Help with cooling sealed room in a cold climate

[icdog]

Does anyone have any recommendations for cooling a sealed room in a cold climate. I estimate I need at least a 5 ton system cooling with a compressor in outside temps as low as -15 degrees Celsius which is about 5 Fahrenheit.

I've looked at some mini splits with kits that the sales people say will work.
I also tried to find a split system but so far none that will work.

Does anyone have any advice, it would really be appreciated. I know its going to cost but would prefer to keep it reasonable.

Thanks

 

[LiLWaynE]

if the room is in a cold climate, couldnt you just pull air in from that cold climate? seems too obvious....i know.. but without more details this is a hard one to answer... how big is the room ur trying to cool? how many watts of lights in the room?

 

[exploziv]

some kind of diy or cheap heat exchanger would work well, also keeping the grow sealed.

 

[icdog]

Thanks for the suggestions. It is a sealed room so no air from outside. Any other options out there?

 

[OhighO]

Get an adjustable fan timer for the evaporator fan.. It will al low your refrigerant to stay warm enough to operate correctly.

 

[Rowdy420]

Chiller system!

 

[Strainhunter]

You need an AC with an INVERTER-driven compressor or it won't work in your climate (low outside temperatures).

I suggest a Mini Split from Mitsubishi such as any combo shown here:

http://kingersons.biz/productlist.aspx?CategoryID=149

Note there are MANY pages to that link.

Buy a Mitsubishi, not an LG.

Let me know if you have a question.

 

[icdog]

Thanks strainhunter. I've checked out a few mitsubishi's. I'm looking for other options that might not cost as much.
I've recently found excelair which also isn't a cheap option but has some benefits such as DIY installation. About 6k for a 5 ton unit.
I've looked at some Shinco mini splits that the sales guy assures me will work in the Canadian winter with a low ambient kit, I'm not certain. The price is good, about 3k for 5 tons.
Since I posted this I am certain a normal split, not mini split, system will work with the proper low ambient air parts on it. The problem I have is I don't know what they are or what a good split system is that would be reliable in the winters.

 

[Guest 150314]

For mini split look at excel air systems they are built in Canada and work here all winter just fine.

I would go with a water cooled AC personally but that may not be the best idea if you have limited water or are metered for it.

 

[Midnight]

A mini split or a normal split system will work. The key is the low ambient kit. This kit is installed on the condenser, its function is to cycle the outdoor fan on and off and/or slow it down. When it cycles the outdoor fan off this causes the head pressure to rise which in turn causes high temperature refrigerant to be sent to the indoor coil (evaporator coil), which in turn keeps the evaporator coil from freezing up. With either system you will need an hvac person to install the thing unless you have refrigerant guages, a torch set and a vacum pump at minimum. The issue you may have is finding a kit that will work down to the temp you specified.

http://www.alpinehomeair.com/related/Goodman LA-01 Install Instructions.pdf

 

[growshopfrank]

some folks using mini splits put the outdoor unit in a small out building with a electric baseboard heater set to about 50f during the cold season Ive even seen them in those plastic garbage container mini sheds it also helps keep the sound down so neighbors don't wounder why your AC is running in February

 

[Strainhunter]

Those DYI split units are nice but one still gotta call a tech to have them serviced if and when something goes wrong.

We have the Mitsubishi Split units where I live and they have been running 100% maintenance free for many years.

With many years I am speaking 10+!

 

[icdog]

Growshopfrank, is there enough airflow to the unit inside a shed?