|
Some of these posts are very old and might contain outdated information. You may wish to search for newer posts instead.
|
ljb
Stranger

Registered: 10/01/15
Posts: 30
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
|
Air-conditioning and the Grow Room
#22400950 - 10/19/15 01:19 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Hey guys, I'm having a HELL of a time finding a proper way to aircondition my grow room during the hot summer months in Australia. First I was going to use a split system, then I was told about spore buildup when used in a growroom. Then I was thinking an outside window mounted aiconditioner with a makeshift vent to pump into the grow room but I was told that wouldn't work by an "aircon expert" at a place I went to. (He was a bit of a rude bastard, I'm guessing he didn't want to help me because it was a small area, wasn't profitable, and probably thought I was growing active strains which are stupidly illegal here) So what the heck do I use? I'm lost for ideas now. I was going to try a homemade evap cooler using a swamp pump but now I've read it's useless in high humidity areas. Any help please?
|
svampnathan
Stranger

Registered: 01/31/15
Posts: 54
Loc: Sweden
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#22401207 - 10/19/15 04:51 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
What RH is the ambient air you will be using, and what species are you growing? I am thinking (if you grow for example oysters) you also want to change the air inside a lot? If the ambient air is hot and dry you might be able to lower the temp of the incoming air just by evaporating water, and at the same time boost the RH? Perhaps you already considered this, just thinking energy efficiency here... This will not work if the RH already is high though.
|
ljb
Stranger

Registered: 10/01/15
Posts: 30
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: svampnathan]
#22401214 - 10/19/15 04:54 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Hey buddy, I'm growing Oyster Mushrooms, and I'm using an Ultrasonic Humidifier. It will be set up to supply the Oyster mushrooms at their various growth stages, which is why I figured evaporating water wouldn't work due to reading threads they are useless when humidity is already running quite high :/
|
RogerSmith

Registered: 01/29/15 
Posts: 365
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#22401288 - 10/19/15 05:46 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Portable ac that pumps air from outside? Figure out how you can protect it from spores tho And go find online calculator that will show you how much BTU you need for your room. Just for general idea ofc
|
svampnathan
Stranger

Registered: 01/31/15
Posts: 54
Loc: Sweden
Last seen: 7 years, 9 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: RogerSmith]
#22401369 - 10/19/15 06:31 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
evaporating water wouldn't work due to reading threads they are useless when humidity is already running quite high :/
Ok, with high outside humidity it will not work... too bad. But like RogerSmith said, you should be able to cool the incoming air and it would de free of spores? Thats like your original idea that you had in the first time, that the "aircon expert" condemned? I cant see why that would not work... If you have like a small chamber for the incoming air, and place the inside unit of the AC in that chamber I believe the air forced through the chamber would be easy to cool with the AC unit? It might need a bit thinking (and adaption depending on how the AC operates), but it should not be impossible to construct the chamber in such a manner that the air flow suits the unit. I´d say consult a less rude aircon expert... What temps and RH do you have to work with?
|
SeaBass
Take me to the river!



Registered: 05/15/15
Posts: 16
Loc: The North
Last seen: 4 years, 27 days
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#22401982 - 10/19/15 09:38 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
ljb said: Hey guys, I'm having a HELL of a time finding a proper way to aircondition my grow room during the hot summer months in Australia. First I was going to use a split system, then I was told about spore buildup when used in a growroom. Then I was thinking an outside window mounted aiconditioner with a makeshift vent to pump into the grow room but I was told that wouldn't work by an "aircon expert" at a place I went to. (He was a bit of a rude bastard, I'm guessing he didn't want to help me because it was a small area, wasn't profitable, and probably thought I was growing active strains which are stupidly illegal here) So what the heck do I use? I'm lost for ideas now. I was going to try a homemade evap cooler using a swamp pump but now I've read it's useless in high humidity areas. Any help please?
I think I understand your issue.
Install your small air conditioner in the door or wall of your grow room (im assuming its a bedroom?).With the air coming from inside your house NOT with air coming from outside! Set it to your desired temperature. Also you may want to put a drip tray down for the outside of the conditioner as it will have condensation dripping from it... most of the time they don't have one attached as they are normally dripping on the ground outside your home.
You will have a positive pressure in the room so you will want air to escape the room at the same rate as the conditioner pushes out. So you make another vent hole for air to escape (also venting in the house).I would make the exhaust vent near the ceiling cause cold air will rush to the floor.
You can tape/mount a good furnace/hepa or some other type of filter to the back side of the conditioner for air coming in and filter the exhaust hole the same way but from the inside. So bugs or what ever cant get in. Optionally you could make a tin flapper for the exhaust hole on the out side(it will shut automatically when the conditioner goes off) if your handy that is. Also this will stop hot air from getting back in too. I would personally make a flapper or buy some premade exhaust vents with flappers.If you hear the conditioner struggling to push air when you close the door you need more exhaust venting. Keep in mind the sound will probly change when you close the door but not sound like its wreaking it...if that makes sense.
If this is a grow tent and not a "room" then I would do the same thing but just to the room that the tent is in.
The houses in Australia don't have good insulation value in the exterior walls. Also the exterior walls are thin. And there is no codes for venting attic spaces either so you will have most likely insulate the room also otherwise your small air conditioner will be running non stop trying to cool the entire level of your house which the grow room is on. And it will kill the life of the conditioner.
Basically when in a house there you might as well be standing out side so just pretend out side the room is out side your house.
Even the new houses are garbage there...used to live OZ. No offence intended. The government is to blame for that one.
All other issues like humidity etc...can be solved easily with in your house with dehumidifiers and or humidifiers.
Hope this helps
-------------------- No matter where go...im still me!
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: SeaBass]
#22403359 - 10/19/15 12:30 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
What kind of temps are you talking about? If your in the 80s you can just let it be and use warm weather strains like phoenix and pinks. Otherwise if you need to refrigerate, chill your room then have your grow tent/room suck the chilled air from the outside room and exhaust outdoors.
|
drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: Gr0wer]
#22403888 - 10/19/15 02:40 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
AC window units don't pull air in and blow it out the front. They re-circulate air from the inside, across the cold coils. Then there is a seperate loop that pushes hot air out of the rear coils.
There's no reason not to use a window unit or mini split if you can pick your mushrooms before they drop spores.
|
ljb
Stranger

