Need advice on air conditioner tent set up

[Extacie]

Hey everyone,

I am trying to add an air conditioner/co2/another light to my 5x5 tent set-up. I currently have a 600w HPS.

I have been reading quite a bit on portable a/c units but everyone seems to have different opinions on them. I have read that if I get a dual duct air conditioner it recycles the air so I can use co2 in my set up without waisting any co2. I also would like to run it from the outside & run ducting for it to be more efficient. To do. So, I need an analog a/c unit, correct? It seems hard to find analog units.

I was wanting someone to confirm if I am right or wrong on my information & if anyone had any recommendations as far as good A/c units that have worked well for them? (Preferibally analog, I was only finding digital on amazon)

I have been reading quite a bit on them, but $400-$1,000.00 is a lot to drop on an air conditioner so wanted to get advice from the experts

Any & all help is much appreciated.

 

[supchaka]

You have the right idea. I wouldn't recommend running a portable unit with ducting any longer than what it comes with, its going to be less efficient and put more of a strain on the blowers. I have no idea what you mean by analog vs digital? Thats not really relevant. But with the dual duct units yes, you aren't going to lose air from inside the grow since its pulled from outside to begin which will let you keep a sealed environment. My AC is a single duct and when it runs it does exhaust air from the room which would in turn expel C02 if I were running it. I was originally looking for a 2 duct unit just because they seemed a better idea in general but I couldn't find anything local, it was mail order only so I went with what I got.

 

[Extacie]

Ok well I have been reading about this all day & am sort of confused. What would be the most efficent way to run them with co2? Having them inside the tent or outside(if thats possible) Half the stuff I've been reading is so constroversial.


When I say digital I mean that has an electronic LED thermostat where you physically turn a number up or down vs. just a knob you control. I figured the analog would be ideal because then I could buy a controller seperate & place the controller in the tent with the air conditioner on the outside. Thus, saving me space inside the tent & hopefully operating more efficently? This is how one grow book I read said to do it. Not sure if I am understanding everything correctly.

 

[banks dank]

If this is your first grow I wouldnt recommend co2 enrichment.

I take you are battling high temps? Is that why u want co2 and ac?

 

[Extacie]

Ya I'm about done with my first & going into my second. I am battling high temperatures & am not able to vent outside due to my place being for sale. Landlords picky. Otherwise I'd just get an exhaust system. So window a/c is also out of the question. I am also wanting to increase yields since plant count is relatively low. Overall I'd just like to have more environmental controls for a better grow.

& I think they would benefit greatly from co2 since I am unable to bring in fresh co2 from outside?

 

[Extacie]

Why would you recommend against? What would you do in my situation?

Thank you very much for the help.

 

[kinddiesel]

portables are total junk. a 10k btu is the same as a 5k btu window unit. my advice is what I do for my clone room I keep it 60f or even colder all year round hydro. I just t put the tent next to the window and the window has a window ac unit. I cut a hole in the tent so the window unit will sit right inside the tent and take any gaps shut. this is the very best ! for the price. a 5000 btu will be the best choice about 150 bucks go digital save electric 550 watts only. it will hardly run . if your rich a mini split is the next choice .http://www.thermospace.com/ductless_split/aircon-inverter-24000-btu-mini-split.php the portables are total over rated kill the electric. I used to have 2 of them different brands both were junky.

 

[Extacie]

Oh and also the biggest reason: I want to add another 600w light. I currently only have one in a 5x5 tent so not the best coverage & only 24w/sq. foot where I would like to double that. Without an air conditioner itd put my heat through the roof. Co2 can wait if needed, this is the most important to me. Although, for the most successful grow I think I need both?

 

[supchaka]

Ok well I have been reading about this all day & am sort of confused. What would be the most efficent way to run them with co2? Having them inside the tent or outside(if thats possible) Half the stuff I've been reading is so constroversial.


When I say digital I mean that has an electronic LED thermostat where you physically turn a number up or down vs. just a knob you control. I figured the analog would be ideal because then I could buy a controller seperate & place the controller in the tent with the air conditioner on the outside. Thus, saving me space inside the tent & hopefully operating more efficently? This is how one grow book I read said to do it. Not sure if I am understanding everything correctly.

If you have the ac outside the tent how do you plan to get the cold air into it? I use a digital ac. The way mine works is there is a fan inside it running 24/7 I can set it high med low. It helps circulate the air in my room and doesn't draw or expel any air other than what's in the room. When the temp gets too high then the ac part of the unit kicks on. The air in turn blows harder at which time it starts pulling air in the back of the unit from the room, which then exhausts out the outlet as hot air.

