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Air conditioner installation question/puzzle

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:20 am
by kayakrguy
Hi folks,

Back to building this week, following playiing Motel Six (we'll leave the lid up for ya) to family and frineds the past two weeks...

I am installing cabinets in cabin and galley. I am also going to mount the AC unit--chinese window model from Sears.

The AC has the clips you use for holding the AC unit to the window sill in a window mount. I COULD use those.....BUT:

THE PROBLEM: I would like the AC to be removable. since there will be cabinets on either side, using the clips for window mounting would make it impossible to remove the AC. Now, the shelf I have the AC on is
11" wide and the AC unit is 14 inches wide, front to back, so I can't put a stop bar across the front......would appreciate suggestions....

Hope all is well with everyone,

Jim

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:29 am
by diverguy
photos??? would be a great help. :pictures:

Re: Air conditioner installation question/puzzle

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:45 am
by bobhenry
kayakrguy wrote:Hi folks,

Now, the shelf I have the AC on is 11" wide and the AC unit is 14 inches wide, "looks like ya need a width streacher the 3" model"

front to back " Is this the same as deep "

Jim
DG is right we need pictures !!!

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 10:54 am
by Ira
Can't you drill holes through the AC frame--that lip all around it.

Then, in the wood, install those little what-do-ya-call-thingies that you screw a machine screw into?

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:02 am
by mikeschn
How about just "movable"? then install your ac on some drawer glides, and let it hang over on the inside 3".

http://tnttt.com/viewto ... =ac#203573

Image

Mike...

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 11:19 am
by Miriam C.
Has anyone tried small appliance tie downs.

Mike's pic jiggled ideas....

PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:04 pm
by kayakrguy
Folks,

BH--looked for a width stretcher but only found length stretchers...ones that said 'anatomically correct' and that seemed not to fit the situation, if you get my drift 8)

Mike--I think the slide out is an elegant thing but I am paranoid about putting an holes in the skin--those seem to invite LEAKS. However, your idea DID get me to thinking about putting the back of the AC through the bulkhead into the galley so the front of the AC would be flush or slightly setback from the edge of the cabin shelf...and, removable...by using the clips for the window mounts on the shelf and putting a stopbar acroos the galley opening to hold it in place while travelling etc...so, I will look at doing that! Thanks!

So, I think I'm on the way to a solution....but then I have thought that before.... :lol:

Thanks everyone!

Jim

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 2:48 pm
by jp03
Remember, the a/c needs lots of air movement outside. You would have to leave the rear hatch open, if a tear drop design. Good windy rain storm will blow in then! Consider some way of venting the a/c back area, hole in floor, duct to the sides, etc.

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:34 pm
by Alphacarina
May or may not work for you, but John's method for mounting his A/C is the neatest setup I've ever seen - I'll be closely copying it on my build

http://www.mikenchell.com/forums/album_personal.php?user_id=336&sort_method=pic_time&sort_order=DESC&start=12

Don

PostPosted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:34 pm
by john
Thanks Don!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:35 am
by Podunkfla
The neatest setup for AC I have seen is the way Cary does it for his CampInns. :thumbsup:
I would love to know how he gets enough air flow to the intakes on the sides and exausts out the little vent? It is about as close to an invisable an installation as I've seen. It obviously works well... he sells lots of 'em. Anyone know how it works? I have thought of doing something like that with an intake plenium from the bottom. But, I'm sure interested in how a pro does it? Gage... You got any idea?

Image
Image
Image

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:56 am
by Alphacarina
It's not nearly as 'invisible' as John's setup - Unless you're under the tear looking up you would never guess the tear was A/C equipped from the outside

For me, the A/C vent on the roof completely ruins the shape of the tear, but maybe I'm just too picky or too purist ;)

Don

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:43 am
by rbeemer
Brick,

send a PM to Betsey or Cary(they are Camp-Inn folks)

PostPosted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:49 am
by caseydog
Ira wrote:Then, in the wood, install those little what-do-ya-call-thingies that you screw a machine screw into?


Those would be t-nuts.


And, if the AC will be completely sitting on a shelf, you could actually put strips of velcro around the perimiter on the bottom, eh? The shelf is providing the support, the velcro just keeps the AC from sliding around on the shelf.

I did something like that on mine. The top of the AC is attached to the wall with screws and a bracket. The bottom sits on a shelf, and stays in place with Velcro.

Image

If you look at the shot below, without the ductwork, the AC sits on three 1X2 boards, and the AC is attached to those boards with Velcro.

Image

PostPosted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 3:19 pm
by john
I wish I was still installing my AC so I could use that velcro idea. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Good one CD 8)