Display Cooler

[pitcherperfect]

Hey people, There was a good bit of interest in this display cooler so I figured I would post my progress as I go.
So here is the display cooler when I just got it in the door


I pulled the mirrored plastic panels off the insides and the wood looked like this behind


not the worst, but it definitely needed a good sanding. I also removed all the glue and reflective stuff from the plastic panels, sanded both sides so that glue and primer will stick to them and then used PL9000 and clamps to stick them back on


So now I am just waiting for that panel to set. after that, I am going to use PL9000 to seal up all the edges and anywhere that water can get through.
Then I will scuff the floor with sandpaper and coat the entire inside of it with Kilz primer (and then probably sleep in a different room that night)

 

[pitcherperfect]

Question for anyone who knows about these things:
There is a built in 3 foot long T8 fixture in there but those are obsolete and it is tough to find an LED conversion bulb in that size; is it possible to just switch it out for a T5 fixture and leave all the other wiring intact? or is it more complicated than that?

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

As long as you used the matching ballasts. Some T5HO LED replacements don't need ballasts and are wired directly.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Thats a good point; it's probably easier to just remove the T8 ballast and associated wiring and just install a 3 foot long T5 "all in one" light

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

Make sure the lights can handle the humidity.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Did a good bit of work on the cooler today.
The entire top panel had to come out because it was rotted right through so my friend and I rebuilt that with fresh wood and a good waterproof laminate on the inside.
Just chiseling out any rotten plywood and letting it completely dry before putting it all back together

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

Reminds me of my laminar flow hood.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Mycology enthusiast?
Once I get all my plant projects in order, I want to build a laminar flow hood and get back into growing mushrooms!
I dabbled a while ago and grew oyster mushrooms, lions mane, shiitake and *others* but I gave up a lot of my mushroom stuff last time i moved.

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

No mushrooms. CP's, orchids and succulents in vitro.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Cool, I think a lot of the procedures are the same.

Also I am looking for a second opinion here, please anyone weigh in if you have an idea:
For the 'floor' of the cooler, I was thinking about cutting some pond liner and pressing that in so that theres a bit of a lip that comes up all the way around to catch any water. Then, I am thinking of putting a layer of that egg crating material they use for ceiling lights.
Does this sound like a good idea or is there a better way of doing this?

 

[JosephElliott]

The pond lining and egg crate should work fine. Looking good so far.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Alright so I have all the pieces rebuilt that needed rebuilding and I am putting the thing back together.

I put a beam across the top and zap strapped the radiator to it so that i could remove the wood support.
I cut the egg crating down to the right size and folded the pond liner around it to lower it in more easily but I could use some advice.

Should I use glue or caulking or something to stick it in around the lower edges?
I am thinking that for the outer edges of the pond liner I am going to seal them off with Gorilla Tape. Will that be enough?

 

[pitcherperfect]

You can also see where I put some rigid styrofoam in at the front and back so that water doesnt run out once the pond liner is installed

 

[Lloyd Gordon]

Tape doesn't seem super water tight.

 

[pitcherperfect]

What should I use instead?

 

[pitcherperfect]

Alright, I have pressed the pond liner in with silicon caulking behind it and secured the seams with gorilla tape.
The corners were incredibly difficult to do but i got there eventually.
I also scrubbed the hell out of the back doors and put them back in, screwed and glued in the support beam thing with the sliding door track on it and the top (both of which had to be rebuilt because they were rotten) I screwed the cooler radiator thingy back on to the ceiling and now all thats left to do is reinstall the water catcher and then get my lights and systems all set up!

 

[Chen]

That's quite the project you've got going. Looking good. Hope your modifications hold up against moisture buildup.

 

[pitcherperfect]

Thanks, me too!

 

[pitcherperfect]

Im on the home stretch now!
Just getting all my lights and misters and timers set up.
I picked up a thermostat that allows you to program 12 different temp settings on a 24 hour cycle so I am going to have it gradually cool down throughout the night, starting at lights out and getting coldest about an hour or 2 before lights turn back on (just like how it happens in nature)
Unfortunately the back doors have some crud in between the panes i cant get rid of

 

[pitcherperfect]

Alright I think its finished! (more or less)
I am running it tonight with just a couple orchids and the heliamphora to make sure that I have all the systems set properly.
The rectangular tank on top is a misting system a friend gave me so that is set to mist the heliamphora every hour or so for 10 seconds