Need advice on portable 3 ton ac unit for a ten light garage grow

frogyrogy

Active Member
Thought they had vinyl everywhere . . . never considered desert heat. If it wouldn't create an eyesore you could raise the garage door and put in a temp wall to fill the opening . . . cut whatever holes you need in that. Or remove a window sash and install a temp panel with needed cutouts. Just a couple ideas . . . depends on the structure and how it sits on the lot I suppose.
 

Apalchen

Well-Known Member
I think your spending 5k on ac that’s not gonna work. Do you have windows in the garage? You could frame one in and run the line set thru there. Pay a mason to come out and remove one brick that could easily be replaced later. I’d you have two windows could do 2x24k window units, or even 2x18k window units, both will have way more power than the portable. I’d say if you look around enough you can find some sorts way to run that line set. Would be a shame to spend close to 10k in leds and not be able to cool
It.
 

iamcolin

Well-Known Member
I think your spending 5k on ac that’s not gonna work. Do you have windows in the garage? You could frame one in and run the line set thru there. Pay a mason to come out and remove one brick that could easily be replaced later. I’d you have two windows could do 2x24k window units, or even 2x18k window units, both will have way more power than the portable. I’d say if you look around enough you can find some sorts way to run that line set. Would be a shame to spend close to 10k in leds and not be able to cool
It.
Thanks for the constructive comment. I'll talk to him about replacing a brick or two instead of just drilling a hole. There's no windows unfortunately.
 

iamcolin

Well-Known Member
It's Arizona, no vinyl anywhere..lol

And my garage, no AC, get well over 120+ deg on a 100deg day
Can't imagine it on a 115deg day

He has his job cut out trying to cool that space
Its 100 outside right now and 94 in the garage. I'll fire up the lights soon and watch the temp after an hour or two during the hot part of the day. I'm thinking hiring a mason to replace the bricks is making the most sense
 
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UpstateRecGrower

Well-Known Member
I'm thinking I'll get a 36000 BTU 3 ton unit. Looking at Mr Cools
alpine home air sells blueridge mini splits for a pretty good price, I'd honestly consider the 48k/4 ton mini split to give yourself a little headroom above the calculated btu needed. I'd imagine you'll be running a sealed room, you'll need a dehumidifier, 120-150 pints per day plus enough extra a/c to displace the heat from the dehumidifier..
 

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
Setting up a new grow in an insulated garage in Phoenix, Arizona so it gets pretty hot. I have ten 680W LED lights I will be running in here. The room is about 22'x22' and about 10 feet tall. I dont want to run a mini split because I cant be making 3" holes to run the piping in this house. I have a 30 amp breaker I took from the dryer which I will be running the portable ac from. I just want to know if anybody has any experience with huge portable units like this one. I figure it should be ok since they are used in those big important server rooms but I've never seen one in action.

I'm looking at this unit: https://www.rackmountsolutions.net/americool-wpc-9000-208-230v-37-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1g0_v_1zJ3y8PKXyL7qagWG6cYWG7Xm9Lo8AUV63csoRf9FnrOY9waAkdUEALw_wcB

Any thoughts? Thanks
Phoenix. I’m getting hot just thinking about that place during the summer. Yuck! It’s gonna be 108F this monday where i’m at in Norcal. I sort of know your pain.

I built, and had just rebuilt my buddies sealed setup a few yrs ago up in Payson. 6750W of light. I installed a 3ton mini split.
That’s up in Payson, and in a very insulated room. Down where you’re at is no joke during the summer months which i’m sure you know lol. But good thing you are just flowering in there and not needing lights on during the day. (Our day).

I’ve never ran one of those bigger portables, but the smaller ones suck. I would 1000% do a minisplit. 4ton, as someone also said, def safer but 3ton should work if insulated good.
Insulating garages for growroom can be a bit tricky. The ceiling and door need special attention. I usually build a wall in front of the garage door also when i build out garages for growrooms. Down there i’d probably build a 6” wall and fill with R21 lol
 

iamcolin

Well-Known Member
Phoenix. I’m getting hot just thinking about that place during the summer. Yuck! It’s gonna be 108F this monday where i’m at in Norcal. I sort of know your pain.

