Need Electrical and HVAC advice for a new 6,500sqft grow

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cosmos

cosmos

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Hi all,

I'm new to the industry and growing, and have been drafting my plans for a 6,590sqft cultivation site. I am requesting a review and advice for my layout and plans. Currently, I have received an estimate from an HVAC tech with experience in the industry, he advises that we install about 53 tons (642k BTU) HVAC via several mini-split units. The cost is $87,000 for Daikin low-ambient mini splits with wind baffles and wall hangers and an additional $12,000 installation cost.

We're running high performance LED that runs at 636w/ 3amp on 208v (our bldg is 120/ 208v with a 833a transformer on-site), which are expected to produce 2,700 BTU/ LED.

Our expected load is about 1200a, however we will be using a 12/12 cycle for flower to lower the draw. Planning to have a 1000a main installed once the feeders are increased from the transformer to the main. Then, my plan (waiting to hear back from the electrician) is to run sub-panels to each room. Probably some 125a and 200a to the three largest rooms. Any suggestions?
 
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lvstealth

lvstealth

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wow! that is a definite big jump! from "new to the industry" to 6.5k sqft in a flash! looks like you have a lot of work in front of you! good luck with it all!!

are you using an existing building? you might want to have water (you may have it, i just dont see it! - but i am blind and not so bright!)

will the lights be on a mechanical device to raise and lower them? keep in mind, i know nothing, but is it going to be hydro or what?

this is a growing industry and getting in now will allow you to be involved in the forward progress of the industry, and THAT is very exciting!
 
Anthem

Anthem

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I would probably get a second option on the HVAC. Looks like that operations could run with 40 tons of AC. Make sure he understands the heat load difference with LED's vs HPS. I believe you can get away with 3000 BTU's per light and that includes the load of a dehumidifier in there as well and fans. Also I would not run that many mini splits. I would consider other options maybe an air handler with VAV's.
 
cosmos

cosmos

19
3
wow! that is a definite big jump! from "new to the industry" to 6.5k sqft in a flash! looks like you have a lot of work in front of you! good luck with it all!!

are you using an existing building? you might want to have water (you may have it, i just dont see it! - but i am blind and not so bright!)

will the lights be on a mechanical device to raise and lower them? keep in mind, i know nothing, but is it going to be hydro or what?

this is a growing industry and getting in now will allow you to be involved in the forward progress of the industry, and THAT is very exciting!
It is an existing building with municipal water and wells, filtered RO. We haven't quite figured out the best option for raising an lowering the LED... Any suggestions? Growing in Coco
 
cosmos

cosmos

19
3
I would probably get a second option on the HVAC. Looks like that operations could run with 40 tons of AC. Make sure he understands the heat load difference with LED's vs HPS. I believe you can get away with 3000 BTU's per light and that includes the load of a dehumidifier in there as well and fans. Also I would not run that many mini splits. I would consider other options maybe an air handler with VAV's.
Alright, I will look into that. I basically spoke with a few HVAC guys that are local and that had done grow installations before and took their advice. Looking for a reliable and cost effective HVAC system that can handle multiple rooms and the ambient temp of Oklahoma.
 
cosmos

cosmos

19
3
I would probably get a second option on the HVAC. Looks like that operations could run with 40 tons of AC. Make sure he understands the heat load difference with LED's vs HPS. I believe you can get away with 3000 BTU's per light and that includes the load of a dehumidifier in there as well and fans. Also I would not run that many mini splits. I would consider other options maybe an air handler with VAV's.
Any more specific HVAC suggestions?
 
Newbelinginaz

Newbelinginaz

132
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A HVAC that can be isolated to a backup generator with enough heating and cooling capacity to save the crop during a extended power outage. What temperatures that would be, and how big of a system is beyond me.
 
Tasty Buds

Tasty Buds

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Where are you located?
If you $ isn't an issue, get as much ac as suggested.
I would run negative pressure in my warehouse flower rooms, but through vented hoods (1k hps)
I was in Denver, and even with HPS's, i got away with 24,000 BTU's per 12 lights rather easily..
The key was getting the hot air out of the grow rooms, than sucked outside via a greenhouse fan. I'd have an 8 inch in line fan every 3 hoods. It would have been nice to have a bit more during 100 degree days, but i never got above 82, or so.
I have most of my pics on an external hard drive, but I can show you how it was done.
If I ever got less than 2 lbs a light, it was a failure.
I'd also have to see how your building looks in person. How tall are the warehouse ceelings, compared to the grow room ceiling?
It's real hard to judge w/out seeing it
I only had 2 tons for that room. It was about a week after flip
 
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Tasty Buds

Tasty Buds

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We were also running HPS.
Maybe it's a good idea to PM me
 
cosmos

cosmos

19
3
Where are you located?
If you $ isn't an issue, get as much ac as suggested.
I would run negative pressure in my warehouse flower rooms, but through vented hoods (1k hps)
I was in Denver, and even with HPS's, i got away with 24,000 BTU's per 12 lights rather easily..
The key was getting the hot air out of the grow rooms, than sucked outside via a greenhouse fan. I'd have an 8 inch in line fan every 3 hoods. It would have been nice to have a bit more during 100 degree days, but i never got above 82, or so.
I have most of my pics on an external hard drive, but I can show you how it was done.
If I ever got less than 2 lbs a light, it was a failure.
I'd also have to see how your building looks in person. How tall are the warehouse ceelings, compared to the grow room ceiling?
It's real hard to judge w/out seeing it
I only had 2 tons for that room. It was about a week after flip
To clarify, there are about 170 LEDs running in this build... Along with Dehumidifiers, aux fans, and CO2 generators
 
JJS009

JJS009

294
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170x2700= 38.25 tons just for the lights if the info is correct
400sq.ft/ton= 16.5tons (rule of thumb numbers
Other equipment =?tons
53 tons is under sized for this application. You need someone to do an actual load calculation on this building with specs on all of the equipment added to it, a load calculation is way cheaper than fucking up sizing equipment and paying the price when the grow is going

To clarify, there are about 170 LEDs running in this build... Along with Dehumidifiers, aux fans, and CO2 generators
 
Tasty Buds

Tasty Buds

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263
Ok, you're running a closed sys.
I've done comparisons with a neighboring grow. He ran a closed system, and I'd out yield him every time.
We had a C02 monitor, and we'd run
 
Tasty Buds

Tasty Buds

1,653
263
Ah, I'm having technical issues.
I left the game several years ago to raise our kids. I'm hoping to get going again once NJ makes their rules.
I look for certain things when looking for a building, as I had a lot of success running negative pressure, and it kept the bills low. I have some people interested in investing with a much larger budget. To tell you the truth, i really liked this set up.
I want tall warehouse ceelings, and straight lined from each room to exhaust the heat. Winter I hardly used AC.
 
cosmos

cosmos

19
3
170x2700= 38.25 tons just for the lights if the info is correct
400sq.ft/ton= 16.5tons (rule of thumb numbers
Other equipment =?tons
53 tons is under sized for this application. You need someone to do an actual load calculation on this building with specs on all of the equipment added to it, a load calculation is way cheaper than fucking up sizing equipment and paying the price when the grow is going
We had a load calc done, room by room. Also factoring the flower rooms on/ off every 12 hours.
 
Tasty Buds

Tasty Buds

1,653
263
5 flower rooms?
Why did you choose LEDs? If you're running a closed sys, and all that ac, why not go with Govidas?
When I was leaving the business, there was a huge marketing campaign for LEDs, but they didn't come close yield wise. Great spectrums, but they wouldn't yield anywhere close to HPS. I guess I'm now considered "old school"
 
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