PORTABLE AC's & WINDOW AC's ???

[masterlow37]

is there a way for smell not to escape these two types of ac's, i read that with portables you need the double-hose style and with window ac's you just keep the air return close ? need some facts here, THANKS

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

split systems are the ideal setup real nice but expensive/cumbersome install.
mini-splits are perfect if u have the skills/experience to install.
"window shakers" work quite well , easy to install/power but are a bit of security risk.
portables w/ 2 hose are very stealthy!!! but some thought must be spent on how u run the hose(s).

it all depends on your budget, size of grow(wattage),skill level,do u own the property
or rent. shit like that needs to clarified before we can really give you useful advice
BUZZ!

 

[mysticls]

whats a split system?

i'm building my room and a/c is one of last things left.. ive got 12 x 13 room 4 x 600 watt digital ballast in radiant 8 air cooled ballast.. one fan blowing one sucking.. the room is sealed tight. the ballast and the aquarium chiller are in a different room...


what kind of air conditioning? ive seen 12k btu portable a/c..will this be enough? what size dehumidifyer?

 

[MTF-Sandman]

is there a way for smell not to escape these two types of ac's, i read that with portables you need the double-hose style and with window ac's you just keep the air return close ? need some facts here, THANKS

Basically that's the jist of it.

The vast majority of window units don't even have an option for fresh air intake...if it does have the option, all you have to do is close off the intake via the AC's control panel.

Dual hose portables are basically window unit ACs that have the intake and exhaust for the coil side vented via ducting...single hose portables only have an exhaust, so it'll take air from your room as the intake.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

whats a split system?

splits are the most common in homes / offices they are TWO peices
an air handler/evaporator inside (the "box" in the closet u change the air filter on)
the other piece is the compressor/condenser section which use most of the current/power and is out side to blow the heat away.

mini splits are usually smaller and lots easier to instal than a coventional split.



12k btus and 2400 watts of bloom.......... hmmmm your right on the edge of bein adequate and u ned to air cool ur housings (correctly!!), get ur ballasts out of the bloom area/grow space, do you use a CO2 burner???
BUZZ!

 

[Guest]

My window unit does not have fresh air intake and does not throw stank out into the front yard at all.

 

[mysticls]

thats what i figured.. the house already has an air condition with a split system...the grow room is 1 of the rooms but completely sealed off.. all the air vents going into the room are closed off, etc because i don't want the smell venting into the rest of the house..

the room is sealed off.. it has a closet thats 6 x 4 which has a closet built inside of it that which holds the ballast and the aquarium chiller. I've got an air conditioning vent installed in the smaller closet that blows cold air on the ballast and aquarium chiller and vents out the top. in the main closet i've got about 4 x 2 ft worth of space left.. should i put my air conditioner in there? dehumidifyer?

i've got 8 inch duct work along with 4 radiatant 8 reflectors, 4 lumatek 600 watt ballast and hortilux bulbs.. i'm using a couple vortex 747 fans and i've got a can100 for odor control.. i'm using a 1/2hp aquarium chiller to cool my resevoir which is 30 gallons or so..

don't have a co2 generator yet but that is being worked on.. i am setting it up so that it will be hanging in my closet. i'm making a hood that it will mount under that is hung right underneath an air conditioning vent.. this way the hood will be absorbing some of the cold air so it will be chilled 99% of the time...when the co2 generator comes on for ~10 seconds it shouldnt burn long enough to make the aluminum hood too hot.. i think this should work out nicely.

my mother plants are in another room...so that isn't an issue

splits are the most common in homes / offices they are TWO peices
an air handler/evaporator inside (the "box" in the closet u change the air filter on)
the other piece is the compressor/condenser section which use most of the current/power and is out side to blow the heat away.

mini splits are usually smaller and lots easier to instal than a coventional split.



12k btus and 2400 watts of bloom.......... hmmmm your right on the edge of bein adequate and u ned to air cool ur housings (correctly!!), get ur ballasts out of the bloom area/grow space, do you use a CO2 burner???
BUZZ!

 

[Nape]

The only problem I have had with my portable A/C unit is the Digital Controls. I was gone 2 Day's and the power went out for a short time. When the power came back on, the A/C unit will not. You need to turn it on again. My grow got to 112 F for 2 day's.

