Need advice on portable 3 ton ac unit for a ten light garage grow

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

Setting up a new grow in an insulated garage in Phoenix, Arizona so it gets pretty hot. I have ten 680W LED lights I will be running in here. The room is about 22'x22' and about 10 feet tall. I dont want to run a mini split because I cant be making 3" holes to run the piping in this house. I have a 30 amp breaker I took from the dryer which I will be running the portable ac from. I just want to know if anybody has any experience with huge portable units like this one. I figure it should be ok since they are used in those big important server rooms but I've never seen one in action.

I'm looking at this unit: https://www.rackmountsolutions.net/americool-wpc-9000-208-230v-37-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1g0_v_1zJ3y8PKXyL7qagWG6cYWG7Xm9Lo8AUV63csoRf9FnrOY9waAkdUEALw_wcB

Any thoughts? Thanks

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

I'm in PHX

That's a pretty big thing to try and accomplish

Are you trying to grow for a dispensary?

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

BobThe420Builder said:
I'm in PHX

That's a pretty big thing to try and accomplish

Are you trying to grow for a dispensary?

Sort of. I know a dispensary owner who was interested but mostly its for my patients. I'm pretty sure I should be fine with this portable 3 ton

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

So are u using the entire space then?

Dispensary can't just buy weed from people, has to come from a license grower or he could loose his business

ComfortCreator · May 28, 2021

iamcolin said:
Setting up a new grow in an insulated garage in Phoenix, Arizona so it gets pretty hot. I have ten 680W LED lights I will be running in here. The room is about 22'x22' and about 10 feet tall. I dont want to run a mini split because I cant be making 3" holes to run the piping in this house. I have a 30 amp breaker I took from the dryer which I will be running the portable ac from. I just want to know if anybody has any experience with huge portable units like this one. I figure it should be ok since they are used in those big important server rooms but I've never seen one in action.

I'm looking at this unit: https://www.rackmountsolutions.net/americool-wpc-9000-208-230v-37-000-btu-portable-air-conditioner/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwhr2FBhDbARIsACjwLo1g0_v_1zJ3y8PKXyL7qagWG6cYWG7Xm9Lo8AUV63csoRf9FnrOY9waAkdUEALw_wcB

Any thoughts? Thanks

If it's a garage, then it has door(s) that can be modified for the holes for an ac unit outside the space. No matter what an ac needs to be vented outside, so whether the portable has an exhaust out the garage or an ac unit does....it has to go out somewhere. Were you planning a sealed setup?

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

I've used smaller portable when I moved down here

It . MUST be vented outside or it's basically a pointless effort

Check roof vents, possibly exhaust into the ceiling
Check the exterior air exchanger vents in the garage, usually near the floor,vent there
Or as mentioned, pop a door window out and vent there

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

I will be venting into the attic. I won't be using the entire space, just 5x5 under each light

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

In tents or the entire space

I assume tents since u cant flower in an open room unless it's 100% dark

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

No it will be an open flower room. I'm hanging lights from the ceiling. I'm framing and insulating the garage door and covering all windows with insulation and panda film so darkness won't be an issue.

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

Where are u vegging at, same room,flipp all at once?

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

BobThe420Builder said:
Where are u vegging at, same room,flipp all at once?

Nah I veg inside the house on a perpetual cycle. I harvest one light every week.

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

Interesting

UpstateRecGrower · May 28, 2021

If you can't make a hole for refrigerant lines how will you exhaust the portable? And it looks like that portable only has an exhaust, no separate intake, so it's gonna be acting as an extraction fan too which will reduce the cooling btu you're able to use because you're going to be drawing in air from outside the room..

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

UpstateRecGrower said:
If you can't make a hole for refrigerant lines how will you exhaust the portable? And it looks like that portable only has an exhaust, no separate intake, so it's gonna be acting as an extraction fan too which will reduce the cooling btu you're able to use because you're going to be drawing in air from outside the room..

There is a 16" exhaust duct I will run to the attic. I used this formula for the BTU amount I would need for AC. (Room SQFT x 20) + (Equipment Watts x 3.14) + (Active People in the room x 400)

9,680 + 24,492(i took my 6800W from lights and added 1000W for fans, controller, etc.) + 400 = 34,572 BTU and the unit is 37,000 BTU so I figured I would be ok but I'm not 100% sure.

ebcrew · May 28, 2021

If your spending that much on that, get a mini split, you only need to make one 3 inch hole and it will have lineset covers and look comepletly legit, unlike that thing.

iamcolin · May 28, 2021

ebcrew said:
If your spending that much on that, get a mini split, you only need to make one 3 inch hole and it will have lineset covers and look comepletly legit, unlike that thing.

That was the plan but the house belongs to my friend and he doesn't want me drilling a 3" hole in the brick. I would prefer a mini split... buying this unit is ridiculous but I wasn't going to argue with him over it.

UpstateRecGrower · May 28, 2021

iamcolin said:
There is a 16" exhaust duct I will run to the attic. I used this formula for the BTU amount I would need for AC. (Room SQFT x 20) + (Equipment Watts x 3.14) + (Active People in the room x 400)

9,680 + 24,492(i took my 6800W from lights and added 1000W for fans, controller, etc.) + 400 = 34,572 BTU and the unit is 37,000 BTU so I figured I would be ok but I'm not 100% sure.

Yeah unfortunately the problem is that any air the unit exhausts outside it will have to suck from the room, and in turn the room with suck hot air from the outside. You also need to factor in how hot the room gets with no equipment running

frogyrogy · May 28, 2021

Run your lines up through the soffit if you have vinyl . . . easy fix to replace a piece of soffit and patch a hole in a ceiling if you pull the unit

BobThe420Builder · May 28, 2021

It's Arizona, no vinyl anywhere..lol

And my garage, no AC, get well over 120+ deg on a 100deg day
Can't imagine it on a 115deg day

He has his job cut out trying to cool that space

ComfortCreator · May 28, 2021

It sounds ambitious and good! We arent pushing to try and change the friend, it's just the sticking point is enough ac and you won't like a portable units efficiency imo. I know 12 and 15k btu units blow compared to a decent window unit, which isnt close to a mini or full size unit

New garage door, to replace the one you drill through for outside ac (!) when you move out is about $1000. Not a big expense...

Need advice on portable 3 ton ac unit for a ten light garage grow

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