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How to choose an air conditioner?

NPK

NPK

Active member
Hey ICers, got a question for y'all. I'm having some temperature issues in my room--it's getting into the upper '80s, and my plants are showing the effects.

Some details about my setup: I have six 600-watt digis in an 8' x 13 basement. (Only using four of the lights right now.) They are air-cooled and I am running CO2. I know plants actually use the CO2 more effectively at higher temps, but see some ill effects from same (crispy leaves, new yellow growth on healthy new plants just in the room for one day) and have decided it's time to get an AC to control temps.

Is there a rule of thumb for determining how much power you need in an AC? For example, a given number of BTUs per thousand watts of light? Also, from the research I've done it sounds as though window units are the best bet, but that'd be trickier to install in my setup than, say, a dual-hose portable.

Any words of wisdom on the selection of an appropriate air conditioner?
 
rekiz

rekiz

Member
NPK said:
Hey ICers, got a question for y'all. I'm having some temperature issues in my room--it's getting into the upper '80s, and my plants are showing the effects.

Is there a rule of thumb for determining how much power you need in an AC? For example, a given number of BTUs per thousand watts of light? Also, from the research I've done it sounds as though window units are the best bet, but that'd be trickier to install in my setup than, say, a dual-hose portable.

Any words of wisdom on the selection of an appropriate air conditioner?
Click to expand...

I would talk to a air con dealer myself they can tell you the size of air con for your room size.... I also would recomend having a digital thermastat installed in the air con so you have a lot more controll temp wise eg: higher humidity levels are required during veg aposed too flowering....which your already aware of

the only other thing which I would do is buy a lager air con than is needed so it doesnt have to run full time....

sorry cant be more of a help but I'll be looking at the advise very closely since I will be requiring an air con myself very soon. Where I live the temps at this time of year are between 80 - 90 before any lights .
 
V

vaprpig

When I did my A/C research this summer the overwhelming consensus is that the portable A/Cs are crap. You could build a box to install a window A/C in and vent that in some way. Good luck.
 
Buzzsmirk!

Buzzsmirk!

Active member
u need around 18 to 24 kbtu

u need around 18 to 24 kbtu

hey all!!

yes the portables r just not made for "continious duty" u might get a crop or two before one craps out on ya!! plus the "dual hose" feature will suck ur CO2 outa there almost as fast as the "ONE HOSE" designs
I also CONCUR that the portables r a bad use of your A/C dollar

u NEED A/C in a sealed bloom room ( like mine :headbange )

the "window shaker in a box" is the most cost effective try to select a unit
like an 18K BTU or higher to about 24K BTU which will be 220 VAC, i saw some 18 ks that ran on 120VAC though
this can be done for under 500 bux if one is resourceful/knowledgable
there are some good designs on this forum if u look.

another option is the "split design" or "mini-split" for your needs
one of those is gonna run you 900 to 2000 bux , but they r "the shit"
as far as reliability goes and performance too!!!

hope this helps
BUZZ!
 
Y

yamaha_1fan

The leaves getting crispy sounds like they may be too close to the light or something else.

The portables seem to suck.

I picked up a LG A/C unit from Home Depot for 399, its 24k BTU. Even with temps outside of 35 at night, the room is staying warm with just one light, so getting the heat option was not important to me.

It may be tough to find a window ac now in a retail store unless you are in the South South like South Florida or Southern Cali.
 
NPK

NPK

Active member
Thanks for the feedback guys--it's helpful. Confirms that I'm gonna need a higher-BTU unit, and that I should stay away from the portables.

Yamaha, the AC you got sounds like it would work for me. I live in California, so maybe I'll get lucky at a local HD...and if not, there's always mail order!
 
Y

yamaha_1fan

it was not a special or anything. It was the normal price, tons in stock at the time. So maybe you will find it.
 
C

coolx

Active member
Anyone know of a triple hose portable A/C? - I need a quick fix for a temp. sealed room. I read about these some time ago, but haven't seen one yet. They are supposed to keep all the air in the room and just vent out the heat.
 
M

Microwido

Look in your local newspaper adds for a used window unit air conditioner. I am debating buying one eventually, and I see one for 50$ in my paper right now.
 
Johnny Chimpo

Johnny Chimpo

Member
You should get a manual control AC (unless it's a auto restart?) connected to a temp controller...in case you have a power outage it will start back when the power comes on again. I came back to 100 plus temps one day cause the power went out and I have a digital AC that didn't come back on when I got power back.



JC
 
C

coolx

Active member
^^^ I don't want a window a/c for reasons I don't want to get into here - again, all I want to know if anyone knows or has even heard of triple hose portable a/c's, ones that have a heat exchanger that doesn't vent out sealed room CO2. I"m going to put in a window a/c in a few months, just not now.
 
DIGITALHIPPY

DIGITALHIPPY

Active member
Veteran
NPK said:
Thanks for the feedback guys--it's helpful. Confirms that I'm gonna need a higher-BTU unit, and that I should stay away from the portables.

Yamaha, the AC you got sounds like it would work for me. I live in California, so maybe I'll get lucky at a local HD...and if not, there's always mail order!
Click to expand...

if your going big or medium or planing on going to a decent size, spring for the mini split, ive wasted 100's in stop-gap measures...

5k+? go minisplit
there more effeciant then windowboxes also, somthing people dont consider...
more effective at cooling also..
 
O

ogatec

i vote MINI-SPLIT! they are pricey, but they work great. you just have to look at the price as a 1 time investment deal. with 3600 watts i doubt you will have any problems with the list price.
 
O

ogatec

for a air-cooled basment grow-3600 watts, i dont think you would need more than 15-18k btu unit & that would leave room for some growth.

ive been down the window-unit conversion road & its nothing but problems, 2 of my friends have fredrich mini-split 18k units, & they have been a joy to own. the only downside rather than price i see, is it was somewhat complicated to install. they are 17(!) seer units so i dont think efficiancy is a problem.
 
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D

~deadwood~

New member
wafflehouselove said:
Go to excelair.ca there is something there you can use to do your calculation of what btu you need for your usage.
Click to expand...
wow those guys know how to sell to their target customers
:wave:
 
Y

yamaha_1fan

How do you install the mini-splits. I checked the site and couldnt find any instructions. It seems like any split system I have looked at online, requires a A/C tech to finish the install.
 
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