Minisplit in 4x4 sealed cabinet

I have a 4x4 flowering cabinet. It's currently set up as a 'tent', ie. Regular air exchange with my garage, with a 400w vero 10 led build covering half the area.

I'm planning ahead and looking at minisplit ac so I can seal it up. At which point I'd be doing a new led build to maximize the space.

The issue I'm having is that the smallest AC available is rated for 13k btu/ 1-3.5kw cooling. I calculate ill only need about 6-7k btu. A dual hose portable ac or modified window unit would be better suited, however they aren't a thing where I live and I'd have to import one from the US and run it on a voltage converter.

So, the issue i forsee is short cycling the minisplit. Anyone have any advice?

I've seen 9K BTU mini splits before but maybe not where you are at. Just make sure you get an inverter compressor they only run as hard as they need too.

Apalchen said:

I've seen 9K BTU mini splits before but maybe not where you are at. Just make sure you get an inverter compressor they only run as hard as they need too.

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Cool, inverter compressors are standard where I live. What caught me out and made me concerned is the have a minimum room size rating

lazaah said:

Cool, inverter compressors are standard where I live. What caught me out and made me concerned is the have a minimum room size rating

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Yeah I was just thinking about that since it's only a 4x4 area. No way to expand to 4x8? As you can def make enough heat in that to use a mini split.

Apalchen said:

Yeah I was just thinking about that since it's only a 4x4 area. No way to expand to 4x8? As you can def make enough heat in that to use a mini split.

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The cabinet is is actually 12x4x7, however its split into three. Entrance/lung and fermentation room, veg and mycology room which air exchanges with first room, and to be sealed flower room (which currently air exchanges with the first and second rooms).

Unfortunately if I expand the flower room I'd loose the utility of the 2nd room. I also wouldn't be able to reach the back of the third room if the 2nd was full of flower, as access is linear through the rooms. I could exchange the ac air between the veg and flower rooms, but this wouldn't make sense when injecting co2.

A mini split is overkill for a 4x4, but if AC + CO2 yields an extra grow cycle or 1/4p per year it'll pay for itself.

Could you mount a mini split onto the garage wall and keep the garage at the temp you want? A mini split is gonna take up a lot of room inside a 4x4 tent. Plus your cabinet would act as a buffer against fast temperature swings.

GrassBurner said:

Could you mount a mini split onto the garage wall and keep the garage at the temp you want? A mini split is gonna take up a lot of room inside a 4x4 tent. Plus your cabinet would act as a buffer against fast temperature swings.

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Nah, garage is 70 years old. I'm not too worried about loosing headroom as I try keep things low stature.

Cabinet is also lined with 90mm wool insulation