Brian's Buggy Barn World Wide Headquarters!

[abgiles]

The outside unit was relatively straightforward.

I ran my power line a couple of weeks ago, so all I had to do was drill another hole (yes, I know it's too big...) for the power line, attach the disconnect and pigtail, and then wire in the compressor. I wasn't nervous about that part at all.

I used 1/4" Tapcons and thick fender washers to hold it down on the rubber pads provided.

I was a bit nervous at the time of connecting the lines. Repeated warnings in the instructions and installation videos to do it quickly, etc... will make you think of all that could go wrong. However, I had everything at the ready, and it went very smooth.

 

[abgiles]

Now for the testing phase!! Yep, again, I was nervous. But all went well, and leak checks were done with no issues. Pretty happy about that.

Being the first day of Summer, Florida lived up to its reputation of being hotter than heck. I didn't mention that it was a heat index of 107F yesterday, did I? Of course, that's the day I worked outside on all of this from 10am to 4pm. I was totally drenched by the time I was done, and had consumed nearly 1/2 a case of water.

I turned on power and started the unit right at 4pm, with the 75% humidity, and 90F inside the building, as pictured. My sensor is about 20 feet away from the wall unit, sitting on one of the lift beams, about 5' in the air.



LOOK!! IT'S ON!!



I had the louvers fixed for max flow, and had them pointed directly at me for about 30 minutes as I toasted myself with a nice cold frosty beer (or two). I feel they were the most deserved ones I've had in a very long time!


I am absolutely amazed at how quiet the outside compressor is. My neighbor voiced concerns about it being on the side of the shop nearest his bedroom, and asked about me relocating it. I told him I had read a ton of reviews that talked about how quiet it is. When he got home about 5 last night, I met him right near the unit, and he asked when I was going to turn it on for him to see how loud it was. He was about 20 feet away and was amazed when I told him it was running full blast. He had to get about 5 feet away to even hear it.

 

[abgiles]

After just one hour, the temperature had dropped to 84F and humidity was down to 60%.

 

[abgiles]

At the 2 hour mark (6pm), it was down to 81F and 55% humidity. I left it running and came back about 8, and it was at 79F and 50% humidity. Pretty stoked, as it was within 1 degree of the setpoint.

At 10pm, it was about the same, and I put it on Sleep mode (ramps the temp up 1 degree each hour and turns off after 7 hours). Since it was cooler (78) outside there was little demand.

When I went out at 730am this morning, the shop was at 77F and 62% humidity, so I decided to try out DRY mode (humidity removal, runs the compressor and fan at low speed) and see how that works until I get back out there at 1130 (supposed to be 92F here at that time).

 

[Mr. D]

Nice garage!!!!!

Also didn't know fiberglass Buggy kits were still available, thought all this was used classic stuff. Prices are holly ****, that much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a VW guy back in the early 80's and built a Baja Bug, had a lot of fun with that.

 

[Bopbop]

Nice shop you have built there.
I am Up in the Savannah Ga area and I have just got a 30 x 60 red iron building installed. Waiting on the electrician to work me into his schedule. when a friend is cutting you a deal you don't push him.
Do you plan on installing anything over the insulation on the interior?

 

[Mpower5266]

Woah... awesome shop. Im following this one.

 

[abgiles]

Nice garage!!!!!

Also didn't know fiberglass Buggy kits were still available, thought all this was used classic stuff. Prices are holly ****, that much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was a VW guy back in the early 80's and built a Baja Bug, had a lot of fun with that.

Yes, the prices have gone up, but you can still find some very nice used ones for a reasonable cost. All mine are original to the late 60'a and one from 1970. One was completely restored, another is quite original, one I am restoring myself, and I also have the home built one that my Great Uncle built back in 1969. That's the one that started it all for me back when I was a kid, and the one I learned to drive in back in 1985.

