First off thanks for the help as always! So I need to start planning and building how I am going to cool a 10k room. It will be a sealed room with bottled Co2. The lights are all 8" magnum XXXL air cooled. There will be a sante fe max dry dehumidifier in the room. Temps are usually in the 80s outside in the summer and can get down to the teens in the winter (I'm not too worried about winter, more summer). So I am debating between a 24000 btu mini split or a 24000 btu window unit? I am leaning toward the mini split, but the installation seems to be pretty intense from what I am reading (easy to screw up). I am pretty handy, but have never installed one and don't have the tools needed (pump, micron gauge, etc.). If I went with the window unit I would be building an AC box which would be pulling air in from a lung room and exhausting to the outside. What do you guys think?
Question: Cooling 10k mini-split or window unit?
- Thread starter louie
- Start date
mini-split is obviously the better choice. you will end up saving money on electricity in the long run. i also don't know of any window unit that can handle 10K of lights without being constantly on. you might shorten its life. window AC will leak smell and sometimes light as well. your room is not truly sealed with a window ac.
a 10K room with bottled co2 is going to require a lot of trips to get new bottles. i would go with a generator (water-cooled or with a built in heat exchanger).
get your environment dialed in first. do about 3-4 days of a dry run with no live plants...
checking for light leaks, sealing, temp checks, humidity checks, etc.
there are diy mini-splits... not as large as you need, but you can get two which is better once one potentially fails.
if your room is not set up yet, you can get an HVAC tech and tell him its going to be a server room with a lot of machines.
a 10K room with bottled co2 is going to require a lot of trips to get new bottles. i would go with a generator (water-cooled or with a built in heat exchanger).
get your environment dialed in first. do about 3-4 days of a dry run with no live plants...
checking for light leaks, sealing, temp checks, humidity checks, etc.
there are diy mini-splits... not as large as you need, but you can get two which is better once one potentially fails.
if your room is not set up yet, you can get an HVAC tech and tell him its going to be a server room with a lot of machines.
24k btu window unit is not gonna be enough for 10kw.
either way you want mini split, trust me for the love of god. but get more then 24k btu
either way you want mini split, trust me for the love of god. but get more then 24k btu
So I should definitely go mini split. I was looking into it and I think I should be able to set up one of these units once I buy the proper tools. Does anyone have a good place to buy a vacuum pump and micron gauge that will work for the job at a good price? How big of a mini split do you recommend for 10k air cooled (8" hoods)?
G
Guest 18340
Here's the pump I bought. I bought it off ebay for like $180.
Also, you'll need quality oil for the pump. Real important to make sure you have fresh oil in the pump before vacuuming the line set.
Here's a shot of the pump and oil, just to give you an idea...
For gauges I bought these...
http://www.viot.us/showproduct.php?model=GM410A&sw=0
Doing the install and vacuuming of the line set is pretty simple and straight forward but If you're not 100% sure on how to do it then have a tech out there before you put up the room. At the very least you should be able to install and wire it up yourself because that really doesn't call for any special tools other than something to drill a 3" hole in the wall to pass the line set and power cords thru, a screw driver and wire cutters. My first mini split I paid a tech to do the vacuuming. $100 bux and it only took him 30 minutes.
One last thing, please do not be tempted to buy a cheap brand mini split. I learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. Spend the money on a Mitsubishi Mr.Slim and you will be able to sleep at night knowing that unit is rock fuckin solid reliable. And they have the best warranty in the biz.
If you can't afford a Mitsu then an Lg would be my next choice. Fujitsu and Sanyo are the only other two I would ever consider. Good luck brother
Also, you'll need quality oil for the pump. Real important to make sure you have fresh oil in the pump before vacuuming the line set.
Here's a shot of the pump and oil, just to give you an idea...
For gauges I bought these...
http://www.viot.us/showproduct.php?model=GM410A&sw=0
Doing the install and vacuuming of the line set is pretty simple and straight forward but If you're not 100% sure on how to do it then have a tech out there before you put up the room. At the very least you should be able to install and wire it up yourself because that really doesn't call for any special tools other than something to drill a 3" hole in the wall to pass the line set and power cords thru, a screw driver and wire cutters. My first mini split I paid a tech to do the vacuuming. $100 bux and it only took him 30 minutes.
One last thing, please do not be tempted to buy a cheap brand mini split. I learned the hard way that you get what you pay for. Spend the money on a Mitsubishi Mr.Slim and you will be able to sleep at night knowing that unit is rock fuckin solid reliable. And they have the best warranty in the biz.
If you can't afford a Mitsu then an Lg would be my next choice. Fujitsu and Sanyo are the only other two I would ever consider. Good luck brother
That is great info evlme2, I appreciate it my man! So I am pretty confident that I can hook everything up with the mini split and have looked into getting a 31000 btu mr. slim. But would there be a huge difference if say I got 2- 24000 btu window units and hooked them up instead of the mini split? The window units would be cheaper and easier to install, but what about efficiency, cooling power, etc? I have heard that window units are not completely sealed? Will I lose a ton of Co2 then, or is it just a miniscle leak?
G
Guest 18340
Window units are way cheaper than a mini split but thats it. A mini split (with inverter, any models with 16 seer or higher has an inverter) is infinitely more efficient than even the best window units.
Cooling power from a mini split is phenomenal, easily on par or better than a window unit. And you can maintain the temps within a degree or two with a mini, a window unit has much more of a temp swing while it's cycling on/off.
Also, a mini split is near silent, i shit you not. At full blast the compressor on my Mitsu sounds like a cat purring.
