Growing in a tent without A/C

2013-07-22 00.35.34.jpg This looks crude as shit but it works. I have the duct going to the top of the tent so it cools the light first. I also think that every grow, no matter how sophisticated, needs a little ghetto in it :)
 
Thanks a lot. I didn't think about the a/c unit circulating the air for me. then I would just need an oscillating fan to keep air moving. How hard does the a/c have to work for you in the summer months?
ZOMBIESxWEED said:
http://www.lowes.com/pd_367199-3761...c&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=portable+ac&facetInfo=

This is what I'm using. I fitted an 8" piece of ducting to the front of it and it works like a charm. Tent remains a steady 77-80. When I have the money and am ready to convert an entire room I'll invest in a split-AC unit as I hear those are the best options.
Click to expand...
 
It's on it's coldest setting and runs only while the lights are on. It's a ghetto solution and looks like an absolute abomination but it's a solution none-the-less. I also have one 16 inch wall fan inside the tent to circulate the air.
 
Lol oh mine will have plenty of ghetto when its all said and done. I guess you guys just leave another intake hole on top so only hot air is escaping the tent, or would you want a small amount of cool air to be released so the a/c is pulling in new air?
ZOMBIESxWEED said:
This looks crude as shit but it works. I have the duct going to the top of the tent so it cools the light first. I also think that every grow, no matter how sophisticated, needs a little ghetto in it :)
Click to expand...
 
Sorry I need to start revising my questions before posting. So you have your a/c hooked up, along with a wall fan for air circulation. Where do you allow for fresh air to be pulled in, from the top or bottom?
 
I have two 4" fans that I use as an intake and exhaust. I have those on the bottom of the tent because every time I turn on the CO2 I need to tape up the fan holes so my CO2 won't escape. Then I just take the tape off and air will escape through the fans. Keep in mind both intake and exhaust fans only run when the lights are off. I also have a third 6" fan that cools my reflector hood, though this is completely enclosed and the air from the 6" fan does not touch the inside of the tent at all.
 
Ok Im really getting some good info here. I really appreciate it. I thought about getting a portable a/c unit but it seems I could get a window unit for cheaper on craigslist (sometimes even $50), plus they're more reliable and cool a room faster. It stays around 80 in the tent even at night so if I could get a window unit that does a good job of cooling the tent, I would probably just leave it running on 72 degrees 24/7 and have a hole or two for fresh air to enter/old air to escape
 
Do what you do man. Every grow is unique, so find what works best for you. My grow is not really automated at all. My lights and fans are set to a timer and my CO2 is hooked up to a controller that regulates PPM but other than that I have to manually set my AC timer everyday to turn off and on and I also hand feed my plants. But I am a firm believer that you should be checking on your grow daily anyway.
 
Im sure I will be checking on my room pretty regularly, but I don't wanna wake up late for work and let my plants fry because I didn't have time to turn on the a/c in the morning. I thought for a while there it would be another $1000 before I could get my tent set up. Hopefully I can find a decent window unit on craigslist and Ill be in business. Hopefully the ac unit doesn't flip any breakers. I don't wanna have to bury another extension cord and run it to my shed.
 
My 8000 BTU is pulling 6.5 amps. I picked it up off Craigs for $190. The timer is simple. When I wake up I set the timer to turn on. If you're running late one morning or if the AC is still on just leave it on while you're at work. I go out and do all my things and when I come back to do my daily feeding, pruning, etc. when lights are on I just remember to set the timer to turn off. I have it hooked up to a 15 amp wall socket that leads to a single breaker. I also have other small things like fans, pumps, controllers running off the same socket. My lights are running off a completely different breaker because my ballast is pulling 9.5 amps alone. My entire 5x5 is running off two 15 amp breakers.
 
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