Window A/C Questions

[hanayama]

Do window air conditioners need to be exhausted out of the room? Or can i just set it in the room.
I feel like it needs to be exhausted, doesnt the exhaust side get hot? thus defeating the purpose.

Thanks ahead of time!

[Farmer Rich]

Yes, in a window or through a wall. Size of the unit will depend on how many lights you have. I use a 15k BTU unit in a room with 2 1k HPS lights, which allows me to keep temps in the mid 70's during the winter, about 80-82 on the hottest days during the summer.

Peace, Farmer Rich

[hanayama]

Thaaaats what I thought.... I dont think I can cut a hole that big in the wall in the wall.
I'm planning on cutting a small 4 inch hole for venting the can filter, but thats about as big as I can go.
Any other suggestions beside more venting?

Thanks

[disrupt86]

heres what u can,yes the back side gets verry hot verry fast there will also be liquid.for the liquid u need to take the metal portion off the ac and drill a 3/4 inch hole through the bottom and install a 3/4 flood table drain fitting.install the hose onto the 3/4 barb and put a bucket under it.it needs to be emptied every day.now for the ac unit. build a wood box enclosure around it with just the cool air side sticking out.get a small 4 " fan with ducting and cut your 4 inch hole into the back of the box were the back side of the ac is.hook up your 4 inch fan and suck the air on outa there.i would also line the inside of the box with some sort of insulation .:thumbsup:

[hanayama]

Good shit Disrupt!
I need to see how big the A/C unit is that I might be getting, cuz im a little tight on space.....but that might just work.


So the water will drain through the bottom instead of through the grate just by drilling a hole?

Thanks!

[hanayama]

Looked interesting.....
RV Air Conditioner KoolerAire RV Air Conditioning (http://kooleraire.com/kooleraire25.htm)

I'm thinking I could put several ice packs in the cooler instead of ice....shit, or even dry ice.
Doesn't dry ice give off CO2?
Any thoughts???

[hanayama]

OOOORRR I might just build one myself...... looks pretty easy!

[disrupt86]

yeah that r.v thing is going to cause much more trouble than its worth that i can promise.my a.c unit is only 2x3 so it doesnt take up much space.and is pretty cheap mine was like $150 new but i traded for mine. heres a couple of tips make sure that your ac pulls fresh air to convert through the front.it will usually have some sort of slotting u can c and then the cold air exhaust on the front near the top. befor u go drilling holes u need to plug it in and see were the water acumulates,it will puddle before it spews over the sides "like it normally would.u might need to take the back off and hit it a couple of times to make a low point,so the water naturally feeds there,that is were u would want to install a drip hose,good luck.remember the insulation is so extreemly vital.i would insulate the inside with loose unsulation and then ger a sheet of r 134 and glue it to the out side.

[JackdaWack]

Hold on a second! you can get an portable ac unit! they sit on wheels have a water catch bin and exhaust the hot air via ducting! perfect if u ask me.

[DreadedHermie]

Those portables were real expensive (6-700 USD) and not too efficient when I looked at them. (Been awhile, though.) But ya get the same cooling for $150 or less with a window unit. :)

[hanayama]

Yea, cheap is the key here.
I dont know, I think i might try to make one of those cooler AC things.
its cheap enough to try, and I think I could make it work pretty well.
I have an extra fridge right outside of my room, so I could load that up with jugs of water/ice.

Plus, who doesnt enjoy making ridiculous contraptions for their grow room?? LOL

[disrupt86]

the problem with it is your humidity level is going to be off the charts.if u wanna make stuff look up home made ac on you tube.this guy take a fan 1/2 flex copper tubing and makes a ghetto a.c that will drop your room by 5 deg.its super easy.basically u take the hollow copper and wrap it around an oscilating fan several times and zip tie it to the front.leave to ends free on the copper.take a couple of feet of 1/2 vinyle tubing and connect it to both ends.now u have a giant loopcut the vinyl tubing in half.get a small aquarium pump "about 10 bucks" and stick it in a cooler full of ice water.leave the other end hanging in the cooler.pump turns on,pushes the cold water through the copper,the fan blows the air and the water is returned to the cooler.try it and see what happends.it just seems like a whole lot of effort to me but hey its worth a shot

[disrupt86]

Those portables were real expensive (6-700 USD) and not too efficient when I looked at them. (Been awhile, though.) But ya get the same cooling for $150 or less with a window unit. :) word:thumbsup: the last one i saw was $900,it looked cool and 2 exhaust ports on it but put out less b.t.u than the cheapest a.c. i could find at wall mart.

[Farmer Rich]

I paid $500 for a 10k btu unit at your local home supply store. Works well, thought they do generate a bit of heat on the exhaust.. so get it out of the room quickly and with the shortest vent possible.

Peace,

Farmer Rich

[JackdaWack]

I would check again, prices drop quickly on stuff like that. I just saw a 12,000btu for 400bucks

SNO 12000 BTU Portable Air Conditioner - Silver ARC-12D (http://www.qualitymatters.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=QMARC-12D&click=21247)

[DreadedHermie]

I just saw a 12,000btu for 400bucks

Wow. If I coulda got that deal a couple years ago I'd prolly have set things up differently and used one. Good find!

[TruePyroman]

yeah, but remember the drainage from the condensation will have some trace of MJ odor unless you do something about it. depends on where you're at.