Brand new room... starting from scratch.

[apartmentblower]

I'm fairly inexperienced in larger grows, as I've only done a couple 600w soil grows previously. I've got a room that is approximately 9'(l)x9'(w)x10'(h). It is connected insuite to a bathroom, and is on the top floor with access to the attic (not sure if attic is vented outside yet as its not easy to access). I'd like to run 4 x 1k digitals ideally, as they'd give me a perfect 8x8 footprint, but I believe i might have issues cooling.

I wanted to run a sealed room with co2, but I would probably have a problem getting a 20k btu+ window unit in there, it would not fit in the window, and there is no space in the room itself to house it in a box. Mini splits make me nervous becuase its a rental and im not sure how the neighbors (its a townhouse) or landlord would react to the compressor running in winter. Other than that fact, it is very private and i'm left alone to do my thing. So I was thinking a combination of air-cooled lights, intake and exhaust, with a 13k btu portable a/c to help out. unfortunately this would eliminate the possibility of a sealed room and I have no idea what kind of intake/exhaust requirements are needed.

Do people even run purely intake / exhaust rooms for big grows anymore??? all i see are sealed rooms with just a/c these days. i was wondering if it would be at all possible to realistically keep a 4 1k lights w/ cooled hoods and intake and exhaust.

Basically, what I want to know is: 1.) how are everyone's experiences with mini-split units? Are the outside fan units really loud and noticeable when running? I mean, before I got growing, if I saw one outside and running in winter, i'd just think its a heater or something.

2.) how would you go about designing this room?

 

[bubblegumkings]

imho I would think is a/c would be a must for 4,ooo watts. that would get pretty damn hot.

 

[apartmentblower]

imho I would think is a/c would be a must for 4,ooo watts. that would get pretty damn hot.

i've been thinking a bit and may have to scale down to 4x600watts aircooled with intake and exhaust. i kind of came back to reality and realized how ridiculous a mini split would be in that location.

 

[milehighmedical]

4x 600w won't be a problem. Those will be nice and easy to work with. But... sacrificing 1600 watts is a lot of yield. But also a lot of heat problems are now non existent. You'd be fine with a 10k btu too.

Good luck.

 

[apartmentblower]

4x 600w won't be a problem. Those will be nice and easy to work with. But... sacrificing 1600 watts is a lot of yield. But also a lot of heat problems are now non existent. You'd be fine with a 10k btu too.

Good luck.

thanks. well, id rather be growing 2400watts for awhile than attempting to do 4000watts and getting popped cause of the a/c unit cycling on in the middle of december, lol. a portable a/c unit, while making odor control a bit more finicky and a sealed room impossible , is infinitely easier to work with overall as far as stealth goes

i saw a thread on here about a guy trying to pull 5lb off a 2400watt grow... makes me feel a bit better about foreseen yields.

 

[apartmentblower]

i think i figured it out. if i run 4x600w air-cooled hoods, drawing air from outside and venting into attic i can fit a smaller a/c unit in there and put it in a box for stealth reasons so its not hanging out the window. with the addition of co2 i can ensure that higher temps are ok and the a/c doesn't need to be huge and perhaps make up for a bit of yield lost from the original 4kw plan. any suggestions are welcomed

 

[micro gro]

1) No, I don't think so. But if you feel that it's a concern, check out my thread on concealing the outdoor condenser.

2) Quickly but carefully!

I'd run 4 x 1kw's with air-cooled hoods and a 1 ton mini split (preferably with a DC inverter). Santa Fe Classic if you can afford it, otherwise start with a single portable ~70pt dehumidifier and add another if you need to. 20# aluminum CO2 tank with solenoid valve and controller. I'd run some #6 wire off a DP 50A breaker to a subpanel and get all the power in that way. Maybe you can make it off #8 and 40A but it'll probably be real close after said and done and might be difficult to balance especially if the A/C isn't 240v.

 

[apartmentblower]

1) No, I don't think so. But if you feel that it's a concern, check out my thread on concealing the outdoor condenser.

2) Quickly but carefully!

I'd run 4 x 1kw's with air-cooled hoods and a 1 ton mini split (preferably with a DC inverter). Santa Fe Classic if you can afford it, otherwise start with a single portable ~70pt dehumidifier and add another if you need to. 20# aluminum CO2 tank with solenoid valve and controller. I'd run some #6 wire off a DP 50A breaker to a subpanel and get all the power in that way. Maybe you can make it off #8 and 40A but it'll probably be real close after said and done and might be difficult to balance especially if the A/C isn't 240v.

lollll i am going back and forth. the split would be so nice, and make things so much better. i wouldn't have to build a/c box, wouldn't have to build a stealth window box for intake, and if the split is powerful enough, i could avoid cutting big holes in the ceiling for aircooled hoods. just put up thick curtains and poly behind that and go! im going to go to the store and hear one of these split units in action.

how many btu's do u think i should add if i dont air cool the hoods?

your input is much appreciated



ps. i checked out your thread. your a/c is huge, the mini split units outside unit i think comes up to my knees. i dont think id go about doing anything to a mini splits outside unit, they seem small enough.

 

[apartmentblower]

ok, so the split units ive seen that are around 9k btu aren't that loud at all. like a computer fan, both the inside and outside units.

does 20k btu sound about right for 4kw , non-air-cooled? +dehumidifier

 

[micro gro]

Non-air-cooled, 20k BTU's sounds about right for 4kw but obviously depends on your locale and environment.