: i have done a fair amount of looking, and from what i've found, i will probably need a 1000w or so generator, the longest running generator i have found runs about 9hrs.....i will need minimum of 12.
2. fuel: even if there were a generator that could run for at least 12 hours, it would need more fuel than the average generator, which i would need to fill up everyday, anyway. This means that i may have to fill the gas tank more than once a day...this just isn't possible, or smart to make that many visits. this would also cost a fortune.
3. sound: the noise produced by a generator that size, from what i've heard, is pretty loud. Since this operation would be only a few feet underground, it would be possible for the surrounding residences to hear it....nearest house is approx. 100 yards away.

now you may be thinking, "100 yards, way too close, scratch the operation" but the nosy neighbor situation is completely under control,(unless there is a noise issue) and thats really all i can say.

Once the plan is perfected, i plan to grow either a female "sour nl x nevilles haze" or a female "strawberry haze"....i will decide which and begin germing in the next couple days....i want it to be outside in the box by oct 1st. (im dedicated, it could happen...be completed in 48hrs once i have a solid plan)

was wondering if anyone had any input/ solution to the electricity problem?
Calling on alllll pros out there, or anyone with useful info...

[smallarmsfire]

chamber in the frozen ground, insulated by "plywood and thin insulation" ??

a generator in the middle of a neighborhood? pvc pipes running from your l33t growbox to your friends house?

for like 1 or 2 plants under some dinky security lights?




reality check?... sorry to poop on your parade.
find a friend with a house.

[TheTrueShangsta]

smallarmsfire-
1-i realize the insulation is next to nothing, but i was hoping that the heat of the close hps lighting will counter-act the cold ground....since the roots/any of the plant will not actually touch the ground or the plywood, i figured it would be ok.(incase i didnt make it clear, or forgot to mention...the premade grow box i already have will be going inside the outdoor box i wish to construct. the bottom half of the rubbermaid will be filled with soil for the plants ....somewhere around 25gallons of soil i'll figure since im not filling up the whole bottom tub)

2-as i said, the nosy neighbor situation is under control unless noise were a factor...and it is not in the middle of a neighborhood.

3-is there an actual design issue with the covered outdoor extension cords running safely underground in pvc, or do you just not like the idea?

4-really only one plant, under over 600w of hps...(btw, if you think these were salvaged and converted security lights, im sorry for the misunderstanding...t hese lights were all bough brand-new and converted for my needs)

Smallarmsfire, i appreciate your input, however this is what im going to do, and al,l i would like is help on accomplishing this, not suggestions for another operation, thanks anyway.

Anyone else have some helpful info?

[Patrick Rue]

He's telling you its already a doomed idea. Rubbermaid growbox? id have to see it to believe it.

Other than that your idea is generally pretty bad.

"(btw, if you think these were salvaged and converted security lights, im sorry for the misunderstanding...t hese lights were all bough brand-new and converted for my needs)"

??? So theyre still converted security lights...

[TheTrueShangsta]

Patrick- Maybe i will look for the camera in a while, and take a pic...but believe me, the rubbermaid grow-box is great.

Im confused, other than what? the rubbermaid? how is my idea bad? would it not work in theory?

While it's true that some lights are still converted security lights,(if you'll look back, only 2 of my fixtures are security lights, the 2 lowest wattage ones) i fail to see the difference in a new working bulb and ballast harvest marketed as a "grow light" and a new working bulb and ballast marketed as a security light? If there is a significant difference, i would love to hear it, but as far as i'm concerned there is none.

[Patrick Rue]

I think maybe its hard to understand what youre planning exactly, without pics and such.

You should try it though, as long as its safe, and let us know how it goes.