As for smell, yes a window unit WILL leak smell, and some leak light as well. Some folks swear no smell leaks from theirs and that may be true for them but whenever one of my friends used window units to cool their garden we could smell the plants. I'll assume that one can take apart a window unit and seal things up pretty well though.
Tough call when a mini costs so much. But for me, in my situation, I celebrate the day I installed my Mitsu
Cooling power from a mini split is phenomenal, easily on par or better than a window unit. And you can maintain the temps within a degree or two with a mini, a window unit has much more of a temp swing while it's cycling on/off.
Also, a mini split is near silent, i shit you not. At full blast the compressor on my Mitsu sounds like a cat purring.
As for smell, yes a window unit WILL leak smell, and some leak light as well. Some folks swear no smell leaks from theirs and that may be true for them but whenever one of my friends used window units to cool their garden we could smell the plants. I'll assume that one can take apart a window unit and seal things up pretty well though.
Tough call when a mini costs so much. But for me, in my situation, I celebrate the day I installed my Mitsu
damn, if one is renting an apt a window unit is a better option I believe.
all due respect evilme, I don't feel comfortable setting up a minisplit in a rental
A good window unit on craigslist (15k btu) should be under 200 bills right?
should cool up to 2kw right? for a small bedroom grow is a co2 burner excessive? are tanks less conspicious?
pardon t he questions just trying to get ready for greatness..
all due respect evilme, I don't feel comfortable setting up a minisplit in a rental
A good window unit on craigslist (15k btu) should be under 200 bills right?
should cool up to 2kw right? for a small bedroom grow is a co2 burner excessive? are tanks less conspicious?
pardon t he questions just trying to get ready for greatness..
G
Guest 18340
Agreed. A mini split in a rental doesn't make sense.
if you had to rent an apt or small house in a non med state, how would you do it sir?
10K in a rental apt.?
if its a rental house, then a mini split is worth it. the money you will save in electricity alone will cover its cost. even if you rip it out and lose the freon charge, you can always "repair" it later at your new location.
remember...your AC is the HEART of your sealed grow room!
if its a rental house, then a mini split is worth it. the money you will save in electricity alone will cover its cost. even if you rip it out and lose the freon charge, you can always "repair" it later at your new location.
remember...your AC is the HEART of your sealed grow room!
G
Guest 18340
It depends on the landlord situation. If it's a "hands off' type of landlord who you know will never come around then I might chance installing a mini split.
Either way, growing in a rental is risky as hell. I did it for two years with a window unit but my landlord was the hands off type...
Tough call really.
I gotta agree with mg75, the AC is the key player in a sealed room.
OnTheWater
Member
Question: Cooling 10k mini-split or window unit?
Mini-split all the way if possible.. 2 window units wont pull out the amount of heat the mini split can in the time it can. 10k? Don't skimp and spend the coin now or you will spend
It later.
As far as a co2 gen. I'm not a fan of propane burning in my rooms. But a 50lb bottle of co2 last 30days in 16k.. YMMV and all depends how much of a TRUE sealed room you have.
Mini-split all the way if possible.. 2 window units wont pull out the amount of heat the mini split can in the time it can. 10k? Don't skimp and spend the coin now or you will spend
It later.
As far as a co2 gen. I'm not a fan of propane burning in my rooms. But a 50lb bottle of co2 last 30days in 16k.. YMMV and all depends how much of a TRUE sealed room you have.
FreedomFightr
Member
2 window units of 24k btu is gonna draw a shit load of power, Over 20amps! I hope your panel box has enough room for that.
Yeah it does, but I am thinking why skimp, I think I really need to go with the 31000 btu Mr. Slim. So Mr. Slim users, now if I get this mini split it comes precharged for 25 ft right? So all I would need for tools (besides drill, etc.) is a vacuum pump and a micron gauge to install it?
G
Guest 18340
And the wiring/conduit, and perhaps a service disconnect box.
The instructions that come with the unit will tell you exactly what gauge wires you'll need.
Yes, the units come fully charged with enough r410 for 25 ft of line set.
Wherever you order the unit from make sure you get the correct length line set. Some companys will try to sell you a longer line set, don't know why, so be very specific when ordering it.
Also, the weak link in the system are the pre flared ends on the line set. Make sure the flares are perfect or you WILL get a leak. The instructions show you what a perfect flare looks like.
G
Guest 18340
Wanted to add; I did not use a micron gauge, only the manifold gauge set I linked to you. Some swear you need also need a micron gauge but I've never used one and neither did the tech who installed my first mini and another tech who installed a buddies.
Even the instructions for the Mitsu doesn't call for a micron gauge, only the manifold gauge set.
http://www.goductless.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/pdf/mitsu/msy_single_zone/msya15_install.pdf
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Here are the instructions for a 14 k btu Mitsu. It's the same no matter what the btu's.
The key is a good pump that's capable of pulling a deep vacuum.
Even the instructions for the Mitsu doesn't call for a micron gauge, only the manifold gauge set.
http://www.goductless.com/v/vspfiles/assets/images/pdf/mitsu/msy_single_zone/msya15_install.pdf
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Here are the instructions for a 14 k btu Mitsu. It's the same no matter what the btu's.
The key is a good pump that's capable of pulling a deep vacuum.
So as far as tools do you think these will do the job, I found them at harbor freight:
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/a-c-manifold-gauge-set-92649.html
or they have this pump, which is even heavier duty:
http://www.harborfreight.com/two-stage-3-cfm-air-vacuum-pump-66466.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/25-cfm-vacuum-pump-98076.html
http://www.harborfreight.com/a-c-manifold-gauge-set-92649.html
or they have this pump, which is even heavier duty:
http://www.harborfreight.com/two-stage-3-cfm-air-vacuum-pump-66466.html
