Advice, tips or tricks for building and running a sealed room needed.

[Jellyfish]

This stuff can be your friend in a situation like this. It's two inches thick, muffles a lot of noise, as well as helping control heat issues. Cuts with a saw, it's easy to work with, and it's not fiberglass. This is a 4X8 foot sheet, goes for about $29US. Cheers!

 

[Treetroit City]

give the room a week or two of serious ventilation with a heater to bring the temps up to 85d Fahrenheit or so to minimize or reduce any VOC's or off gassing from fresh building materials

LGR dehumidifier, sealed rooms need lots of humidity control especially in the cooler months Double whatever you are planning on using for humidity control and you should be about right

Will do, thanks.

Looks really nice!

Thank you.

looking good, progress is pushing ahead TC

i would definitely kilz(oil base) everything also and use and additive/mildewcide.
OSB doesn't like water or hi RH.
it turns back into chips if it get wet enough on a consistent basis
also OSB is pressed together with glues and what not.
so no telling if you may get some type of off gassing from it.
that kilz is a killer to do because of the fumes in an enclosed area...
where a respirator for sure.
hope you have a sprayer, gets it done in no time
then you'll need some time like GSF said to let the killz cure out.

i have a 32,500BTU MITSU minisplit for my 14 x20.
it'll take 6 lamps uncooled no prob, and a gas firedco2 gen.

Thanks gnome, good info. I've accepted the fact that I'm going to have to spend big on a dehumidifier. Looking at Santa fe and phoenix. Any experience with either? Looks to be at least a grand to get in.

Can't say I disagree with anything Galahad posted. I look at a minisplit as a completely disposable appliance. Unless it's something as obvious as a blown fuse, I keep enough $$$ around to buy another one at a moments notice. I'm not an hvac tech, but I am self taught and have about 5 years experience installing mini splits so it's no sweat for me to swap one out under in under a few hours.

Now we're getting somewhere. DIY or paid labor.

I'm bookmarkin this thread .... there is so much great info here i'd be crazy not to !!! Its gonna help me & a ton of others when it comes time to build our own .

Thanx 3rd & everybody

Well lets hope it helps someone, ME!

This stuff can be your friend in a situation like this. It's two inches thick, muffles a lot of noise, as well as helping control heat issues. Cuts with a saw, it's easy to work with, and it's not fiberglass. This is a 4X8 foot sheet, goes for about $29US. Cheers!

View Image

Extruded polystyrene. Yep, already up. I went with the pink stuff with that funny pink panther on it. Good lookin out.

Went with fiberglass over that just to be safe.

 

[Azeotrope]

One bonus that a lot of folks don't consider or realize with an AC (mini-split or ducted) is that they will help to dehumidify the area. The evaporator coil runs well below dewpoint and collects water that should be sent down the drain. As a matter of fact, while I try not to oversize units too much for my large industrial customers, if you go oversized the saturated suction temperature of the evaporator coil will drop and tend to collect more water from the air. This also will ensure that you can achieve your desired temperature and allow for future upgrades in lighting. Ramble....... Sorry, just some thoughts.

Now that I am down to personal/medical growing, I picked up a commercial reach-in freezer, pulled the refrigerant and charge altered the metering device sizing to allow for a warmer evaporator coil, but it is still around a +12f to a +15f coil. I have the ability to pick any temp I wish and if I have a humidity issue it is that as I run colder in veg and late flower my humidity can run really low and my drain pan under the freezer overflows.

You have a nice spot and I wish you great success!!

 

[Smokin Joe]

Installing a train 18 seer mini-split today in a computer room. Not real fond of this 1 at all. Trains name is on the tag but I do not believe train has a plant in China. I'll let ya know what I think of this 1 after I open it up and have a look see at whats inside

 

[Jellyfish]

Went with fiberglass over that just to be safe.

How is fiberglass safer? I would never put that shit near a grow room of mine, it's toxic! Anyway, good luck!

