Closet Grow and Portable AC Unit

I have a closet grow going on. I have a 7000BTU AC unit in the closet to act as an air intake, exhaust, and climate control. It does COLD, FAN, DRY, and AUTO modes. It works pretty great. The only problem I seem to be having is that when the AC is on, my humidity and temperatures stay constant around 72-75f, 60RH. When the AC unit shuts off automatically, the temps go to around 80 (85 absolute max), and RH shoots up to the 70's (80 max). I would say the RH sits around 60 for 70% of the day, and the other 30% it's between 60-80.

I think the temp range / fluctuation is fine, since it's not fluctuating by more than 10 deg. I'm more concerned over the RH. I know 80 is good for germ, and 50-60 is good for veg/flower. High humidity leads to an inviting environment for mold, which of course is a serious concern !

First off, I don't think I'd get mold since it only stays at 70-80RH for no more than 15 minutes until the AC kicks back on when it gets hot (85deg F). I think more of my concern is, this won't stress the plants will it if humidity jumps between 50-80 throughout the day? Now, we're not talking 30 points it's jumping, but that's the typical range it goes through in the course of the day or week. I'm sure the humidity outside affects it as well (even tho we're inside).

Any comments / advice when dealing with portable AC units inside of a closet and keeping temps and RH stable?

Do you have the exhaust vented to the outside?
You're working against yourself if not.

imchucky666 said:

Do you have the exhaust vented to the outside?
You're working against yourself if not.

Click to expand...

The AC unit I have vents air to the outside when it's on, which it's on most of the time, so yes in a way. But I don't have a constant vent going outside in addition to the AC exhaust. I'm thinking I probably need that -- not necessarily venting outside, but when the AC unit shuts off, causing the cold air to be warmed by hot lights, therefore creating humidity, I need to get that vented out. I guess i could install a fan on the closet door itself to vent back into the room (the air i'd be venting wouldn't be hot so it's ok to vent into the house). Or I could install a vent in the roof of the closet going into the attic, next to the AC's exhaust vent going into the attic. The intake I have isn't really an intake, it's just the air being pulled in through the bottom of the closet door due to the AC's exhaust pushing air into the attic.

Any other ideas? I'd like to avoid making more holes in walls and ceilings if possible, but I kind of don't want to make a hole in the closet door itself because then it's less concealed, i'd have to cover it for nighttime, and will look ugly. I'd rather patch a hole than buy a new closet door. Decisions decisions...