In window ac vs portable

[rr14]

Is there much of an advantage to using a portable over a window unit in a cabinet? The portable takes up space that could be better used on plants. The window ac will have to have a tray that will have to be dumped.

What's your guys' opinions. The wall unit is about $150 cheaper than the portable. Both are 8000 btu.

The cabinet is 8" by 3" by 6' and the reason I don't want to just use a huge exhuast is to conserve co2.

 

[TokenBlackGuy]

window Ac uses less power usuasly because they have a better ER? rating.. but a portable AC Can be placed in more areas than the window unit.

 

[Guest]

The portable unit will have a drain tube you would need to dump outdoors anyway, go with the window unit for sure, portables need to be filled, and would need to be tended to daily. If you can go window unit do it for sure, save that precious floor space for plants.

 

[malkop_zolkop]

I had a stoner moment thought about split ACs, doesn't really apply to small scale grows though.
Create a firewall, and thus a chilling chamber at your window. Perhaps a metre deep, stretching ceiling to floor.Then run ducting into the space above the ceiling. Also, run your cool tube ducting into the chilling chamber, as well as a couple of exctractors, directly in to the room.
Have each wall and ceiling extractor run of different controls, allowing you to control the room temp without affecting the light cooling, and still only use one AC.
Added benefits:
Top cooling of hotspots (Avoid detection)
Cooling of the outer wall area (As above)
Creating a seperate poorly lit room, and this attracting less attention than a blacked up window...

 

[l_d_d]

Ive used both, and neither have I ever had to drain. I think there was a plug in the window unit we had to pull for a drip or something.

The window units are more efficient. I think they cool better also. They can leak light (both ways) and smell though.

Portable ones are much more stealth, but slightly less effective imo.

You do always wanna have space to get around. My portable unit has wheels so I can wheel it around, have a little slack in the duct But if things were tight in there it wouldnt work out so well, trying to move it. Also use insulated duct for the heat exhaust not the flexduct unisulated stuff, if you use a portable imo.

 

[TokenBlackGuy]

I havent had to drain my portable Ac yet because i havent used the dehumidfier function yet, but when i do use it, im juts going to place a large container in room to hold the water..

 

[rr14]

so you can turn off the dehumidifying function on the in window ac units? That would probably work out good to minimize how often I would have to drain the drip tray.

 

[TokenBlackGuy]

so you can turn off the dehumidifying function on the in window ac units? That would probably work out good to minimize how often I would have to drain the drip tray.

I dont know if they are on the window AC but i have one on my portable AC...

 

[Guest]

Keep the water because it's essentially distilled water. It will be devoid of nutes and PH balanced to keep things healhy.

 

[enahs]

you should not have to empty a tray on a window unit the water is normally splashed outside on to the coil to help with efficiency and any excess water drains outside. You are putting it in a window right?

 

[irie-i]

window a/c might vent your stinky air, portable a/c exhchanges heat, not air. but only the dual hose version

http://home.howstuffworks.com/ac.htm

 

[rr14]

the window unit would go in the wall of my grow box. It would still be inside, hence the need to a catch tray for the fluid.

 

[enahs]

You do know that all the heat you are pulling out of your box will be warming up you ambient room? So in return you Intake will be pulling the warm air right back in. YOu need to get the heat out some how. just a thought maybe you already thought of that just my .02

 

[rr14]

token black guy, what brand and model do you use?

 

[TokenBlackGuy]

token black guy, what brand and model do you use?

I use a daewoo DOC-091R 9000 BTU portable AC... i picked it up from a craigslist listing for $250... Its digital and doesnt have an auto start so thats my only gripe and its power consumption is high at 1020... but so far i really enjoy being able to control my temps.. it has made a big difference in my growing ability.. i also can add another 600 HPS without any reall hard adjustments..

 

[TokenBlackGuy]

I use a daewoo DOC-091R 9000 BTU portable AC... i picked it up from a craigslist listing for $250... Its digital and doesnt have an auto start so thats my only gripe and its power consumption is high at 1020... but so far i really enjoy being able to control my temps.. it has made a big difference in my growing ability.. i also can add another 600 HPS without any reall hard adjustments..

Another gripe that i for got to mention is that is only one hose so that some smell leaks out of the grow room but i usualy use a some ONA and will also be buying a vaportek soon...

 

[Guest]

go for portable . more stealth , more versatile , no window needed , just vent up into the attic. get the one hose type that jus tneed exhaust.

 

[BruceLeeroy]

if you decide to go with a portable unit, make sure you get a dual duct portable. the single duct portables that so many places sell are much less efficient and their stated BTU rating is often far higher than it will really cool.

peace

 

[cabanetforester]

hello AC people.

hello AC people.

I have been looking at the dual hose portable units, but they all say they exchange fresh air and old air through the intake/exaust ducts?

I thought the dual hoses were for cooling the compressor/condensor and no air was exchanged from the cooled space. Does someone make a portable ac that dosent exchange air.

I would think they would have a function like our cars where you can choose between fresh air and recirculated air.

I want to use the AC for temp control but I also want to run c02 and keep the system mostly closed to conserve c02.

Can anyone help me out here?

Much thanks CF

 

[irie-i]

the dual hose that i have doesnt seem to exchange air, just heat. there is a filter for the air coming into the machine from the room, but no filter for the exchange air. but i just started today so we shall see