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

The only problem I have had with my portable A/C unit is the Digital Controls. I was gone 2 Day's and the power went out for a short time. When the power came back on, the A/C unit will not. You need to turn it on again. My grow got to 112 F for 2 day's.

some models by "soleus" have an auto re-start feature to fix your problem.
the only other option is to get the units with a dial/knob for controls, cuzz they're switches and stay in th ON postion and resarts w/ power restoral.

you can get a thermal relay to cut your lights off when temp reaches a set point (adjustable setting) that would be the wise thing for you in the setup u have w/ the digital controls on your A/C
BUZZ!

 

[Nape]

some models by "soleus" have an auto re-start feature to fix your problem.
the only other option is to get the units with a dial/knob for controls, cuzz they're switches and stay in th ON postion and resarts w/ power restoral.

you can get a thermal relay to cut your lights off when temp reaches a set point (adjustable setting) that would be the wise thing for you in the setup u have w/ the digital controls on your A/C
BUZZ!

I like the idea of a thermal relay, Thanks for that...... I am glad Summer is OVER>>>>

 

[mysticls]

will a 12k btu be enough for 2400 watts?? what about 2 portable 12k btu?? the highest portable air conditioners i see are 12,000 btu

 

[Buzzsmirk!]

will a 12k btu be enough for 2400 watts?? what about 2 portable 12k btu?? the highest portable air conditioners i see are 12,000 btu

try one 12 k unit and be ready to get another one if needed (keep the money availible in your budget!)

see how one will do.
BTW if u use CO2 over 900ppm your plants can tolerate more heat than w/o CO2 enrichment, if you are close to the desiredc temp w/ one 12k unit and u dont use CO2 enrichment, spend your money on the CO2 burner/controller would be the wise move IMHO
BUZZ!

 

[gl.pirate]

The only problem I have had with my portable A/C unit is the Digital Controls. I was gone 2 Day's and the power went out for a short time. When the power came back on, the A/C unit will not. You need to turn it on again. My grow got to 112 F for 2 day's.

I also bought a digital portable A/C without auto-restart. The units can be rewired in about 5 minutes to stay on permanantly as long as it is plugged in. Then you can use a thermostat to regulate. I don't have any background in wiring or anything, so if I found it easy then it is EASY.

Take it easy.
gl.pirate

 

[irie-i]

gl. pirate:

The units can be rewired in about 5 minutes to stay on permanantly as long as it is plugged in.

SHOW US PLEASE!

 

[fatboyOGOF]

i have a fujitronic 9000 (9000 btus). it worked great for a few months and then the thermostat or something went out. instead of shutting off at a certain temp it just runs all the time. i'm afraid of running it when i'm not home so i just stopped using it. makes a nice paper weight.

does anybody run their portable a/c unit for like 12 hours straight? if the unit burns out will it just shut down? i''m trying to avoid death by fire.

the above answers are correct re smell. with my portable dual hose i had the intake hose in the bedroom and the exhaust hose in the bathroom. exhasting it outside would not have been a good thing. they don't recommend hooking up a filter on the unit so that's out too.

later

 

[gl.pirate]

I run my a/c all the freaking time. No problems in the past year or so. I'll post some info on rewiring a/cs without auto-restart in the next few days. It sure saved me a lot of frustration.

Take it easy.
gl.pirate

 

[irie-i]

my portable is on 24 hours a day

 

[fatboyOGOF]

thanks for the input. when i go into flower, i'll turn the unit on and see what happens.

my crops were much bigger with cooler temps.

later

 

[BCboy]

I also bought a digital portable A/C without auto-restart. The units can be rewired in about 5 minutes to stay on permanantly as long as it is plugged in. Then you can use a thermostat to regulate. I don't have any background in wiring or anything, so if I found it easy then it is EASY.

Take it easy.
gl.pirate

I'd be really interested to see how you did this too gl.pirate

 

[jorge]

Anyone have some recommendations on Portable Air Conditioner manufacturers? I assume from a previous post the Fujitronic are not very reliable or was that a fluke?