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Need help picking portable ac unit

WickedRites

New Member
After struggling with heat in my room for a few weeks even after addin enclosed lights and venting them I'm looking at buying a portable ac and am wondering how many btu my ac unit needs to be. My grow space is an enclosed L14xH6.5xW5 ft. Im runnin 2 1k hid lamps and have a curtain Mylar/poly curtain hanging in the middle to separate my veg and flowering areas. My daylight temp maxes at about 86 and night temp bottoms out around 70. I wouldn't be super concerned except my res is getting too hot inside and if I'm gonna spend a few hundred I would rather buy an ac than a water chiller. Any help is much appreciated.
 

Enigmatic Ways

Well-Known Member
After struggling with heat in my room for a few weeks even after addin enclosed lights and venting them I'm looking at buying a portable ac and am wondering how many btu my ac unit needs to be. My grow space is an enclosed L14xH6.5xW5 ft. Im runnin 2 1k hid lamps and have a curtain Mylar/poly curtain hanging in the middle to separate my veg and flowering areas. My daylight temp maxes at about 86 and night temp bottoms out around 70. I wouldn't be super concerned except my res is getting too hot inside and if I'm gonna spend a few hundred I would rather buy an ac than a water chiller. Any help is much appreciated.
I think a good place to start would be 14000 BTU dual holes{if possible} portable air conditioner..The more btu's the better. I have a 9000 BTU duel hose portable air conditioner and its cooling two 600w lights in a 5x5x7 area, and I can maintain a consistent temperature of 78°f if the temperature outdoors doesn't go above 90°f I'm good.IMG_20150515_113319.jpg
 

WickedRites

New Member
What is the difference between single and dual hose?
I think a good place to start would be 14000 BTU dual holes{if possible} portable air conditioner..The more btu's the better. I have a 9000 BTU duel hose portable air conditioner and its cooling two 600w lights in a 5x5x7 area, and I can maintain a consistent temperature of 78°f if the temperature outdoors doesn't go above 90°f I'm good.View attachment 3521265
I think a good place to start would be 14000 BTU dual holes{if possible} portable air conditioner..The more btu's the better. I have a 9000 BTU duel hose portable air conditioner and its cooling two 600w lights in a 5x5x7 area, and I can maintain a consistent temperature of 78°f if the temperature outdoors doesn't go above 90°f I'm good.View attachment 3521265
 

WickedRites

New Member
Instead of the air conditioner reusing the air that's already in the room it actually pulls fresh air from outside and cools it which in turns makes it more efficient.
Ok, my grow space is a Mylar/poly containment built in my crawl space. It's about 70 in my crawl space consistently. Do you think that with air at that temp I can manage to get my 88 degree room below 78? The reason I ask is cause my high room temp is leading to high res temp as well. I'm also purchasing air stones this week too. I'm trying to eliminate any chance of developing Pythium and just want to make sure I'm taking the right path. I'm also wondering if cooling my room will lower the humidity and cause me another problem to deal with and if so how can I manage humidity once I'm cooling my room. Sorry I know that's a lot. Sorry I'm a noob to indoor growing :/
 

Enigmatic Ways

Well-Known Member
Ok, my grow space is a Mylar/poly containment built in my crawl space. It's about 70 in my crawl space consistently. Do you think that with air at that temp I can manage to get my 88 degree room below 78? The reason I ask is cause my high room temp is leading to high res temp as well. I'm also purchasing air stones this week too. I'm trying to eliminate any chance of developing Pythium and just want to make sure I'm taking the right path. I'm also wondering if cooling my room will lower the humidity and cause me another problem to deal with and if so how can I manage humidity once I'm cooling my room. Sorry I know that's a lot. Sorry I'm a noob to indoor growing :/
I think you'll be good..So far as the humidity I'm not sure but my humidity stays anywhere between 38% and 55% and I haven't ran into any problems so far.
 

MrStickyScissors

Well-Known Member
for around the same price on ebay you can get a 9,000 to 12,000 btu mini split. I have been looking into them. a 12,000btu and 18,000 btu run around 1400watts the 9,000 btu was only 700 watts
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
I own 2 LG portable a/c units. 1 is a 8000btu the other is a 14000btu. the 8k worked great for 2x600's, but struggled on 3x600's. my 14k is perfect for 3x600's, I can get my temps as low as 73* 9" directly under the bulbs under each lamp. both are single rear outlet a/c's.

both were bought at home depot and both have a 5 yr ext warranty. my 8k is just collecting dust and is now my back up. both were ran at 60* for 12/12 365/yr. now if you need to run the exhaust for a certain length to evacuate the hot exhaust air, I put in a 6" 440 cfm fan on a speed controller. I run about 20' of exhaust, this is the reason why I run a fan to help get the exhaust air out.

I plumbed some duct work to the incoming air, to some 6" flex duct, then taped to the top of my 8" intake fan so my intake sucks in the cold a/c air. also use some 6" duct insulation on the exhaust portion. it will greatly cut down the radiant heat that it puts off.2015-05-05_20-02-57_432.jpg
 

WickedRites

New Member
I own 2 LG portable a/c units. 1 is a 8000btu the other is a 14000btu. the 8k worked great for 2x600's, but struggled on 3x600's. my 14k is perfect for 3x600's, I can get my temps as low as 73* 9" directly under the bulbs under each lamp. both are single rear outlet a/c's.

both were bought at home depot and both have a 5 yr ext warranty. my 8k is just collecting dust and is now my back up. both were ran at 60* for 12/12 365/yr. now if you need to run the exhaust for a certain length to evacuate the hot exhaust air, I put in a 6" 440 cfm fan on a speed controller. I run about 20' of exhaust, this is the reason why I run a fan to help get the exhaust air out.

I plumbed some duct work to the incoming air, to some 6" flex duct, then taped to the top of my 8" intake fan so my intake sucks in the cold a/c air. also use some 6" duct insulation on the exhaust portion. it will greatly cut down the radiant heat that it puts off.View attachment 3521344
This is exactly what I was wondering if I could do. Thanks a bunch. I'm curious are you using open lights or air cooled hoods?
 

WickedRites

New Member
air cooled during summer

gonna try removing the glass this winter
Where are you pulling the air from your for your lights. I was wondering if I could use ac air or not. My dilemma is that funds are running low and I only have one fan which pulls air through the scrubber then across the lights and out of the room. Since I'm using the air from within the room it's only dropping temps a few degrees. I'm hoping the ac unit will help with this but I'm still not sure it will be enough. What do you think?
 

Path of Light

Well-Known Member
I dont know if u use co2 or plan to,but if u do you'll need a dual hose or mini split or you'll suck all the co2 out
 

DemonTrich

Well-Known Member
I have an 8" ducting about 2' from my 8" fresh air/ac intake. it draws air from that. everything gets recirculated minus the hot a/c exhaust.

dual hose or not, if your pumping air into the room, you MUST exhaust air out or you will get too much positive pressure and "pop" your grow room or blow the walls off.
 
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