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

[Treetroit City]

Holy shit!!!!!!!!!!! He must have 200% mark up or else he thinks his labor is worth 225 an hour. I could do this set up for 3500 and still put 1500 in my pocket and do the compleat set up in about 6 hours with no help. With a good helper would maybe take 4 hrs. I hope you don't call this guy a friend. More like a bandit. The going rate for a new construction home (turn key) is 2200 per ton around here and you can find it for 1500 a ton. That is for an entire house. You only need about 60 feet of duct work total, a 25', 3/4 and 3/8 line set. 20 feet of 3/4 pvc. Tell ya what, you buy the stuff and pay my expenses and I'll do it for ya just because. J/K I know this is against tou. Dose this guy work for someone else or his self?

Tell me about it. I don't know what the hell guy was thinking other than I must have cash coming out my ears which while I wish was true it's not.

He works for himself G

Here's my dilemma now. Do I try to talk to dude and see if we can get his price down or just say F him and go it alone. I'm leaning towards going it alone with a quick connect mini split or possibly just getting a mini split and doing all the installation except vacuuming the lines and pay him labor to come do that.

Really bums me out cause I think he knows what he's doing. He had it designed with 6 cold air vents, 4 in flower and 2 in veg and I think 4 air returns. Sounded like a good system and honestly for 3 grand I'd have been happy.

Oh well, not gonna let it slow me down.

On another note, I emailed Excel Air to see if they have a midwest dealer where I could pick up a system. Fuckers never got back to me. You would think if they are in business and someone inquires about buying their product they would get back to you!

On it goes, Not without headaches.

 

[ekomsi]

Man I wish I had a pole barn, I'm on the hunt for one atm! Glad to finally make it idk how I missed this. Excel are bad ass if you have a huge room like PK. I suggest a 3 ton mini split like i have I payed around 3 grand installed (2400 shipped to my door) had my hvac cut the easy connects and make it solid. Works even in this shitty cold. would have cost me 3500-4K if I went with my hvac guys model.

Good luck, TC hope everything goes smoothly.

ps I would talk to the hvac guy see if he can come down in his quot, that you thought it was quite high compared to other systems on the market.

 

[wintergreens]

Awesome build! Looking great so far! Just turning on my 10 x 16 bloom room with a train 2 ton water based heat pump. Running sealed, co2 and 3k hps to start, want 6-8k in the end! Will be watching this one!

 

[Smokin Joe]

3rd I bet you could go with the mini split with 2 heads and do it your self. Tools needed, Manifold gauge set, vacuum pump, something to cut 2" hole and wrench to fit flair nuts. Check pawn shops for vacuum pump. Just be careful not to over tighten the flair nuts. If you do the flair tool will cost around 100 bux. It flairs on a 45 degree angle. A standard flair tool is I think 33 degree.
What brand and tonnage is the unit he quoted you? I can check price and let you know. As for duct runs you only need 1 supply and 1 return for each room. The just need to be sized properly with the supply on 1 side of the room and return on the other. You could do more but that is over kill imho. Your lights are gonna be your major heat source instead of infiltration like in a house. So blow the cold air in 1 side and draw it across the room with the return. Use a 3 way grill on the supply so it will spread the air. Chances are he's not gonna come down much on his price. Some hvac guys think their work is worth their weight in gold and double the price of the equipment for mark up.

 

[Puscifer]

Third, as you know I install my own mini's and am completely self taught. It's pretty easy to do with the tools Galahad listed above. Trust me bro, it's easy. Most mini's even come with step by step instructions on the whole install process, including what tools are needed.

 

[Treetroit City]

Third, as you know I install my own mini's and am completely self taught. It's pretty easy to do with the tools Galahad listed above. Trust me bro, it's easy. Most mini's even come with step by step instructions on the whole install process, including what tools are needed.

That's the route I'm thinking now.

What size pump? I think I remember reading here a two stage. Is 3cfm good enough? Looks like about $100-200 for a pump new although like G said I could check the pawn shops.

Manifold gauge set maybe $50. Just getting these numbers from a quick google search.

Here's the main question I have about it all. Is it a "one shot deal" as in if you have a leak you lose all your freon? What happens if you have a leak?

This is the latest model I've been looking at for the split. It's a LG tri zone 12+12+9. The two 12's for flower and the 9 for veg. 21.7 seer. Seems like that would be the one right there.

http://www.goductless.com/LG-Air-conditioner-Ductless-Mini-Split-Heat-Pumps-p/13809.htm

Read the the install pdf and it looks doable.

 

[Treetroit City]

Oh yeah, Thanks ekomsi and wintergreens for poppin in. Hope to get this build done in the next month before the heat gets here and I have to redo the bedroom again for summer temps.

 

[Puscifer]

Yeah, a dual stage is a must for a deep vacuum. I use a 3cfm dual stage. You can find them pretty cheap on ebay.
I strongly recommend a digital micron gauge. It's the only way to know for sure that you've reached a deep enough vac.
You will know if you have a leak before you open the valves by way of your gauges, be it manifold gauge set or micron gauge. You can easily buy r410a on ebay if you do lose any.
The only thing that worries me about more than one room hooked into a mini split if it breaks down then both your rooms are gonna suffer.
If possible I would run a dual head 12k in flower and a separate 9k in veg.
I run a separate mini split for the veg and flower.

