Is this overkill? Studio AC wiring layout

"Fresh" air isn't fresh if it's coming from an adjacent room. Code is really clear about this. It has to come in directly from inside. That's why windows are on the exterior of a home and not in hallways. ;-) Therefore, "ixnay" on the "air exchange with the bathroom" idea. In theory (I sure hope, 'cuz this is what I'm going to do), if you have two beefy silencers on the inside of your studio, and then two equally beefy silencers on the outside of your studio, you'll cut down on your sound leakage. That's what Sir Woodlock did, and if it's good enough for him, then it's good enough for me! ;-) Here's where I'll again encourage you to visit your municipal bureaucrats to guide you. Please don't take my advice or my plan's specifics and apply it without verifying that it's kosher in your town.

- what size/type of ducting would you recommend.

I dunno... Whatever the fans require to support the volume of air you are going to need to do the number of ACH (air changes per hour) that code requires.

- I am thinking of building the "silencers" that will be in the storage area out of 1/2" particle board with fiberglass insulating the insides...how big should these boxes be to be effective you think?

Multiple layers of MDF, right? You'll need it. They need to be at least as beefy as your walls/ceiling in order to keep up with them. And you'll want to use duct liner (insulation), not regular stuff, because you don't want fibers flying all over the place.

- What type of fan units? I have a nice large/quiet/heavy duty computer type fan that blows air out of my computers isolation box...maybe that would be suffice in a slightly larger form...

Have you checked out the Fantech heat recovery units? That's what I'm going to use (specifically, the VHR 1404). They're not cheap, but I'm impressed with what I see on the site. --Keith :mrgreen:

sharwood wrote:

"Fresh" air isn't fresh if it's coming from an adjacent room. Code is really clear about this. It has to come in directly from inside.

Yes, I have thought it over a little more. Pulling air from inside the house was a way to avoid having to duct to the outside where I have to really worry about sound carrying through the ducting. I gave my HVAC guy a call and he also said that pulling air from the inside of the house would create negative pressure which is not good. When he comes to install the split sytem we will brainstorm.

Have you checked out the Fantech heat recovery units? That's what I'm going to use (specifically, the VHR 1404). They're not cheap, but I'm impressed with what I see on the site.

Yes, that unit looks very nice! How loud is it when functioning? I could put it out next to the split system compressor but figure that if both units were at around 40dBa..together they would be fairly loud...can't have my neighbors complaining :( It is big added expense as well...not to mention all the ducting that needs to be done...UG!! Seems like everyday I find something expensive that I did not take into account... Maybe I could use a bathrom exhaust fan inline with some exhaust ducting and keep things simple. Trust me, that Fantech looks like a fantastic unit...it is just $$, bulky, and I am limited on where I can put it..

BTW, the name's sharward, not sharwood. :)

Have you checked out the Fantech heat recovery units? That's what I'm going to use (specifically, the VHR 1404). They're not cheap, but I'm impressed with what I see on the site.

Yes, that unit looks very nice! How loud is it when functioning?

They're pretty quiet, and I think they have multiple fan speeds.

I could put it out next to the split system compressor but figure that if both units were at around 40dBa..together they would be fairly loud...can't have my neighbors complaining :(

First of all, the mini splits are really quiet -- especially the indoor unit. The outdoor units are louder but supposedly much quieter than "ordinary" outdoor units. And the HRV does not go outside. It must be indoors. I'm thinking you should put it in your hot water heater closet type thingy. You will need to be able to access it to maintain the filters and such. You should review the HRV installation instructions to get a better idea of what you're dealing with.

It is big added expense as well...not to mention all the ducting that needs to be done...UG!! Seems like everyday I find something expensive that I did not take into account...

I know what you mean... :roll: ...I went through the same thing. The only difference (a big one) is that I made all these discoveries before starting construction.

Maybe I could use a bathrom exhaust fan inline with some exhaust ducting and keep things simple. Trust me, that Fantech looks like a fantastic unit...it is just $$, bulky, and I am limited on where I can put it..

Maybe... :roll: ...You live in a climatic wonderland (occasional humidity notwithstanding), so you may not have to worry as much about energy efficiency. Again, check with your building officials. Yes, I will continue to say that! :!: --Keith :mrgreen:

Well I have been working in it for around 4 months. Mixed a few symphonies and CD's and recorded quite a bit of VO/instruments and it sounds good! Some bass does resonate at one of my walls where there is a 1 foot void B/T the studio wall and garage wall..working on that. Goto www.koberlinstudios.com for up to date pics My next project will be installing a pre-fabbed booth in the room across the hall. I probably spent a total of 24 hours reading and asking questions here at the forum. Thank you so much for all your expertise!

Hey -- I see that you decided to use the Fantech HRV! I'm really interested in how that turned out for you. It seems you've achieved success with your mini split / HRV combo, but I'd love to hear more details and see lots of pictures, since that's almost precisely what I'm going to do on my project. 8) --Keith :mrgreen:

sharwood, Long time no "talk"! Yes, your recommendation on the Fantech was a good one indeed. The unit is worth the $$ (think it cost me around $700 online from somewhere). When I receieved it I noticed how solid it was. Very well-packed, good instructions... The remote unit was also worth the extra money as it gives me remote control of all the functions the unit has to offer from inside the studio. More importantly the unit is suffice for my room size (I actually never put the fan above its lowest setting) and is almost totally inaudible even though it sits directly behind my rear studio wall. I think the insulted sheetmetal ducting really helps with the reduced noise level as well as the only sound you hear from the two 6" vents in the studio is the noise of the air passing through the vents themselves. There is no "core" unit noise that passes through...honestly the unit itself is so quiet there shouldn't be anyway. Also, no noise travels in or out any of the intake/exhaust vents from the outside into the studio (and vice/versa). I leave it on pretty much all day everyday (9-5). The actual installation, parts and labor, was $1500...which I probably could have done myself but it would have taken 5 times as long. The minisplit was also around $700-800 and around $1500 to install as well. This I could not have done myself. The unit is as loud as you would exepct. Actually "loud" is not the right word as it is really a low murmer. I do turn it off when I am recording anything in the studio. While mixing it can be on. The installers had never really done an install such as this (as it is such a small room with so little "install" space to work with). They were very cool and listened to all my questions/requests. Overall the system is great...as John pointed out in this other post: http://www.johnlsayers.com/phpBB2/viewt ... 7450#47450 there may be less expensive ways to accomplish the temp/air issues in a studio such as mine. I re-uploaded the web archive of the studio building process that I was posting daily for the designer I was working with for your viewing: http://www.koberlinstudios.com/BillDohn/BillDohn1.htm