AC Help Please

I stay in a desert city and my cab temps in the day time are reaching low to mid 90s. I would post pics, but I guess I can't yet (post count too low???).

My cab is 4'(h) x 3'(w) x 2'(d). The cab is in the garage, putting it in the house is not an option. I just wanna cool the cab.

I've read about cats talking about cooling with a 5000 btu AC. Is that basically the only option I have? Was hoping someone more experienced knew of a smaller air cooler/air conditioner type unit that I could duct into the cab, really no room in the cab for anything but the shrubbery. Thanks

I have the same issue, the main issues I believe are that the garage has no insulation above it, it faces west (the setting sun makes it unbearable), and there is no air conditioning. I am looking to start with putting just some R-13 roll in insulation and see how much the temps drop. I've already insulated the garage door with a kit designed to do it.

My cabinet is going to be the same size as well. Any help would be greatly appreceated.

I have seen small window units ducted to become inline with the use of fans.

This is hard to describe but work with me. You have a smaller window unit ac box off the front and downsize to 4inch duct with a pc fan the help move the air along. This will run into your cab providing the much needed cooler air. The rear of your unit will be wher the hot air is expelled from cooling the ac's operation. In other words there is no need for a carbon filter. box off the back of the unit and duct out (attic or outside) using an inline fan to move the air along. It would be a good idea to cut a small drain hole in the back box as window units tend to put out some condensation. In the boxing I have seen 3/4inch plywood used along with glue, nails/scews, and plenty of sealent. You would need to be semi handy with tools to make this happen but it can and will work. By doing it this way you can keep the site of a window unit running out of your garage.

If that is to much, and you dont care about extra heat/noise in the garage, go get a smaller unit and pop it in the side of your cab. Window units can be found at your local home improvement store from 100 to 550 dollars.

Good luck and I hope that made at least some sense.

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Originally Posted by juneflyer

I have seen small window units ducted to become inline with the use of fans.

This is hard to describe but work with me. You have a smaller window unit ac box off the front and downsize to 4inch duct with a pc fan the help move the air along. This will run into your cab providing the much needed cooler air. The rear of your unit will be wher the hot air is expelled from cooling the ac's operation. In other words there is no need for a carbon filter. box off the back of the unit and duct out (attic or outside) using an inline fan to move the air along. It would be a good idea to cut a small drain hole in the back box as window units tend to put out some condensation. In the boxing I have seen 3/4inch plywood used along with glue, nails/scews, and plenty of sealent. You would need to be semi handy with tools to make this happen but it can and will work. By doing it this way you can keep the site of a window unit running out of your garage.

If that is to much, and you dont care about extra heat/noise in the garage, go get a smaller unit and pop it in the side of your cab. Window units can be found at your local home improvement store from 100 to 550 dollars.

Good luck and I hope that made at least some sense.

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Yeah, I know what you're talking about.

I mean, I could buy a unit for $120-$150 that'll cool my whole garage (as least it says it'll cover an area that big). I was hoping to avoid that.

Forget it, I'm gonna ride with the 90 temps and see how it turns out. The shrubs don't look bad, so we'll see.

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Originally Posted by misterz

I have the same issue, the main issues I believe are that the garage has no insulation above it, it faces west (the setting sun makes it unbearable), and there is no air conditioning. I am looking to start with putting just some R-13 roll in insulation and see how much the temps drop. I've already insulated the garage door with a kit designed to do it.

My cabinet is going to be the same size as well. Any help would be greatly appreceated.

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I'm just going to go without cooling for this grow and see how it turns out before I put money into a unit. I just want to avoid it if at all possible, especially if I can get away with it.

Damn, I'm cheap. Ha ha

some of us dont have the ability to put in a wall mounted AC unit. I dont have any windows in my garage but oh well. What I think I'll finally break down and do is insulate above the garage with R-13 insulation and run in a small duct from my inside AC that I can shut off if I need to. I'll also run a duct coming into my cabinet for fresh air from the inside of the house....basically a passive intake. being in the "south" it gets quite HOT here, so we'll have to see how it goes.

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Originally Posted by da_natural

I'm just going to go without cooling for this grow and see how it turns out before I put money into a unit. I just want to avoid it if at all possible, especially if I can get away with it.

Damn, I'm cheap. Ha ha

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you might be better off putting one in, it'll be more comfortable to work in there when you do it. also try to insulate above the garage. most of the time the home builders dont do it. it'll cost about $120 to do a 400sqft garage with R-13 roll in insulation.

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Originally Posted by da_natural

Forget it, I'm gonna ride with the 90 temps and see how it turns out. The shrubs don't look bad, so we'll see.

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Why not consider adding CO2, if you can't lower the temp.
Your plants will grow very well up to abt 90 degrees with some extra CO2.

I know from the sound of things cost is a main issue, so gas controllers and generators are out, but......
Excello fizz pucks work well, and for your small cab. 1/2 or 1/4 tablet would do you, per day.

Or you can build a CO2 generator with a gallon jug 1/2 filled with water and add yeast and sugar. Duct tape a plastic hose from top of jug to your cab. (try to introduce it at the top of cab) for about $2.50.

good luck

I too live in the desert, and I flower in a large outdoor shed. Temps here are already in the triple-digits. I've got a 12,000 or 13,000 btu window A/C unit. Between that and the techniques below, I can usually keep the temps down to around 90ish.
Walked-in earlier this week, and my A/C had kicked the breaker. :eek: Luckily, I keep one of my lights on the same breaker, in case something like this happens. Temp was 108 at canopy top.
My ladies are fine.

...In my situation, reverse lighting schedule is out of the question, and I can't afford to cooltube it.
...During more temperate months, I run two lights. But during the summer, I stagger their cycles, (1 on for 6 hours, then the other comes on for 6 hours) I will also raise the lights a few inches.
...High humidity and high heat don't mix. Mold will form quickly. I virtually never foliar spray, except to correct defeciencies and only with lights off or raised. (each drop is like a little magnifying glass) Altho outside humidity is around 8% on average, the moisture from daily 'surface' watering, and plant transpiration provide plenty of humidity. (25%-35%) I also flush well, once a month or so.
...I cut-back on nutes. (3-part Fox Farms) Instead of a once-weekly nute schedule, I go with twice weekly, at half strength. (less stress but same quantity of nutes going in)
...I am a bit aggressive with the fan, too. Nothing shoo's-away heat like wind. I keep the oscillating fan a foot or so below the height of the canopy, pointed at the space just below the lamps, and let the fan push the hot air up and away.
...Sometimes, when extremely hot I'll (horizontally) hang a sheet of 5/8 plexiglass between lights and canopy to provide a heat barrier, aiming the fans between the plexiglass and the canopy.

I got some Silica Blast (Botanicare) which is supposed to toughen-up the plants, and help 'em survive harsher conditions, like drought and heat.
No Silica Blast results from my garden yet, but stinky says she uses it, too...so it's gotta work, lol.

Rusty,

Good idea with the Silica Blast, I'd forgotten about that.

I use it for my plants that go into my small greenhouse, really does help.