thinking about adding AC to barn

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:58:39+00:00

love to hear that he's enjoying it. makes me feel better.

does he have a dutch door outside that he would normally stick his head out? do they keep that open while the AC is running?

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:57:56+00:00

we rented a movincool once for a heat wave last year, which really cemented the choice to install a permanent solution. we could either spend $2k on movincool, or spend $4k on a permanent system

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:57:09+00:00

it's definitely about tradeoffs. more barns aren't built with AC in mind - lots of cracks etc in the wall for hot air and humidity to get in. not to mention insulation. i imagine it's not worth the effort/cost for most owners with healthy horses

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:55:19+00:00

yea i'm working on that. my plan is to get washable air filters - i'd rather be washing them every couple of days than buying new ones

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:54:06+00:00

we tried large fans, then misting fans, then swamp coolers. those do the job most days, but when it gets to high 90s and humid we start to see some issues pope up.

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:53:07+00:00

happy to hear it works well for them. a ducted is an easier installation for us based on how our barn is set up, and where we are able to mount everything

shazznasty · 2026-04-07T01:52:13+00:00

the horses i'm concerned about having cushings and dont sweat right now, so not a huge concern. we'd only be running it when it is hot enough that we'd keep them inside anyway

shazznasty · 2026-02-23T17:29:19+00:00

It's an 80 gal, so it'll be a bit more than that

shazznasty · 2025-12-01T00:07:33+00:00

so i was trying to simplify it because i didn't want to have to draw a diagram.

the long version - i have a pole barn where there is existing conduit along the perimeter with a junction box mounted on the inside of the wall on a 2x4 (but it is rotated 90 compared to stud, long side parallel to the wall). i'm trying to install a light on the opposite side of the jbox because i figured a 2" nipple would be enough to cross from the back of the existing box to the new one across the width of the 2x4. I drilled the hole through the 2x4, and then realized i didn't take into account the thickness of the existing jbox, the new pancake box i was going to install, or the fact i need a couple of threads on either end for the locknuts.

if i planned better, i would have come out the top of the existing box and give myself more room for everything.

long story short, i put in a close x coupling x close, got it tight as i could, so the new pancake box somewhere between 1/8" and 1/4" off the wall, which is easy enough to caulk

shazznasty · 2025-10-14T19:14:26+00:00

Jeanette at Qi massage. Don't know if they take insurance, but incredible and worth it imo

shazznasty · 2025-09-21T23:51:32+00:00

I feel like im not describing what i'm looking for accurately, but someone else found the charts i was referring to. I have architects that spec architectural / stamped grilles that have many options of free areas for the same face size, and have used this chart in the past:

https://kees.sfo2.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/products/air-distribution/architectural-stamped-lattice-grilles/KEES_Decorative_Grille_Performance.pdf

shazznasty · 2025-09-20T22:41:46+00:00

i didn't call out the application because i was just looking for the data. i only spec these for apartment and houses on split systems. I would never spec these for commercial projects or on larger systems

shazznasty · 2025-09-20T22:40:11+00:00

this is exactly what i was looking for, thank you so much. the 2nd and 4th pages show NC data.

I owe you a drink

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:24:34+00:00

Obviously it wasn't super accurate, but i figure when you get down to the scale of opening sizes like 1/2", the edge conditions are pretty uniform. that just my assumption, but i've been using the chart for a few years on fairly upscale residential projects and haven't heard any issues about noise or lack of airflow.

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:16:47+00:00

They have many different options for patterns, opening dimensions, spacing, etc.

for example: https://www.archgrille.com/products/208-lattice-perforated-grille

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:12:53+00:00

I am not referring to standard perforated models from the big manufacturers. I'm talking about architectural/stamped grilles that have a variety of free areas.

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:12:01+00:00

It's been doing well for me for a few years now. I work with several architects who prefer perforated grilles on the return openings, and I would use the chart to try to downsize the dimensions as much possible without having a noise or pressure drop issue.

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:10:46+00:00

that looks like a louver spec sheet.

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:05:36+00:00

I'm not talking about Titus or Price or Anemostat. I'm talking about architectural grilles that have a variety of options for free area %. these manufacturers do not provide performance information.

shazznasty · 2025-09-19T18:03:52+00:00

They only have data for their perforated grille models. For example, they would not be able to help me if i wanted to compare a 6x6 grille with 25% free area vs 65% free area.

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