Sim Build In Arizona Garage

[Clbell71]

Okay so I have been wanting to get this done since January but with COVID-19 putting stuff on crazy back orders and our tax return took much longer to get this year I have had to put this to the back burner. Well not anymore boys we are full steam ahead over here. After working on my set up for the better part of this afternoon. I have the enclosure built, the screen hung, the turf cut and laid out.

My todo list for tomorrow is as follows:
hang the blackout curtains/tarp
attach the turf to 1 inch think foam insulation sheets. Cut out a 12x12 insert for my allturf ultimate hitting mat.
hang my projector
set up my Flightscope Mevo Plus
and finally hitting some live shots in my sim setup.

I am still waiting on an Apple lighting to HDMI adapter to show up so I can connect my iPad to the projector.

[Treyc321]

Looks great! Where in AZ?

[Clbell71]

I live in Tucson. Do you live in AZ?

[Treyc321]

Yep in Phx tho, building a house and doing a garage sim next year!

[Clbell71]

Okay so I have been wanting to get this done since January but with COVID-19 putting stuff on crazy back orders and our tax return took much longer to get this year I have had to put this to the back burner. Well not anymore boys we are full steam ahead over here. After working on my set up for the better part of this afternoon. I have the enclosure built, the screen hung, the turf cut and laid out.

My todo list for tomorrow is as follows:
hang the blackout curtains/tarp
attach the turf to 1 inch think foam insulation sheets. Cut out a 12x12 insert for my allturf ultimate hitting mat.
hang my projector
set up my Flightscope Mevo Plus
and finally hitting some live shots in my sim setup.

I am still waiting on an Apple lighting to HDMI adapter to show up so I can connect my iPad to the projector.

So I was able to hang the blackout curtains/ tarp. I laid the 1inch foam insulation sheet to raise the hitting surface to match the height of the hitting mat. I also got my hitting strip cut out I went with 9x18. I also installed two led spot lights from amazon my wife bought me. See the pictures from today

[xfactor989]

I used to live Oro Valley, AZ and to keep my garage cool during the summer (except monsoon) I built a little homemade swamp cooler. For about $50 (2015) pricing I could keep my un-insulated garage in the 70's and 80's depending on outside temp and humidity. Might consider if trying to use year round.

Box Fan - $25 More CFM the better and if meant for window use even better. I purchased this one but it is no longer for sale https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Cooler pad - $5
Tote - $5
Fountain Pump - $15 harbor freight with coupon
Chicken wire - had around
1/2 PVC pipe - had around house
1/2 hose ID hose had around hose

Drill a few small holes (1/16") in PVC pipe to allow for water to flow on to cooler pad. Place cooler pad in chicken wire and pvc pipe on top. Drill more holes in lid of tote for water return. I drilled a hole in the side of tote near top for water hose to come out. Place pump in tote and connect to pvc pipe. I zip tied the chicken wire to the box fan sides and garbage bag to the top.

Below are a couple of pictures of my unit and a chart of what temperatures you can expect. Not pretty but it worked.
100 degrees outside with 20% humidity is 78 degrees in your garage.

[GrecoISU]

I think I'm going to build something like this but out of a cooler. I've seen some people use thick plastic large bottles for reuse instead of buying ice all the time.

[xfactor989]

If you are in a low humidity environment like Arizona, just need water. No ice required. It is the evaporation of the water that cools air. All I ever added was water from the garden hose.

[GrecoISU]

Interesting. Sadly I live in the midwest where you can cut the humidity with a knife.

[Dax]

Garage build looks great, congrats!

[RJBoogie]

Nice to see someone else from Tucson with a garage build. It’s looking very nice so far! I really like what you’ve done with the hitting strip leading up to the screen.

I barely ordered my Mevo+ a few weeks ago and won’t be receiving it until November. So I’ll be looking at all the nice builds in this forum for ideas. One thing I think I will
need is a mini split for the summer months not only to make the garage sim useable, but more importantly to protect the equipment (Computer, projector, Mevo+).

Do you have cooling in your garage, if so any particular units you’d recommend?

[Clbell71]

Right now i just portable AC unit that exhaust to the outside with the wall. It does an Ok job but this winter i am going to be installing a mini split that has heating as well. Because as you the winters still get cold even in Tucson. I think a found a nice Mini split DIY model from the brand Mr. Cool. I will be looking more into this in the coming months. I am actually working on finishing the turf and hitting strips tonight. I got my projector all set up last night. I had to wait 15 weeks for my Mevo Plus. if you ordered it a few weeks ago waiting until November doesn't sound that bad.

[TheDon07]

Any other ideas to keep the garage heat manageable? I am starting my FL garage build. We have a new build house with an insulated garage door but no attic insulation. Should I start with insulating the attic first?

[TheDon07]

Our garage walls are cement blocks with concrete poured in the open cells and the garage door is insulated so I think the only weak link is the attic. We are in a strict HOA community so the tube from a mini-split would be hard to pass I think. How well do the portable units work?

[Clbell71]

Well it was 110 degress on Sunday when i was working on this setup and it kept the garage around 78-80 degrees on a day in the 90's or high 80's its more around the 76 degree range. But i want the option to heat my garage too with same unit that's why we are going with mini split. I am sorry that you live an HOA. UGH I hate HOA's.

[TheDon07]

I definitely don’t need to heat my garage haha. Do you have a link to the portable unit you are using now?

[RJBoogie]

I’ve heard the Mr. Cool are both good and easy to install. All of the space cooling calculators that I’ve looked at call for a 12K BTU unit for a ~420 sq. ft. garage. However I wonder if being in southern Arizona and the summers being a little toastier, if a bit larger unit (15K) would be better.

Anyway, please continue to post pictures as your build comes along.

[Clbell71]

I am sure the 15k BTU would room smoother for sure.