AC or Dehumidifier?

[bounty29]

So my cabinet is in my bedroom, which has 3 or 4 sockets all on the same 15a breaker. The only things that use power in my room are my clock, the cabinet, and either an Air Conditioner or a Dehumidifier. I might be able to run them both, but I wouldn't feel safe doing so, because it's a pain in the ass to reset the breaker.

If the AC on I can get the temperature down to 64 degrees, so the cooling capacity isn't a problem, but the humidity is usually above 60%.
If nothing is on it'll be in the high 70s with up to 75-80% humidity.
If the dehumidifier is on it'll get up to 90 and down to 35% humidity.

How would you go about solving this problem? I haven't been able to test too much with cycling them back and forth.

 

[Liam]

Sigh....


The ONLY real difference between an AC and a dehumidifier is in how you use it.

You can use an AC as a dehumidifier by simply having the entire unit inside the grow. And with a "little" modification, you can turn a dehumidifier into an AC.

So clearly from a function standpoint, AC is the way to go. The only reason to buy a dehumidifier is because you don't have a cooling problem at all, just a humidity problem, which is mainly a coastal region issue, B.C. specifically.

"because it's a pain in the ass to reset the breaker." So buy a higher amperage breaker for it, and a dehumidifier and ac unit for a CABINET grow should not be flipping a 15A breaker even with both running at the same time.

I have never ever heard of a dehumidifier being used in a cabinet grow... have I just been missing that fact over the last 12 years or are you just trying to copy the large grow-op growers?

Also, theres nothing wrong with 60% humidity if you have good air flow. Your trying to avoid standing water you see, and while humidity is a good gauge to go by, it is not the only factor.

 

[bounty29]

I rent, so I can't modify breakers, and that's part of the reason I don't want to have to reset it all the time, would call more attention to myself than I'd like.

I understand how they work, and I know they're the same thing, just used in different ways. That doesn't make a difference because I can't get the temps and RH I want, which is why I made this thread.

I'm not trying to copy anybody with the dehumidifier, if you had read you'd see that without it my room is at 70%+ humidity. I could honestly care less if the cabinet was in there or not, I can't sleep in my bed if the humidity is that high. The reason I got a dehumidifier, is because it was too humid.

What difference does airflow make if you're over 70% humidity? What does standing water have to do with anything? I know standing water contributes to humidity, but I don't have any puddles in my room. I haven't been running my drip setup at all the past few weeks and it had no effect on the numbers.

What I'm shooting for is a comfortable environment for both me and my plants, which would be in the 70s and between 40%-60% humidity. I'd really like to be able to decrease the temperature by 10~ degrees at night, but that's probably asking a little much with my setup.

 

[OgreSeeker]

If your ac is cooling that good then it may not be running long enough to dehumidify. You could go with a smaller BTU ac. This will allow the ac to run longer and pull much more moisture out of the air. Just a thought.


***EDIT***
"Also, theres nothing wrong with 60% humidity if you have good air flow. Your trying to avoid standing water you see, and while humidity is a good gauge to go by, it is not the only factor."

I think what he's worried about is powdery mildew and the like. Good air flow will help prevent this even if your humidity is a little high.

 

[pro engineer]

I use both let me explain my dehumidifier is set for 50%-55% when the room humidity reaches that set point it shuts off. Then the humidity climbs like when I.m watering the unit turns on automatically. I use a 2-ton mini split AC unit its control by a plug & grow controller. So I have a day set point about 80 degrees. At that temperature the AC unit is not running enough to pull much moisture from the ambient air. At 80 degrees the plants transpiring a lot of moisture. This is where the dehumidifier does its job. The night set point is about 72 degrees so the AC unit runs a little more at the same time dehumidifying the ambient air. The dehumidifier will still some times turn on. Due to the AC unit has reached its 72 degree set point and is not running. This is also where the dehumidifier does its job. Higher temperatures = higher humidity levels. Lower temperatures = lower humidity levels. I use a Themastor Santa Fee advance dehumidifier its a top shelf America made unit.The only draw back using this unit is the price $1100. & it doesn't have a tank. So you have to pump the condensation or run it to a gravity drain

PE

 

[yukino_asano]

What difference does airflow make if you're over 70% humidity?

IT will decrease humidity.

---------------------------

Orgeseeker is correct.

If you do not have high enough temps, the ac will not be working hard enough to remove moisture.

That is where running both is ideal in a sealed enviroment.

You didn't mention where you have in and out air, do you?

