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Need a Good AC Idea... Do they have these special ACs?

Duckmang

Duckmang

Member
I've got a window unit that I converted to a mini split system. If you've got any friends that do HVAC work it wouldn't be too hard to rig something up.
 
G

grow nerd

Duckmang, did you increase the length of refrigerant line? I could only imagine you did... unless you mean you just sealed up the inside and separated the inside & outside real well. Separate fan for the outdoor coil, or the same single fan + 2 blade design?
 
D

dunkybones

One is intake and one is exhaust, with plastic accordian 5" hoses. They usually come with a window grille to stick both hoses out the same window, but if you eliminate the intake hose and cap off the the intake port with the supplied plug, then it draws indoor air through a filter in the back of the machine. Every portable I've ever seen operates this way. They're clunky and cumbersome for something advertised as portable, but they do work.

Something else that is weird about these portable units is the drain valve. As you probably already know, an a/c doubles as a dehumidifier, and they put the drain port on the floor, and in the back. The instruction manual says to drain the water into a baking dish when it's little reservoir fills up and the unit stops running. Try and pick up a baking dish off the floor without spilling it everywhere, and do this three times a day when it's hot and humid. So I put mine on a roller cart so it can drain all day into a bucket. I don't know where you're located, but out here on the east coast, when the summer gets rough my a/c will drain a couple gallons of water a day. Running that wet leads to mold problems, and I have to clean the unit periodically. But they're not built to be cleaning friendly, so what I can't get to gets sprayed with bleach water.

Fifteen bucks is nothing for shipping, I say buy it, and learn to love it.
 
S

Spanishwilly

Member
I have a similar problem in that it gets 100F plus for weeks here every summer. Nobody wants to answer this issue for me in my thread, so hopefully you´ll forgive me for asking here. I´m running splits to cool my rooms. Can I help them perform more efficiently by somehow cooling the external units with running water?
Again, not trying to hijack, and thanks in advance to any for help.
SW
 
D

dtfsux

Member
Spanishwilly said:
I have a similar problem in that it gets 100F plus for weeks here every summer. Nobody wants to answer this issue for me in my thread, so hopefully you´ll forgive me for asking here. I´m running splits to cool my rooms. Can I help them perform more efficiently by somehow cooling the external units with running water?
Again, not trying to hijack, and thanks in advance to any for help.
SW
Click to expand...

heres a link. before reading it, I suggest you read the WHOLE thing. There are alot of good points and tips. The whole idea is to cool the AIR going through the compressor, not cooling the compressor off with water

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=95761&highlight=coolnsave&page=3
 
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sexybudandnugs

Member
dunkybones said:
One is intake and one is exhaust, with plastic accordian 5" hoses. They usually come with a window grille to stick both hoses out the same window, but if you eliminate the intake hose and cap off the the intake port with the supplied plug, then it draws indoor air through a filter in the back of the machine. Every portable I've ever seen operates this way. They're clunky and cumbersome for something advertised as portable, but they do work.

Something else that is weird about these portable units is the drain valve. As you probably already know, an a/c doubles as a dehumidifier, and they put the drain port on the floor, and in the back. The instruction manual says to drain the water into a baking dish when it's little reservoir fills up and the unit stops running. Try and pick up a baking dish off the floor without spilling it everywhere, and do this three times a day when it's hot and humid. So I put mine on a roller cart so it can drain all day into a bucket. I don't know where you're located, but out here on the east coast, when the summer gets rough my a/c will drain a couple gallons of water a day. Running that wet leads to mold problems, and I have to clean the unit periodically. But they're not built to be cleaning friendly, so what I can't get to gets sprayed with bleach water.

Fifteen bucks is nothing for shipping, I say buy it, and learn to love it.
Click to expand...

hmmm... well if you block off the intake and there's an exhaust... were does it get the air from to exhaust.... i'm a little confused still... can u post up a model I can get at home depot that would work?
 
D

dunkybones

Here is the exact unit I have:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

well if you block off the intake and there's an exhaust... were does it get the air from to exhaust....
Click to expand...

If you install it with only the exhaust hose, then it pulls air out of the room through a grill in the back of the machine, and then pumps that out through the exhaust hose, along with some of your cold and a lot of your smell. If you attach the second hose for intake, then you don't have those problems, you just have another hose to get in your way.

I just went looking for a good image to help explain things, and I see a lot of models do have only one hose. We've already established this isn't what you want. I'm sure the box stores are starting to stock the portables for the summer season, so ignore my confusing explanation of one hose/two hoses, and just make sure the model you buy has two. The machine you're looking for does exist, it isn't hard to find, just make sure it has two hoses before you pay for it.

Good luck.
 
S

sexybudandnugs

Member
Yes I've seen two hoses before but ALL at stores are TWO EXHAUST... thanks...

that link from alt looks like a win!

the homedepot I believe will be dual hose exhaust... i'm not a pro... I just have been looking for one intake one exhaust for a while at "box stores."

thanks everyone.. i might have to buy online... i'll check out homedepot again.... this season... =)... gotta hurry up... blooming is about to start.. and so is the heat!!! and.. smell... and co2...
 
S

smalltymer

Member
hey guys. i bought a portable ac unit from homedepot. one with dual hoses. intake and exhaust. im still have problems of smell leaking out. i made sure i had the right cap on the back and everything. im my last attempt ive even tried sealing the whole ac unit with caulk and duct tape. only way i fixed it was to put a carbon scrubber over my exhaust. is any one using a unit that doesnt have this problem? what about the one in the link?
 
D

dunkybones

The one in the link exhausts up a chimney, so only Santa Claus knows. If you've put a carbon scrubber on yours, be sure it's sized well enough to allow good airflow, the unit won't work well if the exhaust is too heavily restricted.
 
S

sexybudandnugs

Member
damn still have problems with smell even with one intake and one exhaust? I was going to head to Home Depot this weekend... that blows!!
 
G

grow nerd

smalltymer said:
hey guys. i bought a portable ac unit from homedepot. one with dual hoses. intake and exhaust. im still have problems of smell leaking out. i made sure i had the right cap on the back and everything. im my last attempt ive even tried sealing the whole ac unit with caulk and duct tape. only way i fixed it was to put a carbon scrubber over my exhaust. is any one using a unit that doesnt have this problem? what about the one in the link?
Click to expand...
I guess you skipped and ignored the entire thread? Most of the thread discussed how even most/all dual-hose units won't even help you. And putting a restrictive carbon filter on the exhaust is a bad idea for multiple reasons.
 
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