Mini split issues already?

Apalchen said:

I need a WiFi extender with antenna, my building is metal with roughly 5 inches of insulation no signal at all out there. But I have the the unit set to lowest temp it will go at the moment. It's holding around 74-75 first few hours lights are on. By the time I wake up in morning it's about 77-78. I might just not have enough power, not that temps are too high per say, but I'd like more control to lower temps at the end. How many watts you cooling with yours?

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I have a two ton cooling 1400 watts of cob lighting and 1 Hlg 550 and two 320 xl boards which adds up to around 2500 watts full power. I also have a quest dehumidifier which put out straight heat...averaging 800-900 watts when running. With that being said with correct placement of the remote I can set my minisplit on 86 cool and I rarely go over 84 degrees lights on even on +90 days.

Just to add I’m running a “sealed” room with co2 so the ac has to be on point. One 20lbs tank last me a whole flower cycle( 60-70) days and then some.

I have to get a controller and tank, I kinda tapped out my budget on this build and the air conditioner was all I could afford right now. I do plan to get it setup before going to flower with next run. At this point I'm using some negative pressure from my my veg room to pull in fresh air, it's not much but sufficient for fresh air exchange c02 wise.

I still have one more flower room to setup that's the same size as current flower room. I already have the lights but need everything else. If I wait another couple months I can set it up to air cool that room atleast until late spring next year, our night time temps are consistently cold. I think until I decide wether or not I like this mini split that's the plan, as I just kinda wanna save and buy a couple bigger HVAC units like a regular split system (Trane, ect).

I dunno but I'm kinda over these mini splits, they should just make them so you can braze the line set, and also have a high and Low pressure port and a special mode to kick it into to check the pressure. Regular thermostat, just all kinds of reasons I'm leaning toward a standard split system.

Apalchen said:

I have to get a controller and tank, I kinda tapped out my budget on this build and the air conditioner was all I could afford right now. I do plan to get it setup before going to flower with next run. At this point I'm using some negative pressure from my my veg room to pull in fresh air, it's not much but sufficient for fresh air exchange c02 wise.

I still have one more flower room to setup that's the same size as current flower room. I already have the lights but need everything else. If I wait another couple months I can set it up to air cool that room atleast until late spring next year, our night time temps are consistently cold. I think until I decide wether or not I like this mini split that's the plan, as I just kinda wanna save and buy a couple bigger HVAC units like a regular split system (Trane, ect).

I dunno but I'm kinda over these mini splits, they should just make them so you can braze the line set, and also have a high and Low pressure port and a special mode to kick it into to check the pressure. Regular thermostat, just all kinds of reasons I'm leaning toward a standard split system.

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If I had been thru what you have I would probably feel the same way...these are not cheap investments. Just wanted to share my experience so you had a positive scenario to assist in your judgment. Make your next move your best move

Apalchen said:

I just kinda wanna save and buy a couple bigger HVAC units like a regular split system (Trane, ect).

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Shoulda went Mitsubishi. A normal split unit won't work when it gets cool outside, you can vent though when it's cool I suppose, provided co2 enrichment isn't in play. Freeze kits can help but they just aren't as good at low ambient as an inverter based mini.

Renfro said:

Shoulda went Mitsubishi. A normal split unit won't work when it gets cool outside, you can vent though when it's cool I suppose, provided co2 enrichment isn't in play. Freeze kits can help but they just aren't as good at low ambient as an inverter based mini.

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The current unit claims to work down to 5 degrees we shall see. I also have a shelter I built for the unit to keep it up off the ground, if need be I can attach some sheeting or something to the post during winter to keep them out of the wind and such. And yeah I have exhaust set up on a thermostat to kick on if gets too hot in room.

I got quotes for Mitsubishi and another high end unit I can't think of at the moment and it was just way too much, I think it's cause they don't make 4 or 5 ton units so altogether it was gonna be 4 smaller units. Dude said 18.5k.

I'm not sure how they do it but there are several guys up here that run regular 5 ton split systems. I'm just gonna save money and hire this guy I found that specializes in grow room HVAC unless I find somewhere closer as knowledgeable, as I'm sure his fee to drive a few hours gonna be higher. I don't wanna waste his time with coming out for a quote until I'm closer to having the money.