I built, and had just rebuilt my buddies sealed setup a few yrs ago up in Payson. 6750W of light. I installed a 3ton mini split.
That’s up in Payson, and in a very insulated room. Down where you’re at is no joke during the summer months which i’m sure you know lol. But good thing you are just flowering in there and not needing lights on during the day. (Our day).

I’ve never ran one of those bigger portables, but the smaller ones suck. I would 1000% do a minisplit. 4ton, as someone also said, def safer but 3ton should work if insulated good.
Insulating garages for growroom can be a bit tricky. The ceiling and door need special attention. I usually build a wall in front of the garage door also when i build out garages for growrooms. Down there i’d probably build a 6” wall and fill with R21 lol
Really appreciate your insight as well as the rest of you guys. I'm planning on having the lights on from 10pm-10am so I think the 3 ton can handle it. The ceiling is insulated with r19 insulation from a previous owner with a few spots I need to refill and the garage doors have foam board insulation on them but theres plenty of space between the brick and the garage doors. I was planning to build a box around it like you said and fill it with some insulation. I looked at the 4 ton units but the outside unit is twice as big as a 3 ton and less low key for the neighbors but if you change your mind and think a 4 ton is necessary let me know, thanks.
 

Rebel71

Well-Known Member
Setting up a new grow in an insulated garage in Phoenix, Arizona so it gets pretty hot. I have ten 680W LED lights I will be running in here. The room is about 22'x22' and about 10 feet tall. I dont want to run a mini split because I cant be making 3" holes to run the piping in this house. I have a 30 amp breaker I took from the dryer which I will be running the portable ac from. I just want to know if anybody has any experience with huge portable units like this one. I figure it should be ok since they are used in those big important server rooms but I've never seen one in action.

I'm looking at this unit: https://www.rackmountsolutions.net/americool-wpc-9000-208-230v-37-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1g0_v_1zJ3y8PKXyL7qagWG6cYWG7Xm9Lo8AUV63csoRf9FnrOY9waAkdUEALw_wcB

Any thoughts? Thanks
Holy shit! I just have a little Frigidaire for when it’s needed. I hope this what you’re looking for a man good luck on your grow man
 

kingromano

Well-Known Member
with these models of portable AC you need to hook a duct to outside, do you know this ?
otherwise i don't know how you will discharge calories

its either a outdoor unit that cool the freon, or a big duct that will blow the hot air outside (like this portable AC)
the second option ask for a even bigger hole in the wall

ducted AC's ae very inneficient, because they always exhaust some air of the room outside, sucking fresh hot air in the room
also all your co2 will be wasted, the burner will stay one 24/24 to keep proper co2 levels, heating the room more and more
like a crazy snake bitting his tail
 

ebcrew

Well-Known Member
I dont have any experience cooling grow rooms, but i would think a 3 ton would be more then enough for the size of your room. For 400sq ft a 1.5 ton Mitsubishi could cool a garage in florida to mid 70s in summer.
 

Herb & Suds

Well-Known Member
I dont have any experience cooling grow rooms, but i would think a 3 ton would be more then enough for the size of your room. For 400sq ft a 1.5 ton Mitsubishi could cool a garage in florida to mid 70s in summer.
It isn't the square footage that is at issue it is the heat load in the footage
 

iamcolin

Well-Known Member
with these models of portable AC you need to hook a duct to outside, do you know this ?
otherwise i don't know how you will discharge calories

its either a outdoor unit that cool the freon, or a big duct that will blow the hot air outside (like this portable AC)
the second option ask for a even bigger hole in the wall

ducted AC's ae very inneficient, because they always exhaust some air of the room outside, sucking fresh hot air in the room
also all your co2 will be wasted, the burner will stay one 24/24 to keep proper co2 levels, heating the room more and more
like a crazy snake bitting his tail
Yeah I have been convinced that the portable was a terrible idea. I'm going with the 3 ton mini split. I was going to vent the portable into my attic but the whole thing was just stupid, there's no filter so thats some stinky hot air I'd be pushing out of my room.
 
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