 

[Treetroit City]

How is fiberglass safer? I would never put that shit near a grow room of mine, it's toxic! Anyway, good luck!

Ahhh yeah, so is that extruded polystyrene that you recommended I use.

Thank you for your concern.

 

[the gnome]

hey TC, same here on the dehuey, I camr to the conclusion I'd have to drop some serious $$ on one like you said,
but for now the budget is stretching thin so I'll have to use a couple small $250 70pt units until i get income back from the project then I'll drop coin on a santa fe

the room is looking great! i need to get back on mine

 

[Treetroit City]

hey TC, same here on the dehuey, I camr to the conclusion I'd have to drop some serious $$ on one like you said,
but for now the budget is stretching thin so I'll have to use a couple small $250 70pt units until i get income back from the project then I'll drop coin on a santa fe

the room is looking great! i need to get back on mine

Thanks, did you ever make a choice on your ballasts?

I'm thinking either Solis Tek, Gavita or maybe just cheaping out on some durable magnetics.

I've seen the Gavitas for $439 and see I can get a dual 1000 watt magnetic for $195.

So $400 mag or $1750 for Gavitas. Maybe spend the $400 and get a few crops in and then upgrade, IDK.

Granted the Gavitas come complete with bulb and reflector...

 

[dansbuds]

Installing a train 18 seer mini-split today in a computer room. Not real fond of this 1 at all. Trains name is on the tag but I do not believe train has a plant in China. I'll let ya know what I think of this 1 after I open it up and have a look see at whats inside

Train .... is usually a good brand unit .I've powered up a few myself . a local supplier here swears by them . surprized ya found a china tag on it .... but who knows now days
I'm curious as to what ya find in there too .

 

[Granger2]

Check out Prodex [foil/foam/foil].
http://www.insulation4less.com/
Super easy to work with. Cuts with a blade along a straight edge, or w/ scissors. Mine's been up for 5 years with staples and tape, and even on the ceiling, has needed no repairs or shoring up. 1/4" thick.
"Additional benefits: R-value 16 unaffected by humidity, Prevents 97% of radiant heat transfer, Prevents condensation, 19 dB noise reduction, Seals around nails (no leaks), Elastic, Keeps its thickness over time (doesn't collapse), Does not promote mold or mildew, Does not provide for nesting of rodents, birds or insects."
Good luck. -granger

 

[JohnWayne]

I suggest you to save money e use them for the gavita pro1000 DE fixture

 

[Ichabod Crane]

You may want to look at a mini split look for one that operates at colder temps other wise your room will over heat in the extreme cold Michigan some times gets. With the cold snap we just got where it was below zero I had to keep shutting down my unit to deice it.

 

[Treetroit City]

I suggest you to save money e use them for the gavita pro1000 DE fixture

That would be ideal although as of now I don't know any local shops that carry them.

You may want to look at a mini split look for one that operates at colder temps other wise your room will over heat in the extreme cold Michigan some times gets. With the cold snap we just got where it was below zero I had to keep shutting down my unit to deice it.

I've wondered if I couldn't just mount the compressor in the pole barn and have a serious exhaust fan running to get rid of the heat it creates.

 

[Ichabod Crane]

I've wondered if I couldn't just mount the compressor in the pole barn and have a serious exhaust fan running to get rid of the heat it creates.

Don't know how well that would work in the summer. I thought of covering the out side unit like they do with cars radiators to keep some heat trapped at the out side unit.

 

[the gnome]

Thanks, did you ever make a choice on your ballasts?

I'm thinking either Solis Tek, Gavita or maybe just cheaping out on some durable magnetics.

I've seen the Gavitas for $439 and see I can get a dual 1000 watt magnetic for $195.

So $400 mag or $1750 for Gavitas. Maybe spend the $400 and get a few crops in and then upgrade, IDK.

Granted the Gavitas come complete with bulb and reflector...

again the budget started to dictate and i got for mag mh/hps Cap ballast, a very good deal, $115 each free shipping.
and again as i recoup i will upgrade and use the mags as back up depending what I decide or I may just keep the mags.
lots of heat from them though and they will be in a separate room

petty much all i need now is my co2 system

 

[Smokin Joe]

That would be ideal although as of now I don't know any local shops that carry them.



I've wondered if I couldn't just mount the compressor in the pole barn and have a serious exhaust fan running to get rid of the heat it creates.

You could do that and it would help. The other option is to have your hvac guy install a pressure switch on the freon line to shut off the fan when the freon gets to cold. That is how a low ambient kit works. It's a real easy fix on the install.

Train .... is usually a good brand unit .I've powered up a few myself . a local supplier here swears by them . surprized ya found a china tag on it .... but who knows now days
I'm curious as to what ya find in there too .

Didn't get to that today. Dumb asses got their concrete to wet and it didn't set up yet lol
Oh yeah, right on the info tag under Trains name, in bold letters MADE IN CHINA. I don't have much faith in it. Carrier's mini split has a china made compressor. I have replaced a few of those

 

[Treetroit City]

Well finally met with my HVAC guy this morning. He is on the same page with you Galahad. He's gonna come up with a quote on a standard split system.

Air handler mounted above the grow rooms to make for easy ducting to both veg and flower.
Although I didn't know before, he also runs an equal size room in his barn.

Makes me feel better that he has first hand experience with dealing with all the issues of a grow. He says operating in the winter cold will not be a problem, like you said Galahad.

Didn't get any ball park figure but I'm hoping around $3 but thinking it will be more like $4. I was thinking a 3 ton and he sounded like he was thinking 4 ton. I guess room to expand wouldn't be a bad thing. I'm pretty sure a 3 ton would handle 4K flower + 1K veg but whatever, I'll wait and see what he comes up with.

Framing will continue on Tuesday now that I know we won't be doing anything that will be in the HVAC guys way.

Starting to come together nicely.

 

[Smokin Joe]

That is cool to have an hvac guy that is a grower as well and has had to deal with things not written in any book or web site. lol . 4 tons thats not but 400 cfm's of air more than a 3 ton. Worst case scenario is short run times resulting in not dehumidifying enough. Good thing about having easy access to the plenum is you can cut a hole and blow some air to waste until you get enough lights going to build enough heat to extend run times. I may have to reconsider your position on the Driftahad's you suk list by the time this build is over.
I did get to that Train mini the other day. Not a bad set up. Remove 2 pannels and you have full access to the compressor and control board. Was a easy install and as service man friendly as you can get from a mini. I give them a 7 outa 10. We will see how it holds up. It is for a computer room that makes lots of heat and has to stay cool so it will get the full work out

 

[Treetroit City]

That is cool to have an hvac guy that is a grower as well and has had to deal with things not written in any book or web site. lol . 4 tons thats not but 400 cfm's of air more than a 3 ton. Worst case scenario is short run times resulting in not dehumidifying enough. Good thing about having easy access to the plenum is you can cut a hole and blow some air to waste until you get enough lights going to build enough heat to extend run times. I may have to reconsider your position on the Driftahad's you suk list by the time this build is over.
I did get to that Train mini the other day. Not a bad set up. Remove 2 pannels and you have full access to the compressor and control board. Was a easy install and as service man friendly as you can get from a mini. I give them a 7 outa 10. We will see how it holds up. It is for a computer room that makes lots of heat and has to stay cool so it will get the full work out

Yeah I was pretty happy to find out he's a grower. I knew he was a patient but that was it. To find out he's growing trees in 15 gallon coco pots, well...

He also lives 2 miles from me so emergency situations should not be a big deal. Always good to make a new friend.

As far as the you suck list goes, give me a little time. Hopefully by mid summer I'll be moving on up like George and Weezy!

 

[Puscifer]

I'm with Galahad, 3 tons is a tad too big and may result in short cycling. But yeah, leaves room for more lights.
Are you going to have a thermostat in each room (veg & flower)?