Apalchen said:

The current unit claims to work down to 5 degrees we shall see. I also have a shelter I built for the unit to keep it up off the ground, if need be I can attach some sheeting or something to the post during winter to keep them out of the wind and such. And yeah I have exhaust set up on a thermostat to kick on if gets too hot in room.

I got quotes for Mitsubishi and another high end unit I can't think of at the moment and it was just way too much, I think it's cause they don't make 4 or 5 ton units so altogether it was gonna be 4 smaller units. Dude said 18.5k.

I'm not sure how they do it but there are several guys up here that run regular 5 ton split systems. I'm just gonna save money and hire this guy I found that specializes in grow room HVAC unless I find somewhere closer as knowledgeable, as I'm sure his fee to drive a few hours gonna be higher. I don't wanna waste his time with coming out for a quote until I'm closer to having the money.

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did the issue happen when you built the shelter for the unit? Are you sure you aren't starving the unit for air? Just thinking outside of the box

Nizza said:

did the issue happen when you built the shelter for the unit? Are you sure you aren't starving the unit for air? Just thinking outside of the box

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The shelter was in built before I installed the unit and at this time only has a roof I won't add sides or cover the front unless have issues with freezing even then the shelter is oversized and I can leave enough open to still move air and protect the unit if I need too. That part of the building gets the least amount of snow of any of the sides but I still wanted to be able to elevate and cover the unit as it dumps some snow here quite often and pretty much stays on the ground all winter just addi

I appreciate the input though

Definitely don't add sides, at least not permanent ones. This causes a recirculation effect that can be desirable in the extreme cold and wind but it very bad for it when it's hot outside. They even make kits like this, that force recirculation and block cold wind from the condenser coil, for some minis to achieve super low ambient numbers but the kit is only supposed to be installed during the very cold months.

Minis are supposed to be installed with their air direction going away from the structure and at a specific minimum distance from the structure.

The way they get normal split units to run at lower temps is by installing a freeze kit, still though it's not optimal. Many simply choose to switch to a cold air intake when it's too cold for their AC units. I even have mine setup so if it hits a certain low number outside (my units are only low ambient down to 5 degrees) the AC is powered off and my intake system kicks in automatically, when the temp rises and stays there for a while it switches back to the AC. Lots of ways to skin this cat.

Yeah anything added to the outside of the structure will only be during the winter. Winter's are pretty extreme here. But the structure is build out of 4x4 post and is roughly 9 foot tall with the unit about 3.5 ft off the ground. So I can easily attach lattice and/or sheathing with screws and then be able to take them back off.

I'm not sure if lattice would block enough wind but maybe use it in the sides and sheathing in the front or vice versa. I have some of each around so I can experiment when it gets cold.

Did u check the outside unit? Make sure the coils are clogged. I have a 3 ton mr.cool and every spring it gets clogged leaves and shit and doesnt work well until its cleaned.

trambles said:

Did u check the outside unit? Make sure the coils are clogged. I have a 3 ton mr.cool and every spring it gets clogged leaves and shit and doesnt work well until its cleaned.

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It's new.

So far it's holding on pretty good I get a bit paranoid sometimes. I honestly think they just aren't as powerful as rated. I did get one of the the connectors to tighten down a bit more so I guess I could have lost a small amount of gas but it Im not sure as it wasn't much and didn't feel any oil.

I'm about to take a trip to get the rest of my belonging from old house and gonna grab my Daikin 2 ton unit and pay a tech to install it in this room as well. I should then be able to add some 2 more de lights and some supplemental cmh to this room.

I'm still not sure what I'm gonna go with in my other room, it will be cool enough here soon to air cool it which I might do for a few runs so it can pay for its own ac and just get a really nice one.

I'm trimming up now and my God is this taking forever, lol. I had a lot of trouble this run but the quality came out pretty good with some being stellar. It was the biggest seed run I've ever done and I definitely have some new keepers just gotta smoke to make final decisions. I'm confident after what I've already trimmed that I'll hit 2 a light, so not my best numbers but I'm happy with it considering all the problems this run gave me. I'm just glad to cross the finish line as put everything I had Into this move and build out and at some points I wasn't sure I was gonna make it, by far the hardest run I've ever had.

Also it's been so dusty here that I do need to spray off the coils I'm sure, unbelievable how much it builds up on everything here.