Help My air isnt workin

[midwestnug]

i just bought a new aircondition and i built a box for it and mounted it to my window box... the air conditioner wont stay kicked on, and the window box is hot as hell... my window is only open about 2 inches on the inside of the window box... Am i not getting enough air flow? Do i need to open the window more to let it exaust better? Its brand new i dont get y its not workin. it will only kick on for like 1 minute then stay off for 15 and the room is currently at 93 degree's... HELP B4 MY PLANTS GET TO HOT!!!

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

what??
get the a/c out of the box, just put it in the windowsil.....
u need a fan and ducting to vent if u want to have it in a box....

 

[cocktail frank]

compressor in the a/c has a thermal protection switch.
basically a heat detector.
it is doing its job.
you my friend, are cooking that new a/c.
boxing the backside of the a/c is like putting the a/c in the oven.
you need airflow, the heat the a/c pulls out of the room needs to go somewhere.
go buy some marshmallows, this way there is a "bright side" when the thing busts into flames.
grab some graham crackers and choco too, i like smores

 

[hoosierdaddy]

These are sketches of the AC unit in my cab. I am cooling the flower chamber of a 1sq M floor area x 5'.

I think folks misunderstand what needs to happen with the AC air flow situation.
Note I have an insulated box around just the very back part of the unit. This is where all the hot air exhausts. On my set-up, I have a hole in the side of the cab that the box leads to, and then ducting to the exhaust chamber where there is a 6" duct pulling all the heat and air to the attic.

The middle area of the unit is where the air to cool the hot air come in from. Note that I have this area separated from the front area where the cold air comes from. The unit would work fine without separating those two areas, however you would be using up precious cold air to help cool the exhaust, which would be a gross waste of energy.
So, I separate them and only let fresh ambient air into the cooling vents.
The cold air stays in the chamber and recirculates.

Most make the mistake of covering the whole back part of the unit with a box. This leaves the air in and air out in the same compartment...which will not work.
There has to be fresh air going in, and a clear way for it to come out...or be sucked out.

EDIT:
Also, condensation is going to be an issue. There will be water made by the unit, no matter what size it is. I know there is some debate over how to handle the water from these units, but I can just about guarantee you that it will become an issue for anyone who uses an AC, save for maybe those in the desert SW.
My little unit does not have a drain for condensation, and I think they feel it is so small that any condensation will be re-evaporated and will not be a problem. Thing is, we are using these in a fashion that is outside of the original design. You will need to either run a drain line to get rid of the water, or do like I do and cut a port in the side of the unit (I clipped a couple of vent fins) and use a turkey baster to suck out the water on a regular basis.
If you don't do something with the water, it will make a mess, guaranteed.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

hoosierdaddy, I think that is the best diagram/explanation I have seen.

What are you guys using to build the box? I was going to try to find some duct board to duct my heat out. My AC is already mounted so I dont need anything heavy duty. Plywood would just be a bitch to deal with.

I also need to vent my lights into the box and have all the hot air go outside. All that heat is just building up in the garage

 

[hoosierdaddy]

yamaha, I find that the best stuff you can find for such projects is Dow Corning Supertuff R insulation board. Find it at many Lowes and HD's for about $11 per 4x8 sheet. A sheet probably weighs two pounds.
Use a razor to cut with a straight edge on one side, and the board will break clean. Use Gorilla brand duct tape to put it together.
One side is brushed aluminum and the other is blue and looks like plastic, but both sides are aluminum sheets sandwiching insulation.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Can you cut holes in it and have it maintain its shape/structure?

And will a 6" vortex be enough to pull the heat from that box?

 

[midwestnug]

thanks hoosier, for the most part my box was good i just had to pull the air conditioner out of it a little bit to expose the side vents... your pic really helped and prably saved my plants... THANKS AGAIN