Portable Cooling Strategies for IT Wiring Closets and Server Rooms, Part 1
First we must specify the appropriate temperature at which we must maintain for the proper operation of your equipment. IT equipment manufacturers usually provide a maximum temperature in which their devices are designed to operate and to guarantee performance and reliability. This temperature is usually 104 degrees (40C).
This is the maximum. Operating at that temperature generally will not provide the same level of performance and longevity as operating at lower temperatures. Because of this, IT equipment manufacturers publish a recommended operating temperature for their equipment. Recommended operating temperatures are between 70F (21C) and 75F (24C) with the goal of no higher than 77F (25C).
The ExtraCooler portable air conditioner is available in various sizes and electrical voltages to meet every wiring closet and server room needs. Spot Coolers are perfect for maintaining the recommended operating temperatures in your IT Closet or Server Room. They are mobile, easy to operate and built to last. For everyday, weekend, emergency or contingency planning, give us a call and your cooling needs will be taken care of by the experts at Spot Cooling Systems.
Spot Cooling Systems has successful Dallas BOMA Trade Show.
Spot Cooling Systems, Inc displayed our products at the Dallas BOMA trade show on October 19, 2011. The show was a total success. Spot Cooling was able to connect with our customers and display not only our air cooled portable air conditioners “The ExtraCooler”, but our new products as well. The Dallas BOMA trade show was the perfect place to announce and display our new products, the Port-a-Cool family of evaporative coolers and the Zone Aire. Each of these product lines allow Spot Cooling Systems to better meet the needs of our customers and provide spot cooling what ever the application. To view all of our new product lines as well as the ExtraCooler spot coolers visit us at www.extracooler.com
The show created many opportunities for Spot Cooling Systems to meet with existing customers as well as prospective customers. To show our appreciation for all who visited our booth, Spot Cooling Systems had a drawing for a 3 in 1 Portable Cooling System, the Zone Aire. This portable spot cooler provides three distinct functions in one conveniet unit: air conditioning, dehumidification and air circulation/fan. It’s ideal for garages, dorm rooms, workshops, home offices, attics and basements. Anywhere you need quick, convenient spot cooling and dehumidification.
The winner of this portable spot cooler was
Betty M. Smith CPM, CSM
Senior Property Manager of Prescott Realty Group
Congratulations to Betty and Thanks to all who visited our booth.
How Much Condensate will a 5 gallon tank hold
There isn’t an average output since the condensation is determined by many different factors such as the relative humidity and temperature. Our SCT Series Portable Spot Cooling Systems come with an internal 5 gallon condensate tank that turns the machine off once it is full.
On a cloudy day with 92% humidity outside, the internal 5 gallon tank would fill within 24 hours. That is, if the unit was set up in the parking lot. Most commercial building air systems dry the air to an average 20% relative humidity. This allows the SCT Series 5 gallon tank to fill in 3 to 5 days. Keep in mind most buildings turn the central air off at night and weekends. Dryer the air, longer it takes to fill up. Our units in Phoenix, AZ rarely condensate
We verified this with a customer who is located by the Bush Airport in Houston, Texas. He gets three days between the time to empty tank over the past month.
Calculating Portable Cooling Requirements
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Portable air conditioners are sized according to BTUs, which stands for British Thermal Units. A BTU is a unit of energy that is commonly used in the power, steam generation, and heating and air conditioning industries. Generally speaking, a portable air conditioner’s BTU rating describes its power and cooling capacity. Naturally, the higher the BTUs, the stronger the portable AC. Portable air conditioners have cooling capacities that usually range from 12,000 BTUs to as high as 77,500 BTUs, and the size needed to cool a room will depend on the area being cooled. Thus, an incorrectly sized portable AC with insufficient or excess BTUs will result in inefficient cooling. Before you decide on your area’s BTU requirements, first compile the following information:
After these have been verified, it is then time to determine your BTU requirements. Simply look to the chart below:
For example, if your room measures 20 feet by 20 feet, your calculations will look like so: 20′ x 20′ = 400 square feet 400 square feet = at least 12,000 BTUs As such, if your room measures 400 square feet, you will need a portable air conditioner that offers 12,000 BTUs of cooling. Note that the figures in the chart above are estimates based on average room conditions in a moderate climate. |
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What is the difference between spot coolers, portable air conditioners (“portables”) and mini-split or ductless air conditioners?
