Help choosing a portable a/c

[Jnugg]

So summers pretty much here in the southeastern most state,temps and humidity climbing and I've still got 3 months left on my rental/lease.The room I'm working with is about 200 to 250 square feet with 8' ceilings.The room doesn't get a whole lot of direct sun exposure.In this room I have a 3x3x6 tent with vertical bare bulb 400w HPS and a 4" 170 cfm inline centrifugal exhaust fan (which usually leaves me with a lights on temp 8-10°F above ambient.Indoor temps can get to upper 80's and into the 90's here in summer without a/c and I'd like to cool the room the tent sits in to 65-70°F in order to keep lights on temp in the tent at 75-80°F.

I know for a room that is 200 to 250 square feet one would want to use about a 7,000 BTU a/c but I've been reading a lot of reviews online saying they have a 250 square foot or smaller room and that their 7,000 BTU a/c won't get their rooms below mid 70's.

I know you don't want too small of an a/c because it will run constantly and not cool the room very well.I also know that you don't want too large an a/c either because it will cycle on/off a lot and may very well cool the room but not allow for good enough dehumidification.

So,given the size of my room,tent,and lighting as well as what temp I want to cool said room housing the tent what size portable do you think I should purchase?


Here are some units I was looking at...

Portables:
LG 7000 BTU

LG 8000 BTU

LG 9000 BTU

 

[hush]

Tagged. I'm interested in responses to this question.

 

[Granger2]

You'll want more than the minimum. A window unit will be better if you can manage it. I'd go with the 9000. First priority is temp, humidity is a distant 2nd. -granger

 

[Treetroit City]

I vote for a 14,000 btu unit.

Reason why? Because you will soon want to replace that 400 with a 600 and then you will want a bigger tent with a 1000..........

 

[alii]

I've been looking at the whynter ones.
Dual hose ,dehumidifier ( its very. Humid here!)
Pretty Hugh eer rating and it has a air & carbon filter.

Let us know what you get and how well it works

 

[Jnugg]

I vote for a 14,000 btu unit.

Reason why? Because you will soon want to replace that 400 with a 600 and then you will want a bigger tent with a 1000..........

Lol,waaaaay overkill but you are right about possibly ditching the 400w HPS for a 600w HPS or two) but I'll never buy/use 1000w HID's when 600's are the most efficient.

Also I only have 4 months left on the lease/rental agreement and when that's up,I'm outta this shithole.It could be a stellar place but the landlord fired the property management company because of all the repairs they said needed to be done (which they really really do)...she just didn't want to spend the $$$...go figure,80 y/o and lives out on the westcoast,as far away from her property here in Fla as she can be....slumlords.Sucks too because I'll never find a 2 bdrm apt/duplex with 1000+ sq feet of living space upstairs and 1000 sq feet of carport/storage downstairs,on the beach,for as cheap as I got this place...all others (even some 1 bdrms) are going for around $1200-$1500/month and aren't anywhere near as big....plus my neighbor is one of the coolest anyone could ask for.

I'm thinking bout getting either the 8000 or 9000 BTU portable a/c.

Window a/c's are better but I don't have the proper windows so it would be easier to just go portable,but if I did have the proper windows it'd be a 9000 BTU window banger for sure.

I just need to get this next crop going so I have a little more cash flow to get another nice sized apt on or near the beach and not in da ghetto.

 

[ydijadoit]

I have had some experience with portable AC units. I highly recommend a two hose unit. The single hose units rely on the AC output to cool the unit. The two hose units have an intake (From outside), and exhaust hose. They are much more efficient.
You said the indoor temps get pretty hot in the summer, but I have no idea what your insulation is like, sun exposure, etc. For what its worth, our well insulated travel trailer struggles to cool at 100f, outside temp with a 13000btu unit. It's 28x8', or 224 sq ft.
If you are in an old building, with full sun exposure, you might need something bigger than the 9k unit.
Hard to help over the internet, but hopefully you get it nailed. Good luck!

 

[Jnugg]

Insulation isn't too shabby.When the CH/A worked things stayed nice and cool in the summer and warm in the winter.The only faults are the windows.There's not a bunch of full sun exposure really but this room has trees on both sides that block a lot of sun....but temps outside get nasty here in the 'glades state and stay that way for 'bout 8-10 months out of the year...or at least the humidity makes it feel that way lol.