Changing the lighting, Part two

The harness was partically completed with three walls and ceiling surrounding the grow area on the platform. The final wall needed to move away and back to allow me to move the platform and harvest.  I realized it needed to move back and forth. Ideally guide it in place, like a curtain going backward or forward, instead of up or down.

This curtain didn't need to weigh anything.  It was Mylar curtain, connected via staples to a scrap piece of plywood 3 inches wide and 55 inches long that ran along the top of the curtain and the length of the platform.  It took me a few weeks to work out a design that would allow me to move the curtain.  I also had to move the platform away while working on the area to put in the curtain.

Inside view of wire mounted plywood strip

Long support beams where available far beyond the edge of the platform and harness. I drilled 3 wide holes located in the wood, and wide notches for the angle bar.  I then stapled the Mylar to the plywood, while the plywood was on the floor.  Holes for 5 eye sockets were drilled into the support beams, and I twisted electrical wires to one side of sockets, fed the wire through the holes in the wood, and connected the wires to the other set of sockets.  As shown in the attached photo, I put a wire between the cross-beams and fastened it another wire.  When done, I could move the curtain by simply sliding the plywood top over the guide wires.  It was work to make a simple job in the long run.  Below is a video that shows the wood for the curtain working.

The last job for October was to install a fan.  I found a wall mounted fan in a hydroponics store close to my work.  It was small, high quality and more expensive, but would address an important problem with the farm overall:  The lack of air flow stifled the growth of the plants compared to my planting last winter.  The problem with the new design was the lack of location to place a normal, inexpensive fan.

Fan on wall-mount sub-wall

I realized a long time ago I needed to install a fan, but have been unable to find a wall-mounted unit. I planned to install something off the house's load bearing support, running down the center of the house and right next to the planting area.  The fan that was purchased needed a hanging wall to be built from the support beam for installation.  This required me to move the platform again, and pull aside the mylar curtain hanging from the support.  I built plywood assembly to support a new wall less than two feet wide, more than wide enough to hold the fan, and provide stronger support for weigh and vibration.  The fan mount was placed to provide adequate clearance of fan height. One that was completed, I bolted the wall to the support, After the wall was in place, I dropped the curtain and made a slice to connect the fan to the mount, and tested the fan,  the airflow was fine, and the plywood seem to reduce movement of the mylar behind the fan.  I connected the fan to the same timer of the lamp, understanding that will impact the cost of electricity. Below is a short video showing the fan working in the grow area.

It was October 31st when the installation of the fan completed the construction for the area, going forward would  focus on the planting and harvest.