sealed room humidity-how do you control it?

[grassfarmer]

I have just started flowering in my sealed room, and am still adjusting some minor things but have noticed that my humidity is kind of high and was wondering why. here is what I am using in my room and a few thoughts I had.
15x6x8 room size
3 air cooled 1000's
12,000btu window ac
sentinel variable co2 gen using only 2 burners right now
sentinel chhc-1 controlling ac, co2, and night time heater
sentinel chhc-1 sensor is literally under the lights at plant top heighth
kenmore 50 pint dehumidifier w continuous drain hose
50 ak plants in 3 gal pots of promix about 12" tall

the dehumidifier and co2 burner are all at the end fo the room along the wall, the dehumidifier is plugged into an old green air climate controller which is located closer to the middle of the room. set at about 35% on the controller and full blast on the unit.

humidity high has been something like 65%. just seems high, and feel like I should be able to have more control than that.

thoughts:
maybe the dehumidifier is not working right because its to close to the wall,
maybe the slightly higher temps and are causing too much humidity
maybe the unit is too small
maybe the humidity reading IN the plants is ok at that level

I would like to hear what other people are running for dehumidifiers in sealed rooms, and other specs, also what levels of humidity are acceptable if neccessary.
Thanks, please help

 

[SpoCannabis]

Wow...there is no way the dehumidifier is working properly. Turn it off and see if the humidity rises. If it doesn't, or very little you will know your dehumidifier isn't working properly. How old is it? Those particular models only last about a year or two TYPICALLY (i know someone will rant me for saying that) in a large growroom. Hope this helps ;-)

 

[Bulénath]

Interesting.

I have a G&E temperature/humitiy guage with remote sensor, so it measures both ambient and grow-box's RH and Temp.

The problem is one reads like 20% RH below the other when side by side.

Hope you have a really fancy humidity guage that is calibrated correctly.

 

[grassfarmer]

bulenath- I know that the sensor on my chhc-1 is correct because I put 3 other thermometers/hygrometers in the same place and the readings were all within a few % of each other.

spo cannabis- this unit is new. I just bought it at sears, for this purpose. it was on clearance because there was a dent in the back of the casing. I dont know what model it is, but its the 50 pint low temp model it has auto restart, and the hose atatchment. do you have any idea what could/would not be working on it?

 

[SpoCannabis]

Ok, then it HAS to be your unit. Like I said, try not running the unit and see where the humidity goes. I would exchange the unit once you prove that it is in fact the dehydrator.

 

[grassfarmer]

thanks, I wanted an easier fix, but thanks I suspected that

 

[badugi]

Unsure, but first thing move that CHHC-1 sensor away from directly under the lights. I'm told CO2 sensors should placed in shaded areas, away from direct light.

 

[pico]

Sometimes those little units don't get the job done. Might want to look in to the Santa Fe 100 pint unit. I have one and it works great.

pico

 

[badugi]

I really wanted that Santa Fe classic, but just couldn't (yet) justify $1.2k a pop although I have a feeling it will probably pay for itself in the long run. Instead I settled with a pair of Kenmore's, one 65 pint and one 70 pint. So far so good, but late flower will tell.

Definitely looking into a mini-split A/C and the Santa Fe dehumidifier, but I can't really afford/justify it yet.

 

[grassfarmer]

badugi- I was told the same thing about the ppm3, but the sentinel guy told me to do specifically this with chhc-1

pico- I thought of this, but I could swear Ive seen people doing really big grows with this size. mine is only 3k, and in a very small room. maybe the room size makes it harder to dehumidify?

thanks everyone

 

[Mickymouse]

Can you see any water going to drain.

 

[doubleds]

humidity

humidity

I take it the humidity is high with the lights on? I run 20 x 1000 watt lights, 2 x 3 ton a/c units, 23 4ft plants and my room stays between 35% and 40% at lights on. The problem comes at lights off, i have 1 x 65 pint, 1 x 45 pint and 1 x 25 pint running during the dark cycle and its 60%.

1 dehumidifier not working properly, take it out of the controller and see how it works

2 a/c unit not working properly- how big is the a/c unit for your big room?

here's my room

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=106108

 

[grassfarmer]

just talked to my buddy over at the "shop". he said the humidity high was like 50 something since I repositioned the dehumidifier, I had it facing the wall before, I did some swapping around, and have it facing the plants now.

do you think it makes a difference if its up high or not?

I still have the unit set all the way up, high fan speed, and the controller(old school green air "deluxe climate controller") set around 35", dont know how accurate that thing is though, maybe I'll turn it up a little bit next time I visit, just to see if I can.

for now I can live with 50.

 

[grassfarmer]

the unit works properly, it does fill up the bucket if I take the hose off.

with it cranked up all the way all the time it keeps the humidity around 55-60. but when the co2 turns on it goes up to 68 for just a few minutes until the burner shuts off.

should I get a bigger dehumidifier?, Id really like to hear what other people are using in sealed rooms.

I thought it might be so to dehumidify because the room is so small 6x15, and there is 3k in there and over 50 14" plants.

really looking for an affordable solution.

 

[badugi]

Sounds like you need a bigger dehumidifier. If you can't afford the Santa Fe, try a Kenmore or other 65/70 pint units with an Energy Star certification (this way you won't run into some horribly inefficient pig, like the Hydrofarm 40 pint unit).

Just make sure that it has an auto-restart feature. (Many units have a delayed auto-restart upon power cycle.)

 

[grassfarmer]

is a 65-70 pint a lot more powerfull than the 50?
my 50 pint is a kenmore, and has an auto restart, I'm thinking about finding an affordable 70 pint, and if that doesnt cut it, just run them both at once.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

Your CHHC-1 will run the dehumidifier. Why are you using the green air controller? I wonder if the green air is bad.


Funny, since I added my CO2, my RH has gone down during lights on, almost too low I think.

That unit should work. I use a LG 65 pint unit and it does the job fine. My room is alot bigger than yours as well.


My unit will run for 2 hours, then stop for 2 hours I believe. Its possible yours is doing the same thing and RH is climbing during the off time. If so, but it drops back down, then I think you are OK

Reset the min/max on the CHHC and monitor it.


Also do you have lots of fans circulating air?




BTW does your CHHC sensor have a little orange light in it?

 

[grassfarmer]

yamaha- my chhc will run the dehumidifier, but it only can take a 15 amp load. I had it shut off before from having the dehumidifier and the heater on at the same time. I have it on the old school controller just so the hygrometer is farther down the room then at the very end where the unit is.
does the LG have auto reset?
I reset the min/max all the time and watch the rh. it is mostly in the low 50's, but rises just while the generator is on.
these plants are 14" in first week of veg, and the unit is on most of the time.
I poked my head in just before the lights came on, and the only light I could see was a green light on the sensor, that said "sensor on". I covered it up with a small piece of tape. I didn't notice an orange light, but I dont think it would be a big deal if its what I think you're talking about. I saw a picture somebody took of another controller that gave on orange glow from inside it. thers no way you can mask it so it either doesent really matter, or every unit ever sold has fucke up someones crop. it probably doesn't matter.

 

[yamaha_1fan]

yeah its on the inside.

OK you got some other items running on the CHHC. You could still use the CHHC if you want by buying a contactor but thats probably unneeded since you have the green air.

If it stays around 50-60 then jumps up only while the CO2 is running, then I think you are OK.

Yes the LG has auto restart

 

[idea]

i began using a variac transformer to control the speed of my inline fans venting my lights. that way i control the heat made by the lights and that can change the rooms humidity. so far it works good.

its a small room though and naturally cool.