recommend a good portable a/c

[dontstepongrass]

i need a portable a/c that i can exhaust into the attic. auto-restart after power loss is a must. looking for at least 12,000 btu's.

any recommendations?

also, it is my understanding that single hose evaporative units have replaced the dual hose.

thanks in advance guys!

 

[SmokeyTheDuck]

I would suggest checking out Sears (Kenmore). Most of their units auto-restart and are reasonably priced.

I chose the route of building a box for a window unit. Saved a couple hundred dollars and got a similar product.

 

[ChronicChemist]

Single hosed vs double hosed is more a factor in how you have your room setup as far as i know. Double hosed unit for a sealed room and single hosed units for a vented room. Also ive heard that the stand alone units are not as effective as advertised, so it may be a good ideat to go alittle over what you think you need...

 

[SweetNightmare]

I have a 10000 btu "everstar" from HD it aint bad... It's been set on 78 after I had it on 62 to bring the room down to temp because of a heatwave... keeps the room at 76-77... the hose isn't even hooked up to the window properly yet, just kinda sitting there... It does blow kinda hard and it is on the more loud side though... would probably kill plants if you had it blowing directly on them but the vents go up... was only like $300-400 if I remember correctly... haven't been able to test the cab with it yet though
EDIT: size of room is 15x15x9

 

[dontstepongrass]

room has exhaust going into attic. sooo vented room? or is it only vented if there's fresh air from outside coming in?

 

[Highlighter]

I bought an EdgeStar 12,000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner on the recommendation of another grower on a similar thread. Have had it running a wk now. I have the exhaust going into a Y w/ a 6" Vortex, then up into the attic. Make sure to tie the ducting up to reduce wgt. Don't rely on duct tape, I learn't the hard way.
Have it set @ 79, but it stays cooler, mid-low 70's. No leakage/water @ all.
Can't hear it outside the rm. Pretty sure it resets too. check tomorree.
Found it online for $379 INCLUDING shipping! Thought that was a real good deal.

 

[SmokeyPufmaster]

That's the one I got Resin, today would be the second day in operation. Set at 78 and is holding at 77. Good air flow too! I'm not worried what the summer may bring.

 

[DrLongbottom]

I Just bought another portable...This one is so I can sleep comfortable!! I find in my application having a portable a/c is nice.....It allows you to kick up the lumens in the winter if you wish....and you can exhaust the a/c into your house.....My heating Bill last winter.......$0. DLB

 

[killerhydrovzla]

Do not use Portable AC if you have more than 1000watts, I will sugest to find another type of AC. Portable AC = your worst nightmare

 

[Highlighter]

Well I DID have a power failure today, and mine didn't reset. Maybe why it was so cheap. Skimmed the direction booklet and saw no mention of auto re-start.
I was power washing my deck, and thought I had tripped the breaker, but my neighbor lost theirs too. Wasn't out long tho, and I got her back on.
Damn hot one for june!

 

[SweetNightmare]

O yea I tripped my breaker running my 12amp vacuum + computer + ps3 + 500watt sub + tv + 150 lamp n heatpad for a reptile... while it was goin on full n it auto restarted when the breaker was flipped Good buy so far has a dehumidifier built in if you want to use it too just need to attach a bucket/trashcan with the drainage hose they give .

 

[yamaha_1fan]

portables arent very efficient. Try to get a window unit

 

[Green Force]

A/c box

 

[dontstepongrass]

already have a window unit. it works perfect. well perfect except that it makes noise outside almost 24/7 and isn't an option for winter use. also, given that i can't use it in winter going portable would mean no more installing/uninstalling window unit seasonally.

some good advice so far guys. keep it comin!

 

[ChronicChemist]

Where is the air comming into the room, just from the rest of the house? Since you are pumping hot air out you need to be pulling cooler air into the room. If its a sealed room you may need some sort of CO2 enrichment as the plants will absorb the CO2 as they grow.

 

[dontstepongrass]

air is being pulled from the room air through the window unit a/c to be cooled then ducted to an inline fan which blows slightly up and at the light and blows across the light.

it works. could probably be better but i keep my temps in check. i'd like to just swap the window unit for a portable one and call it a day...

 

[dontstepongrass]

well the summer temps are here.

BUMP for portable a/c recommendations...

 

[DIGITALHIPPY]

oh man, i recomend any with 2 hoses. i have a 10.5K BTU portable and it cant even keep ONE, un-air-cooled 600W veg room at less then 88....

its funny because when i put it in my living room, it does a decent job at making it comfortable...

*EDIT*
if you can aford it, the 'movin-cool' are the caddilac of mobile-a/c's. strong fans, powerful vents, and real cooling power, but expensive.