 

[eyes]

being a pain in the a@@ to do a summer gro,i hear ya.so you have a cabinet in the bedroom that u need to keep at a certain temp so essentially youll want to keep that room the cabinets in at a comfortable temp and humidity.If the ac you are running is too big then it will cycle too fast and the temp will drop and the humidity will go up.What is the size of the room you are in?Since it is summertime and the temp and the humidity are both high,an ac would be the logical choice.Size the ac appropriately to room size and set it to what temp u want assuming its digital.if not adjust the dial on an analog a c to match the temp you want with a digital temp gauge as your guide/ill assume you have the carbon filter running 24/7 in the cabinet taking in that ac and cooling off the cab.It gets tricky when the temps outside drop in the 70s and the ac wont run that long in the room cause its not hot enough outside so u get a short ac cycle on and off.then,u need to run an dehumidifier in the room but then the temps go up from the dehumidifier unless its through wall and the hot air off the coil is exiting the room you are in.Sometimes you need to run the 2 in conjuction with each other.Look at the soleus dehumidifie 45 pint.its only 330 watts and really quiet.Although it doesnt have a digital temp gauge to set it it has these funky buttons and continuous run.the hot air exits out the top and can be ducted somewhere else.very quiet.

 

[FunkBomb]

AC's dehumidify the air, just not as much as a dehumidifer. That is why you see water coming out of the back of the window units.

-Funk

 

[who me]

could you run a short extension cord to another circuit in a diferent room (after figuring out what guage cord)to run both?

 

[00420]

If your ac is cooling that good then it may not be running long enough to dehumidify. You could go with a smaller BTU ac. This will allow the ac to run longer and pull much more moisture out of the air. Just a thought.

with the right a/c you dont need a dehu..........

a dehu will just add heat to your room and then you will be running BOTH!

 

[wickedpete66]

I rent, so I can't modify breakers, and that's part of the reason I don't want to have to reset it all the time, would call more attention to myself than I'd like.

I understand how they work, and I know they're the same thing, just used in different ways. That doesn't make a difference because I can't get the temps and RH I want, which is why I made this thread.

I'm not trying to copy anybody with the dehumidifier, if you had read you'd see that without it my room is at 70%+ humidity. I could honestly care less if the cabinet was in there or not, I can't sleep in my bed if the humidity is that high. The reason I got a dehumidifier, is because it was too humid.

What difference does airflow make if you're over 70% humidity? What does standing water have to do with anything? I know standing water contributes to humidity, but I don't have any puddles in my room. I haven't been running my drip setup at all the past few weeks and it had no effect on the numbers.

What I'm shooting for is a comfortable environment for both me and my plants, which would be in the 70s and between 40%-60% humidity. I'd really like to be able to decrease the temperature by 10~ degrees at night, but that's probably asking a little much with my setup.

My set up is like you . i also live in an apt and have my cab in the bedroom. What I ended up doing is asking the landlord for a dedicated 20 amp circuit for the ac. He contacted his electrician and he installed a dedicated 20 in the kitchen and my living room which is next to my bedroom. I then went to Lowes and bought a 25' 12gauge extension chord. I now run 2 cabs 400for veg and 600 for flower along with a 6000 btu ac

edit--- And as far as your question goes the ac is better

 

[TheOneWill]

It gets hot down here in the south but hard to find something small to keep my room cool. I plan on getting one of those portable a/c things.
Cheapest one I found was like 275$.

 

[bounty29]

Lots of great input, thanks for taking the time everyone. I've really played around with it for the past few days monitoring what it does. I've found a setting that keeps me between 45% and 60% humidity and in the low 70s.

It's an old unit, no digital display or anything, just a big $20 AC I found on craigslist. If it gets too humid, I can turn on the Dehumidifier and drop it within a few hours, and then set the AC right and it will bring the temp down and not do too much to the humidity.

 

[Liam]

"AC's dehumidify the air, just not as much as a dehumidifer."

Erm... no, you probably just didn't realize that AC's have their water piped into a tray under the rear heat radiator where it evaporates quickly, once again, they are EXACTLY the same (AC are usually better built, cheaper, more efficient).


The only reason you want to lower the humidity is to avoid mold/mildew.... in fact, lowering the humidity beyond what is required to avoid mold/mildew, will LOWER your yield, as you are then causing the stomata to tighten up to slow moisture loss caused by the less humid air, which then of course decreases gas intake.

Airflow and humidity should be controlled to avoid mold/mildew, otherwise don't worry about humidity, the only time you should ever need a dehumidifier is for the dark period in larger grows. Running a dehumidifier/AC for shorter periods will wear it out faster as well as waste electricity, with both you aim to get just exactly what you need.


Random related facts:
More humid air blocks/reflects more light, but not a significant concern. Increased water uptake from the roots to the leaves will boost yield, but understand gas intake is far more important than nutrient flow, ask anyone that uses CO2 enrichment.