Ac in a tent?

[sdd420]

I have a 4x4 tent with a 400 hps do I need ac cooling or is my 500cfm exhausted hood enough? Right now in early veg the temps can get up to 80 with 60% humidity . I use an ebb and flow system. Any advice is appreciated . Also tent is in garage and subject to outside temps that will get in the 90s in summer but would probably only flower in the nighttime hours. Peace sdd

 

[itsallgoodsman]

You may want to have a MOD move this into the indoor growing section.

 

[sdd420]

Well...its in the grow room design forum soo....anyway I have realized that the tent will run only October to May to avoid summer temps. Peace Sdd

 

[Heimdallr]

You should AC the room your tent is in down to an acceptable level. If the air you're pulling into your tent from the room is 25c + then you're scuppered pretty much whatever you do because your ambient temps are too high.

 

[r2k]

Tents with AC will have a big problems keeping the air inside as cool as you want. At a minimum, the AC will run often (maybe continuously) because so much heat will transfer through the thin tent walls.

I would also think a 400W HPS will be super bright and you will have enough light leaks that it will make the tent glow at night. I hope your garage is light proof around doors and windows.

If you want to go this route, I would recommend looking at getting some dense foam insulation from Home DePot. It has a shiny metal side that works well to reflect light for the inside, it is light proof, you can carve and sculpt it with a utility knife, and it will really slow down the heat transfer through the walls. The sheets are 4x8, so you would need about 3. I got some several years ago, I think it was about $8 per sheet. I used metal duct tape to seal the edges for a total light barrier.

-r2k

 

[sdd420]

You should AC the room your tent is in down to an acceptable level. If the air you're pulling into your tent from the room is 25c + then you're scuppered pretty much whatever you do because your ambient temps are too high.

As I'm in a garage I realize I can only run fall and winter basically when outdoor temps are below 80. I can keep inside the tent temps equal to ambient temps in garage with ventilation. Thanks sdd

 

[DoubleTripleOG]

If you can, build a wall(s) inside the garage around your tent(2x4's and thick mil plastic will work just fine) and then air condition that area. You can use the air from that room to air cool your light, and put cool air into the tent. Exhaust the hot air from the light outside of the room you built(that the tent is in). If the ac is dumping it's hot exhaust air outside of the building, you should be fine.

 

[bikhomes]

I have an Intense 600 (10x20 tent) in my garage with a 3 ton minisplit inside it. To protect from both cold and heat in the garage I lined the outside with 1" foam insulation board. If it's cold there in the winter you won't need the A/C and you should keep your exhaust fan on a temp switch so it doesn't get too cold in there. 400w in a 4x4 is not much at all, 1,000 is pretty normal.

Remember in the winter if it's super cold in your garage you will get condensation inside the tent if it's not insulated at all. In summer you will need the A/C, you can use a small window mount A/C and seal up the tent, exhaust your garage air outside.