Central AC

[100PoundHarvest]

I am going to start a new grow pretty soon. There is only one problem, the air conditioning situation. The grow will consist of 2 separate flowering rooms, each with 3 1000 watt lights and plants in coco dtw under them. The house has a pretty new central ac system and I need to figure out a way to cool the 2 grows with it. The 2 grows will be the only thing running off of the ac, and if needed I can use exhaust fans to the attic. I know that mini splits or window bangers would be ideal but I cant have anything on the outside of the house for security reasons. each of the rooms will be roughly 10x12 give or take a few feet. Any input is appreciated.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

Shut-off/block all the vents in the house with the exception of your rooms, be ready to use a closed loop setup to assist with cooling if need be.

grow grow grow

 

[Midnight]

Shut-off/block all the vents in the house with the exception of your rooms, be ready to use a closed loop setup to assist with cooling if need be.

grow grow grow

Don't do this. This will cause the static pressure on the duct system to rise and will most likely cause the indoor coil to ice up.

I would find wherever the ducts connect to the system and pinch all of them closed except the ones to the rooms you are using.

Remove the two ducts going to your rooms, remove the metal start collar they are attached to, enlarge the holes where you just removed the start collars to accommodate a 10 to 14 inch duct on each hole, attach the corresponding duct to each start collar. Now go to the other end of the duct and enlarge the boot that it connects to.

The object is to enlarge the ducts to the two rooms to somewhere between 10 and 14 inches in diameter, it will depend on the tonnage of your system and size of the rooms.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

It sounded as if he had some clue, I should have been more specific about "closing/blocking"

In just about every well installed central system there are shut-offs/in-line T's/dampers to do exactly what I suggested, usually not far from the main trunk.

Don't do this. This will cause the static pressure on the duct system to rise and will most likely cause the indoor coil to ice up.

I would find wherever the ducts connect to the system and pinch all of them closed except the ones to the rooms you are using.

Remove the two ducts going to your rooms, remove the metal start collar they are attached to, enlarge the holes where you just removed the start collars to accommodate a 10 to 14 inch duct on each hole, attach the corresponding duct to each start collar. Now go to the other end of the duct and enlarge the boot that it connects to.

The object is to enlarge the ducts to the two rooms to somewhere between 10 and 14 inches in diameter, it will depend on the tonnage of your system and size of the rooms.

 

[Guest 18340]

Where's the thermostat located?
If you pinch off the whole system except for the two rooms you're using then you'll have to move the thermostat into one of those rooms.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

Where's the thermostat located?
If you pinch off the whole system except for the two rooms you're using then you'll have to move the thermostat into one of those rooms.

Unless he also leaves the room with the thermostat unblocked as well.

 

[Guest 18340]

Unless he also leaves the room with the thermostat unblocked as well.

Even then, the two rooms with lights will get MUCH hotter.

 

[spunion]

Use the central AC normally and put fans directly in contact with your lamps so heat won't be an issue.

 

[CannaBunkerMan]

Do you have seperate zones? Regardless, you'll need a thermostat in the hottest room. Ideally, you'd set up a seperate zone for the room. If not, hijack the lone thermostat, and keep it in your flower room.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

Even then, the two rooms with lights will get MUCH hotter.

But, he can at least regulate the temps that way if moving the thermostat is not an option.

Also note that in my first post I suggested he be ready to run his lights on a closed loop if need be.

Bottom line = many ways to skin a cat

 

[RedRain]

Unless he also leaves the room with the thermostat unblocked as well.

ya so u will have no heat load and cold air blowing on a stat?? like that will work.............


how big is your house??? Are u running rooms on the flip???

ever read what an AC is and how it works??? u absorb heat into the refrigerant and release it to the outside air, during a phase change of the refrigerant.

if you are just pumping cool air into ur room u will have humidity issues plus other issues that other members did and did not mention, if you have a cold air return sucking the hot air into your ac you will have smell issues all over u house.

THIS IS THE WRONG IDEA.

 

[Hydropimp]

Buy a large fan 12"-14" vortex and exhaust both rooms ala krunchbubble or box in a window banger.

Leave the house a/c alone.