What is the difference between spot coolers, portable air conditioners (“portables”) and mini-split or ductless air conditioners?
Air-cooled spot cooling units, spot coolers and portable air conditioners are the same. These units appeared on the market in the early 1980’s to provide cooling for factory workers, hospitals, data rooms, high rise buildings and anywhere extra cooling is needed. Portables are practical, self-contained units on wheels for cooling a spot, room or area where IT equipment, people or other assets need cooling or humidity removal. Portables are available in many capacities and voltages from about 1 Ton to about 10 Tons. If it is impossible or impracticable to exhaust the hot air created by the a/c unit to the outdoors, portables typically include a duct kit for directing the warm air into the ceiling space in a commercial building. These units are unsuitable for residential applications.
If larger units are needed for the job, exterior units are required because doors create capacity limitations.
A “mini split air conditioner” is a ductless split unit. The evaporator section (indoor unit) and condenser (outdoor unit) are separated, or split. The indoor section mounts on the wall and cools just one area. Ductless units are permanently mounted and lack portability.
What is the difference between a residential and commercial portable air conditioner ?
These units are unsuitable and will not work for commercial buildings. A residential portable air conditioner has plastic housing, small condensate tanks, or they evaporate the condensation on the unit’s hot coils, exhausting it into the warm air discharge duct. A window to exhaust the warm air created by the air conditioner is required to create actual air conditioning because air conditioners create more hot air than they do cold air. Because electrical amperage is limited in residences, the residential portable units are typically available in no more than 12,000 BTU’s (1 Ton of cooling capacity). The commercial wheeled portable air conditioners will have larger condensate tanks than residential units, in addition the commercial units tend to have sturdier sheet metal cabinets or housings.
What is the difference between spot coolers, portable air conditioners (“portables”) and evaporative coolers (swamp coolers)? Unlike air condoners, evaporative coolers contribute moisture to the environment because there is no compressor with circulating cold refrigerant to dehumidify. Evaporative cooling is used in dry cleaners, restaurant kitchens and shops where high moisture and low operating costs are acceptable. Air conditioners remove moisture from the environment, dry the air and improve the quality of the environment.
What features should I look for when selecting a spot cooler or portable air conditioner?
Construction – Not all portables air conditioners and spot coolers are built the same. Sheet metal cabinets are better than plastic cabinets. All residential units are housed in plastic cabinets and some of the inferior quality commercial units have plastic cabinets. Superior commercial grade units are made of sheet metal and will last about a decade with continuous use.
Warranties - The major (and most expensive) components of a portable air conditioner unit or spot cooler are the compressor and the fans. It is important these are covered. Other components tend to be relatively inexpensive to repair or replace.
Cooling Capacity – 12,000 equals one ton by official weights and standards. When comparing units, sometimes a sell may claim their unit is, say, one ton capacity. Make sure to ask what the BTU capacity is for the particular unit you are considering. A seller may call a 10,000 BTU their “one ton unit” and another may call a 14,000 BTU spot cooler a one ton unit. That’s a 40% difference in actual cooling capacity in two spot coolers that are both called “one ton”.
Controls – For reliability and simplicity of use, simple mechanical controls are a better option. Some manufacturers provide a digital thermostat (typically a battery operated residential wall thermostat) mounted to the unit to set the temperature. While helpful in rare cases, cold air actually falls on the thermostat from the front of the unit and gives an incorrect reading, shutting off the a/c unit when the rest of the room needs cooling. Some portable units offer wall-mounting the digital thermostat which detects the temperature at the place on the wall where the thermostat is mounted. In most cases, simpler is better for controlling your portable air conditioner. A dial-type temperature controller is less complicated, more reliable and does not require new batteries. If the temperature rises, the dial-type thermostat will call for the unit to engage, activating the air conditioner and will usually last several trouble-free years.