 

[abgiles]

Nice shop you have built there.
I am Up in the Savannah Ga area and I have just got a 30 x 60 red iron building installed. Waiting on the electrician to work me into his schedule. when a friend is cutting you a deal you don't push him.
Do you plan on installing anything over the insulation on the interior?

Yes, I'll eventually cover the lower 8 feet with OSB, and then put up pegboard on the 4'-8' level (beams are 4' on center), with a workbench at the 4' level most of the way around. The ceilings will eventually get white paint to protect the insulation from breakdown.

Closed cell foam is not an approved fire barrier, so I've got to cover it, but that will come at a later time.

 

[abgiles]

Woah... awesome shop. Im following this one.

Thanks! It's been a dream of mine for a long time, and we chose this area to move to due to a number of reasons, but the big one for me was the ability to build it here.

 

[Bopbop]

Closed cell foam is not an approved fire barrier, so I've got to cover it, but that will come at a later time.

How true about that. I work in the design and construction field. We renovated some of the 50's era hanger at the local military base a few years back. The sprayed the interior of the hangers with about 6 inches of foam. After that they sprayed a top coat onto it to provide a fire barrier and it also provided a very hard surface. I don't recall the product it was nice.

 

[abgiles]

How true about that. I work in the design and construction field. We renovated some of the 50's era hanger at the local military base a few years back. The sprayed the interior of the hangers with about 6 inches of foam. After that they sprayed a top coat onto it to provide a fire barrier and it also provided a very hard surface. I don't recall the product it was nice.

It usually is a nice coating, but also extremely expensive, and would have doubled the cost of the insulation, which already cost me an arm and a leg. I chose to go a different route, and honestly, it will take some time to even get the OSB and all put up. That's one of those things I'll take care of in time, as I can afford it.

 

[abgiles]

So, the MrCool unit is working very well, and almost keeping up with the NE Florida weather. Turning the unit off the first night was a mistake, as the humidity did climb up, and it worked a bit during the day to drop it down. It did keep the temp about 81F during the day (with the unit set to 78, but that could be a difference in where I'm reading the temps), and dropped the humidity to 35%, which felt very comfortable. MUCH better than the 90F with 69% I had the day I was finishing the install.

I know I just have to plan my work in advance, as far as moving cars in and out. Do it late in the evening before going to bed, as I'll lose quite a bit of air with either of the garage doors open.

 

[Bopbop]

It usually is a nice coating, but also extremely expensive, and would have doubled the cost of the insulation, which already cost me an arm and a leg. I chose to go a different route, and honestly, it will take some time to even get the OSB and all put up. That's one of those things I'll take care of in time, as I can afford it.

I know what you mean. That was a government project and when they are spending tax dollars it does not concern them.
With my building I have a budget and I have to do as much as possible on my own. With my job I get to see so much neat stuff that the average person (being me) cannot afford.
Again your building looks really good and should provide years of enjoyment.

 

[abgiles]

I know what you mean. That was a government project and when they are spending tax dollars it does not concern them.
With my building I have a budget and I have to do as much as possible on my own. With my job I get to see so much neat stuff that the average person (being me) cannot afford.
Again your building looks really good and should provide years of enjoyment.

Thanks!! It's nice to finally have some room to work on cars again. Our last house a smaller two car garage that was extremely cramped, and a high angle on the driveway, which made it impossible to work on.

 

[abgiles]

Now that Browneye recommended I turn off the ceiling fans and let the air stratify, my MrCool unit is keeping up well with the temperature, and it's been 78F and about 35% humidity, even on the superhot days. I've yet to cover the lineset, but will get that done here soon.

 

[JCQuick]

I'm in. nice buggy's and building

 

[rmckee]

Great job! Resurrecting this to see how the Mr. Cool system has worked out for you in the long run... seems like a great option for DIY HVAC.

 

[littlebean]

cool (pun intended) building and really cool buggies - i've had a baja and then stock/cal look beetles all my life