Portable AC advice!!

[Inkster]

Hey all! it has come apparent that i need other means of cooling my room other than exhaust fans. I was thinking of making an ac Box for a wall unit.. but with the price of the addition fans and ect doesn't seem as reasonable.. plus their is a window 2.5 feet outside my flower room im thinking a portable ac with at least 3 foot of hose could work for me.
http://www.portableairshop.com/AP14...oners-Heat_And_Cool_Portable_Air_Conditioners

im thinking about purchasing this unit for my seal flower room. anyone have any experience with portable ac units? what do you think of this one?

 

[Neo 420]

Need more information:

Room Size
Room Temps
Plant Count
What your light setup? (exhausted lights? Wattage? Bare bulb?)

 

[dunkydunk]

Portable a/c's will take the edge off, but even the good ones are remarkably inefficient. No matter how well you hook them up, they are always battling their own heat, and they need to raised off the floor to collect all the water they'll generate in a grow environment. And no matter how well you clean them, sooner or later they get moldy. They also tend to throw stink out with the exhaust, even the two hose models.

For climate control a portable is better than nothing, but not by much. A window unit is better, and a mini split is best.

 

[Keyz]

I used a 8000 btu portable AC in my 8x4 tent, but I ended up replacing it with a 5000btu window AC box. The reason I made the switch was that I was using a single hose portable, instead of a double hose portable, and it takes the air from inside the room and blows it out the exhaust. A double hose would both intake and exhaust from the hoses. I use CO2, so my AC sucking out my air isn't whats up at all..... Just keep that in mind if you're runnin CO2

 

[Inkster]

Need more information:

Room Size
Room Temps
Plant Count
What your light setup? (exhausted lights? Wattage? Bare bulb?)

Room size: 13'x10.5'x9'
room temps" approx 85 degrees F
Plant count: 14
Light setup" 2 600w and 2 1000w aircooled hood with two 6" fans

ty for your help...

 

[Inkster]

Portable a/c's will take the edge off, but even the good ones are remarkably inefficient. No matter how well you hook them up, they are always battling their own heat, and they need to raised off the floor to collect all the water they'll generate in a grow environment. And no matter how well you clean them, sooner or later they get moldy. They also tend to throw stink out with the exhaust, even the two hose models.

For climate control a portable is better than nothing, but not by much. A window unit is better, and a mini split is best.

ty for the comment sir.... how are they always battling their own heat what is your experience with using a portable ac with a direct connect to the outside?

 

[Inkster]

I used a 8000 btu portable AC in my 8x4 tent, but I ended up replacing it with a 5000btu window AC box. The reason I made the switch was that I was using a single hose portable, instead of a double hose portable, and it takes the air from inside the room and blows it out the exhaust. A double hose would both intake and exhaust from the hoses. I use CO2, so my AC sucking out my air isn't whats up at all..... Just keep that in mind if you're runnin CO2

Yes i will be running co2... yes the unit i will be getting will run the double hose. why didnt you just get a ac with 2 hoses?

 

[dunkydunk]

If you're running co2 a two hose unit will still suck some out of the room. It just will, they aren't built for grow rooms.

 

[Lapides]

I've tried a portable AC before and was less than thrilled with its cooling capacity.

A window AC box would really be the way to IMO if you don't have the coin for a mini-split.

 

[Inkster]

If you're running co2 a two hose unit will still suck some out of the room. It just will, they aren't built for grow rooms.

did you not see my question for yee sir?

 

[Inkster]

Hmmm i am looking at all options for cooling my grow. Boy is this a head ache! Water cooled, Mini splits, Window and portable ac. all have pro's and con's! whhhhaaaaagah!

 

[Haps]

I got a 11000 btu fridgedaire, single hose, worked great in a thousand cubic foot room, 2K. I liked it enough to get another one when I needed a solution for my cooling this summer too. If it don't do it, add a second and rock on.
H

 

[Hydropimp]

Try a portable water cooled a/c.

 

[Neo 420]

There are only a few portable AC's that will not suck out the CO2. In the meanwhile, the portable AC will be providing cool air, but like mentioned before will also produce heat. The most economical way to run your run your room will be with a window AC unit. The absolute best way would be a mini- split. I started my room with a portable BTU and quickly learned the hard way why not to use a portable AC. I caught root rot in my RDWC (Had to trash those plants) and my soil plants were drinking mad water cause of the heat. I converted to a window unit and have no problems and can really control the temp. I highly recommend a plain ole window unit with at least 1 ton (12,000 BTU) capacity. You will not regret it..

 

[dunkydunk]

ty for the comment sir.... how are they always battling their own heat what is your experience with using a portable ac with a direct connect to the outside?

They are always battling their own heat because the entire unit is inside. In refrigeration you don't really create cold, you exchange heat, it's best to keep the hot and cold away from each other. A portable unit is a a little r2d2 that shits where it eats. That's why a window unit is better, and a mini split is best - the distance between the hot side and the cold side.

If you don't have the money, or skills, to install a mini split, then try and figure out a window unit, or make a window-box unit. There's a lengthy thread on window boxes right on the first page.

Portables are quick and should be temporary. My electric bill went down almost a $100 when I got rid of mine.

 

[Inkster]

okay i pretty much decided on the mini split. it just worried be due to the fact they are so EXPENSIVE and the fact i only heard about them a few days ago. i am going to my local Cooling and heat shop that sells them. looks like im going to be dropping close to 2 grand. BAH! haha. any recommendations ?

 

[Inkster]

I can install the unit myself but as for vacuuming the unit.. and charging the lines.. is there any reason why the AC guy would need to do anything with the indoor unit? i would just say im locked out of the house when he came to service the mini split...?? or does he in fact have to do work on the indoor unit??

 

[zor]

There are only a few portable AC's that will not suck out the CO2.

Could u please share the brand names of these? Thx!

 

[Lazyman]

Portable a/c's will take the edge off, but even the good ones are remarkably inefficient. No matter how well you hook them up, they are always battling their own heat, and they need to raised off the floor to collect all the water they'll generate in a grow environment. And no matter how well you clean them, sooner or later they get moldy. They also tend to throw stink out with the exhaust, even the two hose models.

For climate control a portable is better than nothing, but not by much. A window unit is better, and a mini split is best.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Good post mate!

I'll add that most portables BTU ratings are ridiculously optimistic: A 9K BTU portable provides about 5K of cooling, nowhere near 9.

 

[praisehim.]

portables suck ass. dont get one if you dont have to, window units work ten times better...