Registered: 10/01/15
Posts: 30
Last seen: 7 years, 4 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: drake89]
#22406703 - 10/19/15 11:40 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Thanks alot for each and everyone of you applying your input into here. I've been doing some more research. To clarify I'm growing my garage, it's a brick garage that seems to be at least 5-6 degrees cooler than the outside temperature. The problem is during the summer when we have heat waves the heat will be trapped and have a hard time escaping but I'm yet to monitor exactly how the environment will work. Upon doing some further investigation, I found a relatively expensive unit that I think might just work.
Here's a link to an Evaporative Cooler Unit that is being sold in a Hydroponics store. I was thinking I might be able to attach a hepa filter onto it, to stop spore clogging and that this unit might just be what I need. I could run it outside or inside the tent with some proper venting and wanted to grab some feedback from you guys.
https://www.eppinghydroponics.com.au/evaporative-cooler-unit.html
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#22406750 - 10/19/15 11:52 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
If you do plan on using one just build one. The mesh is about $12 a sheet and a small aquarium pump is about $8 and a float valve $8. Then you just need to rig it up in a tote or pail or drum. And if your humidity is high it won't be very effective.
swamp cooler effectiveness chart, it will also bump the RH up with the lowered temp. http://cache.air-n-water.com/art/evap_chart3.gif
|
SeaBass
Take me to the river!



Registered: 05/15/15
Posts: 16
Loc: The North
Last seen: 4 years, 27 days
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: Gr0wer]
#22406868 - 10/20/15 12:25 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Right on!
Im sure you will figure it out.
Sincerely good luck....im sure you got it down pat
-------------------- No matter where go...im still me!
|
SeaBass
Take me to the river!



Registered: 05/15/15
Posts: 16
Loc: The North
Last seen: 4 years, 27 days
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: drake89]
#22406952 - 10/20/15 12:50 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
drake89 said: AC window units don't pull air in and blow it out the front. They re-circulate air from the inside, across the cold coils. Then there is a seperate loop that pushes hot air out of the rear coils.
Quote: On a "split-system", no. On a window, or through the wall unit, you may get some outside air being used, but this blows across the cold indoor coil anyway and is felt as cooler air. The refrigerant and its coils do the job of absorbing heat and dissipating heat at different locations
my point was some out side air is still coming in so it be wise to filter if concerned of some out side spore might be an influence. If he/she was worried about that. Being from outside the house or from inside it makes no difference. One can filter both ways if need be.
peace
-------------------- No matter where go...im still me!
|
SeaBass
Take me to the river!



Registered: 05/15/15
Posts: 16
Loc: The North
Last seen: 4 years, 27 days
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: SeaBass]
#22407011 - 10/20/15 01:15 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
For inquiring minds....the conditioner unit does this when the compressor cant keep up with the amount of air being cooled so it compensates by bringing air from the out side into the equation ...and it will ...more often then you might think or seller would like to admit.
-------------------- No matter where go...im still me!
|
drake89
Mushroom Magnate



Registered: 06/26/11
Posts: 4,168
Loc: TN
Last seen: 4 years, 10 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: SeaBass]
#22409785 - 10/20/15 03:21 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
SeaBass said: For inquiring minds....the conditioner unit does this when the compressor cant keep up with the amount of air being cooled so it compensates by bringing air from the out side into the equation ...and it will ...more often then you might think or seller would like to admit.
false. I run a cool bot 24/7 it does not bring in outside air... the back coil does but not the front.
|
Gr0wer
always improving


Registered: 09/16/03
Posts: 6,056
Loc: El Paso, TX
Last seen: 5 years, 10 months
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: drake89]
#22410686 - 10/20/15 06:52 PM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
|
|
Some A/C's do have a vent flap to pull in outside air.... Typically its a switch or lever for the user to actuate. Thats more with the window units as the mini splits are typically just wall mounted with refrigerant hoses going through the wall and no external vent.
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 20 hours, 43 minutes
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#26352574 - 11/29/19 06:22 PM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
If you are low on freon or even overcharged the system will not work properly.
|
wildernessjunkie
Reshitivest


Registered: 06/13/10
Posts: 8,118
Loc: HTTP 404 Not Found
|
Re: Air-conditioning and the Grow Room [Re: ljb]
#26354914 - 11/29/19 06:22 PM (4 years, 1 month ago) |
|
|
This thread has been closed.
Reason: Sometimes service to your environmental controls are necessary. Even if youre responding to a 4 year old thread
|
|