Mar 28, 2024, 09:00 am

News:

New, New TardisBuilders!


The Old Ventilation Shaft

Started by Jam Jar Lurker, May 05, 2020, 07:37 pm

Previous topic - Next topic

Jam Jar Lurker

I've seen a few mentions of introducing ventilation into outside boxes. I'd be really obliged if anyone could post a few pictures of what they've done.

Thanks,
Francis
"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

russellsuthern

Hi Francis.

I just put a grill in the base of mine.
The underneath is hollow & up on stone slabs, so the air gets in underneath.

002.JPG

Of course, my door is quite warped now, after a few years out in the elements & that lets quite a bit of air in as well, but that's probably not what your after!

Regards,

Russell

Jam Jar Lurker

"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

Volpone

(Checks build thread) http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=3204.45 About 2/3 of the way down. 

At first I had almost no ventilation.  The (wrong) idea was if I made it totally sealed, moisture couldn't get in.  Thing is, 1) water finds a way and 2) there's this thing called "condensation".  Even a light blue box is warmer on the outside and over night moisture forms inside.  That said, at first I did have a free-floating floor.  I built the box without a floor and then made a kind of pallet that fit in with slight gaps around the edges. 

I later added a vent through the lamp.  Drilled a hole right in it (it was a false (and later solar lamp) so it didn't need wiring).  Then I left a small gap between the top of the lantern glass and the rain cap to create air flow. 

Finally, when I retrofitted it to make it more accurate, I created a gap between the POLICE BOX signs and the "steps" above the doors. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

Jam Jar Lurker

"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

Jam Jar Lurker

May 06, 2020, 07:31 am #5 Last Edit: May 06, 2020, 09:48 pm by Jam Jar Lurker
002.JPG20140517_173926.jpg
Both of these are ingenious. Sadly I can't implement them on my box.

I did buy this grill to install on one of the wall panels... but I don't really want to hack into my box!20200506_081207.jpg
"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

scotland yard

Maybe you could have opening windows like the real police boxes and the Brachacki TARDIS?
Oh my giddy aunt!!

kutan66

Regarding vents.  Next door neighbour used to have a narrowboat.    I saw he'd once bought some nice ones about 4 1/2" wide and 3" tall from a specialist boat/camper van place.     You could pop a couple in the back?




Jam Jar Lurker

Thanks; I'll look into them.

Francis
"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

Jam Jar Lurker

May 19, 2020, 01:50 pm #9 Last Edit: May 19, 2020, 02:00 pm by Jam Jar Lurker
Hi Everyone again,

Would you say that condensation is more of a problem in the colder months?

My reason for asking is that if I install the grill shown above, ideally I'd like to put it on the back wall, so it's not so noticeable from the outside. However, my backdrop would then block it. But if it's a winter issue I could simply remove the backdrop for those months.

Thanks,
Francis
"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

Volpone

That's an interesting question.  The first answer is "I don't know."  The second answer is "I would think that would depend on the climate."  My inclination is that condensation would be worst in spring and fall--when you have the biggest temperature/humidity swings (and I'm just guessing on that).  I feel like here in Kentucky condensation could be worst in summer.  Growing up in Wisconsin, we never had air conditioning and my Mom would just open all the windows at night and close them in the morning.  You can't do that in Kentucky, because within a week the humidity in your house would be about 95% and everything would be covered with mold, which brings me back to the "it depends."  Sorry I don't have a better answer.  If you figure it out, let us know.
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.

Jam Jar Lurker

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

I installed the grill today (it pained me to cut through the old girl). I decided to place it on the left wall rather than the back so that there's no issue with the backdrop. The back would be more discreet, but the left wall is close to the greenhouse and, in the whole, I don't think it'll draw too much attention to itself.

I've had a few weather issues lately, so will be updating my build diary shortly.

Francis
"Have courage, and be kind... Where there is kindness, there is goodness. And where there is goodness, there is magic."

Oor Wullie

Oct 19, 2022, 05:54 am #12 Last Edit: Oct 19, 2022, 06:07 am by Oor Wullie
This is giving me an idea of drilling a few holes in the bottom plate of my sign boxes, which are open to the inside for lighting the signs. And a few holes through the flooring for air flow.

russellsuthern

Worth doing.

Any extra air flow will certainly help keep an outside box dry.

Russell

Volpone

Yup.  I've said it before, even if you could build a completely waterproof TARDIS (which is pretty much impossible because water is pervasive and leaks form from expansion and contraction with temperature changes), I suspect you'd still get water inside because of condensation from the different temperature inside and out.  And being waterproof, once it was inside, it would have no way to get out. 
"My dear Litefoot, I've got a lantern and a pair of waders, and possibly the most fearsome piece of hand artillery in all England. What could possibly go wrong?"
-The Doctor.