Are you going to be living in the house?

Or if you got the $$$$$$$ get yourself a water cooled a/c and install a well and a pump then you will not spend that much $ on electricity. And water cools better than air.

The water cooled a/c is cheap find one used call someone over to drill the well or you can diy. No outside unit with a water cooled unit.

Lastly look up Dominican green thread purple kush unit and he has a unit that is a one piece and exhaust the heat out via big fan.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

I do something very similar to what I advised, I don't need to block off that many vents though, only a few to unused rooms of the house.

Large house,yes and yes... If I didn't know it would work I would just STFU

Only offering an alternative.

No heat load?
Normally where the thermostat is located is the central heat-load area of a house.

Humidity is something that is NOT constant AND can be controlled.

What the fuck is up with the hostility around this joint anyway?

p.s. lack of pictures doesn't mean someone isn't growing, or knows what they're talking about.

I love how the theory boys come out of the woodwork

ya so u will have no heat load and cold air blowing on a stat?? like that will work.............


how big is your house??? Are u running rooms on the flip???

ever read what an AC is and how it works??? u absorb heat into the refrigerant and release it to the outside air, during a phase change of the refrigerant.

if you are just pumping cool air into ur room u will have humidity issues plus other issues that other members did and did not mention, if you have a cold air return sucking the hot air into your ac you will have smell issues all over u house.

THIS IS THE WRONG IDEA.

 

[Guest 18340]

No heat load compared to a room with hps lights blazing away...
Not trying to get into a pissing contest with ya I~P~S, just speaking from experience. I live in the Sunshine state, theirs not too many ways I haven't tried to cool a flower room
Me personally, I wouldn't even mess with the house AC...

 

[driftersmokinjo]

By the time you spend the time and money to do it properly with the house a/c unit you will have destroyed it for use in the hose again with out another large expense. You could use mini splits or window bangers way better.

 

[In~Plain~Site]

It's cool evlme2
I wasn't directing my comments towards anyone really, just blowin' off steam I suppose.

The truth is I would never intentionallystear anyone in a direction I hadn't gone in myself, and I agree with you that ideally he shouldn't monkey with the system...period.

I think the combo of closed loop/window units would be best for his flower rooms.You never really know what restrictions someone is working under to best give advice for i.e. renting/security etc.


Trust me when I say I'm a fan of yours

No heat load compared to a room with hps lights blazing away...
Not trying to get into a pissing contest with ya I~P~S, just speaking from experience. I live in the Sunshine state, theirs not too many ways I haven't tried to cool a flower room
Me personally, I wouldn't even mess with the house AC...

 

[100PoundHarvest]

Thanks for all the responses. The reason that I cant use a mini split or a window unit is besause I cant have anything on the outside of the house. I have been reading a little about boxing in a window ac. I could exhaust the hot air from it into the attic, but where would I get the intake air from? Is there any way to get air cool enough to use on the ac from anywhere other than outside? also what side fans would I need to cool and exhaust the ac box. I believe that a 12000 btu would be sufficient to cool 3 lights non air cooled. And someone asked if the rooms would be on a flip. Yes the flower rooms are on a horticontrol flip-flop unit.

 

[100PoundHarvest]

anyone?

 

[overmyhead]

Thanks for all the responses. The reason that I cant use a mini split or a window unit is besause I cant have anything on the outside of the house. I have been reading a little about boxing in a window ac. I could exhaust the hot air from it into the attic, but where would I get the intake air from? Is there any way to get air cool enough to use on the ac from anywhere other than outside? also what side fans would I need to cool and exhaust the ac box. I believe that a 12000 btu would be sufficient to cool 3 lights non air cooled. And someone asked if the rooms would be on a flip. Yes the flower rooms are on a horticontrol flip-flop unit.

You can set up a mini split so that nothing is visible from the outside unless someone's really looking, and then you can just say that it was free and you wanted to see how well they work. Had a similar situation but it was three rooms seperate from the rest of the house with one ac system, I moved air from the room with the theromstat which was just a work / lung room into room a, from room a to room b and from room b back into the lung room.

 

[Phillthy]

the entire house will stink.