Cooling a cabinet - really small A/C ??

I am trying to figure out how to handle keeping a cabinet cool in a garage. The problem is the temperature can hit 90deg + outside, which means the garage is going to get close to that or match it.

A full sized A/C is not practical, it would be too big, too loud, and ruin most of the stealth. If I could put the A/C somewhere else and pipe cooling to the cabinet that might work - I have an attic above the garage.

So I was thinking what about a small A/C -- like the ones used in those electric portable coolers? Price is good, if it would work.

I would imagine I would have to open it up and rip the A/C components out and then basically mount it on top of my cabinet with a box of some kind hiding it, and blow the cool air in to the cabinet as if it was the cooler. I am hoping it would be good enough to drop the temp 10 degrees or so. That might be good enough, if I can keep it at 80deg max when it is 90 in the garage / outside.

?? thoughts or other ideas ??

Sounds like a really good idea as long as the motor is not running 100 percent of the time and overheats and burns out. Do you have a link to what you are talking about using since I have never heard of one. I need something like this as well as my temps in my box hit 93 sometimes and mostly stay around 89-91 the plants are doing fine but its still too hot for my liking.

I need something like this as well as my temps in my box hit 93 sometimes and mostly stay around 89-91 the plants are doing fine but its still too hot for my liking.

Click to expand...

Same exact issue. Would also like to see....

that is a great idea i have 2 of those coolers i am lok into it fo rmyself, but it think they cool via electric not air flow...i will take mine apart and see. good idea

craigslist a free mini fridge gut it and use the parts

plant a tree on the sunny side of the garage.

Keep most of the dark time during the hottest part of the day.

My dad has an air condition and a fan in his garage and he don't grow. I was thinking about one of the newer units that vent to a window. They are expensive but seem like it would be useful. I don't have one and yet to figure out were the condensation goes.

i took the small cooler apart. it is cooled via conduction so you would have to place the cooling block in the box or in the path of the fan i took photos

i pluged it in and the little block is cold but the finned peice is still hotso you would have to seperate them, but i dont think that the block would produce enough cold to make a any difference. sorry but good luck

pics

Use CO2 and you can get away with higher temps-up to 95 degrees, from what I've read and tested. I use 2 of the CO2 bags, which are filled with subsrtate and mycellium (the fungus makes CO2 as a by product and it's expelled through the one way valve in the bag). http://co2bags.com/

So do you think the mini fridge idea would work ? I saw a couple - there are the normal ones that have a freezer part, and then these newer ones that have no freezer or compressor:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Black-Decker-Nucool-1.7-cu.-ft.-Compact-Fridge-Black/11016394

Dude, just get a window AC and hook it up to the side of the cabinet, if you are worried about over cooling, just modify it with a thermostat relay and transformer, and you will get a killer setup, just make sure to have another fan for filtration, you can't rely on the AC's blower to do the job.

This worked really well for my cabinet when it was in my SoCal garage, summer time (100+ woot)

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-7-000-BTU-PORTABLE-AC-W-REMOTE/13423135#ProductDetail

This portable air conditioner is perfect for a room where window space is limited or you want to easily move AC comfort from room to room. The continuous evaporation function in cooling mode allows for constant operation without water removal. This capacity air conditioner is designed to a cool a 250-350 sq. ft. area.

• Patented auto-evaporation technology in cooling mode
• Modern sleek design
• Eco-friendly r410a coolant
• IR full function remote control
• Adjustable air discharge
• Washable air filter
• Blue LCD screen
• 4 modes: cool, dehumidify, fan
• 24 hr on/off timer

daisydobey said:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Haier-7-000-BTU-PORTABLE-AC-W-REMOTE/13423135#ProductDetail

This portable air conditioner is perfect for a room where window space is limited or you want to easily move AC comfort from room to room. The continuous evaporation function in cooling mode allows for constant operation without water removal. This capacity air conditioner is designed to a cool a 250-350 sq. ft. area.

• Patented auto-evaporation technology in cooling mode
• Modern sleek design
• Eco-friendly r410a coolant
• IR full function remote control
• Adjustable air discharge
• Washable air filter
• Blue LCD screen
• 4 modes: cool, dehumidify, fan
• 24 hr on/off timer

Click to expand...

...Why? So Expensive, he has a cabinet, not a 1000k with no hood,

http://www.walmart.com/ip/GE-5-000-BTU-Mechanical-Window-Air-Conditioner-Cool-White/13803064

More than enough to handle up to 1000 watt with a vented hood...

not everyone can have a window AC.. thats a big why at least for me, im one of those people

I am really likeing this idea, I am going to look around and see how big the compressors and everything else that goes with it to see if I can mount it somehow. I think im going to use one from a normal "Mini Fridge" since I have an old one, unless its just to big and bulky to do.