 

[Smokin Joe]

the 3 cfm is the bare minimum I use a 6 but mine makes my living for me. And yes a micron gauge would help you know if you have a leak. I don't even own 1 tho lol. But then again I use 300 psi of nitrogen and time for a leak check. As for adding freon to a low system that can be tricky for a novice. But what the hell you can shout at me any time and I will walk ya through it.

 

[Treetroit City]

Okay, time to get back up in this thread.

Rooms have been sprayed with zinsser 123 primer and Orca film will go up next. I think I have decided on AC and am going with a friedrich breeze two ton.

Will get some pics tomorrow, still shooting for a April 1st move in.

 

[JohnWayne]

go go go

 

[Greentoe2]

Must be waitin on that mini split ?

 

[Treetroit City]

go go go

I'm Getting there. Thanks for the motivation.

Must be waitin on that mini split ?

Just a tightwad is all. Having trouble pulling the trigger and buying it. Although at this point I'm to far in to not buy it so I guess I better get on it.


Well I got some more work done this morning and snapped a few pics.

Oh yeah, getting some toys in as well.

Here is the entrance to the veg room which has been done up in 123 primer.

A few shots of the flower room, done up in 123 primer and then a solid wrap in Orca film. Still need to finish this top corner where I got some wire coming in.

Think I'll cover the ceiling with Reflectix cause it's easy to work with. I first was thinking panda film but after struggling with the Orca on the walls I don't think I want to mess with trying the ceiling.

I over lapped all seams and will tape everyone of them. Probably pond liner for the floor coming up 6-12 inches on the walls.

Just need to settle on my electric runs and lighting timers and get my AC and I should be good to go on April first, if not a little early.

 

[FreedomFightr]

thirrd coast,just an idea but if you do go with a central ac unit,with compressor outside when u do want to open more flower room you can do it on a flip and save alot of money on ballasts for one but also you can flip the ac unit making it way cheaper then buying another one,just my 2 cents

okay now ive asked this in other threads lately and havent gotten much feedback so im gonna throw it out here,are guys venting there sealed roms at night? im having issues with lights off co2 raising up to 1900ppm and am now in the middle of rigging up a vent in/out setup...

great pics man,nice to see well documented builds.

Yes I exhaust when lights go out. Helps keep Humidity in check also

 

[wintergreens]

Tightwad?! Spending money the right way with those Gavita's! NICE! Looking good!

 

[abbotsterdam]

Tell me about it. I don't know what the hell guy was thinking other than I must have cash coming out my ears which while I wish was true it's not.

He works for himself G

Here's my dilemma now. Do I try to talk to dude and see if we can get his price down or just say F him and go it alone. I'm leaning towards going it alone with a quick connect mini split or possibly just getting a mini split and doing all the installation except vacuuming the lines and pay him labor to come do that.

Really bums me out cause I think he knows what he's doing. He had it designed with 6 cold air vents, 4 in flower and 2 in veg and I think 4 air returns. Sounded like a good system and honestly for 3 grand I'd have been happy.

Oh well, not gonna let it slow me down.

On another note, I emailed Excel Air to see if they have a midwest dealer where I could pick up a system. Fuckers never got back to me. You would think if they are in business and someone inquires about buying their product they would get back to you!

On it goes, Not without headaches.

Whenever you have doubts ask for second opinions or quotes, your grow store supplier probably knows a few HVAC or Grow Show Electricians that could help. I figure this is a past thread but anything else comes up it might be worth a visit to ask for help.

 

[the gnome]

coming long nicely 3C
is this your 1st go round with the Gavita's

 

[Treetroit City]

Yes I exhaust when lights go out. Helps keep Humidity in check also

Thanks for stopping through. I'm hoping a good dehumidifier will allow me to not have to exhaust at night. We'll see.

Tightwad?! Spending money the right way with those Gavita's! NICE! Looking good!

Thanks wintergreens, yeah believe me, that was not an easy purchase either. Ouch!

Whenever you have doubts ask for second opinions or quotes, your grow store supplier probably knows a few HVAC or Grow Show Electricians that could help. I figure this is a past thread but anything else comes up it might be worth a visit to ask for help.

Oh this is a current thread for sure.

Thought about that but the fewer people that know about this the better I'll sleep.

coming long nicely 3C
is this your 1st go round with the Gavita's

Yep, first time user here. Haven't even got to plug one up yet cause I haven't wired up the 240 runs yet. Getting anxious for sure.

 

[coldcanna]

Hey man just wanted to say that your grow is looking very professional, great craftsmanship all around. Was wondering what your plans were for the floor? Be sure to run some type of sealant along the edges of the floor and wall as this will stop any water from wicking up into the drywall. Same goes along the top of the walls and corners. I didn't notice where you were from, if its a warmer area leaving the concrete bear will help to passively cool the room, but if its a colder climate I'd def suggest putting some type of insulation and flooring system down, radiant heat using PEX piping could be run under a raised floor and is a very efficient, uniform way to heat the space. And I was wonder if there is an open attic type space above the ceilings? It wouldn't be too expensive to run a 1/2 copper line above the rooms and have drops to install hose connections, with the amount of water you'll need for that many watts, I imagine a few hundred bucks now will save you a ton of time down the road. Just my 2cents. I'm an apprentice plumber, by no means a master yet, but if you have any heating/plumbing related questions I'd be more than happy to help. Cheers

 

[Smokin Joe]

Hey 3rd have ya got that new mini split yet? Anxious to get your opinion of the install. Also wanna hear more about the new lights. Like how much heat they put off.