Greenhouse probs

I bought a 7x7x15 greenhouse with some standard 6mil poly film for $100. I live in southern california and currently have all the vents and door open to keep the temps 90* or lower. My main concern is keeping night temps up but closing all the vents at dusk and opening them at sunrise is just impractical. Is there a way to keep heat in at night while having proper venting during the day? I suspect I'm going to have to invest much more than the cost of the greenhouse on a ventilation system. Its going to be a losing battle isn't it?

I have a 450 cfm 8" inline mixed flow fan 110w that I think I could wire to a 100w solar panel ($100). I say I think because I'd need a converter and charger controller and battery and still not sure if it would work. It would come on when its getting enough sun to work. I don't want to buy a all in one unit attic fan as my design options would be limited. There's a $100 unit that's only 10w but claims 525cfm which I doubt would perform. I don't want to put a big hole in the top of the greenhouse. The side hole would be good.

If anyone else has an experience with this problem I'd appreciate what fixes you came up with :D
 

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ANC

Well-Known Member
Look on eBay, you get temperature controlled actuators that can open a window or vent flap automatically.
 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
I bought a 7x7x15 greenhouse with some standard 6mil poly film for $100. I live in southern california and currently have all the vents and door open to keep the temps 90* or lower. My main concern is keeping night temps up but closing all the vents at dusk and opening them at sunrise is just impractical. Is there a way to keep heat in at night while having proper venting during the day? I suspect I'm going to have to invest much more than the cost of the greenhouse on a ventilation system. Its going to be a losing battle isn't it?

I have a 450 cfm 8" inline mixed flow fan 110w that I think I could wire to a 100w solar panel ($100). I say I think because I'd need a converter and charger controller and battery and still not sure if it would work. It would come on when its getting enough sun to work. I don't want to buy a all in one unit attic fan as my design options would be limited. There's a $100 unit that's only 10w but claims 525cfm which I doubt would perform. I don't want to put a big hole in the top of the greenhouse. The side hole would be good.

If anyone else has an experience with this problem I'd appreciate what fixes you came up with :D
How bout a heater at night with a thermostat? Daytime is just a matter of turning the fans on. Does that make sence?
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
Open them in the morning and close them at night. Nothing impractical at all about it. You need to check on your plants a couple times a day anyway. A ventilation system for that little tent seems impractical.
 
An automated greenhouse that uses 0 electricity is my goal. My being lazy I don't see myself opening the 8 windows and door in the morning and shutting them at night. Half the time I won't be around and being up at 8am isn't something my night owl person can do. If my life depended on it then yes, I would take care of it. Night temps are around 55 so I'm ok for now. I'll have to play it by ear.
 

Bugeye

Well-Known Member
An automated greenhouse that uses 0 electricity is my goal. My being lazy I don't see myself opening the 8 windows and door in the morning and shutting them at night. Half the time I won't be around and being up at 8am isn't something my night owl person can do. If my life depended on it then yes, I would take care of it. Night temps are around 55 so I'm ok for now. I'll have to play it by ear.
Well then choose between being a cheapskate and being lazy, you won't get to good bud being both. A single 450 inline fan won't be a good solution.
 
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