Portable AC.......Think this will work or should i use another option?

[bambam]

Hey guys I want to keep running my 1000watter in the summer and was thinking about a portable AC. Now i run a 1000 in a 4x4 tent. I have found a unit that is small enough to fit inside of my tent (8000btu unit).

First off i have zero know how when it comes to these ac units. I would think i would have to run a line out of the tent from the ac for venting and have the cold air inside of the tent? Correct?

My tent runs around 87F with no ac and i dont like it that hot. The plants dont like it that hot i am sure. SO do you guys think 8000btu's would be enough? Thanks

 

[bass ackwards]

Agood rule of thumb is 4000BTU/1000w. Yes you will need to exhaust outside the tent. You will also need to empty the unit of water condensation,or drain the condensation to an external collector such as a bucket.

Respect bass

 

[bambam]

Thanks for the heads up man. I thank you for the info and will be off to Lowes or HD to snag one. Thanks

 

[bass ackwards]

A word of advice,consider carefully the application you are using this unit for.
I thought you already had a unit. For a small tent as you describe a portable unit will work however if you decide to go bigger you may find the unit will not be adequate.
I say this because I have three portable units bought from Sam's club and they were not big enough for my 6000w rooms. If you do not intend to go much bigger than what you have described you will be fine. But if you decide to expand as most of us do plan carefully.
These units cost around $400 and I would hate to see you disappointed in the future.

Respect bass

 

[bambam]

Well all that being said i feel that the 8000btu job will do. I dont think i could ever do more then 2k so i would think 8kbtu would do it. I would never get less then that for that reason. Great minds think alike

I wished i had more info on this water dumping you are talking about. I plan to get a AC that has a timer and temp setting if you will to help make that part of the set up work on my time. I hand feed bro so i dont like extra work Sure it will be a plug and play kinda thing. Will be sure to let you know how it turns out.

 

[mjcuresall]

Please read 00420's sticky on calculating the right size a/c for your grow here.

There's a formula for figuring that out and if you're going with a portable a/c, you'll be glad you read the thread.

You have to account for all the equipment in your space and whether your ballast is in there, as well. The formula assumes you'll be using a window a/c. Plan on multiplying the total BTU's by at least 1.5 for a portable unit. (They are extremely inefficient compared to window units.) The thread suggests doubling it.

EDIT: P.S. The exhaust hose for portable a/c's aren't insulated and are usually about 5 feet long, so make sure you use as little of it as possible. Those units have to be about a foot away from a wall as the air intake is usually on the back of the unit. Keep the exhaust hose short to keep from adding any additional heat to the space and to keep the unit from working any harder than it has to.

 

[bambam]

mjcuresall Wonderful link my man! Thanks for the info. Think i will go with the 12000btu unit for just about $120 more. Just to make sure that i have the amount of cooling i will need if i go with 2 1k's. Love this site!

 

[mjcuresall]

Glad to help, bambam! Yeah, I love this site, too!

Usually the bigger units like that 12k you're looking at have dual hoses- one for air intake and one for exhaust- and are more efficient than the single hose units. That just means you'll have to make 2 holes in the tent instead of one. Also, you may not have to empty the water (as often) 'cause they at least try to evaporate it in the exhaust.

I hope it all works out for you.
Peace.