Would SLOWING DOWN my Exhaust help lower temps (Small A/C in room)

[DrGribble]

Here's the story, today is Day 1 of 12/12 and I can maintain about 77 degrees with my small window A/C running while burning all 3 of my 600's @ 50% ... I can maintain 79-81 degrees if I have the HPS @ 75% each and the MH @ 50% which is now starting to be where I don't want to be...

I am exhausting my (roughly) 8x8 area which is pretty packed full with a 6" Hydrofarm ActiveAir fan @ full power, this is good for a room my size I believe but my ceilings are lower. I Think this size fan was recommended for 8x8x8 maybe a bit larger but I am wondering if by sucking air out of my room at such a rate (my exhaust temps feel nice and comfortably cool on my hand outside the room) yet my canopy temps are baking... It's the canopy temps I need to worry about more than the overall temp of the room -- is this correct? I would imagine 'the room' is a couple degrees cooler than my hygrometer is saying since it's directly under the lights.

My Carbon Filter is only raised about 18" off the ground too about in line with the top of my bucket lids and is near where all the lights are but also only a couple feet from the A/C, I am wondering if I am actually sucking all of my air conditioned air too fast that it's not cooling efficiently. Does this sound plausible or am I crazy? I have a fan controller coming tomorrow and was kind of thinking of trying it at only 50% for an hour or two and see if the A/C is able to put in more work or if maybe I should move my carbon filter completely, I figured having it near all the heat of the lights was great because it would suck it out almost immediately but it's nothing but comfortable cool air coming out yet my hygrometer says low 80's.

If I cook the HPS @ 100% and MH @ 50% I hit 84 in there last night... Im thinking of re-mounting the carbon filter hanging from ceiling but it's heavy as hell and I don't have any 'super solid' mounting locations available or anything to hang it with. I need to figure that out tonight if possible otherwise I could probably find some kind of 'stand' to elevate it several feet into the air as ghetto as that will be.

Think this could realistically help my temps a couple degrees? I REALLY want my 600's burning @ 100% The HPS will regardless...

Will I cause issues if I maintained say... 82 degrees?

 

[DrGribble]

Holy crap! Sorry long post...

 

[ottomatik]

It's the canopy temps I need to worry about more than the overall temp of the room -- is this correct?

I'm wondering about this myself. Some people say a room temp of 78 is already assuming warmer temps at the canopy. Others say to take your temp readings from the canopy level.

I am wondering if I am actually sucking all of my air conditioned air too fast that it's not cooling efficiently. Does this sound plausible or am I crazy?

Sounds probable to me

Will I cause issues if I maintained say... 82 degrees?

Issues at 82? Nah

 

[superstoner1]

fix it right. you are using ac and sucking it right outside. you need to have seperate air cooling for your lights with an intake and exhaust from outside the room. get a small dehumidifier for the room and then run a sealed room.

 

[imchucky666]

82 should be OK.
Can you direct the vents on your A/C away from the fan?
Yes, it sounds like you are blowing the A/C'd air right out.
Ideally, your exhaust would be on the opposite wall from the A/C, and at the top or close to it, to pull the hot air that rises.
How about running a duct towards your light so that at least it is controlling some of what is sucked out?

 

[supchaka]

fix it right. you are using ac and sucking it right outside. you need to have seperate air cooling for your lights with an intake and exhaust from outside the room. get a small dehumidifier for the room and then run a sealed room.

I was going to say the same thing but I think he's running open vertical bulbs, if it's the same guy I'm thinking of.

 

[superstoner1]

this is one of those things that bothers me. you do not need and exhaust.

 

[DrGribble]

fix it right. you are using ac and sucking it right outside. you need to have seperate air cooling for your lights with an intake and exhaust from outside the room. get a small dehumidifier for the room and then run a sealed room.

Originally I planned to do exactly that (sealed room, plus Co2 and air cooled lights) but I am not running air cooled reflectors I am running open wings with bare bulbs, especially on my vertical SCROG (no option there but cool tubes) I want to avoid the extra layer of glass if possible just gotta get it a little cooler. I am relieved to hear that low 80's would be ok, just not ideal... honestly I think I can get this dialed in based on the responses in here already. If it comes down to it I'll do air cooled hoods (only for my horizontals) but I really wanted them open if I can keep temps in line.

My heat extraction from my window A/C works great though (another hydrofarm 6" fan, waaaay overkill) it sucks out of a 'hot box' the A/C rear end is resting in then goes straight out the basement window -- that duct is literally hot to the touch so I know it's sucking it out of there for me.

 

[DrGribble]

Issues at 82? Nah

small feeling of relief just settled in here... thanks.

 

[DrGribble]

82 should be OK.
Can you direct the vents on your A/C away from the fan?
Yes, it sounds like you are blowing the A/C'd air right out.
Ideally, your exhaust would be on the opposite wall from the A/C, and at the top or close to it, to pull the hot air that rises.
How about running a duct towards your light so that at least it is controlling some of what is sucked out?

I will try relocating the carbon filter and seeing how that goes, I am also NOT opposed to running a sealed room but the construction/layout/everything about this space makes sealing it (near ceiling specifically) very difficult. I was planning on running Co2 for the longest time. Glad you think 82 should be OK too... more relief.

 

[supchaka]

Best way to see is just turn off your exhaust with the AC running and see what it does! IMO the heat is going to be too much for the unit unless you got a really beefy one.

Btw my tent has been in the mid to upper 80's all summer and they're still alive. When I first started growing indoors some decades ago I had temps in the upper 90's on the norm. They will survive!

 

[DrGribble]

I was going to say the same thing but I think he's running open vertical bulbs, if it's the same guy I'm thinking of.

Yeah 1 vertical bulb and two horizontal... check out my signature that's the current grow.

 

[DrGribble]

this is one of those things that bothers me. you do not need and exhaust.

Trust me, I was against the idea of having an exhaust but I am not setup for Co2 and this is only a 6000BTU air conditioner so I'm not really sure it's going to handle completely sealed but I would be willing to try it. I am going to go in there when lights turn on in about an hour and a half then turn off the scrubber/fan and run only the A/C for an hour with the lights at 100% across the board and see if I can still maintain low 80s.

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if by this time next week there's a 20lb cylinder in there feeding my plants Co2 anyway it was always the plan from day 1... so long as I can get it sealed properly.

My friend has a HUGE one (50-100lb) in his room and he gets the hook up on Co2 so I might have to see if he can help me out too.

 

[DrGribble]

Best way to see is just turn off your exhaust with the AC running and see what it does! IMO the heat is going to be too much for the unit unless you got a really beefy one.

Btw my tent has been in the mid to upper 80's all summer and they're still alive. When I first started growing indoors some decades ago I had temps in the upper 90's on the norm. They will survive!

Thanks man, that's what I am gonna do... I am not as concerned about 'survival' because I am fully confident in keeping them alive and well but I just don't want temps to affect finished quality or anything if it could have a negative effect, I'm just a little paranoid it's been a few years but I am hoping my comeback grow is a success... so far it's going quite well and I am quite pleased.