[TheTrueShangsta]

This is the rubbermaid box.
The ballast has been rigged safely on top so that it does not touch the actual rubbermaid, nor does it heat up the plastic to the point of melting through the surface it does touch.
the bulb hangs vertical from a porcelain(sp?) fixture mounted to the top of the tub.
This box has been tested for nearly 2 months worked perfect.


to clarify my plan; I want to put this rubbermaid into a slightly larger outdoor hole. a layer of plywood, a layer of insulation of some sort, and another layer of plywood on each 4 walls(rectangle). The plywood is mostly to keep out pests...but i hope that it will help manage bitter coldness too. But as I said, The heat of the lights should also help. I was thinking about using a small space heater, and still may...but the risk of fire scares me. If i do use a heater, it will only be on in spurts throughout the night.
I will be wiring all lighting to one surge protector heavy duty 12-socket power strip, inside the wooden box, which will be connected to many long indoor/outdoor extension cord wrapped in several layers of electrical tape, and inside plastic pvc tubing, about 1ft underground tunneled to a semi-nearby outlet.

I truly wish there was another option as far as electricity, but there isnt. (as far as i know)
I am open to suggestions as far as new idea for electricity go, but for example, "finding a friend with a house" isnt an option, indoors is too risky in my opinion, too risky for myself, and too risky for a friend.
And for those of you who think too much work for just one plant, whatever, it doesnt bother me...I enjoy doing the work even if all that comes out of it is a days worth of smoke.....but obviously i would like to maximize my yeild.

I would love input from real electricians, or anyone whos done or planned this sort of thing....or anyone input really....

edit~in the picture, there are 4 lowryder2s in there under 12/12 sexing before placing the fems outside with the rest of the lr2's

[TheTrueShangsta]

here is a brief outline of the aerial view of the completed box

[smallarmsfire]

where is the air intake/exhaust?

how do you plan to ventilate your plants when the only clean air you have access to is freezing? it will be full of condensation inside your "chamber" if it manages to be warm enough to support life (it won't be) and your lights/electrical will all go pop.

snow buries your operation, then where's the fresh air, even if you had some means (lol) to regulate its temperature?



you may be set upon "making this happen"

i'm not trying to dissuade you from trying so much as to outline for you why this is guaranteed not to work without a significant investment in a genuine "weatherproof" facility.

[TheTrueShangsta]

smallarmsfire- my rubbermaid ventilation will be several large 10w AC computer fans. I already have one in place and it is doing a fine job of cooling one 150w bulb. so i figure i'll be putting in about 3 more, since it will be cold down there.

However, you do raise an excellent point that i didn't think of, the reason i made this thread, thank you! How i should ventilate the entire chamber. Now that you mention it, i think the small space heater i mentioned before will be fine. (its very small, the kind of space heater that plugs into the wall and is mounted on the wall...ill have to find a pic of one.) As far as ventilation and preventing condensation, Im not sure...i will definitely have to take that into consideration before construction.....

but just off the top of my head(completely open to advise/criticism):
I could put a few 6"diameter holes covered with fine mesh in the wood/through the insulation, and have more large computer fans blowing/sucking...the air would be pushed out or sucked in through pvc pipes which will go 5 or 10 yards under ground, and emerge facing down with more mesh screening to keep out bugs and whatnot...they will emerge tall enough to avoid being covered in snow.

Talking about snow, you bring up another good point...while i think the plywood walls of my chamber will be fine...the top will definitely need weather proofing...i was thinking possibly some sort of wood finish? not sure on this one...suggestions?

[newbiegreengrow]

....and the heat from your ballasts melts the snow, leaving a rectangular bare-spot there, and footprints leading to and from ....
I think there would be sufficient heat created by the ballasts to keep them warm, but you have to get rid of the excess somewhere, and it will leave too much sign...
sounds like a huge amount of trouble for not a whole lot of reward,even if you do get some smoke out of it.
buy a bag, or move indoors.
If you do get the plan going outside, keep us updated. Maybe you're on to something new.

[slunt]

How high were you planning on these plants being? How bout burying an old freezer? It's insulated and pretty much waterproof. I see huge potential problems but thumbs up for trying.

[soutpaww]

and as far as your electric cords bad idea, cords are not designed to move elec. in that manor if you do this then get yourself a roll of romex elec wire in the length that you need but remember that elec drops over long distances? just another thing to concider