I'm trying to decide weather to use a small A/C ($250) or a 1/2HP water chiller + heat exchanges ($700+). Does anyone have any first hand experience with water cooling? I'm trying to cool at most 2000W, more likely 1200W. Ambient temps are typically in the low 70s. I can justify the initial cost if it will save in electric in the long run and I can also keep some DWC cooler. How well do these ICEBOXs actually work and will 1/2hp be enough?
Water cooled or A/C?
- Thread starter midgaar
- Start date
ScoobyDoobyDoo
Well-Known Member
I started this thread before I changed my name. tones of info in here.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/511767-water-cooled-grow-rooms.html
1/2hp isn't going to be enough for 1000-2000w plus the ambient cooling of the room. need more info on size of room, ballasts in room, Co2 in room, etc... to give you a proper sizing estimate.
been doing water cooling for a long time. started with a 2hp chillking with separate reservoir. stepped up to a self contained dual reservoir 12ton unit a few years back. still purrs like a kitten. working on a 5ton self contained dual reservoir unit right now. building out the space and adding 2 water cooled air handlers.
1/2 hp chillers are for 1 ice box or a single 600w and some other little stuff. can't handle 1000w lights along with ambient temps. truly designed for large RDWC systems.
https://www.rollitup.org/grow-room-design-setup/511767-water-cooled-grow-rooms.html
1/2hp isn't going to be enough for 1000-2000w plus the ambient cooling of the room. need more info on size of room, ballasts in room, Co2 in room, etc... to give you a proper sizing estimate.
been doing water cooling for a long time. started with a 2hp chillking with separate reservoir. stepped up to a self contained dual reservoir 12ton unit a few years back. still purrs like a kitten. working on a 5ton self contained dual reservoir unit right now. building out the space and adding 2 water cooled air handlers.
1/2 hp chillers are for 1 ice box or a single 600w and some other little stuff. can't handle 1000w lights along with ambient temps. truly designed for large RDWC systems.
budleydoright
Well-Known Member
In my experience with water cooling. On a smaller scale, much if not all of the effeciency water cooling brings is burned up by adding dehumidification. Ice boxes, even when cooling your room are typically not cold enough to condense and dehumidify. I used fresca sols.
ScoobyDoobyDoo
Well-Known Member
you gotta try water cooled air handlers. best of both worlds. even ice boxes have their success. so what you have to add a dehumidifier....you have to add one most of the time with an a/c if you live in a humid environment.
budleydoright
Well-Known Member
Water cooled AC totally rocks and I wish I had it. With your AC air handlers, your able to run the water temp below the dew point and remove moisture from the air. With ice boxes and small chillers, while theoritically it is possible, it gets real messy with water dripping off the lines etc. so most run just above the dew point temp.
superstoner1
Well-Known Member
I started with aa small window ac then switched to a well thought out water cooling system. Almost immediately I regretted it and after getting my mini split ac I would never think about water cooling again. Lots more initial cost that would take a long, long time to recover in savings, if any. Anybody serious about growing and wanting total control of environment should go with ac and dehumidifier.