Chewberto's Secret Garden....

Ok friends, who likes math?

If a man needs a pound a month, can legally grow 6flow/6veg, has one room for bloom, and 2000w hps, how does he complete his task?

Seems familiar, you do it with an 8 bulb t5 in veg, 4x6x4 tall room, and a 2kw 7x7 flower room.
Germ seeds before you harvest (only slightly of course) so they are breaking ground by the time you put the veggies into flower. Veg them out the whole 8 weeks that the flowering plants are flowering. Keep strains as close to the 8 weeks as possible, most of mine are in the 9-10 week range. Top the plants to keep them out of the light in the short veg room, making many tops, and wide, short(ish) plants.

veg room is chopped down to a 2x6x8?

Put a shelf in, at 4'. Now you have exactly what i have, but you need 2 lights, maybe 2 4 bulbs, or even 6 bulbs?

Anyone own a mini split air conditioner? I'm looking for advice on which one to get that is decent! Can I put the out side unit in a garage instead of outside? They have some 12000 btu ones in the 700 range like a toshiba and some ecocox or something! I'm not sure of brands and reliability if anyone has some input, I would appreciate it!

chewberto said:

Anyone own a mini split air conditioner? I'm looking for advice on which one to get that is decent! Can I put the out side unit in a garage instead of outside? They have some 12000 btu ones in the 700 range like a toshiba and some ecocox or something! I'm not sure of brands and reliability if anyone has some input, I would appreciate it!

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I can't tell you much about brands, etc. But I can tell you about the thermodynamics associated, and that might help you decide.
Are there a couple models you are looking at in particular?

As for the garage idea, yes, you can do that. The key is to have temperature differentials.
But if you want better efficiency, you should mount it outside, unless you want to heat up the garage. I notice that these "split" designs also act as heat pumps, so again, if you want it for that purpose in the winter, then you should mount it outside (unless you want to cool the garage... LOL)

What's the temperature difference between the source room(s) and the garage?

heckler73 said:

I can't tell you much about brands, etc. But I can tell you about the thermodynamics associated, and that might help you decide.
Are there a couple models you are looking at in particular?

As for the garage idea, yes, you can do that. The key is to have temperature differentials.
But if you want better efficiency, you should mount it outside, unless you want to heat up the garage. I notice that these "split" designs also act as heat pumps, so again, if you want it for that purpose in the winter, then you should mount it outside (unless you want to cool the garage... LOL)

What's the temperature difference between the source room(s) and the garage?

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Well I think outside snow would cover it, so the garage was my thought! I grow in a room but maybe thought about a quarantine or veg area in there! It will be such a drastic difference at certain times of the year I couldn't begin tho guess temp differential from garage and target source! Maybe a dual hose portable hydrofarm a/c for a 10x12 and 2000w?

What about a swamp cooler?

chewberto said:

Well I think outside snow would cover it, so the garage was my thought! I grow in a room but maybe thought about a quarantine or veg area in there! It will be such a drastic difference at certain times of the year I couldn't begin tho guess temp differential from garage and target source! Maybe a dual hose portable hydrofarm a/c for a 10x12 and 2000w?

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Just reading the threads on RIU about people's experiences with dual hose portables, I'd be leaning towards a split unit. But then you'll have to consider the installation. Do you know how to install one of those? In watching an installation video from some company, I am surprised at all the tools required...

What exactly are you trying to do? Take away heat, or humidity, too?

I am running co2 and I know in a month my temps will exceed 90 in my room, so I am preparing now! Only purpose is to maintain 85 while lights are on!

I know portable is inferior to the splits after all of my research, but it's a rather small room so I figured a portable would suffice but I might as well do it right! Especially since on eBay there are some under 1000! I want to stay in the 700 range! Thanks!

how are your temps now?.........im no mini split expert but i dont see why u couldnt throw a fan in the garage............i read a thread the other day somebody was talking about theres being worked into a yard decoration like a wishing well or something

They are ok around 85 but swings into the 90's, so when temps in summer heat up I will be in the hundreds! Plus I want to keep my temps as consistent as possible so whatever is going to get me complete control all year round, I want it! I have never installed one before! And where I'm at most people don't have air conditioner units installed outside! Cause they don't have them period! So I am kinda wondering how to dial this in right! I need 85-87 when lights are on all year around!

You should pulse Bubba. He's kind of a super genious with power engineering he may have some experience with AC.

Well bubba where you at? Lol see if he heard me!

This is what I am looking at. http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=300860214268&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=43769614749
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=281097123563&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=06991633591

chewberto said:

This is what I am looking at. http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=300860214268&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=43769614749
http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=281097123563&index=2&nav=SEARCH&nid=06991633591

Click to expand...

Did you read the fine print?

A way to save some money in this proses is by doing most of the installation yourself but you must hire an HVAC tech to test for leaks, vacuum the lines, release the refrigerant and start up the unit, and sign the warranty documents. This process is very important but only takes about 1 hour, your local AC company should charge you accordingly.

Do you know any HVAC techs?

We have one coming to join us shortly.
The do sell units that come precharged i believe. A mini-split would be ideal, no one will question a condenser outside, it is common in the state, even if not in your area. I would not put the condenser in the garage as it will heat the hell out of it, and in summer your garage is probably pretty hot already.
Swamp cooler won't work in a sealed room (i do know one guy managing this with 3kws though, but it shouldn't work in theory) and typically a dual hose portable will leak more than it is worth.
My suggestion would be to shut the Co2 off, run a swamp cooler in the house, a large one and intake from the house. You will help to supplement co2 by living at home and breathing. But i am not really a fan of Co2, i have heard lots and lots of tales of higher yields, but never actually seen the results proven.

if you vent to the garage, add a vent/fan towards the peak or on the roof itself (side/peak is easier/best) with a thermostat, this will help mitigate the additional heatload

Huh... Somebody say sumptin? Those look like good units to me chew. Installation shouldn't be too difficult either. Like Tru said, if its pre-charged, you should be good to go until you need another charge. Having said that, my recollection is that heat pumps work best when dealing with small temperature differentials inside to outside, the more difference, the harder it's gotta work. That's why they're really popular in the south. Should do fine as a cooler, but not sure how well it'll heat. But I ain't an HVAC guy, I do work with chillers some times, but they are 6 or 7 stories tall lol