A 2 duct unit would still be in the grow area, yet pulling the air in from one of the ducts instead of the room, then sending out the other duct. You would have to design a funky kind of plenum to have the unit outside the tent to take the cold air from the "vents" and direct it into the tent. That option would require a separate controller in the room as well and would need the analog style unit as a digital ac doesn't turn back on simply by plugging it in (basically what a controller is doing), which the analog would.

Having the ac out of tent is doable but will require more equipment and creativity.

 

[Extacie]

portables are total junk. a 10k btu is the same as a 5k btu window unit. my advice is what I do for my clone room I keep it 60f or even colder all year round hydro. I just t put the tent next to the window and the window has a window ac unit. I cut a hole in the tent so the window unit will sit right inside the tent and take any gaps shut. this is the very best ! for the price. a 5000 btu will be the best choice about 150 bucks go digital save electric 550 watts only. it will hardly run . if your rich a mini split is the next choice .http://www.thermospace.com/ductless_split/aircon-inverter-24000-btu-mini-split.php the portables are total over rated kill the electric. I used to have 2 of them different brands both were junky.

I would love to do this as you've stated, it's the best, most affordable option. Only problem is I can't til I move unfortunately My place is for sale & landlord won't allow window a/c unit. Mini splits sound awesome, unfortunately I think it's out of my price range. So I'm left to think that the portable unit is my only option as of now?

 

[Extacie]

portables are total junk. a 10k btu is the same as a 5k btu window unit. my advice is what I do for my clone room I keep it 60f or even colder all year round hydro. I just t put the tent next to the window and the window has a window ac unit. I cut a hole in the tent so the window unit will sit right inside the tent and take any gaps shut. this is the very best ! for the price. a 5000 btu will be the best choice about 150 bucks go digital save electric 550 watts only. it will hardly run . if your rich a mini split is the next choice .http://www.thermospace.com/ductless_split/aircon-inverter-24000-btu-mini-split.php the portables are total over rated kill the electric. I used to have 2 of them different brands both were junky.

I would love to do this as you've stated, it's the best, most affordable option. Only problem is I can't til I move unfortunately My place is for sale & landlord won't allow window a/c unit. Mini splits sound awesome, unfortunately I think it's out of my price range. So I'm left to think that the portable unit is my only option as of now?

 

[Extacie]

If you have the ac outside the tent how do you plan to get the cold air into it? I use a digital ac. The way mine works is there is a fan inside it running 24/7 I can set it high med low. It helps circulate the air in my room and doesn't draw or expel any air other than what's in the room. When the temp gets too high then the ac part of the unit kicks on. The air in turn blows harder at which time it starts pulling air in the back of the unit from the room, which then exhausts out the outlet as hot air.


A 2 duct unit would still be in the grow area, yet pulling the air in from one of the ducts instead of the room, then sending out the other duct. You would have to design a funky kind of plenum to have the unit outside the tent to take the cold air from the "vents" and direct it into the tent. That option would require a separate controller in the room as well and would need the analog style unit as a digital ac doesn't turn back on simply by plugging it in (basically what a controller is doing), which the analog would.


Having the ac out of tent is doable but will require more equipment and creativity.

Ok I am sure I am understanding this incorrectly, but the way I understand it the two way would be recirculating air throughout the whole house where as the one duct a/c would just keep recirculating the same air throughout the tent? What am I missing here?

 

[Ou8aCracker2]

Tents aren't 100% sealed anways so you'll be leaking c02.

 

[Extacie]

Yeah I know but I figured I could at least somewhat do it efficently since its a gorilla tent (very thick material & little to no light leakage) since I can't have an exhaust system, what would be my best bet?

 

[Extacie]

Would another 600w hps be beneficial if I'm not venting or adding co2?

I figured co2 would be beneficial now, even though I'm a new grower in a tent which won't be sealed 100% b/c I will be moving into my own place soon where I can custom design everything & actually have co2.

If it will benefit me now & pay itself off then i don't see the point in holding off on getting one?

 

[Extacie]

Really venting would be ideal but if I do that it needs to be discreet. At first I didn't think possible, but after reading got ideas of essential creating a barrier over my windows with curtains/insulating foam/plastic & keeping the window open then venting through that. Thoughts & ideas?