11 replies to this topic

[poni]

hi,

i just got a 10,000 btu window a/c unti for my cellar. I wanna keep it on energy saver but i don't think that will cut it, so i wanna keep it on auto so it keeps the temp i want, but that means the fan will always be running pretty much.

*My question is, is it ok for it to just run for 3 months straight, those are the hot months, the rest of the time the cellar is within good temp. ranges. So can it just run? Or will that wear it out quickly?

thanks, jeff

[Tomer1]

Every type of mechanical device has a life span of X hours before it fails. Running it non stop just means it will die a few years earlier in which case you can decide to replace the entire unit or failed part.

[poni]

I figured this would be the case, if i get five years out of it before i have to get another that would be fine. I would like to keep it on energy saver but it doesn;t seem to work like i think it should. The temp. gets pretty high before it kicks on although i have it set for 65F. Oh well, just happy to have a a/c unit finally in my cellar. yay!

[Doyle]

I noticed the same thing with my Through the Wall 8000 BTU LG AC unit. Running it on Energy Efficiency mode gave me more temperature variation and the temp is 1-2 degrees higher. I have switched it to the slow fan speed Cool mode and now the temp stays more consistent and it is holding 63-64. My setpoint is at 60 but it does not come down to that level. Since I have only had the wine in the Shed for a day, I haven't tried to measure the actual wine temp in the barrels. I'll take a first reading on that tonight. Worst case if I need to get lower I will either do the "trick the thermocouple with a resistor" or purchase a CoolBot to get more precise control of the AC unit. My problem is that I am a sucker for the technology so instead of spending money on grapes, I am spending it on the techy items.

[poni]

The techy item purchasing i am also guilty of! ha!

[poni]

Last night i set the unit 2 degrees less than what i want on energy saver, this morning the temp was what i wanted it to be! the only tough part is i have a dehumidifier running sometimes due to excess humidity, this in turn warms up the room so the a/c and the dehumidifier have to compete! oh well, all is well. woo!!

[Wade's Wines]

I've been using a window a/c unit in my wine room, what was a spare bedroom, for 6 or 7 years. Mine runs all year long, as it either competes with outside heat in the Summer or inside heat in the Winter. The first one lasted maybe 2.5 years and the second is still going strong, and yes, I just knocked on wood. It keeps the room at 60 degrees very well. The room doesn't have any "extra" insulation except for over the window and double french doors going outside. If doing it again, I'd have covered all wall and ceiling surfaces with some sort of extra insulation, but now the room's too full to even think about it.

[poni]

Mine is in the cellar, stone walls wooden rafters above. i stuffed a ton of insultation in the spaces between the stone and rafters, the room is about 200sq. ft. and the unit claims to cool 500. it works well, doesnt have to work very hard. it gets up to 70 i only need it to 65. woo hoo! whats cool is i can chill down there because the rest of my house isnt air comditioned with the exception of the bedroom and the theater. this just adds an extra coolio room.. i hate the heat! good for grapes, bad for me! ha!
thanks for the input!

[Purple Grin Winery]

I bought a cheap chinese "mini-split" AC unit. I did "trick" the thermostat with a resistor to get the settings lower. I'm on year six with it...no problems yet. It does work in conjunction with my dehumidifier, as I pick up alot of ground moisture (even though I am at the top of a hill with only nine inches/year......). I have been running it only April to October, then I let the temps go natural, which is only two degrees cooler, due to my locale. But the fan runs non-stop during the hot months, FWIW.

[kakeeler]

We have an AC unit and got one of the auto thermostats from MoreWine, and it works really well turning the AC on and off. It sounds similar to something already mentioned, but it works great, and I think it's about $130, but saves on the AC running all the time.

[Doyle]

My 8000 BTU LG unit draws 1 amp (120 watts) with fan on only. This morning I plugged in my Killowatt meter so now I can actually measure the total power consumption for a period of time. Daytime temps here range from high 70s to mid to high 80s typically with a few days up in the 90s. Temp runs around 62-63 degrees with the unit set on 60. Should have some real power consumption data in a few days.

[Ludo]

Hello All,

It is easier on the equipment to leave it running all the time then to have it start and stop all the time. Also it will draw more power on starting each time then to have it run all the time. Just make sure all bearing are oiled every 6 months if it is not equiped with sealed bearings. ENJOY the cool space.

Happy fermenting.
Ludo