AC Boxes Made Easy (to understand and build)

[Gold123]

Hey hoosier, I'm wondering if you know how hot your A/C box itself runs? Mines still spiking over 160F (with the A/C still functioning) and I have no way of knowing how much higher than 160F it's going since the digi thermometer can't read any higher. Will the A/C always just shut off when it approaches dangerous temperatures? Or is this a serious fire hazard? It's not always on, my units been cycling every 90s to 2min. While it's running the temp in the box will go from 90F to 140-160F+ and take the temp in the room from 86F+ down to 82F. Then when it turns off the temp's in the room will rise from 82F back to 86-88F while the temp in the box goes from 140-160F back down to 90-110F. That's with the 3k hps, when I turn the fourth on the temp in the room goes into 92-98F+ and the box stays at 160F+.

specs: 18k btu LG window A/C, insulation foam board box, sealed with aluminum tape, 6" inline fan exhaust through attic-out of roof vent, passive 6" intake near floor of garage, cooling 3-4k hps. box itself is located in the veg room, as the unit sits over the door from the flower to veg room. when the temp peaks i can still comfortably touch the outside of the foam board box.

Your goin to need a more expert opinion but I don't believe a 6" fan is sufficient.

 

[dubdi3mond]

hoosier if you around, please help!

 

[the gnome]

This is why I love this place

This is why I love this place

superb tutorial hoosier
perfect for a grow situation when I'll need a freestanding window AC in a windowless room.
this will be perfect!

 

[Inkster]

what size ac do you think i would need for a 3200 w grow that gets to about 88 degrees F? would a 5200 be sufficient ? thanks

 

[FreezerBoy]

hoosier if you around, please help!

Unfortunately, Hoosier was unable to play nice with others and is now banned.

The thread obviously continues but, you guys will have to take over.

 

[Inkster]

well fook.... okay someone needs to step up that got this thang to work It was always there... hoosier just put a name to it....

 

[Gsizzle]

what size ac do you think i would need for a 3200 w grow that gets to about 88 degrees F? would a 5200 be sufficient ? thanks

I have read in quite a few threads that 3000 to 3400BTU's are needed for every 1000 watts of light. Hope that helps......

 

[Merfolk]

Problem

Problem

Tutorial was great, just built one myself, 8,000btu in a
9'Wx10'Lx6'H room, 2400 watts.


My Problem is that after about 40 minuites of it running it was shooting water out of the side, the Ac is placed almost at a even level, and not slanted as intended, could this be the problem ?



i didnt notice a drain hole on the ac unit itself, where would this water go in the first place?

 

[Merfolk]

Ill post a pictures when i get off work to explain abit better

 

[blazeoneup]

Ill post a pictures when i get off work to explain abit better

I'd reccommend putting a rubbermaid underneath the unit one that is slightly larger then the unit itself, This will catch all the water produced by the ac!

I built my box and put a tub inside my box with a pump setting in the tub hooked up to a garden hose and I can pump all that water out without opening my box at all....

 

[Inkster]

Okay if i place the front part of the AC in my Room and exhast the heat...and just use the next room for my intake will that work? keep in mind the intake will be taking another room's air with no intake.. its a pretty large room though...

 

[blazeoneup]

Okay if i place the front part of the AC in my Room and exhast the heat...and just use the next room for my intake will that work? keep in mind the intake will be taking another room's air with no intake.. its a pretty large room though...

As long as the intake air is not from the room the exhaust is being exhausted to it will work fine.

 

[dubdi3mond]

.

 

[dubdi3mond]

may be a stupid question but are you ac box guys running your intake/exhaust fans 24/7 or on a timer? thanks!

 

[milehighmedical]

.

 

[dubdi3mond]

thanks milehigh that was the answer i was looking for, figured so but just wanted to make sure

 

[StoneyMan]

may be a stupid question but are you ac box guys running your intake/exhaust fans 24/7 or on a timer? thanks!

I usually run mine on a timer (both a/c and exhaust fan on the same timer). The a/c and exhaust fan run while lights are on and for a few hours after lights go out.
The most efficient way would be to wire the exhaust fan to kick on whenever the a/c kicks on but I'm no electrician so I haven't done that yet.

 

[odium33]

may be a stupid question but are you ac box guys running your intake/exhaust fans 24/7 or on a timer? thanks!

i used to have the 4" intake and the 4" exhaust fan both on a timer that came on with the AC. but then i got to thinking... why have the intake and exhaust go off, the unit if sealed? I figured it couldnt hurt to continue to run them, further cooling off the fans themselves (the exhaust fan is pretty scorching after a good few hours on) and the components inside the AC.

 

[Cannabean]

Can one of you window ac box peoples help me out here.

My 10k btu window ac says it blows 240 cfm. Would that be cold air fan speed or exhaust fan speed? I want to use a 270cfm Can Fan to exhaust the unit, will this be enough cfm?

I don't plan on using a fan for the intake, that will be ok right?

Thanks!!!

 

[Cannabean]

So I never got an answer and just went with my intuition but my design works flawlessly. I used a 270cfm fan to match the 240cfm exhaust of the ac.

Here is the link to a DIY build of my window ac box built to sit outside of my tent: https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?p=4000296#post4000296

This is what it looks like all finished: