AC, Return Air and Air Cooled Hoods

[Guest]

So this is my current eight 600w setup:


SO far the temps downstairs are fine, 85-87 during lights on. The problem I'm having is the exhaust fan must be brining hot air into the house from outside. The upstairs is too warm for sleeping, etc.


So I was thinking since an AC unit can only cool about 20 degrees, if I pull air from my basement into the return like here:


This should still cool my upstairs down to the upper 60's instead of upper 70's. The problem I see with this, less fresh air into the room for the girls. I may have to supplement with co2 - but my room isn't really conducive for co2. It's not tight.


Or this idea of adding one more can fan to move warm air from the room into the return, while still exhausting out:


This may leave me with the same problem I had before of too much outside air getting into the house. Or it might still help. I am not sure.


Lastly the idea has been offered that I air cool the lights and return into the ductwork:


The problem with this is I don't really want to air cool the lights. In addition it seems impossible for me to exhaust smell-free air outside from the lights. I could potentially pull cooler air into the lights from another part of the basement - but how to clean it leaving the lights????

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!! I need some sound, cool sleep...

 

[SweetNightmare]

This thread is like 100x more confusing than it should be... put a carbon scrubber above the hood and suck the air outside and just cool the room that the plants are in? If your exhaust is bringing in hot air it doesn't sound like an exhaust to me...

 

[Guest]

SweetNightmare - LOL!

Anytime you suck air out of a room, the air is replaced from somewhere else. So by exhausting out 500+ cfm of air from the basement, I am pulling 500+ cfm of warm outside air into the upstairs.

Putting a carbon scrubber above each and every hood doesn't seem logical either.

The only thing I could think of was to pull air through a carbon scrubber, then the hoods then outside. This will leak smell though.

 

[SweetNightmare]

Oh werd my bad I thought you were running just 1 600... I'm like how is he having heat with that shit... Maybe you should get an ozone generator in the exhaust and use the ac in your basement like you said? Someone just had a picture up of a profilter that was like 4 feet tall it seemed... Maybe you could take air from your basement straight to the hoods then outside with a window a/c down there and then have another one to keep the room temp in check? and then have another fan for the filter? exhausting from the top of the room straight out?
Or just take regular air from the basement to the hoods and then out the room and then just have an ac in the room and another fan for the filter? n figure out a way to open holes for cool air on the ground to go into the basement... in another thread they just said after 3 a/c hoods on each side it starts getting inefficient...

 

[yukino_asano]

Your room doesnt have to be totally sealed to run c02.

Instead of exhausting the air

Run ac to keep it cool.

exhaust air to keep humidity down or fi temps get too high. That air will not be too hot for upstairs.

Running ac 24/7 will cool the room and remove humidity

c02 is optional.

Why not just keep the room closed? run the ac

Then you don't get the heat in your upstairs.

The only thing I could think of was to pull air through a carbon scrubber, then the hoods then outside. This will leak smell though.

You can run the air through the hoods, then through the carbon filter. no smell.

OR you can go overkill on the ac and not vent the hoods.

Then use c02 during lights on

exhuast cooler air during lights off.

any questions or

want other suggestions?

where there is a will and $$ there is a way



peace

 

[Guest]

Ah So Asano-----with enough $$$$$$ and a working plan anything is possible. There are big bucks to be made building top of the line grow rooms, as witnessed by those humongous set ups that the pros build up there in BC, Canada, for the big time growers.

tystik

 

[wafflehouselove]

hey how hot is your outside temp? If its not that hot you can bring in cool air from a cool air source(somewhere outside the house that is shaded) use that intake to cool your lights and vent that heated air back outside, that way your central unit ac won't have too much of a load for it to handle that heat from your lights are being taken outside and not being put inside your house.

 

[Guest]

The outside air gets in the 90-100f+ range. Not optimal for venting hoods - although it would cool them, it would still allow too much heat in the room. I could pull cool basement air in and then blow it outside. Just have to figure out how to clean it...

I am thinking of just running the secondary can fan into the return with a low power ozone generator, and putting the exhaust fan on a thermostat - kick it on only when the temps get above 85. This idea will bring fresh air in when the girls need it most, but will continue to heat up the upstairs. Shit with the catch 22's.

I appreciate all the advice I'm getting!! Keep it coming! This is how we grow...

 

[yukino_asano]

Ah So Asano-----with enough $$$$$$ and a working plan anything is possible. There are big bucks to be made building top of the line grow rooms, as witnessed by those humongous set ups that the pros build up there in BC, Canada, for the big time growers.

tystik

lol, yes

I could pull cool basement air in and then blow it outside. Just have to figure out how to clean it...

Why would you need to clean it?

Intake air from basement via hepa filter (is clean going into the hoods)

Carbon filter after the hoods (if smell is a concern) before exhuasting outside.

Here is a floor plan that shows air coming in one side of the house via hepa filter, go through hoods, then through carbon filter outside.


Instead of going from one side to the other start in basement and go outside.

Heat rises so could work out.

 

[Guest]

How the hell can you carbon filter air and then blow it outside? A T on the can fan? A seperate small room with an exhaust fan?

Why would you need to clean it?

Intake air from basement via hepa filter (is clean going into the hoods)

Carbon filter after the hoods (if smell is a concern) before exhuasting outside.

Here is a floor plan that shows air coming in one side of the house via hepa filter, go through hoods, then through carbon filter outside.


Instead of going from one side to the other start in basement and go outside.

Heat rises so could work out.

 

[SweetNightmare]

You got a hepa on the intake for the lights he's saying to keep the air CLEAN literally... so it doesn't bring anything into your hoods n stuff then hoods then filter then fan I'm guessing... Just make a new exhaust to vent smell and have the lights go from basement to outside? or does the smell leak into the hoods too much?
His way will remove the smell right before leaving the room with only using 1 fan so itll go hepa > duct > hoods > duct > fan>out >cf and just get a/c to control room temps

 

[Guest]

I'm not sure where you guys get carbon scrubbers, but Ive never seen one that would work as an in-between. They are all stand alone, pulling air in from all sides and blowing out the top:



I can't likely leave this beast sitting outside the house, with hoses running outside to it....

 

[yukino_asano]

Sorry shouda have explained the carbon filter goes into a large 12" duct. Then air getting exhuasted outside. exhausted air from the lights pushes air through the carbon filter. Because it goes through the carbon filter the air is clean and had zero smell of bud.

Note: Also my digram.image should Not show the ducting after the carbon filter My bad!! I can see how that would throw you off.

You got a hepa on the intake for the lights he's saying to keep the air CLEAN literally... so it doesn't bring anything into your hoods n stuff then hoods then filter then fan I'm guessing... Just make a new exhaust to vent smell and have the lights go from basement to outside? or does the smell leak into the hoods too much?
His way will remove the smell right before leaving the room with only using 1 fan so itll go hepa > duct > hoods > duct > fan>out >cf and just get a/c to control room temps

Yes that is correct.

hepa filtered air into the hood circuit.

Then you could go into another room or area then exhuast outside.

The carbon filter on the end is optional.

I found with well sealed air cooled hoods it wasnt needed.

I was using air cooled hoods that sucked out some of the smell and c02. (not as efficient)

That was why the carbon filter was needed.

Because the smell of the buds was going outside and that is a BUST waiting to happen.

Hope that helps explain.

costs more $$ but it works.

That is why a lung room (with ac and a scrubber) is another excellent way to do things if you got the room.

 

[yukino_asano]

I'm not sure where you guys get carbon scrubbers, but Ive never seen one that would work as an in-between. They are all stand alone, pulling air in from all sides and blowing out the top:



I can't likely leave this beast sitting outside the house, with hoses running outside to it....

i am using a 10"X39" phat filter it fits within 12" ducting for central heating.

That way I dont need to use another exhuast fan



Make sense?

with everyone collaborating, we can figure out something for your room and budget.

-Peace

 

[yukino_asano]

How the hell can you carbon filter air and then blow it outside? A T on the can fan? A seperate small room with an exhaust fan?

If the setup I posted wont work

YES A seperate small room with an exhaust fan will work.

this is to be used only if your having smell issues with the air that cools your hoods.

Air comes from outside > goes though hoods > then is exausted outside.

I used to just redirect the exhuast air inside my house at the end of flower.

But then the inside of my house smelt like buds.

Later with more time and $$ i came up with this setup.

Lots of options.

Hope that helps.

 

[Guest]

Absolutely amazing. Asano, I have this FEELING that you are a Warrior. Nuff said.

tystik

PM me

 

[Guest]

For those following - I am now running this setup:

It is working well to keep the temps upstairs lower. Cooler because less hot air from outside is coming in I expect.

Also, having an ozone generator blowing right into the ductwork has killed all smell. No noticeable o3 smell persists either.

The problem I am having is less return air from upstairs is coming down to the blower. This isn't a big deal, but I'd like to think that the co2 from my fat ass is making it's way to the girls, where it will be better used.

I think I may buy a smaller carbon scrubber and either not use the can fan, or buy a much less powerful one. I will hang it from the ceiling where it gets hottest and tie it into the return.

Now, I am thinking - with the right $$ - a sealed room with a separate furnace and ac would be the best design. Blow the cool ac air into the four corners of the room. Run one return trunk down the center of the room with inlets for each hood. So you cool the room and air cool the hoods at the same time.

2 problems with this setup:

Lack of co2 - easily remedied with either a burner or tanks. I prefer fresh air as its cheap, but eh.

Cooling in the early spring / late fall months when it just isn't cold enough outside to safely turn on the ac unit, but the temps in the room would become too hot. This could be solved with a heat pump instead of a regular ac unit. Or, by bringing in the cooler outside air.

What do you guys think?

Edit - to help control the smell, inline ozone generators could be ducted in just before the blower and a carbon scrubber should be running 24/7.

 

[Guest]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to yukino_asano again.

If the setup I posted wont work

YES A seperate small room with an exhaust fan will work.

this is to be used only if your having smell issues with the air that cools your hoods.

Air comes from outside > goes though hoods > then is exausted outside.

I used to just redirect the exhuast air inside my house at the end of flower.

But then the inside of my house smelt like buds.

Later with more time and $$ i came up with this setup.

Lots of options.

Hope that helps.