Portable Air Conditioners: How they can help your business
Countless businesses within a wide range of industries require temperature control at one time or another – and one of the most practical solutions is found in spot coolers. Offering a diverse set of functionalities, spot coolers can bring fast, efficient service to a vast range of business needs.
Similar to a conventional air conditioning system, a spot cooler pulls air into a condenser, cools it, then circulates it back into a given space. But spot coolers are different in that they’re portable – often on wheels – and easy to move or transport. This attribute alone makes the spot cooler a convenient solution for various business and industry needs. For instance, spot coolers can temporarily stand in for faulty or broken air conditioning systems until repairs can be made. In business settings where temperature is vital – for example, in server rooms, computer rooms, and media rooms with large amounts of electronic equipment – an immediate spot cooling installation can make all the difference.
Portable Air Conditioners are also ideal for use in areas that don’t usually have air conditioning, but which temporarily require it for a specific project. For instance, if an event were to be held in a normally non-air conditioned space, a spot cooler could quickly turn that space into an event-ready venue. What’s more, spot cooler can be controlled on demand, enabling the user to make cooling adjustments as they’re required. This makes them particularly useful in settings where groups of people will be gathering – such as company or industry events. And finally, spot coolers are usually available in various size units, making them an ideal temperature control solution for jobs both big and small. From large events to small space cooling needs, spot coolers have proven to be practical tools for temperature control needs.
Ultimately, portable air conditioners can provide a flexible and efficient solution to potentially significant temperature control problems. They’re also easy to install, and can be arranged for quickly and easily via specialists in power generation or temperature control. In situations where temperature control issues could pose an emergency – such as in hospital settings – fast resource arrangements are vital. The fact that spot coolers are compact, easy to transport, simple to use, and easy to arrange for quickly makes them ideal for a wide range of businesses and industries.
Harvey is an expert in business energy solutions
Difference: Spot Cooler or Portable Air Conditioner vs. Swamp Cooler
What is the difference between spot coolers, portable air conditioners (“portables”) and evaporative coolers (swamp coolers)?
Unlike air condoners, evaporative coolers contribute moisture to the environment because there is no compressor with circulating cold refrigerant to dehumidify. Evaporative cooling is used in dry cleaners, restaurant kitchens and shops where high moisture and low operating costs are acceptable. Air conditioners remove moisture from the environment, dry the air and improve the quality of the environment.
What features should I look for when selecting a spot cooler or portable air conditioner?
What features should I look for when selecting a spot cooler or portable air conditioner?
Construction – Not all portables air conditioners and spot coolers are built the same. Sheet metal cabinets are better than plastic cabinets. All residential units are housed in plastic cabinets and some of the inferior quality commercial units have plastic cabinets. Superior commercial grade units are made of sheet metal and will last about a decade with continuous use.
Warranties - The major (and most expensive) components of a portable air conditioner unit or spot cooler are the compressor and the fans. It is important these are covered. Other components tend to be relatively inexpensive to repair or replace.
Cooling Capacity – 12,000 equals one ton by official weights and standards. When comparing units, sometimes a sell may claim their unit is, say, one ton capacity. Make sure to ask what the BTU capacity is for the particular unit you are considering. A seller may call a 10,000 BTU their “one ton unit” and another may call a 14,000 BTU spot cooler a one ton unit. That’s a 40% difference in actual cooling capacity in two spot coolers that are both called “one ton”.
Controls – For reliability and simplicity of use, simple mechanical controls are a better option. Some manufacturers provide a digital thermostat (typically a battery operated residential wall thermostat) mounted to the unit to set the temperature. While helpful in rare cases, cold air actually falls on the thermostat from the front of the unit and gives an incorrect reading, shutting off the a/c unit when the rest of the room needs cooling. Some portable units offer wall-mounting the digital thermostat which detects the temperature at the place on the wall where the thermostat is mounted. In most cases, simpler is better for controlling your portable air conditioner. A dial-type temperature controller is less complicated, more reliable and does not require new batteries. If the temperature rises, the dial-type thermostat will call for the unit to engage, activating the air conditioner and will usually last several trouble-free years.
Spot Cooling Systems Inc. © 2011