will this air purifier remove smell?

[ktm250]

I have a growbox about 6fthigh x 3ftwide x 3ft deep and i am wondering if instead of spending all my money on a carbon filter(which are very dear)can i just put one of these air purifiers in the growbox to remove the odor?If you do a search on ebay and put this in the search bar - Electrostatic Ioniser Ozonator Air Purifier M939 Edited July 25, 2007 by ktm250

[Al B. Fuct]

The machine you're looking at is a corona type ioniser, which makes O3 by maintaining a high voltage between a couple of electrodes. These sorts of ionisers make nitrogen oxides (NOx) which combine with water or humidity to form a nitric acid (HNO3) mist which can burn leaves. Corona types can be very effective but should be placed only in the exhaust airstream, not in the airmass with the plants. Not real practical with the shape of the unit you're proposing.

 

If you want to run an O3 gen in your room air, get a UV fluorescent type like those from Uvonair. They make plenty of O3 but no HNO3.

 

The household unit you suggest has a filter, but you're better off with proper centrif blower and a carbon filter. You might consider the Odorsok type. Cheaper initially to purchase, less messy to renew than granulated carbon canister filters.

[Luke Skywalker]

Well, that depends on if you just buy a new one. I hope you're not thinking an odorsok can be washed to "renew" it, cos I find that exceptionally hard to believe.

 

But yeah, that might help ya, but I doubt it has the guts for the task. If you did use it, you'd have to rig something up so it's in a reasonably long length of large duct with an exhaust fan set up so the smelly air and ozone is mixed thoroughly to precipitate the scent.

 

Get yourself a good centrifugal fan, perhaps one size up from what you presently really need, so you've got room for expansion. (won't cost much more for the next model up, maybe 20 bucks?) and a good filter. The odorsok filters have a good reputation at the moment for a cheap, effective filter, but the time it lasts is something that will have to be proven. Manufacturers are claiming 12 months odd if you use the right filter/fan/wattage combinations they'd recommend, wheras the canister style filters can work 2 yrs plus if you look after them. The expense and weight of a canister filter works against it, as well as if you want to refill yourself it's a miserable, dirty, filthy and not very pleasant job. If you're in the eastern states you should be able to get a canister filter refilled at a shop for a charge, usually around 2/3 of the cost of an original filter, but it will vary place to place as to the cost. If you're in adelaide it's probably cheapest.

 

I have a feeling as time goes on you'll see a reduction in the cost of a canister style carbon filter to try and compete with the odorsoks. We can only see with that one.

 

Most things in growing can be done on the cheap, granted. But you usually get what you pay for. Worth keeping in mind. How much would you spew if you damaged your plants or even failed in removing scent thoroughly and ended up with a visit from the boys in blue?

 

Hope that helps.

 

But on the subject of ozone generators, can you post any links to worthwhile reading on the subject al? Been a long time since I saw anyone with an ozone generator out here in the west, (mind you I nearly ended up with a couple of big ones at one stage) and the subject doesn't get discussed anywhere near the amount I'd like it to....

 

(sorry to hijack your thread there ktm250... )

[Al B. Fuct]

Well, that depends on if you just buy a new one. I hope you're not thinking an odorsok can be washed to "renew" it, cos I find that exceptionally hard to believe.

 

I don't think that Odorsok specifies that their filter can be simply washed to renew it, but that would be a very good way to remove dust accumulation from the filter. Odorsoks, being carbon filters themselves, will respond to being baked for a while to re-activate their carbon as will work with canister types. Odorsok do say that the material is tough enough to withstand being tumble-dried- that alone likely being sufficient to re-activate the carbon for a couple of months.

 

But on the subject of ozone generators, can you post any links to worthwhile reading on the subject al? Been a long time since I saw anyone with an ozone generator out here in the west, (mind you I nearly ended up with a couple of big ones at one stage) and the subject doesn't get discussed anywhere near the amount I'd like it to....

 

(sorry to hijack your thread there ktm250... )

 

The Wikipedia entry on O3 gens is actually not bad. This one on ionisers is also fairly complete.

 

One thing on a not-so-related issue that kinda gets my goat is that there's a few alternative medicine lunatics who insist there's a difference between an "ioniser" and an "ozone generator." In fact, they're one and the same. To obtain O3, one exposes O2 to ionising radiation from a UV fluoro tube or the ionising plasma in a corona type O3 gen. Some of the same nongs also think there's a specific particle called a 'negative ion,' which of course there is not. Ions are negatively or positively charged particles of some substance. O3 is a negative ion of oxygen.

 

What else would you like to know about the things, SS?

[Indycar]

I don't think that Odorsok specifies that their filter can be simply washed to renew it, but that would be a very good way to remove dust accumulation from the filter.

 

Washing a sok is something i wouldn't do, due to the fact that the small dust particles would probably silt up and clog the filter in time, once moisture comes into contact with it. Not all people have access to a air compressor as myself. But that's what i'd be using (blowing out from the opposite direction that the filter has been filtering the air). If i didn't have that, the second choice would be vacuum it. The only air filters that i know of that are designed for washing is some of the uni-filters range designed for cars, bikes, etc... Even if Odorsok recommended it, i still wouldn't do it.