Portable AC temp control n brumation

[cornykids]

My kids and I were discussing the possible upcoming brumation period for our snakes. We looked at a lot of information here on the forums and figured we have 3 options for our adults:

1. Not brumate.
2. Brumate using a portable AC for a shorter period of time since the AC unit will only go down to 60F. (I think one of the posts said 7 weeks at that temp)
3. Figure out how to "trick" a portable unit to cool the air lower than 60F

I am most interested in option #3 since it would give me a little monetary break with some of the bigger eaters. Additionally, the kids could learn about hibernation and the full cornsnake cycle

Problem is, the Portable AC units out there generally go down to 60 or 62F (this would suffice for option 2)

I was thinking that the unit I was looking at is for a 600' sq area. I was hoping that I could reduce the area to be cooled and either 1) bypass the units thermostat or 2) trick the unit by keeping it out of the cold area and vent the cold air into a "brumation chamber" or closet and intercept the power supply to the unit with an external thermostat that kept the temp around to 55F.

Sound crazy? I was wondering if any one out there has done anything like this or knows of unit that can go down to the 50s.

My house temp stays mid 60s in winter and I have no basement or attic space to speak of. If it can't or shouldn't be done, we will go with option 2.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
-the kids mom

 

[psyhodad]

When trouble shooting a residental airconditioner, that uses R22 refrrigerant, technicians use whats call the delta T or delta split. The delta split is nothing more than the temperature difference between the air intake temperature (room air) and the return air temperature (air from the vent). If an ac is working properly the temperature difference idealy is 20 degrees. So say your room air temp is 75 then the air coming out of the vent will be 55. So if you pump that air into a smaller area you shouldn't have any problems getting the temp down to 55 degrees. You will have to vent the heat discharge from the portable ac to the outdoors though. I went and looked at some portable a/cs, on the web, and most of them come with widow venting kits so that should be an issue. The biggest problem, that I see, will be how to control the temperature in the brumation chamber with the ac's thermostat outside in the room, working off room the room temp. If you could figure out what room temp will give you your brumation chamber temp and maintain your room temp at that that might work but thats assuming that the unit can give you a low enough temp.

If I were you I'd call the manufacturer or contact their tech support and see what the actual return air temp is and go from there. Make sure to ask what the split, in degrees, is between air intake and air return temperatures.

The info I gave you is for residential a/c units using R22 refrigerant. which is the same refrigerant that the portable was charged with so I would assume it should operate the same and give you the same 20 degree split. I'll talk to some of my co workers and see if they have any suggestions about controling the temp in side the chamber, if thats the way you want to go.

Lee