A question about automatic vent openers.

Masbustelo · January 9, 2013

I am working on plans for a hot house/cold frame to start my seeds in this spring. My question is the following: Can I rig up just the powertube to open and close the sash I will be using, or will this not work, and do I need to go with the extra expense and buy the entire vent opening unit? http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/vent2.shtml

Worth1 · January 9, 2013

Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money and get the whole contraption.

You should have an autofan and intake and exhaust for this stuff to work reallywell.

Worth

Masbustelo · January 10, 2013

It is only going to be 9 inches tall.

Hotwired · January 10, 2013

I invested in an auto-vent for my greenhouse and in my opinion it wasn't worth the money. I have to go with Worth regarding the auto-fan. I installed a cheap fan in the peak and plugged it into a Thermocube plug adapter. I plugged the fan into the TC- 22 Cube and positioned it at the peak of the roof where it is the hottest. When the temperate reaches 120F (about 90F at bench height) the fan turns on, and turns off at 100F (about 70F at bench height). The Thermocubes are sold at tractor supply for $13 and are available in several temperature ranges.
http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/L...Greenhouse.pdf

Masbustelo · January 10, 2013

Thanks for the tips worth and hotwired. I like the vent and fan idea, if I keep the top closed I'll risk less wind damage.

January 9, 2013	#1
Masbustelo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 97	A question about automatic vent openers. I am working on plans for a hot house/cold frame to start my seeds in this spring. My question is the following: Can I rig up just the powertube to open and close the sash I will be using, or will this not work, and do I need to go with the extra expense and buy the entire vent opening unit? http://www.littlegreenhouse.com/accessory/vent2.shtml

January 9, 2013	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Do yourself a favor and spend the extra money and get the whole contraption. You should have an autofan and intake and exhaust for this stuff to work reallywell. Worth

January 10, 2013	#3
Masbustelo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Illinois Posts: 97	It is only going to be 9 inches tall.

January 10, 2013	#4
Hotwired Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Ithaca, NY - USDA 5b Posts: 241	I invested in an auto-vent for my greenhouse and in my opinion it wasn't worth the money. I have to go with Worth regarding the auto-fan. I installed a cheap fan in the peak and plugged it into a Thermocube plug adapter. I plugged the fan into the TC- 22 Cube and positioned it at the peak of the roof where it is the hottest. When the temperate reaches 120F (about 90F at bench height) the fan turns on, and turns off at 100F (about 70F at bench height). The Thermocubes are sold at tractor supply for $13 and are available in several temperature ranges. http://www.hotwiredgardens.com/pdf/L...Greenhouse.pdf